MLB Player News

Diamondbacks shortstop Cliff Pennington had a productive night at the plate in Wednesday's series finale against the Giants. He went 2 for 4 with a home run and four RBI in the 9-6 loss.

The 28-year-old hit a three-run homer off starter Tim Lincecum in his first at-bat for his first long ball of the year. He doubled home Eric Chavez in the sixth inning.

Pennington has collected at least one hit in four straight games and has gone 6 for 13 (.462) during that stretch.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada tried to play the hero Monday against the Marlins by plating the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the top of the 15th inning, but Miami scored twice in the bottom of the inning to steal a 4-3 win. Tejada collected a season-high three hits in six at-bats.

Tejada is batting .391 (9 for 23) with two RBI, three walks, three doubles and three runs during a six-game hitting streak. He's raised his season average from .210 to .259 during the hitting streak.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada clubbed a pair of doubles while hitting out of the leadoff spot during Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Phillies. Tejada, who was back atop the lineup after Mike Baxter served in that position the past two games, finished 2 for 3 with a walk.

His two doubles increased his total to seven on the season -- the only extra-base hits he has recorded. Sunday marked the fourth time he hit from the No. 1 spot in the batting order and he improved his average to .307 from the position.

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford continued his recent hot hitting ways in Wednesday's series finale against the Diamondbacks. He went 3 for 4 with a home run and two RBI in a 3-2 loss.

The 26-year-old singled to lead off the fifth inning before driving in Gregor Blanco with a double in the seventh. Then in the bottom of the ninth with his team trailing by one, Crawford launched a game-tying, solo shot off David Hernandez. It was his fourth long ball.

Crawford is batting .320 (24 for 75) with 10 RBI.

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford made his 22nd consecutive start on Wednesday against the Diamondbacks as he and Hunter Pence have been the only two players to start every game for San Francisco.

He entered the contest batting .296 with eight homers and eight RBI through 71 at-bats.

"A couple of years ago I was in and out of the lineup," Crawford told MLB.com. "Last year I was in there a lot of the time then kind of toward the end I started getting platooned. Being in there every day, it's good for the confidence, it's good for getting into a little rhythm."

Manager Bruce Bochy added that he hopes the 26-year-old sees more than 150 starts this season.

"He's our shortstop. He's a very gifted shortstop," Bochy said. "He's young. He can handle it, going out there every day. This is part of being an everyday regular player, especially when you're the shortstop. Those guys usually run out there more than anybody."

Mets manager Terry Collins moved Ruben Tejada into the leadoff spot Tuesday against the Dodgers for the first time this season. In 87 career games as a leadoff hitter, Tejada is batting .286 with a homer, 21 doubles, 21 walks, 25 RBI, 39 runs and three stolen bases.

Tejada enters Tuesday in a 0-for-11 slump, dropping his season average from .271 to .220.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada went 0 for 3 in his return to the starting lineup during a 2-0 win over Washington on Sunday. Tejada, who was held out of the lineup for the first time Saturday because of a minor ankle issue, is now 0 for 11 in his past four games to drop his batting average to .220.

The 23-year-old also made a nifty stop to his left in the seventh inning to retire Kurt Suzuki -- an encouraging sign as he is currently tied for the major-league lead with six errors.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada (ankle, foot) returned to the lineup for Sunday's series finale against Washington after missing his first start of the season the previous day for precautionary reasons. Tejada rolled his ankle during Friday's game and was limited to pinch-hitting duties during Saturday's loss.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada made a pinch-hitting appearance Saturday against the Nationals. The 23-year-old drew a walk and scored a run in the fourth inning.

Tejada, who rolled his ankle Friday, is expected to be available Sunday.

"I'm good," Tejada said to MLB.com. "They made the decision to keep me out of the starting lineup today. But I'm ready if they need me to play defense, pinch-hit, something like that. I'm ready to play."

Scott White posted Friday that he is not a believer in  Brandon Crawford's apparent breakout so far this season for the Giants.

Crawford has been one of the five best shortstops in all of Fantasy through the first three weeks of the season, thanks to a .328 batting average, three home runs and 12 runs scored.

Are there any signs that point to him sustaining this success?

Crawford has shown an improved eye at the plate, walking in 9.1 percent of his plate appearances and striking out in 16.7 percent. Both of which are better than his career norms and have helped him to a .328 batting average and .409 on-base percentage.

Unfortunately, he is also fueled by a .364 batting average on balls in play that he almost certainly will not be able to sustain. However, he does have a solid 21.3 percent line drive rate that indicates he is making good contact.

If Crawford can sustain his refined approach at the plate, he may be able to keep a solid batting average, but the biggest place he is likely to fall off is in the power department.

After entering the season with just seven home runs in 631 at bats at the major-league level, he already has three in 58 at bats. Usually, an increase in home runs can be explained by a batter making a more concerted effort to put the ball in the air, but that has not been the case thus far for Crawford. He has hit a career-low 27.7 percent of his batted balls in the air, a sure sign that this power spike is not sustainable.

White's skepticism regarding Crawford seems justified, so Fantasy owners who are rushing out to grab him (added in 42 percent of leagues over the last week) should know that this is likely as good as it gets for the 26-year-old.