MLB Player News

A day after being activated from the disabled list, Rays infielder Nick Franklin is back in the starting lineup on Sunday, playing second base and batting eighth. 

Franklin had been on the disabled list with an oblique injury.

Franklin's return moved Logan Forsythe to designated hitter. It's his second start at DH this seaosn.  

Rays right-hander Andrew Bellatti received praise from Kevin Cash after pitching three scoreless innings in his major league debut Monday.

He has not pitched since. And on Saturday, he was optioned out to make room for veteran utility infielder Nick Franklin, the Tampa Bay Times has reported.

Franklin has been activated after spending time on the disabled list with an oblique strain. He has been out all season.

Rangers manager Jeff Banister dropped shortstop Elvis Andrus down to the No. 6 spot in the batting order on Saturday against the Indians, per MLB.com. Andrus started 25 of Texas' 36 games in the No. 2. Delino DeShields will take over that role on Saturday.

"Let's see if Delino can carry what he's been doing in the nine hole up to the two slot," manager Jeff Banister said to the Dallas Morning News. "Against right-handers, that's been a bit of a challenge for us."

Andrus is hitting .190 (4 for 21) over his last six games, lowering his batting average from .230 to .224 on the year.

Texas is an underdog (+124) at home against the Indians.

Rays manager Kevin Cash moved James Loney as a designated hitter for Saturday's contest against Minnesota.

Cash told reporters he planned to give his regular first baseman a DH day at some point over the weekend, and felt Saturday was the best day to do so, per the Tampa Bay Times. Logan Forsythe moved to first base, with David DeJesus in left field.

Loney is hitting .241 (19 for 79) with three doubles, two homers and seven RBI this season.

Tampa Bay is favored (-110) at Minnesota, per VegasInsider.com.

Jose Altuve knocked a three-run homer Friday in the Astros' victory over the Blue Jays.

Jose Altuve's home run was his fifth of the season. 

"He's certainly hunting for the opportunities to do damage," manager A.J. Hinch said to the Houston Chronicle. "There's a powerful swing in there. He's going to some big parts of the ballpark. That's big-man territory when he hits the ball on the barrel."

The second baseman hit seven homers all of last year during his batting-title winning season (.341).

For the first time since May 8, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is in the lead-off spot on Friday against the Blue Jays. Altuve has been hitting second over the last five games, while Jake Marisnick was atop of the batting order.

But Marisnick struggled as the lead-off batter for manager A.J. Hinch, going just 3 for 21 over that stretch. Marisnick is being dropped back down to ninth in the order with Altuve back in the lead-off spot. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 2 for 3 in Thursday's win over Toronto. Altuve doubled, his ninth of the year, and scored twice. He walked once and saw his average increase to .333.

Altuve also stole two bases, giving him 13 on the season. 

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien hit his sixth home run of the season in Tuesday's 9-2 win over the Red Sox. 

Semien finished the game 3 for 5 and also hit his first triple of the season. He hit a single and would have hit the cycle if he hit a double. Semien now has 15 RBI this season. 

Semien now has three home runs in his past three games. 

With Billy Burns receiving the night off in favor of Sam Fuld, the Athletics moved Coco Crisp to the leadoff spot and Marcus Semien to the No. 2 hole Tuesday night against Boston, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reports.

Semien is hitting .295/.340/.810 with five home runs on the season.

Oakland is considered a home favorite (-120) against the Red Sox, per VegasInsider.com.

Rays infielder Nick Franklin is getting closer and closer to returning to the majors. Manager Kevin Cash is hearing good things on Franklin and his rehab, according to MLB.com.

"He's playing well," Cash said. "He's recovering well. He'll ramp up his schedule. More back-to-back days playing. We'll definitely have some decisions to make on the roster the next couple of weeks."

Franklin is currently on the 15-day DL with a left oblique strain after suffering the injury in spring training.