MLB Player News

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford went 3 for 5 at the plate in San Francisco's 11-2 win over the Reds on Saturday.

Crawford did his damage in the fifth inning when he crushed a grand slam off of Mike Leake, the third of his career. Crawford totaled a career-high six RBI in the game, the first time a Giants player has done so since 2013. 

"He's so gifted defensively, but he's underrated as a hitter," manager Bruce Bochy said to MLB.com.

"Look at the numbers. He's a very productive hitter who finds a way to get the runs in. He seems to have great focus up there with men on base. He's dangerous, too. He can hit the ball out of the park, as you saw. He's a good baserunner. He's just a good all-around ballplayer."

Crawford moved his average to .277 with 24 RBI in 120 at-bats this season.

Red Sox outfielders Mookie Betts and Shane Victorino are out of the lineup for Saturday’s game in Seattle, getting replaced by Jackie Bradley Jr. in center field and Brock Holt in right.

Holt will bat leadoff while Bradley will hit ninth.

Betts has led off 33 of the Red Sox’s 36 games coming into Saturday.

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts will move up and hit sixth on Saturday, the highest he’s hit in the order all season.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon continued his hot hitting during Friday's 5-3 loss to the Braves.

Gordon went 3 for 5 with one run scored. He is now batting .433 on the season. Gordon is 37 for 72 over his last 17 games.

Gordon is now tied for the second most hits in the first 33 games of the season in major league history, according to FOX Sports. Gordon has 61 hits in 33 games. He trails only Hank Aaron, who had 66 in 1959. 

Indians manager Terry Francona said he's giving Zach Walters the start at third base Friday in Texas to try to "...get him going," reports the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

In four games this season, Walters is 0 for 8 with six strikeouts.

Walters, in his third MLB season, is a career .182 hitter (26 for 143).

Mets second baseman Dilson Herrera was a late scratch Friday night against Milwaukee due to torn fingernail, according to ESPN. Manager Terry Collins swapped Herrera with Ruben Tejada in the lineup.

Herrera is hitting .235 (8 for 34) with a home run, three RBI, two walks and nine strikeouts in 10 appearances.

New York is favored (-125) at home against Milwaukee, per VegasInsider.com.

Indians center fielder Michael Bourn and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall were not included in the starting lineup Friday night against left-hander Bruce Chen and the Rangers, per the team's official website.

Bourn is a .200 hitter (8 for 40) this season against southpaws. Chisenhall has fared better against left-handers, slashing .256/.326/.308 on the year. Manager Terry Francona inserted Zach Walters at third. Michael Brantley shifted to center field, with Ryan Raburn in the left field and at the cleanup spot.

Diamondbacks third baseman Yasmany Tomas was a late scratch Friday night because of an illness, reports the team's official website.

Tomas was set to hit fifth before he was scratched. Instead, second baseman Chris Owings will bat fifth, with Cliff Pennington playing third and batting sixth.

Tomas is hitting .288/.344/.322 with eight RBI in 21 appearances.

Arizona is favored (-120) at Philadelphia, per VegasInsider.com.

Red Sox manager John Farrell is returning several regulars back to the starting lineup on Thursday against the Mariners. First baseman Mike Napoli, shortstop Xander Bogaerts, catcher Blake Swihart and right fielder Shane Victorino were rested on Wednesday, but all are back in for Thursday night's contest.

Veteran Indians utility man Mike Aviles could be destined to take over the starting shortstop job, according to the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Aviles is currently on the family medical emergency list after his daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, but he should be back this weekend.

He would replace struggling Jose Ramirez, who would be sent to Triple-A Columbus for steady work. Ramirez is batting .179.

"I'm encouraged by the way Jose continues to work, both offensively and defensively, to try to improve his performance," said general manager Chris Antonetti. "But it's been a struggle for him. He's a young player that's going through an extended struggle in the major leagues in an environment where there's high expectations for team success."

Ramirez has admitted that, though he remains confident, he's not the same player that helped spark the team following the 2014 trade of Asdrubal Cabrera.

His potential demotion would thrust Zach Walters into the backup shortstop role.

Mets infielder Daniel Murphy was given the day off Thursday and is out of the starting lineup against the Cubs. He had started all but two of the Mets' games so far this season, but with a lefty on the mound, manager Terry Collins opted to give Murphy a breather. Murphy is hitting just .154 against left-handed pitching in 2015. 

In his place, Ruben Tejada will get the start at third base and bat eighth. This is the first appearance at the hot corner for Tejada, either in the big leagues or the minor leagues. He did get some reps at third during spring training, however. 

Dilson Herrera will make his second consecutive start at second base on Thursday.