MLB Player News

Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar is out of the starting lineup again Wednesday with Danny Espinosa taking over the spot, the team announced.

Escobar suffered a hand injury in Monday's game with cuts on his hand when Andrelton Simmons slid into his glove trying to reach third base. Espinosa, who has played second for the majority of the year, will move to third with Dan Uggla drawing another start at second.

Manager Matt Williams said that Escobar is available in an emergency situation, as he was for Tuesday's game. He expects the infielder will be ready to return to his regular role Thursday, the Washington Post reports.

The Nationals are currently the favorites (-110) against Atlanta.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien totaled two singles in four at-bats Tuesday against the Angels for his eighth multihit game this season. He also had one run and one stolen base.

Semien is batting .360 (9 for 25) over his last six games following a 3-for-24 slump from April 14-21. He also has one double, one home run, three RBI, three runs and two stolen bases in his last six games.

Padres second baseman Yangervis Solarte has back-to-back multi-hit games for the first time this season, courtesy of a two-hit performance in a Tuesday loss to Houston.

Solarte singled in a run in the first and added another single and two walks. He has five hits in the last two games combined in raising his average from .283 to .346. with a surprising 12 RBI and fine .414 on-base percentage.

Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka was officially placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday due to right wrist tendinitis and a right forearm strain, the team announced.

To take his spot on the roster, the Yankees recalled infielder Gregorio Petit from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Jose Altuve went 4 for 6 in the Astros' thumping of the Padres on Tuesday.

Altuve is now 14 for his last 30 (.467 avg.).

Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford was placed on the 15-day disabled list prior to Tuesday's contest against San Francisco after MRI revealed a torn right oblique, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"It's a bad tear," Crawford said.

Crawford suffered the injury during Monday's game against the Giants. Manager Don Mattingly did not issue a concrete timetable for his return, but said he'd be surprised if his stint on the DL lasted only 15 days. He is hitting .245/.260/.408 with one home run, three RBI and one stolen base in 49 at-bats.

The team recalled Kike Hernandez from Triple-A, and will start in center field, while Alex Guerrero moved to left field in place of Crawford.

Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe is back in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Yankees with Tim Beckham sliding to designated hitter and Brandon Guyer moving to the bench, the team announced per the Tampa Bay Times.

Forsythe got the day off Monday with Beckham moving to second. He is hitting .262 with two home runs in 61 at-bats this season. Guyer had started the last four games in a row before getting Tuesday off.

The Yankees recalled pitcher Chase Whitley from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday. To clear a roster spot, infielder Gregorio Petit was optioned to Triple-A.

Padres infielder Will Middlebrooks is back in the starting lineup Monday at third base, moving Yangervis Solarte to second and Jedd Gyorko to the bench, the team announced.

Middlebrooks was given the day off Sunday, allowing Gyorko to make his first start in the last five games. Middlebrooks is hitting .239 with three home runs and 11 RBI in 71 at-bats this season.

The Padres are currently the favorites (-116) against the Astros Monday.

Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury will return to the starting lineup Monday against the Rays, the team announced. Ellsbury was pulled in Saturday's game with hip tightness and missed Sunday's game with the injury. Ellsbury is hitting .282 with a home run in 71 at-bats. 

Alex Rodriguez will also slide over to third base from designated hitter and move Chase Headley to the bench. Didi Gregorius also returns to the lineup at shortstop with Stephen Drew shifting to second base and Gregorio Petit moving to the bench.

The Yankees are currently the favorites (-140) against Tampa Bay.