MLB Player News

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford hit a solo home run in the second inning of Sunday's loss to Atlanta. 

Crawford's shot completed back-to-back homers for the Giants, giving them a short-lived lead over Atlanta. Crawford also committed an untimely error in the ninth when trying to field a grounder.

"I was trying to get two before I caught the ball," Crawford said to CSN Bay Area. "I came at it too hard and was trying to get two before I ever caught the ball. It's disappointing with the comeback we had and with (Joe Panik's) homer and battling back and coming back the way we did. Having it end like that is disappointing."

Crawford went 1 for 4. It was his seventh home run and 34th RBI. 

Mets manager Terry Collins hasn't shown a ton of faith in Ruben Tejada so far this season, but on Sunday, he declared the usual shortstop his third baseman, for the time being, according to ESPN.com.

"Right now he is," Collins said. "He's earned it. He can do a lot of things when he's playing well. Right now, he's playing well."

Tejada went 1 for 4 at the plate on Sunday's win over the Marlins with a double and an RBI. 

"My problem with Ruben -- I used to think I could get a guy to step up a little," Collins said. "I'm 0-for-3 with him. For three years, we said, 'The [shortstop] job is yours, go get it.'

"He just didn't rise to the occasion."

Over the last six games, Tejada is hitting .357 with four RBI after dropping his season average under .200. 

"I'm really pleased," Collins said. "I'm extremely pleased. It's real promising. We needed someone to step in there and give us some offense."

Mets infielder Ruben Tejada, starting at third base, had two more hits in Saturday's loss to the Marlins. Tejada went 2 for 4 with three RBI. He knocked a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning to tie the game at 5-5, though the Marlins went on to win 9-5.

Tejada now has five hits in his last four games, raising his batting average from .214 to .245 in that span. He should continue to get plenty of looks at third base while David Wright continues to recover from a back injury.

"Tejada is a solid player, and the last couple of days have shown what he can do," manager Terry Collins said, per MLB.com. "He has good at-bats, has great hands, got a great arm. There's no reason why he shouldn't be out there more."

Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed had one hit in four at-bats on Friday against the Brewers. But was it ever a big hit. Ahmed launched a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning to break a 4-4 tie and give the Diamondbacks a lead they would hang on to, as they were victorious 7-5. It was Ahmed's third homer of the season.

The 25-year-old Ahmed has been hot at the plate. Over his last 10 games, he has 12 hits in 35 at-bats, including two home runs, two doubles and a triple. Despite the hot streak, however, Ahmed holds just a .214 season batting average.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon's bat is on fire, and it didn't cool down on Wednesday.

Gordon hit 3 for 4 in his team's 5-2 loss, but continued what is now a six-game hitting streak.

In his last six games, Gordon has nine hits and seven stolen bases in 28 at-bats.

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford has provided the spark San Francisco needs in the lineup so far this season. Crawford's power numbers haven't been much different from his other seasons, manager Bruce Bochy said per MLB.com.

"When you look at a guy having success, that's usually the case," Bochy said. "You look at his history, he's always got out to a nice start."

Crawford has a a career high .382/.382/.514 slash line to begin the season and came into Monday's game 10 for his last 14 at the plate.

"That's why he was off yesterday, to give him some more rest so he stays strong," Bochy said before Monday's game.

Ender Inciarte is returning to the Diamondbacks' lineup on Sunday in the series-finale against the Cubs. 

Inciarte had a day off on Saturday. He's hit just .250 over his past four games. Inciarte will bat leadoff. 

Yasmany Tomas has the day off and infielder Aaron Hill will play third base. Catcher Jordan Pacheco is back in the lineup Chris Owings will play second base. 

Shorstop Brandon Crawford is sitting out of Sunday's series-finale against the Rockies. 

Crawford rested on Thursday and appears to be doing the same for this game as well. In his place at shortstop will be Joaquin Arias, who is penciled in to bat eighth. 

Buster Posey and Nori Aoki are in the lineup after playing one game of Saturday's doubleheader. 

Braves third baseman Alberto Callaspo is out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game after four straight starts at the position. 

He's replaced by Pedro Ciriaco, who starts for the second time this season at the hot corner. 

Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki is not in the starting lineup on Sunday. 

Plawecki sits after four straight starts behind the plate. He's replaced by Anthony Recker, who gets his ninth start of the year. Recker will bat sixth. 

Third baseman Eric Campbell is also out of the lineup, after eight consecutive starts. He's replaced by Ruben Tejada, who will start at third for just the second time this year. He's hitting eighth.