MLB Player News

Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella is finally getting a day off, as he is being held out of Friday's starting lineup against the Blue Jays. Giavotella is apparently dealing with an illness which has forced him to return home, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Giavotella, who is in the midst of a bit of a breakout season, is batting just .211 (8 for 38) over his last 10 ballgames. Ryan Jackson will get the start at the keystone position on Friday.

Don Mattingly has declared to the Orange County Register that Enrique Hernandez will get the "first shot" at taking over as the starting second baseman for the Dodgers in the wake of a hamstring strain that has landed Howie Kendrick on the disabled list.

That should not be taken literally. Jose Peraza has been promoted and is set to start Monday at second. But Hernandez is starting in center and will apparently be used mostly at second.

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson wasn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game, after starting 101 games this year. 

Pederson was replaced by Enrique Hernandez, who got his eighth start and fourth in the last 10 games. 

Giants newcomer Kelby Tomlinson continued to make an impact in the first major league start Wednesday.

The second baseman, who is replacing the injured Joe Panik, made the most of his two hits in a win over Atlanta. He singled in two runs in the second inning and singled in another in the fourth.

He is 3-for-5 since his promotion.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien hit a three-run home run to help send the A's to a 5-0 win over the Orioles on Tuesday.

Semien hit his 10th home run of the season off Chaz Roe in the sixth inning. It was his only hit in three at-bats during the contest.

Prior to Tuesday's win, Semien was hitting .125 with one home run and one RBI in his last 10 games.

Rays infielder Logan Forsythe got the scoring started on Tuesday, as he hit a two-run home run off Chris Sale in the first inning. It was the only hit of the night for Forsythe, as the Rays went on to win big, 11-3 over the White Sox. 

Forsythe, who also walked and scored later in the game, went deep for the 13th time this season and the second time in his past four games.

Padres first baseman Yangervis Solarte hit two home runs to help power the Padres to a 13-5 win over the Brewers on Monday.

Solarte hit a solo home run in the first inning off Wily Peralta and a three-run home run off Preston Guilmet in the seventh. He finished the game 2 for 4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Solarte now has seven home runs on the season.

Prior to Monday's win, Solarte was hitting .358 with three doubles and four RBI in his last 13 games.

The Rockies optioned infielder Cristhian Adames back down to Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday, according to the team's transactions page. Adames was recalled as infield depth following the trade of Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Adames did not get into a game, however, before being send back down. 

Padres infielder Yangervis Solarte recorded his second career four-hit game in Wednesday's 7-3 win over the Mets. Solarte went 4 for 5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.

The strong night at the plate gives Solarte a .343 batting average over his last nine games. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve had a big night at the plate in Tuesday's 10-5 win over the Angels. Altuve went 3 for 5 with a double, a run scored and five RBI.

The five RBI represent a career-high for the 2015 All-Star second baseman. Altuve is rolling at the plate once again, as he is batting .405 with a homer and 10 RBI in his last 10 ballgames.