MLB Player News

Manager AJ Hinch told MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that Altuve (hamstring) will join the team in Cincinnati on Tuesday for an evaluation and could be activated from the 10-day injured list as soon as Wednesday.

Altuve made his third rehab appearance with Triple-A Round Rock on Monday, assuming designated-hitter duties in that contest and going 1-for-4 with a triple, walk and two strikeouts. Since Altuve played second base for the affiliate the day before and was already scheduled to receive Tuesday off, the Astros elected to take a look at him rather than having him stick around in Round Rock. If the Astros' assessment of Altuve reveals nothing concerning, he'll likely re-enter the big-league lineup for Wednesday's series finale with the Reds. Tony Kemp is expected to transition into a utility role once Altuve is back in the fold.

Barreto, who went 1-for-4 with a grand slam home run, five RBI overall and a walk in a win over Triple-A Nashville on Monday, is slashing .286/.381/.538 with 11 homers and 42 RBI across 64 games with Triple-A Las Vegas.

Barreto's line is also partly comprised of 18 doubles, four triples, 11 stolen bases and 58 runs, making the 23-year-old one of the Aviators' most well-rounded contributors. Barreto has logged a pair of relatively brief majors stints over the last two seasons, but he's found consistent contact against big-league arms to be especially elusive. Another late-season promotion this season is certainly a possibility, although Jurickson Profar, the keeper of the keystone for the Athletics, seems to slowly be figuring things out at the plate after an abysmal start to the season.

Kemp went 0-for-4 in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Reds.

Kemp started at second base, like he's done several times while Jose Altuve (hamstring) has been sidelined; however, Monday's game may have been his last in that gig. Altuve played a second consecutive day while on rehab at Triple-A Round Rock, and his return is imminent, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.

Altuve (hamstring) went 1-for-4 with a triple and a walk while serving as the designated hitter for Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.

That makes back-to-back days for Altuve, who is said to be nearing a return to Houston. He played all nine innings at second base Sunday followed by Monday's turn at DH. He'll be evaluated Tuesday before any decision is made. Round Rock has one more home game before embarking on a road trip Wednesday, so the Astros could give Altuve one more game on rehab.

Semien went 1-for-2 with a double, two walks and two runs scored in Monday's 3-2 win over Baltimore.

Matt Olson knocked Semien in with an RBI double in the first inning and he later scored again on a throwing error by Chance Sisco. The veteran shortstop is batting .277 on the year, up from a .262 average at the end of May. He's scored five times in the last three games and has collected five multi-hit games this month.

Albies went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, four RBI and two runs in a 12-3 victory against the Mets on Monday.

Like a lot of the Braves hitters, Albies is red hot at the moment. Not only does the 22-year-old have hits in eight of his last nine games, he has six multi-hit contests during that stretch. Also occurring in that span, Albies has four homers and 13 RBI. Behind this hot streak, the 22-year-old is now hitting .286 with 11 home runs, 39 RBI, 46 runs and five steals in 290 at-bats this season.

Biggio went 2-for-2 with two walks, two home runs and three RBI in Monday's 10-5 loss to the Angels.

It's the rookie's second two-homer performance over the course of a small five-game hitting streak. Biggio's boosted his slash line to .233/.378/.517 with five long balls and 10 RBI in 19 games since his promotion with a strong 14:21 BB:K, and he's already showing the same power and patience he did in the minors.

Manager AJ Hinch said Monday "could be" Altuve's (hamstring) final minor-league rehab game, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

After going hitless in his first rehab game with Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, Altuve went 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored in Sunday's game with the Express. The Astros will reevaluate Altuve after his third rehab game Monday -- his first back-to-back appearance -- and if the second baseman reports no issues, it sounds like he could be activated shortly thereafter. Hinch noted "it's not out of the question" that Altuve plays in another rehab game following Monday.

Rengifo is not in the lineup Monday against the Blue Jays.

With David Fletcher and Tommy La Stella manning second and third base, respectively, Rengifo will retreat to the bench for a second consecutive game as Wilfredo Tovar picks up a start at shortstop. With the Angels getting healthier -- Andrelton Simmons (ankle) is nearing a return -- Rengifo could be heading to a bench role or back to the minors.

Dubon went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI for Triple-A San Antonio in its 8-3 win over Reno on Sunday.

Dubon has submitted four multi-hit performances in a row to lift his season average to .307. The young shortstop has been aided to some extent by a .330 BABIP, but his 13.4 percent strikeout rate and 31.1 percent opposite-field-hit rate support the notion that he possesses a plus hit tool. Dubon should get a look with the big club at some point in 2019, though it may not happen until September unless injuries strike Milwaukee's middle infield.