MLB Player News

Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed went 2 for 3 in Tuesday's win over Miami. 

Ahmed increased his average to .181 and drove in a run, his fifth of the season. 

Braves infielder Pedro Ciriaco is in the starting lineup for the second time this season, as he will be the starting third baseman on Tuesday against the Rays. Ciriaco started Sunday's game at shortstop, but will slide over to the hot corner with Phil Gosselin lost for at least two months with a thumb injury.

The light-hitting Ciriaco is batting second in the order on Tuesday. He does have three hits in seven at-bats this season, with all of them going for extra bases (two doubles and a triple).

Tony La Russa, the Diamondbacks chief baseball officer, had be thinks shortstop Nick Ahmed will improve with the bat due to all the work he's been putting in, according to MLB.com.

"I think Ahmed is making a real positive effort with Turner and Mark to build a stroke that he can repeat, that's gonna make him an offensive plus," La Russa said. "We believe in him because we know the talent, we know the work ethic. But you don't just flip the switch. He's making adjustments and he'll continue to adjust."

Ahmed, an outstanding defender, entered Sunday with a .165 batting average.

Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Simmons has started all 36 games at shortstop this season but will receive his first break Sunday, with Pedro Ciriaco taking his place at the position and batting seventh. It's the first start of the season at any position for the backup infielder, who is 2 for 4 with two RBI in five games.

The Braves are underdogs (+117) in Miami Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford went 3 for 5 at the plate in San Francisco's 11-2 win over the Reds on Saturday.

Crawford did his damage in the fifth inning when he crushed a grand slam off of Mike Leake, the third of his career. Crawford totaled a career-high six RBI in the game, the first time a Giants player has done so since 2013. 

"He's so gifted defensively, but he's underrated as a hitter," manager Bruce Bochy said to MLB.com.

"Look at the numbers. He's a very productive hitter who finds a way to get the runs in. He seems to have great focus up there with men on base. He's dangerous, too. He can hit the ball out of the park, as you saw. He's a good baserunner. He's just a good all-around ballplayer."

Crawford moved his average to .277 with 24 RBI in 120 at-bats this season.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon continued his hot hitting during Friday's 5-3 loss to the Braves.

Gordon went 3 for 5 with one run scored. He is now batting .433 on the season. Gordon is 37 for 72 over his last 17 games.

Gordon is now tied for the second most hits in the first 33 games of the season in major league history, according to FOX Sports. Gordon has 61 hits in 33 games. He trails only Hank Aaron, who had 66 in 1959. 

Mets second baseman Dilson Herrera was a late scratch Friday night against Milwaukee due to torn fingernail, according to ESPN. Manager Terry Collins swapped Herrera with Ruben Tejada in the lineup.

Herrera is hitting .235 (8 for 34) with a home run, three RBI, two walks and nine strikeouts in 10 appearances.

New York is favored (-125) at home against Milwaukee, per VegasInsider.com.

Diamondbacks third baseman Yasmany Tomas was a late scratch Friday night because of an illness, reports the team's official website.

Tomas was set to hit fifth before he was scratched. Instead, second baseman Chris Owings will bat fifth, with Cliff Pennington playing third and batting sixth.

Tomas is hitting .288/.344/.322 with eight RBI in 21 appearances.

Arizona is favored (-120) at Philadelphia, per VegasInsider.com.

Mets infielder Daniel Murphy was given the day off Thursday and is out of the starting lineup against the Cubs. He had started all but two of the Mets' games so far this season, but with a lefty on the mound, manager Terry Collins opted to give Murphy a breather. Murphy is hitting just .154 against left-handed pitching in 2015. 

In his place, Ruben Tejada will get the start at third base and bat eighth. This is the first appearance at the hot corner for Tejada, either in the big leagues or the minor leagues. He did get some reps at third during spring training, however. 

Dilson Herrera will make his second consecutive start at second base on Thursday.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon failed to record a hit during Monday's 5-3 loss the Dodgers, which ended his 13-game hitting streak.

Gordon was facing his former team for the first time as a member of the Marlins. Gordon went 0 for 4 with one walk during the game. During the hitting streak, Gordon hit .556 with three RBI and five walks.