Semien is not in the Athletics' starting lineup Saturday against the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

The day off comes in the midst of a rough start for Semien. The 26-year-old shortstop is hitting just .171 with 11 strikeouts over the first 11 games, serving as a black hole at the top of the order. On the bright side, he's been able to get on base, drawing 10 walks thus far. Adam Rosales fills his spot Saturday,

Semien went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks in Friday's 7-2 loss to the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

Semien continues to operate out of the leadoff spot, and Friday's production boosted his OBP to .370. The 26-year-old has been able to find his way on base by flashing the improved patience at the plate he'd vowed to demonstrate this season. Semien has already walked 10 times over 11 games and has notched four steals in as many attempts, despite the fact that his average sits at an unsightly .171 through his first 46 plate appearances. With a career-high 27 homers last season, it would also seem to be just a matter of time before the slugging shortstop's power kicks and he begins to work himself out of the early-season struggles he's encountered.

Semien went 0-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored and his fourth stolen base of the season in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

The 26-year-old came into the season better known for his power and strikeouts but seems to be taking his new leadoff duties very seriously, walking eight times in nine games to begin 2017. Semien's previous career high in steals is only 11, set back in 2015, but at this rate he could blow past that mark in May. All that said, he is hitting .172 (5-for-29) and is still looking for his first homer of the campaign, so while the shortstop is providing value it's likely not coming in the form Semien's fantasy investors expected.

Semien went 1-for-3 with a walk, run and stolen base in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

Semien's third-inning single to deep center and Mike Trout's subsequent error while playing the ball brought home Adam Rosales to open the scoring for Oakland. The slugging shortstop also swiped his first bag of the season and has now hit safely in three straight games.

Semien, who was 0-for-3 against the Royals on Monday in his return from an illness, went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 15-12 Cactus League loss to the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Semien, who blasted a career-best 27 homers in 2016, launched only his second round-tripper of spring off Cubs starter John Lackey in the third inning. The 26-year-old brings plenty of pop but will look to improve his 22.4 percent strikeout rate from 2016 in the coming season.

Semien (illness) will start at shorstop and bat in the cleanup spot for Monday's Cactus League game against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Semien was held out the past two days with an illness, but there was never much concern that he'd be sidelined for long. The 26-year-old is expected to lock down a spot in the heart of the order for the Athletics after slugging 27 homers and 27 doubles in 2016.

Semien was scratched from the lineup Saturday due to an illness, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The shortstop could miss a day or two, but the ailment isn't likely to threaten his availability for Opening Day. Expectations are fairly high this season for the 26-year-old, who clubbed 27 homers to go with 75 RBI in 2016.

Semien (elbow) went 0-for-3 with a stolen base and a run in Monday's spring league game.

EDGE Analysis

Semien is 0-for-7 since returning to spring action after being hit by a pitch last week, though he does have a stolen base and a run over that period. The 26-year-old has cooled off since he started spring on a tear, but he'll head into the season with high expectations after posting a career-high 27 homers and 75 RBI.

Semien left Friday's Cactus League game after being hit by a pitch on the left elbow, Joe Stiglich of CSN California reports.

EDGE Analysis

The reported noted that while Semien left the game, he stayed in the dugout, which would suggest his removal was largely precautionary. There's a chance the A's could send Semien for an X-ray in the coming days if there's some lingering soreness, but the fact that they didn't send him for one immediately is encouraging.

Semien, who has a .346/.333./.538 line through 26 spring at-bats, is focused on getting on base more consistently in 2017, John Shea of SFGate.com reports. "You see if you can shrink the zone a little, wait for your pitch and be more patient instead of being overly aggressive and getting yourself out," Semien said. "You do that, you're probably going to walk a little more and get more hits."

EDGE Analysis

Semien experienced an impressive power surge in 2016, posting career highs in doubles (27), home runs (27), RBI (75), slugging (.435) and OPS (.735). He also set a new high-water mark with 51 walks, those came over 621 plate apperances, and he posted just a .238 average and .300 OBP, numbers that he's looking to boost significantly in the coming campaign. The slugging shorstop actually was among the more patient hitters in baseball at the plate, as the 4.16 pitches per plate appearance that he averaged ranked him ninth in the AL and 19th in the majors. However, he had a notable weakness with two-strike at-bats, particularly on full counts, a scenario in which he hit .164 and struck out 29 times. He also hit an anemic .043 on 0-2 counts, .170 in 1-2 counts and .173 in 2-2 counts, further illustrating his struggles with his back against the wall. Semien will therefore look to have greater discipline in those situations, which could propel his all-around game to the next level. "That's probably the next step for him," manager Bob Melvin said of Semien's 3-2 approach. "Obviously, he's gotten to the point where he can get into the count. It's finishing it off and maybe taking a walk and not trying to chase a pitch. Sometimes that's tough for a power guy to do."