MLB Player News

Angels left fielder Collin Cowgill was a late scratch from Sunday's lineup. He was replaced by Matt Joyce. 

Cowgill has been bothered by a sore back and was unable to complete pregame batting practice, per MLB.com.

Also, with a lefthander facing the Angels, second baseman Johnny Giavotella is out of the lineup for just the fourth time this season.

"He's been in the air a lot the last part of this little dry spell," manager Mike Scioscia said to the Orange County Register. "His game is really line drives, hard groundballs, working counts. I don't think there's pressing. I haven't seen his demeanor change or his game change. We're looking to get our offense deeper, and he’s an important guy to lengthen our lineup."

He's replaced by Taylor Featherston.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus did not get left out of a 10-run inning Saturday against the Yankees.

Andrus hit a two-run single the midst of the onslaught and later added a sacrfice fly for his first three-RBI game of the season. He also singled in the second inning as he vaulted his average to .235.

Nationals 2B Dan Uggla has been solid against left-handed pitchers this year, something his team wants him to continue on Saturday against the Phillies' Cole Hamels.

Uggla, who is hitting .273/.385/.545 in 11 at-bats against lefties this season, will get the start over Danny Espinosa.

In 62 career at-bats against Hamels, Uggla is only hitting .145/.239/.323 with three home runs, two doubles and six RBI.

Padres first baseman Yangervis Solarte was switched to the leadoff spot for Friday’s game at the Los Angeles Dodgers, reports the team's play-by-play announcer.

It is the first time this season Solarte will bat in the leadoff spot. He will go against Zack Greinke, who he is 0 for 5 against in his career. Solarte is batting .250 with two RBI in his last six games.

The Padres are the underdogs (+180) against the Dodgers on Friday.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien was given the night off on Friday against Tampa Bay, after an 0-for-4 performance that put an end to an eight-game hitting streak the previous day. With Semien out of the lineup, manager Bob Melvin gave newcomer Andy Parrino the start at shortstop.

Semien is hitting .338 (26 for 77) with three doubles, two triples, three homers and three RBI over his last 19 games played.

Seattle is an underdog (+126) at Tropicana Field, per VegasInsider.com.

Rays infielder Tim Beckham is in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the A's. Beckham, who is making his first start since Saturday, will play second base while batting eighth. 

The former first-overall draft pick has struggled at the plate this season, and has just four hits in 30 at-bats this month. Logan Forsythe, the team's regular second baseman, will be the designated hitter on Friday. 

Third baseman Conor Gillaspie is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Indians.

Gillaspie will be replaced by Gordon Beckham, who is starting for just the 10th time this season.

Gillaspie is hitting .261/.303/.424 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 92 at-bats this season.

Struggling Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is set to sit Thursday against visiting Oakland. Nick Franklin will play the position instead.

Cabrera has been steadily unproductive since mid-April. His batting average has not been higher than .225 since that point. He currently owns a stat line of .209/.264/.338 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 148 at-bats.

Dodgers shortstop Jimmy Rollins is being held out of the starting lineup for Thursday's contest against the Giants. Rollins had started each of the last six games and 10 of the last 11.

Rollins is just 6 for 28 lifetime against Thursday's starter Madison Bumgarner, so manager Don Mattingly felt this was a good time to give the veteran shortstop a day off. He is 10 for 38 over his last 10 games with a home run and two RBI.

Enrique Hernandez will fill in for Rollins at short while batting second in the order. 

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien extended his current hitting streak to eight games with a 1 for 5 effort in Wednesday's loss to the Astros. Semien has 12 hits, including a double, two triples and a home run in 33 at-bats during the eight-game stretch.

Overall this season, Semien owns a .309 batting average with six home runs in 160 at-bats.

He did commit his American League-leading 16th error of the season on Wednesday, as he continues to work on his defensive game.