Major League Update:

GLENDALE — The following are updates on area players in Major League Baseball.

Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman: Since his return to the starting lineup on Monday, Sanchez has gone six for 12 at the plate with two runs batted in, three runs scored and his eighth home run of the year.

Following a five-game layoff to recover from a back injury he sustained during a game on July 27, which was also the day he was dubbed the Pirates’ leadoff hitter, Sanchez first returned to action on Sunday and went 0 for one as a pinch hitter in an 8-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

The following day, the former Vaquero was back in the leadoff spot and went three for five with an RBI and a run in a 13-7 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

On Wednesday, the Pirates snapped a six-game losing streak with a 2-0 road win over Arizona, in which Sanchez went one for four with a solo home run.

With Pittsburgh (52-62) currently in fifth place in the National League Central Division, Sanchez continues to gradually raise his offensive production. He is now batting .249 with 44 RBIs and 50 runs scored.

Mark Loretta (St. Francis High, 1989) Houston Astros infielder: Loretta has been limited to a pair of pinch-hit appearances since suffering a bruised thigh in the Astros’ 5-4 win over the New York Mets on Saturday.

As he scored the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday, Loretta was sandwiched in a collision at the plate between Mets catcher Ramon Castro and Astros outfielder Hunter Pence, who crossed the plate for the winning run hot on Loretta’s heels.

According to Astros Manager Cecil Cooper on mlb.com, Loretta was slated to start against left-hander Oliver Perez on Sunday, but was held out because of the injury.

The 37-year old utility infielder was cleared to play on Monday but has since been limited to one hitless at bat in an 11-7 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Tuesday and a pinch-hit single in a 7-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark on Thursday.

Loretta is batting .279 with 32 RBIs and 19 runs scored on the season for Houston (55-59), which is currently in fourth place in the National League Central Division.

Doug Slaten (Glendale Community College, 1999) Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher: Arizona Manager Bob Melvin told mlb.com on Thursday that Slaten is likely to be activated from the 15-day disabled list this weekend.

A strain in his surgically repaired right knee landed the lefty reliever on the disabled list on July 19, one day after he allowed a game-winning home run in an 11-inning, 8-7 home loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Slaten has a record of 0-3 on the season, with an earned-run average of 4.55.