MLB Player News

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon went 2 for 4 with an RBI, a steal and a run scored in a 6-4 win over the Nationals on Thursday.

It's been a hell of a season for the young second baseman and he keeps adding to his resume every day. Gordon's been especially hot over the last four games, as he has 10 hits including a home run, a double, four RBI, two steals, and five runs scored in that span. Not only is he second in the NL with a .333 average, he is also second in all of baseball with 52 steals this season.

Blue Jays shortstop Cliff Pennington went 2 for 4 with a three-run homer against the Braves on Thursday.

He's now homered twice in his last five games, with seven RBI in that span -- about as hot a streak as you'll see from the generally light-hitting Pennington. Don't count on it to persist, but then again, there might be something in the water in Toronto right now.

Dodgers sizzling shortstop Corey Seager was 2 for 4 with an RBI single Wednesday to improve his slash line to .426/.526/.617 over his last 47 at-bats.

He has nine walks to just six strikeouts and has reached base in all 13 games he's appeared in during that time.

Jimmy Rollins should be back shortly from a finger injury, but it's going to be tough for manager Don Mattingly to justify sitting Seager despite his earlier declaration that Rollins would assume the position upon his return.

Cubs second baseman Javier Baez is not in the lineup for the game Thursday against Pittsburgh, Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com reports.

Tommy La Stella will get the start at second with Addison Russell sliding in at shortstop for Baez, who will sit after reaching base safely in six of his last eight games.

Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor continued his tear on Wednesday, as he went 3 for 4 with a solo home run and four RBI in a win over the Royals. The young shortstop came into the league as an elite glove, but he's making quite the impact with his bat right now.

In 82 games played, Lindor has a .317 average to go along with nine home runs, 41 RBI, and nine steals. That's nearly a 20-20 pace and seeing as how Lindor is just 21-years-old, that seems like a strong possibility in years to come.

Torrid Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts is catching a break Wednesday against Baltimore, per Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe.

Bogaerts continues to rake in the late months of the season, batting .375/.417/.500 with a home run and 11 RBI over 56 at-bats in September. He's been one of the bright spots for the team this season, but he'll be replaced in favor of Deven Marrero, who'll bat ninth in the lineup.

Blue Jays replacement shortstop Cliff Pennington did his best Troy Tulowitzki impression at the plate Tuesday, going 2 for 3 with a walk and RBI in a loss to Atlanta.

With Tulowitzki out of the lineup for the next few weeks, the onus will be on Pennington to help pick up the slack. Tuesday was his first multi-hit game since joining the Blue Jays, which isn't altogether surprising considering he arrived at the park with four hits while on the Blue Jays.

Over the past four games, he's 4 for 13 with two walks, showing that he's taking steps in the right direction.

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts went 2 for 5 with a double, RBI and run scored in a 6-5 loss to Baltimore on Tuesday.

Bogaerts continues his red-hot September, one that has already seen him post seven multi-hit games, reach base safely in all 13 contests, and knock in 11 runs. The Boston standout has turned in a spectacular sophomore campaign and would appear to have more than enough ability to build on his success in 2016.

Cubs shortstop Javier Baez went 2-for-4 with a double in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Pirates. Baez seems to be hitting his stride more and more with each game, with the 22-year-old star prospect now having hit safely five of his last seven contests, including three consecutive multi-hit performances in that span.

While he certainly displayed some power by hitting nine homers in his 2014 stint with the major league club, Baez still scuffled his way to a .169 average and 95 strikeouts over 213 at-bats.

A spectacular 2015 campaign in Triple-A Iowa that saw him hit .324 prior to his Sept. 1 call-up appears to have done wonders for Baez's overall game, although he has yet to truly thrive in the power department. The Cubs figure to give Baez as much seasoning as possible for the remainder of the season in the hopes of preparing him for a starting role on the 2016 squad.

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford (calf) remains out of the lineup Tuesday against the Reds.

He will miss a sixth straight start due to a lingering calf issue, though the matchup against lefty John Lamb may have played a part in the decision to hold Crawford out yet again. Crawford hit off a tee Sunday but his status for the rest of the week is uncertain. Ehire Adrianza starts again at shortstop for San Francisco.

Crawford (calf) could play Wednesday, but Friday is a more likely return date, the San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea reports.

It sounds like owners could get roughly two weeks from Crawford before the end of the season, although the Giants will likely be very cautious with him upon his return.