MLB Player News

Semien went 2-for-5 with three runs in Monday's 8-3 win over the Tigers.

Semien did an impressive job setting the table from the top of the order, generating his fifth multi-hit effort of September in the process. Despite a subpar .299 OBP for the month, Semien has already crossed the plate on 12 occasions in 16 games.

Altuve is not in the lineup Sunday against the Mariners.

Altuve will receive a rare day off Sunday as the Astros opt to start Marwin Gonzalez at second base. Houston has Monday off, so look for Altuve to return to action Tuesday against the White Sox.

Andrus went 0-for-3 at the dish in Thursday's 10-4 loss to the Mariners.

After a red-hot August and strong start to September, Andrus has cooled off over the past six games, going 3-for-19 with three walks. The minor slump shouldn't prompt Andrus' fantasy owners to take him out of the lineup, as he's been one of the top performing shortstops all season and should play nearly every day with the Rangers still fighting for a playoff spot.

Despite going 0-for-2 Wednesday against the White Sox, Merrifield managed two walks and inched closer to the AL stolen base lead with his 29th swipe of the season.

Merrifield sits just two stolen bases shy of Astros' second baseman Jose Altuve, and three swipes shy of matching his own minor-league career high. The second baseman has put together an impressive campaign after not making the Opening Day roster, and Merrifield (17 homers) is within reach of a 20-30 campaign in just his second MLB season.

Altuve went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in a loss to Oakland in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday.

The second baseman is capping off another monster fantasy campaign and is now up to 23 homers, 76 RBI, 31 stolen bases, 98 runs and a .350/.410/.564 slash line. While those are elite numbers at all positions, they're even more impactful from the keystone. Altuve also has a few more weeks to pad his final stat line.

Semien is not in the Athletics' lineup Saturday for Game 2 of their doubleheader, Joe Stiglich of NBC Sports California reports.

He led off in Game 1 and went 1-for-3 with three walks and one run scored. Semien will take a breather but likely will return to action Sunday. Franklin Barreto will take his place at shortstop.

Semien went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and a second run scored in Friday's 9-8 win over the Astros.

His seventh-inning blast, Semien's sixth home run of the year, tied the game at 7-7 to set up some ninth-inning heroics by Jed Lowrie. It was Semien's first home run since Aug. 16, but he's still been productive despite the power outage, slashing .295/.348/.443 with 11 runs and 11 RBI over his last 14 games.

Andrus went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, three RBI and a run in Friday's 11-5 win over the Yankees.

Andrus' breakout season as a power hitter refuses to end, as the shortstop has now compiled 11 extra-base knocks -- including four home runs -- just in his last 10 games. He should continue to pile up the RBI in September now that on-base machines Delino DeShields and Shin-Soo Choo are locked into the top two spots in the batting order.

Altuve is back in Friday's lineup as the No. 2 hitter and second baseman against the Athletics, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

With Thursday's day off, the Astros saw Wednesday as the perfect time to give Altuve a night to rest and refresh for the home stretch. He has sat just three times since the All-Star break, and it would be surprising if Altuve sits out any more games until the Astros manage to clinch the AL West division crown.

Polanco went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and two RBI in Thursday's 4-2 win over the White Sox.

Polanco's big hit was actually a bases-loaded single off closer Kelvin Herrera, which drove in two runs to break a 2-2 tie with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. His .262/.314/.418 line is nothing special compared to most other hitters in Minnesota's lineup, yet Polanco continues to bat in the heart of the order. Putting him there paid off for manager Paul Molitor in this one, so don't expect the shortstop to be moved down anytime soon.