MLB Player News

After spending the last four games in the cleanup spot, Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun will return to the leadoff position in Mike Scisoscia's lineup on Tuesday against the Mariners. Calhoun didn't exactly impress hitting fourth, as he went 4 for 17 with zero extra base hits in those five games.

Contrastly, Calhoun is batting .299 when hitting from the top of the order, and he will assume that spot on Tuesday. David Freese is batting cleanup on Tuesday.  

The Indians have slotted first baseman Carlos Santana at second in the batting order on Tuesday against the Royals, according to MLB.com.

It's the first time this season Santana has hit anywhere besides fourth in the lineup. In five games batting second, Santana is hitting .118 with three walks.

The Blue Jays have recalled utility man Chris Colabello and optioned infielder Jonathan Diaz to Triple-A Buffalo, th team announced Tuesday.

In addition, pitcher Jayson Aquino was designated for assignment. Colabello posted a .337 average with five home runs in 23 games in Triple-A this season. The 31-year-old hit .229 with six home runs in 2014 for the Twins. Diaz is 0 for 5 with one RBI this season. 

After having the previous two games off, Angels slugger C.J. Cron was back in the lineup on Monday against the Mariners. He went 0 for 3 in the 3-2 loss as the team's first baseman. Cron, who broke out in 2014 with 11 home runs, has left the yard just once this season. 

Cron's struggles, which includes an underwhelming .229 batting average, has caused him to lose playing time. He has appeared in just 19 of the team's 26 games thus far, and with several other DH options at manager Mike Scioscia's disposal, Cron could be in danger of seeing even less time if he doesn't improve at the plate.

The Blue Jays will promote first baseman/outfielder Chris Colabello prior to Tuesday's game against the Yankees, according to Sportsnet.ca. 

The 31-year-old Colabello was International League Player of the Month in April. He is batting .337 with three doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI in 23 games for Triple-A Buffalo.

Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was dropped from third in the batting order to seventh Monday, and he responded by going 2 for 4 with one run in his team's 5-1 win over the Red Sox.

"We just decided kind of where he’s at, let’s drop him down, try to get him going, relax him a little bit," manager Kevin Cash said, per the Tampa Tribune. "There is some pressure there hitting in the three-spot. We’re all confident Cabby is going to help us out a lot this year. We just need to buy a little time with it now."

Cabrera was hitless in his previous 14 at-bats heading into Monday's game. He's hit .206/.260/.278 with eight RBI in 97 at-bats.

Indians first baseman Carlos Santana enjoyed a productive day at the plate during Sunday's victory over the Blue Jays. Santana, who has played every inning of every game for the Tribe in 2015, reached base in all five plate appearances Sunday. He went 2 for 2 with and RBI, a run scored and three walks. 

Santana is hitting .265 (9 for 34) with five RBI over his last 10 games. He's also drawn 14 walks with just three strikeouts over that strech. He currently leads the American League with 22 base-on-balls.

Astros first baseman Chris Carter went 1 for 3 at the plate in Houston's 7-6 win over the Mariners on Sunday. 

Carter did his damage in the third when he ripped a two-run blast off of J.A. Happ over the left field wall, his third of the season. Carter boosted his average to .159 with eight RBI in 82 at-bats.

The White Sox are off to an 8-13 start to the season, but Jose Abreu came to the defense of manager Robin Ventura. 

"If the people want someone to blame, it's the players. Not Robin," Abreu said, per the Chicago Sun Times. 

The White Sox left two regulars out of the lineup on Sunday and moved another to DH to give him a day's rest from playing the field. 

Catcher Tyler Flowers is out of the lineup. For the third time in five games, he'll be replaced by Geovany Soto, who will bat eighth in the order. 

Third baseman Conor Gillaspie is also out of the starting lineup, for just the fifth time this year. He's replaced by Gordon Beckham, who'll bat seventh. 

Jose Abreu moves from first base to DH, swapping positions with Adam LaRoche, who gets his third start of the year at first base.