MLB Player News

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts is not in the lineup Saturday against the Mariners, one day after he was hit by a pitch in the head. At this point, it is not clear what the nature of the issue is, but he will likely be re-evaluated throughout the day, with an update expected later.  

Red Sox infielder Xander Bogaerts left Friday's game after being hit in the head by a pitch.

Bogaerts was hit in the head while up to bat in the fifth inning. Trainers looked at Bogaerts following the play, but he managed to stay in the game. Bogaerts actually stayed in through the following inning, but was pulled at the beginning of the seventh. He will be evaluated for a concussion. Bogaerts was 0 for 1 with a strikeout before leaving the game. 

For the fourth time with the Indians and the seventh time in 72 big-league at-bats this year, Zach Walters homered Thursday. And judging by his 29 homers in 487 at-bats at Triple-A last year and his 17 homers in 268 at-bats at Triple-A this year, it's something he'll continue to do.

Though he's been playing DH for the Indians, Walters' most important attribute is that he's eligible at shortstop. Offensive production as a whole is scarce at the position, and power hitting especially.

So it's a match made in Fantasy heaven, at least in theory -- the same one that had Fantasy owners flocking to Javier Baez upon his arrival.

But while Baez has long been touted as a face-of-the-franchise type, Walters was just a spare part for the Nationals -- one easily expended at the trade deadline. While the disparity no doubt says something about Walters' upside, it may say even more about his downside. Quite simply, his shortcomings may prove to be more than he can overcome.

He's a swing-at-anything type, striking out more than 100 times more than he walked at Triple-A last year. He hit only .253 as a result, which doesn't bode well for his chances in the majors. If you need cheap homers, he's a sneaky way to get them out of a middle infield spot. Just don't expect much more than a .200 batting average from him.

Indians infielder Zach Walters continued his home run binge Thursday against the Twins. 

Walters struck in the fifth inning. He took an 89 mph cutter from Phil Hughes out to right for the solo shot. He finished 1 for 3, with one run scored and one RBI. Walters struck out in his other two at-bats. Walters has now homered in four of his last eight games.

Indians infielder Zach Walters hit his sixth home run Wednesday against the Twins.

Walters went deep in his first at-bat of the game. He belted an 82 mph splitter on the first pitch he saw from Ricky Nolasco. Walters finished 1 for 4, with one run scored and one RBI. Walters has now homered in three of his last seven games. 

Veteran Cliff Pennington has no set position, but Kirk Gibson has found a way to get him into the lineup virtually every day for the Diamondbacks. He has started at second, third and shortstop in the last six games.

Pennington has earned the playing time. He has at least one hit in each of those starts and is 10 for 25 during that stretch with eight runs scored and six walks. His .369 on-base percentage is at its highest point since May 5.

Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings will play in the Arizona League before beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno Friday, MLB.com reports.

Owings has been out since late June while recovering from a shoulder injury. He has hit .277/.313/.458 with six home runs, 21 RBI and seven stolen bases in 238 at-bats.

The Dodgers scored six runs Thursday in Atlanta. Second baseman and leadoff hitter Dee Gordon tallied four of them.

Gordon singled in the first, fifth and ninth innings and walked in the third. He crossed the plate after each of those visits to the basepaths. Not bad considering he'd scored just twice in his previous 10 games combined.

Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings will face live pitching Friday as part of his recovery from a shoulder injury that has prevented him from playing since late June.

Owings is still not expected to return to the field until September. "We're moving as fast as we can," Kirk Gibson told the Arizona Republic. "We can't rush it."

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said Sunday it's unlikely shortstop Chris Owings (shoulder) will be back before September, per FOX Sports Arizona. Owings has been out since late June.