MLB Player News

Brandon Crawford has become a weapon within the Giants' offense, no matter who the opposing pitchers are.

Crawford, who has historically been better against left-handed pitchers, is hitting .265 against right-handed pitchers. He is still dominating lefties, hitting .414 with 2 home runs and seven RBI in 29 at-bats.

"I'm feeling good against lefties and righties right now," Crawford said. "That, along with being aggressive with pitches I like in the zone, that's been working for me. I feel good, but I'm not really focusing on what I've done the past week or tonight. Tomorrow is a new day."

The shortstop is on a five-game hitting streak, hitting .524/.545/.762 with a home run and nine RBI in 21 at-bats. 

Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella is out of the starting lineup for the first time since April 25. Giavotella had started each of the last 21 games for manager Mike Scioscia, hitting a .247 clip with three doubles and eight RBI over that stretch.

Scioscia decided to give him a day off, however, and will give Taylor Featherston the start at the keystone position. Featherstone was also in the lineup at third base on Tuesday, and has just one hit in 16 at-bats this season. 

Strikeout machine Zach Walters has been optioned by the Indians to Triple-A Columbus to make room on the roster for Wednesday night starter Shaun Marcum, the Northeast Ohio Media Group is reporting.

Walters has struggled to make consistent contact. He has 56 strikeouts in 144 at-bats over the last two seasons and has fanned eight times in 17 at-bats in 2015.

Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed went 2 for 3 in Tuesday's win over Miami. 

Ahmed increased his average to .181 and drove in a run, his fifth of the season. 

Braves infielder Pedro Ciriaco is in the starting lineup for the second time this season, as he will be the starting third baseman on Tuesday against the Rays. Ciriaco started Sunday's game at shortstop, but will slide over to the hot corner with Phil Gosselin lost for at least two months with a thumb injury.

The light-hitting Ciriaco is batting second in the order on Tuesday. He does have three hits in seven at-bats this season, with all of them going for extra bases (two doubles and a triple).

Angels left fielder Matt Joyce is back in the lineup for Tuesday's matchup with the Blue Jays, while third baseman David Freese is serving as the designated hitter for the third time this season.

Joyce was a late scratch on Monday but is ready to roll one day later. He said he was scratched because he thought the team was playing a night game on Monday rather than during the day, the Los Angeles Times reports. Joyce has hit just .143/.180/.219 in 105 at-bats.

Freese is getting a break from starting at third base for the third time this season. He'll be replaced at third base by Taylor Featherston, who is making his third start at the position.

The Angels are underdogs (+112) in Toronto on Tuesday, per VegasInsider.com.

Indians outfielder Michael Bourn is out of the starting lineup on Monday against the White Sox, the team announced.

Bourn has started eight of the last 10 and 30 of 36 games for Cleveland this year, but will get a day off for Zach Walters. Bourn is hitting .233 with nine RBI in 116 at-bats this season.

Tony La Russa, the Diamondbacks chief baseball officer, had be thinks shortstop Nick Ahmed will improve with the bat due to all the work he's been putting in, according to MLB.com.

"I think Ahmed is making a real positive effort with Turner and Mark to build a stroke that he can repeat, that's gonna make him an offensive plus," La Russa said. "We believe in him because we know the talent, we know the work ethic. But you don't just flip the switch. He's making adjustments and he'll continue to adjust."

Ahmed, an outstanding defender, entered Sunday with a .165 batting average.

Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Simmons has started all 36 games at shortstop this season but will receive his first break Sunday, with Pedro Ciriaco taking his place at the position and batting seventh. It's the first start of the season at any position for the backup infielder, who is 2 for 4 with two RBI in five games.

The Braves are underdogs (+117) in Miami Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

Red Sox manager John Farrell has been asking his players, speficially Xander Bogaerts, Blake Swihart and Sandy Leon, to drop down more bunts this season, according to MLB.com.

"We've placed a greater emphasis on it in spring training," said Farrell. "Maybe guys that haven't done it in their Minor League career, guys that dominate the Minor Leagues [but are] going to come up and hit in the bottom third of our order ... you want to allow them to grow as Major League players, but to contribute to a rally by putting down a sacrifice bunt, there's a lot of benefit that goes to the individual."

Boston has already dropped down 10 sacrifices this season in 36 games after only getting 20 down last season. 

"You go back to the game situation," said Farrell. "Did we anticipate an offense that would be more consistent than what we've shown? Yes, and we'll realize that in time. But where we are and what the game is suggesting and presenting to us, we've got to be equipped to handle that, and we've asked guys in those spots to lay a bunt down."