MLB Player News
-
Willy Adames SS | SF
Rays' Willy Adames: Bat heating up
Adames went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs in a win over the White Sox on Monday.
It's been a rough go for Adames in the early portion of this season, but there are certainly signs he's starting to break out of the doldrums. Monday's performance was naturally a fitting example, but the shortstop also went 3-for-7 over the prior two games. His three-hit day against the White Sox included his first extra-base of the season, but Adames is still looking to break the ice in the RBI category.
-
Carlos Correa SS | HOU
Astros' Carlos Correa: Provides game-winning hit
Correa went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Monday's 4-3 win over the Yankees.
Correa's dribbler up the first-base line turned into his second single of the game and plated the winning the run. It was his third RBI in the last four games as the Astros are slowly breaking out of an early-season offensive funk.
-
Aledmys Diaz 1B | HOU
Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Makes first hit count
Diaz went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run, four RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 9-8 win over the Athletics.
Diaz started at first base for a resting Yuli Gurriel, the first start in six games for the utility man, whose first-inning, three-run homer was his first hit as an Astro. Playing time has been scarce for Diaz, who's been caught in the shuffle of four bench players looking for at-bats in a stacked lineup.
-
Joey Wendle 2B | ATL
Rays' Joey Wendle: Won't be ready when eligible
Wendle (hamstring) won't be activated off the 10-day injured list when eligible Thursday but could return shortly thereafter, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Wendle landed on the injured list April 1 with the left hamstring strain but will apparently need a little more than the 10-day minimum in order to regain his health. Daniel Robertson and Brandon Lowe should continue to see increased reps at second base in his absence.
-
David Fletcher 2B | ATL
Angels' David Fletcher: Starting in left field
Fletcher will start in left field and bat ninth Sunday against the Rangers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Fletcher will pick up his third straight start, this time in the outfield after making his previous two turns at third base. The Angels deployed Fletcher as the leadoff man versus lefty Drew Smyly on Saturday, but the 24-year-old will move to his usual spot near the bottom of the lineup with righty Shelby Miller on the mound in the series finale.
-
Aledmys Diaz 1B | HOU
Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Draws first start at first base
Diaz will start at first base and will hit seventh Sunday against the Athletics, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.
Entering the starting nine for the first time in a week, Diaz will get his first MLB innings at first base after previously seeing all of his action at the other three infield spots and left field. The Astros likely won't turn to Diaz at first base often, as the regular option at the position, Yuli Gurriel, is merely receiving the day off for rest.
-
Willy Adames SS | SF
Rays' Willy Adames: Makes noise as pinch hitter
Adames entered a loss to the Giants on Saturday as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning and went 2-for-3 with a run.
Adames' two-hit day only served to bring his average up to .100, an indication of how much of a struggle this season has been at the plate for the young shortstop. The 23-year-old was 1-for-27 over the first seven games of the campaign prior to Saturday, so perhaps his success against the Giants can serve as a launching pad.
-
Dee Strange-Gordon SS | WAS
Mariners' Dee Gordon: Back in action
Gordon (groin) will start at second base and bat ninth Sunday against the White Sox.
Gordon exited early with groin tightness in Friday's series opener but was expected to return to action Saturday before being scratched shortly before opening pitch. The Mariners are apparently optimistic that Gordon will be good to go for Sunday's matinee, though it's worth wondering if any residual effects of the injury might impact his aggressiveness on the basepaths. Prior to getting hurt, Gordon had stolen a base in four of his past five starts.
-
Chris Owings SS | LAD
Royals' Chris Owings: Heads to bench
Owings is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.
The Royals have regularly deployed Whit Merrifield in right field this season, thereby opening up an everyday role in the infield for Owings, who had started each of the team's first seven games. Owings will get his first day off of the campaign in the series finale, with Lucas Duda effectively replacing him in the starting nine.
-
Willy Adames SS | SF
Rays' Willy Adames: On bench Saturday
Adames will head to the bench Saturday against San Francisco.
Adames will sit for just the second time this season. He could find himself on the bench more often in the near future if he can't break out of his slump, as he's 1-for-27 with 14 strikeouts this season. Daniel Robertson will start at shortstop Saturday.