MLB Player News

Semien has been dealing with an injury to his right wrist and will undergo an MRI on Saturday, Joe Stiglich of NBC Sports reports.

Manager Bob Melvin says the ailment has been nagging Semien while hitting and hindered his throwing during Friday's loss. The injury could serve as an explanation for a rough start at the plate this season, the shortstop is hitting just .171 with 11 strikeouts over 11 games. The team can only hope it's nothing serious, but if Semien is forced to miss extended time, backup Adam Rosales will be in line for increased playing time.

Semien is not in the Athletics' starting lineup Saturday against the Astros.

The day off comes in the midst of a rough start for Semien. The 26-year-old shortstop is hitting just .171 with 11 strikeouts over the first 11 games, serving as a black hole at the top of the order. On the bright side, he's been able to get on base, drawing 10 walks thus far. Adam Rosales fills his spot Saturday,

Semien went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks in a 7-2 loss to the Astros on Friday.

Semien continues to operate out of the leadoff spot, and Friday's production boosted his OBP to .370. The 26-year-old has been able to find his way on base by flashing the improved patience at the plate he'd vowed to demonstrate this season. Semien has already walked 10 times over 11 games and has notched four steals in as many attempts, despite the fact that his average sits at an unsightly .171 through his first 46 plate appearances. With a career-high 27 homers last season, it would also seem to be just a matter of time before Semien's power kicks in and he begins to work himself out of the early-season struggles he's encountered.

Herrera is hitting .188/.235/.313 with one home run, one double and a 2:7 BB:K in 32 at-bats for Triple-A Louisville.

He missed the first game of the year with a shoulder injury, but is back manning the keystone for the Bats. Herrera will likely need an injury at the big-league level to see a promotion, especially if he isn't forcing the issue.

Frazier is starting at shortstop and leading off Saturday against the Cubs.

Frazier has never played shortstop in the big leagues before, and last played the position a couple times in 2016 in the minors, though it was his primary position in 2014. While he is a good bet to get on base at least once out of the leadoff spot against righty Jake Arrieta, his lack of power caps his realistic ceiling in daily leagues. If Frazier can prove to be a competent defender at shortstop, he could start to cut into Jordy Mercer's playing time a little, as Frazier is the superior hitter.

Andrus went 2-for-4 with his second stolen base of the season in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Mariners.

Felix Hernandez and the Mariners bullpen did an exceptional job in limiting the potent Rangers offense in the series opener, but Andrus was still able to maintain his hot start to begin the season. It's the fourth two-hit game in a row for the shortstop, who has shown some heretofore unseen pop in the process. Eight of his 14 hits this season have gone for extra bases, including three home runs, putting him just five off the career-high eight long balls he slugged in 2017.

Altuve went 3-for-3 with two walks, two doubles and two runs scored in Friday's 7-2 win over Oakland.

Altuve is scorching right now, having reached base 11 straight times. After opening the season 4-for-25 with eight strikeouts and one walk, the 26-year-old second baseman is 10-for-18 with only one strikeout and seven walks over his last five games. As Brian McTaggart of the Astros' official site reports, Statcast indicates Altuve is making more of an effort to use the opposite field. Both of his doubles Friday went to right field and 41.2 percent of his batted balls are going the opposite way, including nine of his 14 hits (64.3 percent).

Merrifield is hitting .364/.400/.864 through 22 at-bats over six games with Triple-A Omaha.

One of the more surprising decisions across all of MLB this spring was the Royals choice to roster Raul Mondesi over Merrifield. The former is currently slashing .148/.179/.259 through 30 plate appearances in the big leagues while the latter tears up minor-league pitchers. It's tough to gauge where the organization stands on this one considering Merrifield would likely improve the Royals offense, but Mondesi is a big part of the club's future plans. If Merrifield continues to destroy Triple-A arms, the team might have no choice but to bring him up and find a place for the 28-year-old to play.

Forsythe has dropped down to fifth in the order for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Andrew Toles is set to lead it off for the Dodgers for Friday's series opener after Forsythe batted in that spot Thursday. It appears that Forsythe will continue to lead off against southpaws while Toles will hit in that spot against righties. Forsythe has just five hits in his last 25 at-bats and has struck out 10 times in that span.

Espinosa went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and three RBI during Thursday's loss to Texas.

At this point of his career, you know what you're getting from Espinosa. The 29-year-old infielder has ample pop, decent speed and an excellent glove, but he struggles in the batting average and on-base percentage columns. With full-time at-bats, Espinosa should approach last year's career-high 24 home runs and 72 RBI, though.