MLB Player News

Albies went 3-for-5 with a walk, a double, a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Saturday's 14-10 loss to the Cubs.

That's now four straight multihit games for Albies, a stretch during which seven of his 10 hits have gone for extra bases (five doubles and two homers). After popping six home runs in 57 games last year during his big-league debut, he already has five in 14 games to begin 2018, and the only downside to his remarkable power display is the opportunities it's costing him to utilize his speed on the basepaths -- he's only 1-for-2 on steal attempts so far.

Merrifield is starting in center field and hitting second Saturday against the Angels, 610 Sports Radio Kansas City reports.

He already has one start in right field, so it's possible he will gain outfield eligibility in some formats this season. Ryan Goins is starting at second base in this game, so if manager Ned Yost prefers this arrangement, it could become a regular setup. Given Merrifield's speed, he could be a more valuable defender in the outfield. He is hitting .255 (.308 BABIP) with zero home runs and one steal on two attempts in 52 plate appearances.

Marte went 2-for-5 with a run scored in Friday's 8-7 win over the Dodgers.

Marte's hitting streak now stands at eight games, with the infielder having scored five runs over the past four contests. The Diamondbacks seem to have committed to Marte as their No. 2 hitter, so his run-scoring opportunities should remain plentiful while he slots in directly in front of A.J. Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt in most contests.

Andrus (elbow) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday.

In a corresponding move, the Rangers recalled Ronald Guzman from Triple-A Round Rock. This was merely a housekeeping move as Andrus is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with a fractured right elbow.

Garcia went 4-for-6 with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base for Low-A Hagerstown in Thursday's extra-inning loss to Greensboro.

The shortstop was 0-for-11 through his first four games of the season, but he seems to be acclimating quickly to the level and has gone 8-for-18 since then, although all the hits have been singles. Garcia won't turn 18 for another month, so any success he has at the plate in Low-A is impressive, and while his glove remains his calling card as a prospect, his speed and hit tool still give him some future fantasy appeal in deeper dynasty leagues.

Andrus won't need surgery for his fractured right elbow but will still be sidelined for 6-to-8 weeks with the injury.

Andrus was diagnosed with an olecranon fracture of the elbow after being hit by a pitch during Wednesday's game. Though it was a positive development in the fact that Andrus won't require surgery, his timetable means that he likely won't return to action until the end of May. The Rangers will officially place him on the disabled list and make a corresponding move prior to Friday's game against Houston. In his place, expect Jurickson Profar and Isiah Kiner-Falefa to see regular playing time in the middle of the infield.

Herrera has appeared in six games for High-A Daytona to begin the 2018 season, including getting a start at the keystone on Opening Day, Chris Boyle of The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

Herrera underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his right shoulder last July, and was hampered by a lingering shoulder issue this spring, which took him out of the running for an Opening Day roster spot with Cincinnati. The 24-year-old reported to Daytona since the High-A level utilizes a designated hitter and Herrera was not feeling 100 percent coming out of camp. It's a positive sign that he's been able to get some work in at second base and he will likely return to Triple-A once he's back to 100 percent.

Marte went 3-for-4 with a double, a pair of runs and an RBI in Wednesday's 7-3 win over the Giants.

Marte entered the series finale riding a six-game hit streak, but with no multi-hit efforts mixed into those contests, he had managed just a .240 average during that span. He managed to break out Wednesday, reaching base three times while scoring more than one run in a game for the first time all season. Manager Torey Lovullo appears to have settled on Marte as the club's No. 2 hitter against both right- and left-handers, so more run-scoring opportunities should come so long as he continues to get on base at a respectable clip.

Semien went 2-for-5 with a walk, a double, three runs scored and four RBI in Wednesday's 16-6 rout of the Dodgers.

The shortstop now has a nine-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in all 13 games this season, but it's been by the skin of his teeth -- this was Semien's first multi-hit game since Opening Day, and his .268/.323/.393 line and 29 percent strikeout rate aren't ideal for a leadoff hitter. He's been productive so far, but there's still plenty of room for improvement, and if the 27-year-old falls into a slump, Franklin Barreto is on the bench and ready to step in.

Manager Jeff Banister said an X-ray on Andrus' elbow revealed a fracture, Levi Weaver of The Athletic Dallas reports.

Andrus suffered the injury after being hit by a pitch on his elbow during Wednesday's loss to the Angels. This is another brutal blow for the Rangers, who also lost second baseman Rougned Odor to a hamstring injury earlier in the week. Andrus will obviously be sent for additional testing in the coming days, but early indications are that he'll be forced to spend some time on the disabled list. More should be known once he's further evaluated Thursday. Assuming he misses extended time, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Jurickson Profar would likely hold down the middle of the Rangers' infield.