MLB Player News

Rosario is batting second and manning shortstop Thursday against the Reds, Marc Carig of Newsday reports.

He took a breather Wednesday for the second time in three games, which appeared to be normal maintenance. Rosario is still adjusting but also holding his own in his first 99 major-league plate appearances, compiling a .250/.273/.448 line, while flashing solid power with four homers in that time.

Merrifield went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer and a steal in Wednesday's loss to the Rays.

He pretty much was the Kansas City offense in this one, with his 17th homer providing all the team's runs. Add those long balls to Merrifield's 26 steals and .283 average, and you're looking at fantastic fantasy value from a guy who went undrafted in most leagues this year. He'd been cold lately, going 4-for-25 (.160) over a six-game stretch, albeit with a pair of homers, but Merrifield's few slumps haven't tended to linger.

Andrus went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs against the Astros on Wednesday.

There are a number of impressive hot streaks that can be picked out of Andrus' season, but these last five games have been something particularly special, as he's gone 13-for-23 (.565) with four doubles, a triple, three RBI and six runs scored. Andrus has seen his fence-clearing power dry up some -- he has just one homer in his last 25 games -- but he's been racking up hits like nobody's business.

Marte (hamstring) is in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Marte missed the past two games while dealing with a hamstring issue, but returns to his typical spot at short and in the seventh spot of the order for Wednesday's affair. Over the course of Marte's last eight appearances, he's hitting just 2-for-24 (.083 average) after going on a tear to start the month.

Rosario is out of the lineup against the Reds on Wednesday.

Rosario will sit for the second time in three contests after starting the previous 14 games. The shortstop went 1-for-3 with a strikeout during Tuesday's loss to Cincinnati, and will be replaced by Jose Reyes in the starting nine for Wednesday's affair.

Albies went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Phillies.

Albies played a role in his team's nine-run offensive explosion, driving in a run with a single in the third inning while crossing the plate himself in the third and fifth. The 20-year-old second baseman hasn't looked out of place in his rookie season, slashing .269/.324/.473 in his first 26 games with the big club.

Rodgers (quad) went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in his return to action with Double-A Hartford on Tuesday.

A quad issue cost Rodgers more than three weeks, but he made it back in time for the final seven games of Hartford's schedule. The third overall pick in 2015, Rodgers hit .400/.419/.700 at the High-A level prior to his promotion to Double-A, but he was playing in one of the more hitter-friendly parks in the minors in Lancaster. His .267/.331/.425 line with Hartford is closer to his true talent level.

Drury went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, a run scored and two RBI in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the Dodgers.

It's been feast or famine for Drury at the plate lately. Eight of his last nine hits have gone for extra bases (six doubles, a triple and a homer), but they've been scattered across 12 games, leaving him with an awkward .257/.250/.571 slash line during that stretch. If the 25-year-old can start producing some singles or walks to supplement his gap power he could be a fantasy force, but as things stand his main value comes from his flexibility and multi-position eligibility in deeper formats.

Andrus went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, an RBI and three runs in Tuesday's 12-2 rout of the Astros.

The veteran shortstop's sudden outburst of power has been quite something, as he's now set a new career high in doubles with 36 and he's already doubled his previous career high in homers with 16. Andrus has done all that while hitting for the best average of his career (.303) and stealing 20-plus bases for the ninth time in his nine seasons, leaving him with an unimpeachable five-category fantasy line.

Polanco went 2-for-3 with a pair of solo homers, a walk and a steal in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the White Sox.

Polanco launched a solo shot off James Shields in the third inning to make it a 3-0 game and took Aaron Bummer deep in the seventh for his team's final run. The switch-hitting shortstop is slashing just .256/.304/.408 for the year, but a recent hot streak has elevated him to third in the batting order. Polanco's hit safely in 12 of 13 games since Aug. 17 while producing six long balls, 10 runs scored, 17 RBI and three steals over that stretch.