MLB Player News

Rays infielder Nick Franklin played in his second rehab game on Wednesday, going 0 for 2 with two walks. He was checked out by a trainer after taking a swing, but was able to stay in the game. The Rays are looking to get Franklin 20-30 at-bats in his rehab before activiating him from the disabled list, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella drove in the winning run during Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Mariners.

With the game tied at 3-3 in bottom of the ninth inning, Giavotella hit a double to drive in Erick Aybar for the game-winning run. The double was Giavotella's only hit in four at-bats during the game. He has now hit safely in three-consecutive games.

Mets second baseman Dilson Herrera went 3 for 3 with a home run and three RBI in his team's 5-1 win over the Orioles Wednesday.

Herrera opened the scoring with an RBI single in the second inning, then added his first home run of the season with a man on in the sixth. He was just 1 for 13 in four games with the team before exploding offensively Wednesday. If Herrera can find more performances like Wednesday's three-hit game, he could quickly move up in the batting order.

The Yankees have reinstated infielder Jose Pirela from the 15-day DL and sent infielder Gregorio Petit to the 15-day DL with a right hand contusion, the team announced.

Pirela has been on the disabled list since the beginning of the season after crashing into the outfield wall in spring training. He is in the starting lineup Wednesday, batting ninth.

Petit suffered his injury in Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays when he was hit in the hand by a pitch. Petit is hitting .200 with five RBI in 35 at-bats this season.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien went 1-for-3 in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Twins. The individual performance is certainly nothing to write home about. But he has now reached base safely via a hit or a walk in nine consecutive games, including hits in four straight.

On the season, Semien is slashing .273/.322/.427 with three home runs and 12 RBI. He should continue to be the regular at shortstop for manager Bob Melvin for the foreseeable future. 

Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters he subbed Alex Rodriguez in for Gregorio Petit at third base late in Tuesday's 6-3 victory over Toronto because Chase Headley is dealing with soreness in his lower back, per Newsday. Petit was drilled in the hand in the eighth inning, which prompted the change by Girardi in the bottom of the ninth.

Headley is expected to be back in the lineup Wednesday.

"I'll be fine," Headley said.

Headley is hitting .247 with 10 RBI in 97 at-bats this season.

Rays second baseman Nick Franklin went 1 for 3 at the plate in his first rehab game for Triple-A Durham on Tuesday.

Franklin, who is currently on the 15-day DL with an oblique injury, hit a single and struck out once in the appearance. Franklin is yet to appear in a game for Tampa Bay this season after picking up the injury just before the beginning of the season.

Yankees third baseman Chase Headley is out of the starting lineup Tuesday against the Blue Jays, according to Newsday.

Headley has started the last six games at third for New York, but was charged with an error in the eighth inning of Monday's game, leading to the go-ahead run for Toronto. Gregorio Petit will take his spot and bat ninth. Headley is hitting .247 with 10 RBI in 97 at-bats this season.

For the second time in three games, the Padres are keeping both first baseman Yonder Alonso and shortstop Alexi Amarista out of the starting lineup. 

Just as in Saturday's contest, Yangervis Solarte gets the start at first and Clint Barmes will start at shortstop.

It's Solarte's fifth start of the year at first, and Barmes eighth at short. They're hitting fifth and eighth in the lineup respectively. 

Angels manager Mike Scioscia swapped left fielder Matt Joyce and second baseman Johnny Giavotella in the batting order for Monday's game against the Mariners. Giavotella hit sixth, while Joyce, who has just one hit in 21 career at-bats against the M's starter Felix Hernandez, is now batting seventh.

Joyce is also struggling at the plate recently. He has just four hits in his last 10 games and only one RBI. Giavotella, meanwhile, has been a bit of a sparkplug for the Angels. He's hitting .250 (8 for 32) with three RBI over his last 10 games.