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. 

Strikeout machine Zach Walters has been optioned by the Indians to Triple-A Columbus to make room on the roster for Wednesday night starter Shaun Marcum, the Northeast Ohio Media Group is reporting.

Walters has struggled to make consistent contact. He has 56 strikeouts in 144 at-bats over the last two seasons and has fanned eight times in 17 at-bats in 2015.

Angels left fielder Matt Joyce is back in the lineup for Tuesday's matchup with the Blue Jays, while third baseman David Freese is serving as the designated hitter for the third time this season.

Joyce was a late scratch on Monday but is ready to roll one day later. He said he was scratched because he thought the team was playing a night game on Monday rather than during the day, the Los Angeles Times reports. Joyce has hit just .143/.180/.219 in 105 at-bats.

Freese is getting a break from starting at third base for the third time this season. He'll be replaced at third base by Taylor Featherston, who is making his third start at the position.

The Angels are underdogs (+112) in Toronto on Tuesday, per VegasInsider.com.

Indians outfielder Michael Bourn is out of the starting lineup on Monday against the White Sox, the team announced.

Bourn has started eight of the last 10 and 30 of 36 games for Cleveland this year, but will get a day off for Zach Walters. Bourn is hitting .233 with nine RBI in 116 at-bats this season.

Red Sox manager John Farrell has been asking his players, speficially Xander Bogaerts, Blake Swihart and Sandy Leon, to drop down more bunts this season, according to MLB.com.

"We've placed a greater emphasis on it in spring training," said Farrell. "Maybe guys that haven't done it in their Minor League career, guys that dominate the Minor Leagues [but are] going to come up and hit in the bottom third of our order ... you want to allow them to grow as Major League players, but to contribute to a rally by putting down a sacrifice bunt, there's a lot of benefit that goes to the individual."

Boston has already dropped down 10 sacrifices this season in 36 games after only getting 20 down last season. 

"You go back to the game situation," said Farrell. "Did we anticipate an offense that would be more consistent than what we've shown? Yes, and we'll realize that in time. But where we are and what the game is suggesting and presenting to us, we've got to be equipped to handle that, and we've asked guys in those spots to lay a bunt down."

Red Sox outfielders Mookie Betts and Shane Victorino are out of the lineup for Saturday’s game in Seattle, getting replaced by Jackie Bradley Jr. in center field and Brock Holt in right.

Holt will bat leadoff while Bradley will hit ninth.

Betts has led off 33 of the Red Sox’s 36 games coming into Saturday.

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts will move up and hit sixth on Saturday, the highest he’s hit in the order all season.

Indians manager Terry Francona said he's giving Zach Walters the start at third base Friday in Texas to try to "...get him going," reports the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

In four games this season, Walters is 0 for 8 with six strikeouts.

Walters, in his third MLB season, is a career .182 hitter (26 for 143).

Indians center fielder Michael Bourn and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall were not included in the starting lineup Friday night against left-hander Bruce Chen and the Rangers, per the team's official website.

Bourn is a .200 hitter (8 for 40) this season against southpaws. Chisenhall has fared better against left-handers, slashing .256/.326/.308 on the year. Manager Terry Francona inserted Zach Walters at third. Michael Brantley shifted to center field, with Ryan Raburn in the left field and at the cleanup spot.

Red Sox manager John Farrell is returning several regulars back to the starting lineup on Thursday against the Mariners. First baseman Mike Napoli, shortstop Xander Bogaerts, catcher Blake Swihart and right fielder Shane Victorino were rested on Wednesday, but all are back in for Thursday night's contest.

Veteran Indians utility man Mike Aviles could be destined to take over the starting shortstop job, according to the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Aviles is currently on the family medical emergency list after his daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, but he should be back this weekend.

He would replace struggling Jose Ramirez, who would be sent to Triple-A Columbus for steady work. Ramirez is batting .179.

"I'm encouraged by the way Jose continues to work, both offensively and defensively, to try to improve his performance," said general manager Chris Antonetti. "But it's been a struggle for him. He's a young player that's going through an extended struggle in the major leagues in an environment where there's high expectations for team success."

Ramirez has admitted that, though he remains confident, he's not the same player that helped spark the team following the 2014 trade of Asdrubal Cabrera.

His potential demotion would thrust Zach Walters into the backup shortstop role.