MLB Player News

Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed is off to at slow start at the plate. The young player is hitting just .125 in 48 at-bats this season.

"Obviously nobody wants to start slow," said Ahmed to MLB.com. "It's a long season, there's a ton of at-bats to come, a ton of games to play. I just wish the last few games I could have put together some better at-bats to help the team win."

Ahmed also struggled with his swing in Triple-A last season as well as Double-A in 2013.

"We're making a lot of demands on him with his swing," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "We're kind of talking to him about some things that we need him to do to be a better Major League hitter. We talked about it in Spring Training, he did it, he's getting a little bit away from it right now. But the main thing, I think, with Nick right now is pitch selection."

Ahmed is trying to not let the struggles get to him.

"Just have to stay level-headed," Ahmed said. "I lean on people that have good advice, and just stay calm and not overanalyze. Just trying to stay even keeled and go out and play."

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon went 4 for 5 in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Nationals but did not have any runs, RBI or extra-base hits.

The four-hit performance caps off a big series for the second baseman, as Gordon went 8 for 13 with one walk, one RBI and one stolen base during his team's three-game sweep of the Nationals. He has hit .390/.407/.463 with eight stolen bases, 10 RBI and 10 runs scored in 82 at-bats.

Diamondbacks right fielder Mark Trumbo is on the bench for Saturday's game against the Pirates, with Ender Inciarte moving to right field and David Peralta taking over in left, the team announced.

Trumbo had started four consecutive games for Arizona and will get the day off. Also out of the lineup Saturday is Yasmany Tomas, moving Aaron Hill back to third base. Tomas has started two games at third since being called up and is hitting .400 in 10 at-bats. Cliff Pennington also replaces Nick Ahmed at shortstop, who started the last nine games in a row.

The Diamondbacks are currently the underdogs (+120) against Pittsburgh.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon collected three hits in four at-bats in Friday's victory against the Marlins to improve his batting average to .370 on the season.

Gordon entered Friday's game tied for first in the National League with 24 hits (Adrian Gonzalez).

Diamondbacks second baseman Chris Owings went 2 for 3 with a solo home run and an RBI triple in his team's 8-5 win over the Rangers Wednesday.

The triple and the home run were the first of the season for each for Owings, who helped his team build up an 8-1 lead by the eighth inning and held on for a win despite a ninth-inning charge from the Rangers. Owings had managed just two extra-base hits coming into Wednesday's game but is now hitting .220/.250/.360 with six RBI in 50 at-bats while striking out 18 times.

Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson and second baseman Daniel Murphy are out of the starting lineup Wednesday against the Braves, the team announced. 

Granderson will be replaced by John Mayberry for a scheduled off day while Ruben Tejada will take Murphy's place and bat ninth. Tejada is hitting .281 with 23 RBI in his career against left-handed pitchers, as opposed to his .244 average against righties.

Mayberry is hitting .455 with three double and an RBI in 11 career at-bats against Braves pitcher Eric Stults. It will also be Mayberry's first ever start in the leadoff spot. The Mets are currently the favorites (-132) against Atlanta.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon had two singles and one stolen base Tuesday at Philadelphia. He now has six multihit games in 14 appearances.

Gordon has failed to record a hit in just two games this season. He is batting .390 (23 for 59) with one triple, four doubles, nine RBI, eight runs and seven stolen bases.

Gordon is batting .409 (18 for 44) against right-handed pitchers.

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale is bringing Cuban-prospect Yasmany Tomas along slowly. The rookie is slated to start at third base Tuesday and will see more time there in the near future with Jake Lamb going on the disabled list, but Hale believes Tomas' future is in the outfield, according to FOX Sports Arizona.

Tomas is slated to make his first career start Tuesday against the Rangers. Hale also noted Cliff Pennington will see some time at third with the injury to Lamb.

Mets left fielder Michael Cuddyer and shortstop Wilmer Flores are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Marlins.

It's just the second time on the bench this season for both players. Kirk Nieuwenhuis will bat seventh and play left field, while Ruben Tejada will bat eighth and play shortstop. The break for both starters comes even though the team is also off Monday.

"You've just got to understand that we've still got 150 to go, and we need those guys to stay as healthy as you can," manager Terry Collins said before the game, per ESPN New York.

The Mets are heavy favorites (-200) against the Marlins Sunday.

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford went 1 for 4 at the plate in San Francisco's 4-1 win over the Diamondbacks Saturday. 

Crawford did his damage in the fourth inning when he ripped the first pitch he saw from Rubby De La Rosa over the right field wall, driving in Gregor Blanco. His home run came on a changeup, a pitch he seeing more frequently this season, MLB.com reports.

"I've been making the adjustment to be able to hit those pitches," Crawford said.

It was Crawford's third home run of the year and now has eight RBI with a .163 average.