MLB Player News

Collins was called up by the White Sox on Tuesday.

Collins provides additional catcher depth behind Yasmani Grandal, taking over the backup spot from Seby Zavala, who was optioned in a corresponding transaction. There could also be more at-bats available elsewhere for a bat-first player like Collins with Andrew Vaughn (back) landing on the injured list, but Collins' .202/.324/.331 season slash line suggests he shouldn't be spending much time as a designated hitter.

Martinez went 0-for-3 with a walk in Monday's 5-4 loss to the Mariners.

Martinez returned to the lineup after missing three games with tightness in his back.

Alvarez increased his pre-game workouts at first base over recent days, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez's typical pre-game routine involves taking groundballs at first base, but the level of the activity increased and he's nearing the point of playing there in a game. Houston manager Dusty Baker wanted to put him there in a game last week -- during last week's blowout 11-2 win over the Mariners -- but Alvarez felt he wasn't ready yet. "We feel he can do it, just in the future. He's been working there a lot," Baker said. First base is not foreign to Alvarez, who made 39 starts there in the minors.

Turner went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBI in Monday's 5-1 win over Arizona.

Turner roped a two-run double in the first inning and added a solo shot in the seventh for some extra insurance. He's gone just 5-for-28 (.179) over his last eight games but all five hits have gone for extra bases and he's racked up nine RBI during that span. Turner is now slashing .275/.364/.475 with 80 RBI and 45 extra-base hits on the year.

Alvarez 2-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI, four runs and a walk in Monday's win over the Rangers.

The 24-year-old took Wes Benjamin deep in the second inning with Jose Altuve on base and then hit a solo blast in the seventh off of Hyeon-Jong Yang. Alvarez is now at 30 homers and 94 RBI on the season, both of which are career highs. The home runs were his first since August 29 and he had struggled to a .241 batting average with only two RBI over 10 games in the month of September prior to Monday.

Buxton went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in the loss to the Yankees on Monday.

The outfielder launched a homer off of Luis Gil in the third inning and then notched a single in the fifth. It was his third consecutive multi-hit game and his fifth in his last eight contests. Buxton has gone deep four times in seven games, raising his season total to 14.

Martinez (back) is in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Martinez was held out of Sunday's series finale due to a back issue, but he's been given the green light to participate in Monday's contest. He'll serve as the DH and bat fifth.

Brantley (knee) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers.

He'll be on the bench for a second straight day while he contends with right knee discomfort. Jose Siri will pick up the start in left field in place of Brantley.

Stanton went 2-for-5 with a double, a two-run home run, an additional RBI and a strikeout in a 7-6 loss to the Mets on Sunday.

Stanton opened the game's scoring with a first-inning RBI double and tacked on a two-run shot in the seventh off Mets reliever Brad Hand to tie the game. The slugging outfielder has compiled a modest five-game hitting streak, going 8-for-21 during the stretch, though Sunday's hits were his first of the extra-base variety.

Turner went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in an 8-0 triumph against the Padres on Sunday.

Turner doubled Los Angeles' lead with his seventh-inning shot to left center off San Diego reliever Emilio Pagan to snap a 13 at-bat hitless stretch. The veteran third baseman's last three hits have all left the yard, though he's struggled in September with a .179/.273/.410 slash line in 12 games.