MLB Player News

Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella is out of the starting lineup for the first time since April 25. Giavotella had started each of the last 21 games for manager Mike Scioscia, hitting a .247 clip with three doubles and eight RBI over that stretch.

Scioscia decided to give him a day off, however, and will give Taylor Featherston the start at the keystone position. Featherstone was also in the lineup at third base on Tuesday, and has just one hit in 16 at-bats this season. 

Rays infielder Nick Franklin is already contributing in just his second day back with the team after a stint on the disabled list, according to MLB.com.

"We had a great conversation today," said manager Kevin Cash. "Nick's been very in tune to what's going on here. Followed us a lot [while he was on the DL]. He's excited to join us. He's going to definitely have a valuable role for us."

Cash will rotate Franklin into the starting lineup to get him acclimated.

"We will definitely get him some starts simply because we've asked a lot of Logan [Forsythe] and Cabby [Asdrubal Cabrera] early on this year," Cash said. "So we want to keep them fresh. We'll work him in probably a couple of times a week. Factoring in on how some of the other guys are doing."

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus is batting second in Tuesday's matchup with the Red Sox.

Andrus has been the team's No. 2 hitter for much of the season but was dropped to six for the last two games, with Delino DeShields moving up to second. However, Andrus will resume his regular role Tuesday against lefty Wade Miley. The shortstop has hit .362/.423/.511 with one home run and three RBI in 47 at-bats against lefties.

The Rangers are underdogs (+125) in Boston on Tuesday, per VegasInsider.com.

Mets second baseman Dilson Herrera had his injured finger re-examined on Monday, and it was confirmed that he's dealing with a fracture, Newsday reports.

Herrera is scheduled to be re-evaluated in three weeks. He hit .235/.297/.353 in 34 at-bats before being placed on the disabled list.

Rays second baseman Nick Franklin went 2 for 5 with a double and two runs scored in his season debut on Sunday as his team rolled over the Twins, 11-3.

Franklin is getting a late start to the season after suffering an oblique injury.

"I’m excited to play," Franklin said, per the Tampa Tribune. "When I found out what the MRI showed (after the injury), I prepared myself. It’s been a month and a half — plenty of season left."

Manager Kevin Cash said that Franklin's versatility and switch-hitting ability will be important, but that infielder Logan Forsythe has earned a big role with the team.

"Nick can play second base or shortstop and give some guys an extra day of rest," Cash said. "Logan’s been outstanding, but at the same time, we have to be smart about the workload of some of these guys. Logan’s a big part of what we’re doing."

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa went 1 for 3 at the plate in Washington's 10-5 win over the Padres on Sunday.

Espinosa did his damage in the fifth when he crushed an 0-1 pitch from Ian Kennedy over the right field wall for a three-run shot, his fifth of the season.

"I got a good pitch to hit," Espinosa said to MLB.com. "I was trying to look for something I could drive. I got over-aggressive on the first pitch and I told myself to just be patient."

Manager Matt Williams likes the progress he's seen from Espinosa.

"All I know is last year," Williams said. "Last year his head was getting out in front of his body. This year, he is sitting down at the plate a little bit more and he is letting the ball come to him. Anytime you can do that, you have a better chance of having a little bit of success. He loves to play. I love to put him in there. He delivered again today for us."

Espinosa is hitting .275 with 13 RBI in 102 at-bats this season.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien has become the main factor of Oakland's defensive issues this season. He added two more errors to his total, putting him at 13, the most in the league. It's something he's trying to fix, according to MLB.com.

"I don't focus on the number of errors," Semien said. "I focus on fixing them, making the play, making the next play. If I see the number of errors building up, it's not going to affect me. That's what shows up in the box score. That can't bother you as an infielder, as a defensive player."

Manager Bob Melvin is still looking for answers to his team's defensive miscues, racking up a total of 42 errors in 39 games.

"Just snowballing on us right now," Melvin said, "to where I think guys are thinking about it quite a bit -- don't make an error -- and we ended up doing it. We're not playing clean games at this point. They're ugly-looking games. It affects how you play. It affects your confidence."

A day after being activated from the disabled list, Rays infielder Nick Franklin is back in the starting lineup on Sunday, playing second base and batting eighth. 

Franklin had been on the disabled list with an oblique injury.

Franklin's return moved Logan Forsythe to designated hitter. It's his second start at DH this seaosn.  

Rays right-hander Andrew Bellatti received praise from Kevin Cash after pitching three scoreless innings in his major league debut Monday.

He has not pitched since. And on Saturday, he was optioned out to make room for veteran utility infielder Nick Franklin, the Tampa Bay Times has reported.

Franklin has been activated after spending time on the disabled list with an oblique strain. He has been out all season.

For just the third time this season, Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson is not in the starting lineup. Pederson has been slumping lately at the plate, hitting just .154 with seven punchouts in his last seven games. So manager Don Mattingly has decided to give the youngster a rest for Saturday's matchup with the Rockies.

Enrique Hernandez will fill in at center field and bat leadoff on Saturday.