MLB Player News

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.

Frazier will bat eighth and start at second base Monday against the Reds.

With lefty Brandon Finnegan on the mound, Frazier may only be in the lineup because of Josh Harrison's injury, but he did go 10-for-24 against southpaws in 2016. Frazier is batting .353 in 17 at-bats and has already seen action at second base, third base and the outfield. He's proven to be one of Pittsburgh's most improved players so far in 2017.

Chavis was placed on the 7-day disabled list at High-A Salem after sustaining an elbow injury, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Chavis' 2016 campaign was derailed by a thumb injury, but the Red Sox don't seem to fear that the elbow issue will cast a major pall on his status for the current season. Assuming the injury proves to be the short-term concern the Red Sox believe it is, Chavis could return to action in late April and reassert himself as one of the organization's top corner-infield prospects.

Polanco went 2-for-4 with a home run in Sunday's win over the White Sox. He's hitting .389 (7-for-18) through five games this season.

Polanco's strong first week to the season should ease any concerns he could lose playing time to Eduardo Escobar. However, Polanco's glove may ultimately decide if he'll stick as Minnesota's everyday shortstop.