MLB Player News

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts will hit in the No. 3 position in the starting lineup for the first time this season Friday as the Red Sox try to get back on track against the Blue Jays. 

Along with the injury to Hanley Ramirez, a big reason why Bogaerts was slotted in the third hole has been a history of success against Toronto starter Drew Hutchison. Bogaerts is hitting .500 (6-for-12) against Hutchison, one of several Red Sox players with gaudy numbers against the Jays hurler. 

For the season, Bogaerts is hitting a respectable .295, and he is even better at Fenway, hitting .333 in his home park. 

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford continued his mastery over left-handed pitching on Thursday. Crawford launched his ninth home run of the season, a two-run shot off Mets lefty Jon Niese. The sixth-inning blast gave the Giants a 4-3 lead, but the Mets would end up with the 5-4 walk-off win on Thursday.

The home run was the only hit of the game for Crawford, who has now hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games. The lefty-swinging Crawford is batting .422 (19 for 45) with three home runs against southpaws, compared to his .252 average against right-handers.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon will be given the day off during Thursday's contest against the Rockies, reports Fox Sports Florida.

Gordon will be replaced by Donovan Solano at second and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria will bat in the leadoff spot.

Over his last 18 games, Gordon is hitting .296 with two RBI, nine runs scored and eight stolen bases.

The Marlins are the favorites (-130) over the Rockies on Thursday.

Astros shortstop Carlos Correa drove in two runs to lead the team, but it was not enough as the Astros fell 4-2 to the White Sox on Tuesday.

Correa drove in the runs when he hit the first home run of his career off Zach Duke in the ninth inning. The two-run shot was his second and third RBI in his first two games with the Astors. He finished the game 2 for 4 with one strike out.

"It's always good to get the first one out of the way," Correa said, per MLB.com. "I wish we could have won the game. We battled back and tried to come back in the game. We gave a lot of effort that last inning. It felt great. I wish we could have won the game."

The Indians have officially called up utility player Zach Walters from Triple-A Columbus, per MLB.com. He is not in the lineup Tuesday against Seattle.

Walters will serve as the backup at short to Mike Aviles and third to Giovanny Urshela. He can also play the corner outfield positions.

His struggles have revolved around making consistent contact. Walters had one hit and eight strikeouts in 17 at-bats in earlier stint with Cleveland this season. He has fanned 56 times in 152 at-bats during his major league career.

Diamondbacks infielder Chris Owings had his career-best hitting streak end at 11 games on Monday with a 0-for-4 performance against the Dodgers. Owings struck out three times.

Owings hit .302 (13 for 43) with one double, four RBI, four runs, one walk, 14 strikeouts and two stolen bases during his 11-game hit streak.

Astros shortstop Carlos Correa earned his first MLB hit and RBI during Monday's 3-1 loss to the White Sox.

Correa recorded his first hit when he reached on an infield single off Chris Sale in the fourth inning. The single also drove in a run. It was his lone hit in four at-bats during the debut. He also struck out once.

General manager Jeff Luhnow has announced that the Astros have designated for assignment third baseman Matt Dominguez to make room on the 40-man roster for Carlos Correa, per Sportstalk 790.

The career of Dominguez has taken a precipitous drop after he served as a starter in each of he last two seasons. He lost the job to Luis Valbuena to start this year and is batting .251 at Triple-A Fresno. He did, however, drive in seven runs on Sunday.

The Astros have announced the promotion of prized shortstop prospect Carlos Correa. He will join the team Monday against the host White Sox.

The 20-year-old Correa has not missed a beat ascending through the system. Despite a late-May slump, he boasts a slash line of .332/.404/.602 with 10 home runs and 43 RBI in 211 at-bats at Double-A and Triple-A combined.

The Astros have certainly needed an upgrade at that position since Jed Lowrie went down in late April.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon went 3 for 4 at the plate to help lead the Marlins to a 3-2 win over the Rockies on Sunday.

Gordon scored one run and he is now hitting .372 on the season. Gordon is 23 for 68 with two RBI and nine runs scored in his last 15 games.