MLB Player News

Motter went 3-for-4 with three doubles and a run scored in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Astros.

Entering the starting lineup in place of Jean Segura (hamstring), who landed on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday, Motter broke out of an 0-for-7 skid to begin the season with an excellent night at the dish. Motter is expected to serve as an everyday option at shortstop until Segura returns, with manager Scott Servais indicating that Segura should be good to go in the minimum 10 days. While Motter could carry some appeal in AL-only and deeper mixed leagues, the short-term nature of his starting assignment means that fantasy owners shouldn't get overly invested in him.

Rosario went 3-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored for Triple-A Las Vegas in Tuesday's rout of Fresno.

It's a measure of the confidence the Mets have in their No. 1 prospect that Rosario is not in Triple-A as a 21-year-old, but he's hitting third in the lineup. He's rewarded that confidence by going 11-for-26 through his first six games at the level, although Rosario is still looking for his first extra-base hit. A major-league debut this year isn't out of the question if injuries open up a spot in the Mets infield, but with Asdrubal Cabrera's contract expiring in the offseason, Rosario might be the early favorite to be the club's Opening Day shortstop in 2018.

Altuve went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Mariners. It was his first RBI of the season.

The entire Astros team broke out Tuesday with 14 hits off Seattle pitching. Altuve had been the poster child of the team's low-wattage offense but is showing recent signs of life. After striking out eight times in the first five games, the perennial All-Star and MVP candidate has struck out just once over the last four games while going 5-for-16 with three walks and two stolen bases.

Espinosa went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in a comeback victory over the Rangers on Tuesday.

The veteran's homer sparked a three-run rally off of Rangers closer Sam Dyson that pushed the game into extra innings. The three-hit performance saw Espinosa's batting average jump from .130 to .214. The 29-year-old has historically been an all-or-nothing power hitter, and he has done nothing to shake that label with his new club. As long as fantasy owners can stomach his low-200s batting average, it is tough to find a cheaper source of 20-homer potential from a middle infielder.

Andrus picked up a double, a homer and two runs in five at-bats Tuesday against Anaheim.

Always better known for his wheels than his lumber, Andrus is coming off his finest offensive season, as he set career bests in average (.302), OBP (.362) and slugging (.439) last year. We're still waiting for him to take off running (zero steal attempts so far), but the bat hasn't slumbered at all -- he's racked up six extra-base hits, including a pair of homers, in seven games.

Motter is starting at shortstop and hitting ninth in Tuesday's game against Houston, Shannon Drayer of MyNorthwest.com reports.

Jean Segura was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a strained hamstring, so Seattle turned to Motter to fill in. Motter's major-league experience has been fairly limited to this point. Over the past two seasons, he's played in 38 games and slashed .174/.280/.279.

Mathias (shoulder) is expected to be out until early May, MLB.com's Mike Rosenbaum reports.

He suffered a dislocated left shoulder and a slight tear in his labrum while diving for a groundball in a Cactus League game on March 11, and while he has avoided surgery, rehabbing the injury will take at least four weeks. Mathias is a gifted hitter with excellent plate skills (87:48 K:BB in 115 games at High-A last year), and has a chance to be an average everyday second baseman at the big-league level. He is expected to report to Double-A Akron when healthy.

Lux was held back in extended spring training as he works his way back from a rib issue, MLB.com's William Boor reports.

Lux was likely ticketed for Low-A Great Lakes, but suffered some sort of rib injury this spring, which will delay his full-season debut. He is a true shortstop, and has a knack for making consistent contact, but it is unclear what kind of power he will grow into down the road.

Rodgers, who opened the year on the 7-day DL with High-A Lancaster, is dealing with a minor hand issue, MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports.

It sounds like Rodgers could return soon from the hand injury, and he will be eligible to come off the minor-league DL later this week. This puts on hold what figured to be a pretty big year for the 20-year-old middle infielder, in part because he will get to play half his games at the hitters' haven at Lancaster.

Polanco is starting at shortstop and hitting third Tuesday against the Tigers, the Star Tribune's Phil Miller reports.

This is a new look lineup, as Polanco has hit fifth, sixth and seventh so far this season. However, he is one of the Twins' only hitters who is off to a hot start at the plate (.389/.450/.667), and has a career .346/.385/.568 line in 91 career plate appearances against lefties, making him a prime option in the three hole against southpaw Matt Boyd.