MLB Player News

Espinosa went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Wednesday's 4-0 loss to the Red Sox.

Espinosa drew the proverbial short straw for his first start in a Seattle uniform with Chris Sale on the mound, but the slugger has been struggling throughout the season. The 30-year-old is now hitting just .067 in July and has struck out seven times in 15 at-bats during the month. However, Espinosa isn't slated to see much playing time in Seattle, with his opportunities likely to be almost exclusively limited to when Robinson Cano gets a day off.

Semien went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays.

Semien erased an early 2-0 deficit with his 362-foot shot to left in the fifth, the third time he's gone deep in his injury-shortened 2017. The 26-year-old has hit safely in six of his last seven games, compiling a .370 average, two home runs and five RBI over that span.

Solarte (oblique) was able to hit right-handed Wednesday and is approaching a rehab assignment, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Solarte has been out with the oblique issue since June 21, as it has obstructed his ability to both swing from the right side and play the field. He was able to connect with some real power in batting practice according to observers, a good sign that he's getting healthy and could make a return sometime in early August.

Marte doubled, homered and walked in a 2-for-4 effort against the Braves on Wednesday, driving in two runs and scoring two.

He came into this game hitting a brutal .196/.255/.370 with only a single multi-hit effort, which came more than three weeks ago, so this was a badly needed breakout performance for the 23-year-old infielder. However, we'll need to see more before he can be recommended even in NL-only formats, as Marte is stuck in a utility role.

Franklin is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Indians.

With Franklin sitting for the second straight game against a right-handed starting pitching, it seems rather apparent that he's been supplanted by Kaleb Cowart as the top option at the keystone. Cowart, who has slashed .311/.383/.482 this season at Triple-A Salt Lake, rewarded the Angels with a 2-for-4 showing at the plate Tuesday, so he should continue to play regularly against both both right- and left-handed starters until his production craters.

Drury is not in Wednesday's lineup for the series finale against the Pirates.

He heads to the bench for the fourth time in the last seven games, as the D-Backs continue to search for ways to keep Daniel Descalso in the lineup. Drury will need to show more consistency from the plate if he is to keep an everyday role with the team moving forward.

Dubon, 23, is hitting .280/.306/.421 with two home runs, 16 RBI and three steals in 24 games since being promoted to Triple-A.

Dubon is currently blocked by Orlando Arcia, but his speed and ability to handle the bat makes him an intriguing infield prospect for the Brewers. Dubon stole 31 bases in 71 games at Double-A prior to the promotion, and has not hit below .274 at any level of full-season ball during his time in the minors.

Herrera underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery Wednesday to remove bone chips from his right shoulder, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

The Reds' main prize in their trade last summer that sent Jay Bruce to the Mets, Herrera was believed to be nearly major-league ready at the time of his acquisition, but it's one year later and he has yet to make his Cincinnati debut. The shoulder issue, which had plagued Herrera in spring training before he aggravated it earlier this month while playing with Triple-A Louisville, ensures that he won't surface in the big leagues until 2018. The rebuilding Reds were hopeful that Herrera and Jose Peraza would make for a formidable double-play tandem for years to come, but with health concerns plaguing the former and the latter struggling to make an impact with the bat, the organization could be forced to alter its long-term plans in the middle infield. Herrera finishes the 2017 campaign with a .264/.312/.397 batting line across 264 plate appearances with Louisville.

Andrus went 2-for-5 with a triple, RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 10-4 dismantling of the Marlins.

Andrus struggled out of the gate to open the second half, but he's made up for it in the last five games, turning in three multi-hit efforts. With his three-bagger Tuesday, Andrus is now up to 39 extra-base hits on the campaign, putting him well in range to surpass his previous career best of 46, which he established last season.

Merrifield went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Tigers.

The leadoff blast was Merrifield's fourth homer in the last six games and 11th of the year. The 28-year-old's been on fire since the All-Star break, slashing .347/.411/.714, and he's become one of the unsung heroes of the Royals' climb into playoff contention after their rough start to the season.