MLB Player News

Fletcher went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Astros.

Fletcher crossed home in the fifth inning on a Jared Walsh single to make it a 2-0 game. He later drove in a run and scored in the 10th before Houston came back to win in the bottom of the frame. The 5-foot-9 infielder has seven multi-hit games this season including four over the last six games.

Crawford (ribs) is starting Friday's game against the Marlins, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Crawford wasn't in Thursday's lineup after he exited Wednesday's contest due to rib cage tightness. However, he appeared as a pinch hitter Thursday and struck out in his lone at-bat. Crawford is starting at shortstop and batting seventh against Miami on Friday.

Ahmed will sit Friday against Atlanta.

Ahmed sits for just the second time since returning from a knee injury April 10. He's struggled significantly at the plate, hitting .075/.119/.075, though a .100 BABIP likely accounts for some of his problems. Josh Rojas will take over at shortstop in his absence.

Correa went 2-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored in Thursday's 8-2 win over the Angels.

The shortstop's first opportunity in the leadoff spot this season proved successful, and he's now hitting .282 with three homers and nine RBI through 71 at-bats in 2021. Correa has failed to record a hit in just three of his 18 starts, providing consistency to Houston's lineup. The 26-year-old will likely return to the middle of the order once Jose Altuve (COVID-19) returns, but figures to continue hitting regardless of his spot in the lineup.

Diaz went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Thursday's 8-2 win over the Angels.

Diaz has started seven consecutive games and hit safely in the last six. He's been getting regular at-bats filling in at third base for Alex Bregman, who has since returned from the COVID-19 injured list, and at second base for Jose Altuve, who is still on the list. That window of opportunity is expected to close as soon as this weekend, when Altuve is projected to return. During Diaz's run as a fill-in, he's gone 7-for-27 with three doubles, four RBI and two runs scored.

Ahmed went 0-for-4 in Thursday's 14-11 win over the Reds.

Ahmed, who was pulled for a pinch hitter for the second straight game, saw his batting average drop to .075 (3-for-40), but manager Torey Lovullo plans to stick with him as a starter, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. "The swing is a little disconnected," Lovullo said. "It's not synced up. I just think it has more to do with direction. He sees the ball. He's confident. I just feel like mechanically there is a little flaw in there that is preventing him from squaring the baseball up on a consistent basis." With Josh Rojas' batting heating up over the last four contests (4-for-10, three walks, one HR), there's a chance Lovullo gives Ahmed a one-day break at some point. The manager added that he does not believe the knee that forced Ahmed to miss the first two weeks of the season is an issue.

DeJong is hitting .310 (9-for-29) with three home runs and six RBI across his last eight games.

The slugging shortstop also has four walks and six runs over that span, although he's still struck out at a 33.3 percent clip. DeJong actually has a solid .450 slugging percentage for the season thanks to his five home runs, and his current surge has at least pulled his average back to the Mendoza Line for the first time since April 5.

Berti will start at third base and bat seventh Thursday against the Giants, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Berti figures to see a significant increase in playing time with Brian Anderson (oblique) forced to the injured list. While he's gotten off to a slow start with the bat -- he has only six hits in 38 plate appearances -- Berti could be a source of stolen bases if he can get on base at a strong enough clip.

Crawford (side) isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Crawford exited Wednesday's game against the Phillies and is now considered day-to-day after he was diagnosed with rib cage tightness. Mauricio Dubon will start at shortstop Thursday, batting eighth.

Correa will start at shortstop and lead off Thursday against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Correa will be the fourth different Astros player to get a look out of the leadoff role since the team's regular table setter, Jose Altuve (illness), was placed on the COVID-19 injured list April 14. Per Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle, manager Dusty Baker said that Altuve could be back from the IL this weekend or early next week, so Correa's stay atop the lineup will likely be brief. Through his first 72 plate appearances of the season, Correa is slashing .273/.333/.470 with three home runs and seven RBI.