MLB Player News

Rays infielder Nick Franklin has told the Tampa Bay Times that he is set to begin a rehab assignment this week at Port Charlotte. No date was specified.

Franklin, who has been sidelined all season with an oblique injury, hit just .160 in 81 at-bats a year ago.

Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius is not in the team's lineup for Sunday night's game. 

Stephen Drew will move over from second to start at shortstop for the fourth time this year. Gregorio Petit plays second, batting ninth. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve hit a three-run home run to help lead a 9-3 win at Oakland on Saturday. Altuve went 2 for 5, lifting his average to .315. 

Altuve's homer was his second of the year and gave him nine RBI. 

The Angels will start Grant Green at second base Saturday, giving Johnny Giavotella just his second day off of the season, the team announced.

Green, who was called up by Los Angeles Friday, lost out on the position battle in spring training to Giavotella and is hitting .328 with four doubles and three triples in 61 at-bats so far this season for Triple-A. 

Also in the starting lineup Saturday is Matt Joyce and Drew Butera, giving Collin Cowgill and Chris Iannetta the day off. The Angels are currently the favorites Saturday (-160) against the Rangers.

Rays second baseman Jake Elmore is in the starting lineup for the first time this season. Elmore will bat eighth in the lineup. 

Regular second baseman Logan Forsythe moves to first base. It's his fourth start of the season at the position. 

The Rays are +102 money line underdogs to visiting Toronto. 

White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie wasn't in the team's starting lineup for Friday's game. 

Gillaspie has started six straight games at third. He'll be spelled by Gordon Beckham, who gets his fourth start of the season. 

The White Sox are -108 money line favorites over visiting Kansas City. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve had the game-winning hit during a 6-3 win Tuesday against the Mariners. His bases-clearing double in the top of the eighth inning broke a 3-all tie.

The three RBI were a season-best for Altuve, who is batting .288 (17 for 59) with one home run, two doubles and seven RBI in 14 games. He also has five stolen bases.

Angels infielder Johnny Giavotella has never caused pitchers to tremble on the mound. His batting average peaked at .247 in 2011 and has dropped every year since.

But he sure has been hot to start this season.

Giavotella continued to rake Tuesday night in a thrashing of Oakland. He ripped a three-run homer off Drew Pomeranz in the second inning and added a run-scoring single in the sixth before crossing the plate himself. He finished with a career-high four RBI and now boasts a fine slash line of ..317/.383/.439.

Yankees right fielder Carlos Beltran and shortstop Didi Gregorius are not in the lineup for Tuesday's matchup with lefty starter Kyle Lobstein and the Tigers.

Beltran missed two games due to illness before returning to the lineup Monday. He had been batting third but was slotted fifth in his return Monday. Designated hitter Alex Rodriguez will make his fourth straight start in the No. 3 spot in the lineup Tuesday.

Gregorius has started 11 of the team's 13 games this year at shortstop. Backup infielder Gregorio Petit will play shortstop and bat ninth.

The Yankees are underdogs (+105) in Detroit Tuesday.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien went 1 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 6-3 win over the Angels Monday.

Semien has been better against lefties than righties but was able to take righty starter Matt Shoemaker over the fence in the fourth inning Monday. He's hit .250/.304/.423 with two home runs, nine RBI and one stolen base in 52 at-bats.

Semien will get to face three lefty starters in a four-game span starting Tuesday against Angels pitcher Hector Santiago.