MLB Player News

Semien went 2-for-4 with a run in a loss to the Indians on Sunday while also getting picked off first base. He's now hitting .368 (7-for-19) with an RBI, a walk and three runs over the last five games.

Semien's average has only gone up a modest six points overall to .251, but the more important aspect of his recent surge is that he may be rounding back into form after hitting just .182 over the first 21 games of June. The shortstop has actually coaxed his strikeout rate down to a career-low 19.5 percent this season, but he's also making hard contact at almost two percentage points lower than last season (28.8 percent, as compared to 2017's 30.3 percent). Coupled with a drop in flyball rate from 42.1 percent to 36.1 percent, Semien is producing only modest power numbers thus far (seven home runs over 375 plate appearances).

Joseph was outrighted to Double-A Bowie on Sunday after going unclaimed off waivers, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports.

As expected, the other 29 teams had limited interest in acquiring Joseph through trade or the waiver wire after the Orioles designated him for assignment last week. Though he didn't make much of an impression while appearing in four games with the Orioles, Joseph has been magnificent with Bowie this season, logging a .947 OPS across 286 plate appearances. That production isn't quite as impressive after accounting for the fact that the 29-year-old is well above the median age for the Eastern League.

Chavis (suspension) will make his 2018 debut with short-season Lowell on Monday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Chavis will be back in action after serving an 80-game suspension for the use of a performance-enhancing substance. Expect to see him back at the Double-A level in the near future after getting some reps in with Lowell.

Garcia went 4-for-5 with a double, three runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base for Low-A Hagerstown in Sunday's win over West Virginia.

The 18-year-old continues to put together some very impressive numbers, hitting .364 (32-for-88) over his last 23 games with 12 multi-hit performances, but the most exciting development for Garcia might be the emergence of some power to go along with his speed and contact skills -- five of his last 12 hits have been doubles, and he has a .159 ISO over that 23-game stretch, well above last season's .085 mark in rookie ball. The shortstop continues to rise up the prospect rankings, and he could be knocking on the door of a spot in the top 50 by season's end.

Torres went 1-for-4 with a walk and a three-run home run Sunday against the Red Sox.

Torres recorded only one hit but made it count by launching a three-run home run off David Price in the first inning. It was his 15th home run of the season and first since June 19, his longest drought since waiting 12 games to record his first major-league home run after being called up April 22. That's an indication of just how well he's played, as is his .552 slugging percentage through 212 at-bats this season.

Forsythe is in line to see most of his starts at the position against left-handed pitching moving forward after Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed he views Max Muncy as the club's primarily second baseman, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

With all of the Dodgers' key regulars now back to full strength, Roberts has favored Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner at the corner-infield spots, the two positions Muncy has played most frequently this season. Since Muncy has made a claim to a full-time role with a stellar 1.024 OPS on the season, the Dodgers have elected to clear room in the lineup for him at the keystone, despite his lack of defensive polish at the position. Forsythe's superior fielding isn't enough to make up the sizable deficit between his and Muncy's offensive performances, as the former's OPS checks in at just .557 after he struck out as pinch hitter in his lone at-bat Sunday. In light of his immense struggles this season in addition to the impending downturn in playing time, Forsythe may be tough to justify rostering at this point, even in shallower NL-only settings.

Chavis (suspension) is able to return to action Monday and will report to short-season Lowell, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Chavis is expected to be activated after serving an 80-game suspension for the use of a performance-enhancing substance. He slashed .250/.310/.492 with 14 homers and 39 RBI through 67 games for the Sea Dogs in 2017 and, after this stint at the lower level, he should return to them later this season after getting back in game shape.

Sweeney was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo following Sunday's 9-1 loss to the Tigers, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Sweeney was summoned from the bench as a defensive replacement late in the blowout loss Sunday, representing his first big-league action since 2015. The 27-year-old's potential return to Toronto will get a little easier after he was added to the 40-man roster Friday, but he's unlikely to be anything more than a lightly used bench bat the next time he receives a cup of coffee.

Hernandez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Rockies.

Hernandez has historically done most of his damage against lefties, but manager Dave Roberts had kept the utility man in the lineup for their last five games against right-handers in an effort to ride his hot bat. The 26-year-old's starting streak will come to an end Sunday against Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis, but after finishing June with a .348 on-base percentage and seven home runs, Hernandez should retain at least a semi-regular spot in the Dodgers lineup.

Barreto is out of the lineup Sunday against the Indians, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

It looks like Barreto's time as an everyday player for the Athletics could soon be coming to an end. Per Slusser, the Athletics anticipate that Matt Chapman (hand) will be ready to return from the 10-day disabled list Tuesday against the Padres, at which point he would step back in as the team's everyday third baseman while Jed Lowrie heads back to the keystone. That would leave no path to consistent at-bats for Barreto in the middle infield, so it's expected that he'll be sent back to New Orleans after what has been an up-and-down stint with the big club. In 12 games since his June 15 promotion, Barreto has gone 11-for-45 (.244 average) with three home runs and 10 RBI, but he has struck out in 43.5 percent of his plate appearances.