MLB Player News

Crawford went 1-for-4 with a two-run single, two walks and a run in a loss to the Royals on Sunday.

Crawford made plenty of noise out of the top of the order in the wild defeat, hitting safely for the third straight game since returning from a one-game absence due to some lower-body injuries. He has eight total bases and three RBI over that span while replacing the sidelined Julio Rodriguez (back) in the leadoff spot, where the veteran shortstop figures to remain for the balance of the regular season.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said that the jammed left hand that caused Franco's early exit in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Blue Jays isn't anything worrisome and isn't expected to keep the 21-year-old from playing Tuesday in Cleveland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "He just got jammed a little bit," Cash said of Franco. "He's fine. He would have hit had the game been a little closer."

Franco's departure came in the bottom of the eighth inning, when he was lifted from a pinch hitter after initially jamming his hand in his fifth-inning plate appearance. Cash noted that the Rays' six-run deficit was the main reason Franco was removed from the contest, and the infielder was fortunate not to aggravate the right wrist he had surgically repaired earlier this season. Before exiting, Franco went 1-for-3 with a single to extend his hitting streak to a career-long 12 games.

Soto went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI, a run, a stolen base and a strikeout during Sunday's 10-3 win over Minnesota.

Soto capped off a productive series in Minnesota on Sunday, as he put up a third consecutive multi-hit performance during the blowout win. He also recorded his first career stolen base in the majors in the top of the sixth inning. Over nine games since making his big-league debut, the 22-year-old has hit .346 with a home run, two doubles, five runs, four RBI and a stolen base.

Franco was removed from Sunday's loss to the Blue Jays with a jammed left hand, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Franco was being examined by the training staff and was flexing his left hand in the dugout prior to being lifted for a pinch hitter during the eighth inning. Manager Kevin Cash indicated the young shortstop was removed as a precautionary measure since the Rays were already trailing 6-1. Tampa Bay has a scheduled day off Monday, so Franco will have an extra day to recover ahead of Tuesday's series opener in Cleveland.

Fletcher (hand) has been able to resume taking swings, per the Associated Press.

Fletcher went on the 10-day injured Sept. 17 despite a CT scan on his hand coming back negative. He was struggling to swing the bat before going on the IL, but he appears to be doing better. Should Fletcher continue to make progress, he could return as early as Tuesday for a home series against Oakland.

Allen is not in Sunday's lineup against the Mets, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Allen is hitting .233/.303/.233 with zero home runs and two steals over his last 10 games. Ernie Clement will start at shortstop and hit ninth.

Allen went 1-for-4 with an RBI single and a stolen base in a win over the Mets on Saturday.

Allen extended the Athletics' lead to 8-4 with his eighth-inning knock and subsequently swiped second base, snapping a brief 0-for-12 funk in the process. The 23-year-old has been reasonably productive at the plate over the last two weeks, hitting safely eight times in a nine-game stretch at one point in the sample while also recording two of his three steals on the season.

Baez went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 7-2 victory versus the White Sox.

Baez scored on a Harold Castro homer in the first inning and put the game out of reach with his three-run smash to center field in the seventh. He finished with his eighth multi-game in September. Baez is batting .354 (28-for-79) with four homers, 14 RBI and a stolen base through 21 games this month.

Pena will not play Sunday against the Orioles after leaving Saturday's game, but he cleared concussion protocol, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Abrasions to the face aside, the rookie seems to be doing OK after he landed hard on a dive into home plate. The team will continue to monitor Pena on Sunday to be sure. Aledmys Diaz figures to take over at shortstop in the series finale ahead of Monday's off day.

Pena left Saturday's game against the Orioles with a facial abrasion and is considered day-to-day, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pena appeared to land hard on his face after diving into home plate on an Alex Bregman sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning. While it would seem Pena avoided a serious injury, the Astros could always hold him out through Monday's team off day as a precaution with the division already wrapped up.