MLB Player News

Altuve hit his 11th home run in a 2-for-5 game with two runs scored Monday against the Angels.

June has been the hottest month for Altuve yet, as he's hitting a robust .394 with five extra-base hits (two home runs) and a slick 10:6 BB:K in 18 games this month. The performance pushed Altuve's batting line for the season up to .343/.423/.545, all three of which would be career highs.

Petit hit his second home run of the season, a grand slam, in Monday's loss to the Astros.

Petit continues to make the most of the chance he is getting with Andrelton Simmons injured. Although he has a rough 7:25 BB:K, he now has two home runs and 10 doubles to give him a sharp .446 slugging percentage. As long as he hits for this kind of power, the Angels will have to find a spot for him in the infield just to keep his bat in the lineup. He has 15 career starts at third base and 21 at second base, versatility that will only help his case.

Giavotella is not in the lineup for Monday's matchup with the Astros, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

Giavotella will sit while Gregario Petit gets the start at second base and bats ninth. The second baseman is on an eight game hitting streak, but he'll rest while righty Doug Fister starts on the mound. Giovatella has struck out three times and gotten one hit in his 10 career at-bats against Fister, so this will be a good day for him to get some rest.

Espinosa went 1-for-3 with a solo homer Sunday at the Padres.

Espinosa's 12th bomb of the season pulled the Nationals to within one run in the fifth inning of a game they'd go on to lose. He's now launched seven homers over his last 17 games, and he's slugging .403 on the season.

Drury was optioned to Triple-A Reno following Sunday's victory over the Phillies.

Drury was actually awarded the start Sunday, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in the effort. He had been losing playing time of late due to the promotion of Peter O'Brien, however, so he had likely been next in line for a demotion if a roster spot was needed. The Diamondbacks have yet to announce a corresponding move, though it will likely come Monday when they activate projected starter Shelby Miller.

Forsythe went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's loss to the Giants.

He's now hitting .286 (12-for-42) in nine games since coming off the DL while scoring six runs from the leadoff spot in Tampa's order. The steal was his fourth of the year, and after swiping nine in 2015 he's got a shot at the first double-digit campaign of his career.

Solarte (thumb) is back in the lineup Sunday against the Nationals.

Solarte was held out of Saturday's game due to soreness resulting from a bruised thumb, but it sounds as if the discomfort hasn't lingered into the afternoon contest Sunday. He'll bat cleanup in the order and draw the start at third base.

Solarte's absence from Saturday's lineup was related to his ongoing bruised-thumb soreness, the Associated Press reports. He was healthy enough to pinch hit in the eighth inning.

Solarte's two-run single in the eighth - an opposite-field blooper that found the turf - was a key hit as the Padres rallied for a 7-3 victory over Washington. He remains day-to-day for the moment.

Merrifield went 3-for-5 with a walk, four RBI and a run against the Tigers on Saturday.

Merrifield's four RBI were a career high for the rookie second baseman. He's riding a seven-game hitting streak in which he's amassed five multi-hit performances while raising his average 17 points. Through his first 115 MLB at-bats, the 27-year-old is slashing .339/.356/.469.

Solarte is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Nationals.

The Padres will plug the left-handed Brett Wallace in at third base in place of Solarte on Saturday as they face Washington righty Max Scherzer. After a scorching start to the month of June, Solarte has cooled off considerably, slashing just .036/.129/.071 over his last 28 at-bats.