MLB Player News

Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed isn't in the starting lineup for Saturday's game. 

Ahmed has started 68 games at short, including the last five and 16 of the last 17. 

Replacing Ahmed in the lineup is Cliff Pennington, who gets his twelfth start of the year and first since July 3. 

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts went 1 for 4 in Friday's loss to the Yankees. 

Bogaerts struck out twice and grounded into a double play, but his single extended his hitting streak to nine games. He's hitting .412 over the streak. 

Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor went 2 for 4 with a home run in Wednesday's win over the Astros.

Lindor hit a solo home run, his second of the year, in the sixth inning that tied the game 1-1.

Lindor is hitting .235 with eight hits, a double, a home run and three RBI over his last eight games.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon did what he does best on Thursday--hit and run. Gordon went 2 for 3, scored twice and stole three bases in the 2-0 win over the Reds. The speedy Gordon now has 33 stolen bases, good for second in the National League.

"The little things. I was able to do the little things," Gordon said, per MLB.com. "That's what we need to do. We're not going to overpower anybody, especially with a guy like me on the team. Just continue to do the little things."

Thursday was the first time he stole more than two bases in a game since he had four swipes back on May 22.

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts went 2 for 4 with a double on Tuesday, and had the biggest of the night in the 4-3 win over the Marlins. Bogaerts came to the plate in the seventh inning with his team down 3-1 and the bases loaded.

He proceeded to rope a single to center field, scoring all three runs and leading Boston to victory. 

Bogaerts is batting .375 with 10 doubles and 13 RBI over his last 15 games, as he tries to become the final man added to the American League All-Star roster.

The American League reserves for the 2015 MLB All-Star game were announced Monday and the following players were selected:

Catcher: Russell Martin, Blue Jays; Stephen Vogt, Athletics

First Base: Prince Fielder, Rangers; Albert Pujols, Angels (will start in place of injured Miguel Cabrera); Mark Teixeira, Yankees (replaces injured Cabrera on roster)

Second Base: Jason Kipnis, Indians

Shortstop: Jose Iglesias, Tigers

Third Base: Manny Machado, Orioles

Outfield: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays; Adam Jones, Orioles; J.D. Martinez, Tigers

Utility: Brock Holt, Red Sox

Starting Pitchers: Sonny Gray, Athletics; Felix Hernandez, Mariners; David Price, Tigers; Dallas Keuchel, Astros; Chris Sale, White Sox; Zach Britton, Orioles; Chris Archer, Rays

Relief Pitchers: Dellin Betances, Yankees; Brad Boxberger, Rays; Zach Britton, Orioles; Wade Davis, Royals; Kelvin Herrera, Royals; Darren O'Day, Orioles; Glen Perkins, Twins

The following players are eligible to be voted in during the final Fan Vote: SS Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox; OF Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers; OF Brett Gardner, Yankees; 2B Brian Dozier, Twins; 3B Mike Moustakas, Royals

The National League All Star reserves and pitchers were announced on Monday evening, and there was no room for the reigning National League MVP.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was not selected for the All Star team, although he's one of five candidates to take the final spot on the roster in the Final Vote. 

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant made the team as an injury replacement for the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton. Bryant is one of two rookies on the team, along with Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson. 

The Pirates sent two starting pitchers to the All Star team for the first time since 1960. MLB wins leader Gerrit Cole and fellow Pittsburgh starter A.J. Burnett will both be making their first appearance. 

National League reserves are:

Catchers: Yasmani Grandal, Dodgers; Yadier Molina, Cardinals
First basemen: Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers; Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
Second basemen: DJ LeMahieu, Rockies; Joe Panik, Giants
Third basemen: Nolan Arenado, Rockies; Kris Bryant, Cubs
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford, Giants
Outfielders: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates; Joc Pederson, Dodgers; A.J. Pollock, Diamondbacks; Justin Upton, Padres

National League pitchers are:

Madison Bumgarner, Giants; A.J. Burnett, Pirates; Aroldis Chapman, Reds; RHP: Gerrit Cole, Pirates; Jacob deGrom, Mets; Zack Greinke, Dodgers; Mark Melancon, Pirates; Shelby Miller, Braves; Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies; Francisco Rodriguez, Brewers; Trevor Rosenthal, Cardinals; Max Scherzer, Nationals; Michael Wacha, Cardinals

The five candidates for the Final Vote are:

Johnny Cueto, Reds; Jeurys Familia, Mets; Carlos Martinez, Cardinals; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers; Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies

The Giants have benched their starting middle infield Monday. Both second baseman Joe Panik and shortstop Brandon Crawford are out against Mets left-hander Jonathon Niese.

It marks the first absence for Panik since May 21 and third for Crawford since three days later.

Crawford has certainly not struggled against southpaws this season. He is batting .333 (20-for-60). Panik has 19 hits in 68 at-bats against them in 2015.

Diamondbacks rookie shortstop Nick Ahmed tied a career best with three hits Sunday against the Rockies. He has accomplished the feat twice this season.

Ahmed had two singles and his eighth double this season in the 6-4 loss. He also scored a run.

The rookie middle infielder has been on a nice run offensively since early June. He is batting .313 with a .360 on-base percentage, .475 slugging percentage and .835 OPS in his last 23 games. He has three home runs, four doubles, nine RBI, 11 runs, six walks, eight strikeouts and two stolen bases in that span.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada tied a season high with three hits during an 8-0 win Sunday against the Dodgers. He has totaled three hits three times this season.

Tejada had singles in the fourth, seventh and eighth innings. He drove in a run with his single in the seventh.

Tejada, who had two runs and one strikeout Sunday, has multiple hits in two of his last three games. 

Since May 29, he is batting .252 with 10 doubles, nine RBI, 10 runs, eight walks, 24 strikeouts and one stolen base in 31 games.