MLB Player News

Scuffling Red Sox third baseman Xander Bogaerts has been given the day off for the Saturday game in Oakland. Jonathan Hererra is set to man the position.

Bogaerts hasn't had a hit in 12 at-bats since Tuesday. He has also in a 4-for-43 slide that has lowered his average from .299 to .265.

Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon cranked out four hits in his team's 6-1 win over the Rockies on Monday.

Gordon singled in the opening frame, tripled in a run in the third, reached on an infield single in the fourth and singled again in the sixth. He finished a perfect 4 for 4 with one walk and two runs scored. He is hitting .285 with two homers and 21 RBI in 263 at-bats.

An illness limited Red Sox third baseman Xander Bogaerts to pinch-running duties Sunday, but he was back in the lineup Monday against the Twins. Bogaerts, who will bat second, is hitting .278 with six homers and 18 RBI in 245 at-bats.

Red Sox infielder Xander Bogaerts was not in the team's starting lineup Sunday due to an illness, according to the Boston Globe. 

Bogaerts came to the clubhouse dealing with an illness and will not play. There's hope Bogaerts will be able to return to the starting lineup Monday. He's hitting .278/.366/.429 over 245 at-bats.

Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon went 1 for 4 with a two-run home run in his team's 6-4 win over the Diamondbacks Saturday.

Gordon was able to collect his second home run of the season in the third inning off Arizona starter Josh Collmenter. His other home run came all the way back on April 8. Gordon has hit .278/.324/.392 with 21 RBI and 36 stolen bases in 255 at-bats.

Chris Owings did drive one out of the park Thursday against Houston, but that was one bright light in a dark period for the Diamondbacks shortstop.

Owings is 2 for 22 since a tremendous series in Colorado in which he compiled seven hits and seven RBI.

That, however, has only served to weaken his stat line to a still-solid .269/.304/.442. Owings is also 6 for 6 in stolen base attempts.

Red Sox infielder Xander Bogaerts was not in the team's starting lineup Thursday.

It's a normal day of rest for Bogaerts. Brock Holt will get the start at third base with Bogaerts out. Over 237 at-bats, Bogaerts is hitting .278/.367/.422.

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford has been inching his way up the lineup with a fine recent run. He even batted fifth Wednesday night.

Crawford owns a seven-game hitting streak and a triple in each of the last two games. He is 10 for 24 during that stretch and his .255 average is at its highest point since May 14.

He is on pace to establish a career year with 18 home runs and 85 RBI. His .458 slugging percentage far exceeds what he has achieved in any previous season.

Red Sox infielder Xander Bogaerts won't blame his recent slump on playing third base, according to WEEI.

"I really don’t think so," said Bogaerts when asked about the issue. "It’s just a matter of maybe a bit more work over there at third. I’m not saying I lost my focus on hitting, but sometimes you tend to try to fix things more over there."

Bogaerts is hitting just .163 in June, though the first game of his current slump actually came with him playing short. Bogaerts said he hasn't been able to get his barrel on balls recently, but doesn't think it's a big problem going forward. "We all make mistakes. We all struggle. We all go through tough stretches. I’m going to be fine."

A hitless slide that has reached four full games covering 16 at-bats doesn't seem to be fazing Red Sox rookie shortstop-turned-third baseman Xander Bogaerts.

"I'm going to be fine," he told WEEI.com after going 0 for 4 Wednesday night. "Sit back, relax and enjoy."

Bogaerts, who has been prone to hot and cold spells this season, now owns a .278 average that is at its lowest point since May 27.