MLB Player News

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts put on a power show Monday against the Rays, as he went 2 for 5 with five RBI, a double, and his seventh home run--his first career grand slam.

This is just Bogaerts's third game this year with two extra-base hits and his six total bases ties a career high. Bogaerts's batting line is up to .323/.353/.426 on the season. He has the best batting average among major league shortstops by 36 points over Jung Ho Kang and by 52 points over the next American League shortstop, Erick Aybar.

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts went 2 for 5 with two runs scored in Sunday's victory over the Blue Jays.

Bogaerts is in the middle of a nine-game hitting streak where he's hitting 16 for 41 (.390). The hot-hitting shortstop is closing in on 200 hits for the season and is hitting .322 on the season, good for second in the American League.

Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor slugged his 10th homer as part of a 3 for 5 effort in Friday's win over the White Sox. With Carlos Correa falling back to earth a bit in recent weeks, the surging Lindor could be overtaking him as the frontrunner for AL Rookie of the Year honors.

In addition to providing sparkling defense at shortstop, Lindor has been far better than anticipated at the plate, hitting .319 with 42 RBI, 43 runs, and eight stolen bases. 

Angels second baseman Taylor Featherston went 3 for 5 with his second homer, two RBI and two runs against the Twins on Thursday.

How poorly has Featherston hit this year? Thursday's effort lifted his average to only .167 over 138 big-league at-bats. Considering these were his first hits in a week, he's unplayable in most fantasy formats right now.

Blue Jays shortstop Cliff Pennington went 2 for 4 with a three-run homer against the Braves on Thursday.

He's now homered twice in his last five games, with seven RBI in that span -- about as hot a streak as you'll see from the generally light-hitting Pennington. Don't count on it to persist, but then again, there might be something in the water in Toronto right now.

Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor continued his tear on Wednesday, as he went 3 for 4 with a solo home run and four RBI in a win over the Royals. The young shortstop came into the league as an elite glove, but he's making quite the impact with his bat right now.

In 82 games played, Lindor has a .317 average to go along with nine home runs, 41 RBI, and nine steals. That's nearly a 20-20 pace and seeing as how Lindor is just 21-years-old, that seems like a strong possibility in years to come.

Torrid Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts is catching a break Wednesday against Baltimore, per Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe.

Bogaerts continues to rake in the late months of the season, batting .375/.417/.500 with a home run and 11 RBI over 56 at-bats in September. He's been one of the bright spots for the team this season, but he'll be replaced in favor of Deven Marrero, who'll bat ninth in the lineup.

Blue Jays replacement shortstop Cliff Pennington did his best Troy Tulowitzki impression at the plate Tuesday, going 2 for 3 with a walk and RBI in a loss to Atlanta.

With Tulowitzki out of the lineup for the next few weeks, the onus will be on Pennington to help pick up the slack. Tuesday was his first multi-hit game since joining the Blue Jays, which isn't altogether surprising considering he arrived at the park with four hits while on the Blue Jays.

Over the past four games, he's 4 for 13 with two walks, showing that he's taking steps in the right direction.

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts went 2 for 5 with a double, RBI and run scored in a 6-5 loss to Baltimore on Tuesday.

Bogaerts continues his red-hot September, one that has already seen him post seven multi-hit games, reach base safely in all 13 contests, and knock in 11 runs. The Boston standout has turned in a spectacular sophomore campaign and would appear to have more than enough ability to build on his success in 2016.

Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor was not in Tuesday's lineup due to an illness, reports MLB.com. Lindor began feeling sick Monday.