MLB Player News

Diamondbacks infielder Cliff Pennington, who struck out in his only at-bat as a pinch-hitter Sunday during a loss to Philadelphia, is batting just .210 this season entering Monday's games. Pennington has only started twice in the last six games and wasn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against Atlanta, either. 

Pennington has seen just 17 at-bats over seven appearances and five starts in May. He's gone 4 for 17 (.235) over that stretch with a homer and six RBI. Josh Wilson and Martin Prado are seeing most of the starts at second base over Pennington. 

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he could take a page out of former skipper Tony La Russa's playbook and use shortstop Dee Gordon as the No. 9 hitter once Mark Ellis returns from the disabled list, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. Gordon has spent the past two games in the two-spot, which is Ellis' usual position with Carl Crawford at leadoff.

Mattingly said the move would be spearheaded by his preference to alternate between left-handed and right-handed batters at the top of the lineup. Gordon recorded his fourth steal in eight games Sunday against the Marlins.

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford had his third-straight, mulit-hit game Sunday against the Braves. Crawford had two singles in the 5-1 win, including one in the fourth inning that drove in Brandon Belt. He finished 2 for 3 with an RBI and walk.

After going through a rough stretch in late April and early May, Crawford appears to be heating up. He has hit safely in six-straight games and is batting .455 (10 for 22) with three doubles and two RBI over that stretch.

Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon blasted his first home run of the season -- and just the second of his brief career -- during Los Angeles' 7-1 rout of Miami on Saturday night. Playing in his seventh game since being promoted from Triple-A, Gordon went 1 for 4 with a walk as he assumed the No. 2 spot in the batting order for the second time in the past four outings.

We have not checked in with Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford in a while, so let's see how he is doing since his hot start.

On April 24, the date of our last update on Crawford, he was batting .320 with four home runs and 10 RBI in 22 games. In 11 games since, Crawford is batting just .125, with 11 strikeouts in 40 at-bats. Yikes.

Crawford was clearly playing over his head through the first four weeks of the season, and he is clearly mired in a deep slump right now. Given his career .632 on-base plus slugging percentage entering the year, it is no surprise that he has proven incapable of keeping up his hot start. The question now is: How low will he go?

Fantasy owners entered the season with low expectations for Crawford, so a few weeks of solid production was a pleasant surprise. But it obviously did not establish a new baseline for the previously punchless shortstop. Now that it's over, I would not hang on to him outside of deeper Fantasy formats. 

Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon went 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBI during Los Angeles' 10-9 loss to San Francisco on Saturday night. Gordon, who earned the start at short in his season debut with the Dodgers, also scored twice and recorded two stolen bases.

The 25-year-old speedster also showcased his maturation at the plate as he prepares for the majority of starts at short with Hanley Ramirez sidelined. Gordon drew a four-pitch walk in the fourth inning, highlighting his improved plate discipline that had been an issue for him last year. He drew just 20 walks in 87 games with Los Angeles last season, but had walked 14 times in 25 games with Triple-A Albuquerque this year.

"He has shown progression from the standpoint of the takes and when he takes you can tell he's starting to understand who he is and what he needs to do and obviously when he gets on base he's just a force," manager Don Mattingly told the Los Angeles Daily News. "You can do so many things with him and he puts the defense at such a disadvantage. I don't want to go too far in one game, but he's getting better."

With how much he struggled last season, it's easy to forget how highly regarded Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon was just last season. He was one of the top-50 prospects in baseball back-to-back years, but he has yet to translate that to major-league success. He is getting another chance to make an impact with Hanley Ramirez back on the disabled list Saturday.

With Justin Sellers falling on his face in Ramirez's place early, it looks like Gordon could get a chance at regular at-bats and starts at shortstop. He batted .228 last season but had 32 steals in 87 games. Gordon seemed to figure things out in his month at Triple-A Albuquerque, posting a .314 batting average with nearly as many walks (14) as strikeouts (17).

If Gordon can get on base, his speed is a real asset and could present Fantasy owners with value off the waiver wire. His considerable talent makes him worth a look in NL-only Fantasy formats, at the least. 

The Dodgers recalled infielder Dee Gordon from Triple-A Albuquerque Saturday.

Gordon hit .314 with 19 runs scored and 12 RBI in 25 games, while leading the Pacific Coast League with 14 stolen bases. With Justin Sellers hitting just .194 in 67 at-bats, Gordon could take over shortstop duties for the Dodgers while Hanley Ramirez is on the disabled list.

Dodgers infielder Dee Gordon was on his way to San Francisco and is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace Hanley Ramirez at shortstop.

With Ramirez sidelined with a hamstring injury and Justin Sellers hitting .194, Gordon could take the bulk of the starts at shortstop despite having worked out at second base in the recent days.

Gordon is hitting .314 and has 14 stolen bases at Triple-A.

Dodgers infielder Dee Gordon has been taking ground balls at second base, according to Los Angeles Times.

Gordon has been taking ground balls at second the past two days. Dodgers regular second baseman Mark Ellis has been out the past few days with a strained quadriceps. The injury is not considered to be serious, though it could land him on the disabled list. Gordon has primarily been used as a shortstop in the minors.