MLB Player News

Rays infielder Tim Beckham has hit well since entering the starting lineup in the opening week of the season. Beckham is hitting .267 with two home runs and six RBI in 30 at-bats. 

"What I've seen the past two weeks is a player who is hungry, a player who understands the opportunity in front of him," Rays president of baseball operations Matt Silverman said. "I've seen a guy whose confidence is increasing every game. He's had some success, and I think that is making him a more confident and productive player."

Beckham got his chance when Nick Franklin strained an oblique muscle late in spring training. But he may be headed back to Triple-A once Franklin is healthy enough to return.

"I'm not looking at how Franklin is doing, and I'm not worrying about what the front office is thinking," Beckham said. "As a player, I can only control what's in front of me. I'm trying to maximize my performance every day, and adding pressure by worrying about what other people are doing is not going to help me."

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve carries a nine-game hitting streak into Monday's game at Seattle. He is batting .385 (15 for 39) with one double, one home run, four RBI, four runs, three walks, three strikeouts and two stolen bases in that span.

Taking the mound for Seattle on Monday is Hisashi Iwakuma. Altuve is batting .400 (10 for 25) with three doubles and five RBI in his career against the right-hander.

The Astros are in Seattle for three games before playing Oakland for three games. Altuve has a .323/.358/.462/.820 slash line in 38 career games vs. Seattle and has a .347/.384/.457/.840 slash line in 41 games vs. Oakland.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien is 4 for 10 against lefties over the first two weeks while hitting just .211/.250/.368 against right-handers.

Semien has struggled with the bat over the last week, going just 2 for 17, but he could be in for a boost during the upcoming week. He'll match up with three southpaws over a four-game span starting Tuesday. Semien also delivered an OPS 98 points higher against lefties in 2014, so any string of left-handed matchups could indicate an impending boost in production.

White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham didn't start Sunday but entered the game in the eighth inning as a defensive replacement and doubled in his only at-bat in his team's 9-1 loss to the Tigers.

Beckham has seen just three starts this season but has played well in limited time, going 5 for 13 with a home run and three RBI. With starting third baseman Conor Gillaspie failing to get things going offensively over the first two weeks, it's possible Beckham could carve out some more playing time if he continues to perform at the plate.

Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella is in the midst of a four-game hitting streak that has boosted his season line to .314/.359/.371 in 35 at-bats.

Batting in the No. 9 spot in six straight games over the last week, the second baseman has been able to find some offense, going 7 for 19 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs. He's rewarded manager Mike Scioscia's decision to give him the starting job over Josh Rutledge before the season so far.

After opening the season with a 10-game on-base streak, Rays infielder Logan Forsythe has been kept off the basepaths for two straight. 

Forsythe is hitless in his last five at bats, which has dropped his average to .262.

Forsythe has walked five times this season and had a six-game hitting streak. He's played three infield positions and has changed positions mid-game seven times already this season.  

Rays second baseman Nick Franklin and first baseman James Loney both fielded ground balls prior to Saturday's game against the Yankees. Franklin and Loney, who are both dealing with an oblique issue, will still require minor-league rehab games before they're activated form the disabled list.

One general manager, who has interest in acquiring Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, indicates it is going to be difficult for the Rangers to trade Andrus now, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. 

While the Rangers have infield depth in the minors, it is mostly at the lower levels. Also, Jurickson Profar missing a second straight season due to shoulder problems is also making it difficult for Texas to part ways with Andrus, who is under contract through 2022.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has had plenty of success offensively in his MLB career, as evidence by his 2014 AL batting crown and his career .302 batting average.

However, one pitcher Altuve hasn't been able to solve has been Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver, who will be on the mound Friday to open a three-game series against Houston.

Altuve is batting .188 (3 for 16) in his career against Weaver. All three of his hits are singles and he has no RBI or walks. He also has three strikeouts.

Altuve is carrying a six-game hitting streak into Friday's matchup. He is batting .357 (10 for 28) with one double, one home run and three RBI in that span.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that infielder Nick Franklin (oblique) is not ready to begin a rehab assignment, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Franklin has been able to take part in batting practice, but he has yet to play in a game since being placed on the disabled list before the beginning of the season.