MLB Player News

Rays infielder Nick Franklin is getting closer and closer to returning to the majors. Manager Kevin Cash is hearing good things on Franklin and his rehab, according to MLB.com.

"He's playing well," Cash said. "He's recovering well. He'll ramp up his schedule. More back-to-back days playing. We'll definitely have some decisions to make on the roster the next couple of weeks."

Franklin is currently on the 15-day DL with a left oblique strain after suffering the injury in spring training.

Athletics left fielder Coco Crisp is in the lineup and batting second in Monday's game against the Red Sox, bumping shortstop Marcus Semien to the No. 8 spot.

Crisp has led off in each of his three starts since coming off the disabled list but is 0 for 15 at the plate. Semien became a fixture in the second spot in late April and early May and also filled that role over the weekend, but he'll move back to the No. 8 spot for Monday's matchup.

The Athletics are favorites (-118) at home against the Red Sox, per VegasInsider.com.

Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson is out of the starting lineup on Monday with John Mayberry taking over in right field, the team announced.

Granderson has missed just three of the team's first 31 games for rest and started six in a row. Mayberry is hitting .120 in 25 at-bats this season. Michael Cuddyer is also back in the starting lineup after originally being reported as out for Monday.

Dilson Herrera and Kevin Plawecki all return to the lineup after getting the day off on Sunday.

The Mets are currently the underdogs (+150) against the Cubs.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus has hit just .222/.283/.286 with one home run, eight RBI and four stolen bases in 126 at-bats, and much of his offensive issues can be traced back to his work against right-handed pitchers.

Andrus has taken advantage of a high .394 BABIP to post a .333/.391/.476 line against southpaws, but he's hit just .167/.228/.190 in 84 at-bats against righties to torpedo his overall numbers. On the positive side, the shortstop is finding an alternate way to get on base in May while struggling at the plate, as he's managed to draw eight of his 11 walks this season this month. A more selective Andurs in the batter's box could be a precursor to an offensive rebound.

Struggles against left-handers has prevented Padres switch-hitter Yangervis Solarte from really taking off in 2015.

Solarte owns a more-than-respectable slash line of .293/.343/.424. But he is just 3-for-21 against lefties. resulting in occasional benchings. He has two home runs and 18 RBI on the year.

His average, however, is at its lowest point since April 24. Solarte has seven hits in his last 31 at-bats.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien went 3 for 4 at the plate in Oakland's 4-2 loss to the Mariners on Sunday.

Semien was the only player for Oakland to find success against Seattle's ace Felix Hernandez. Semien ripped a solo home run in the third inning before matching his success in the sixth with a second solo shot, his fifth of the season.

He is just the fifth player ever to have multiple home runs in a game against Hernandez.

"His at-bats are terrific," said A's manager Bob Melvin to MLB.com. "Hits two home runs off a guy that just doesn't give up many."

Semien is now hitting .307 with 14 RBI in 127 at-bats this season.

Center fielder Adam Eaton and third baseman Conor Gillaspie were both out of the White Sox lineup for Sunday's game. 

Eaton will be replaced by J.B. Shuck, who starts for just the fourth time this season. He'll bat ninth. 

Replacing Eaton at leadoff is second baseman Emilio Bonifacio, who leads off for the first time this year. 

Conor Gillaspie will be replaced at third by Gordon Beckham for the second straight game. 

Mets rookies Dilson Herrera and Kevin Plawecki are out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

Herrera has made seven straight starts at second base since joining the lineup but will get a breather Sunday, with Ruben Tejada taking his place. Plawecki has made five straight starts behind the plate, but Anthony Recker will catch Sunday.

The Mets are road favorites (-150) in Philadelphia.

Rays first baseman James Loney is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against Texas. 

Logan Forsythe replaces Loney at first and bats cleanup for the third time in four games.

The Rays are -156 money line favorites over Texas. 

For a guy who plays infrequently, White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham sure swung the bat Saturday night against Cincinnati like he was in the groove.

Beckham singled in a run in the fourth, ripped a solo homer in the sixth and put the cherry on top with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. He nearly doubled his season RBI output in the process.

The fine game ended a 1-for-13 slump.