Nick Franklin (head) returned to the Mariners' lineup Monday.

Franklin sat out Sunday's game after being kneed in the head by first baseman Justin Smoak during Saturday's contest. He's still a little sore but is ready to give it a go.

Nick Franklin (head) is not in the Mariners' lineup Sunday.

Franklin was kneed in the back of the head by first baseman Justin Smoak while chasing a pop-up Saturday. It's not clear at this point if he's undergone any concussion tests. Dustin Ackley is at second base Sunday.

Nick Franklin went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his return to the lineup Sunday.

Franklin has struggled mightily in the second-half, batting just .198/.268/.387 over 111 at-bats. He had been limited to pinch-hitting since Tuesday due to a knee injury, but it was never a major concern.

Nick Franklin returned to action as a pinch-hitter Saturday and stayed in to play second base.

Franklin went 0-for-2 with an RBI groundout off the bench. He was making his first appearance since leaving Tuesday's game with a lacerated left knee.

Nick Franklin suffered a laceration on his left knee during Tuesday's game and is expected to miss up to a week.

Dustin Ackley hasn't played much second base since his callup, so the Mariners will probably stick Brendan Ryan at shortstop and slide Brad Miller to second base while Franklin is out. That's what they did after he left the game tonight.

Nick Franklin is not in the Mariners' lineup Sunday.

It's just a routine day off. Brad Miller is at second base Sunday, while Brendan Ryan is handling shortstop.

Nick Franklin went 3-for-4 with two home runs in Sunday's win over the Twins.

Franklin hit a three-run shot off Kyle Gibson in the fourth inning and later hit a solo shot in the seventh. His slugging percentage is now up to .492 and he's batting .276 (8-for-29) over his last seven games.

Nick Franklin launched a three-run homer in Thursday's win over the Twins.

His blast was the big blow in a six-run second inning against Kevin Correia. Franklin now has eight home runs in just 49 games. However, after a red-hot first five weeks in the big leagues, he's hitting just .217 with 26 strikeouts in 69 at-bats in July.

Nick Franklin went 2-for-6 and cracked a grand slam in Sunday's 12-5 rout of the Astros.

Franklin's seven homers ranks second amongst AL rookies. He logged two multi-hit games over the weekend in Seattle's three-game sweep of Houston, good to see after Franklin struggled earlier in the month. He's batting .268/.330/.458 over 45 games.

Nick Franklin went 0-for-3 with a walk in his return to action Saturday.

Franklin hadn't played since being removed from Wednesday's game due to his nagging right knee injury. The few days of rest over the All-Star break will be good for him.

Nick Franklin was removed from Wednesday's game in the seventh inning due to knee soreness.

Franklin is questionable for Thursday afternoon's series finale with the Red Sox. He has been bothered by right knee discomfort since fouling a ball off the joint last Friday and may need a few games off in a row. The young infielder is batting .275/.329/.463 with six homers and five steals over his first 40 major league games.

Nick Franklin told reporters Sunday that he will continue playing through the soreness in his right knee.

The 22-year-old is proving quickly that he's a gamer and that he is here to stay in the major leagues. Franklin fouled a ball off his right knee on Friday night and was sporting a noticeable limp all weekend, but he homered in his first at-bat Sunday against Reds starter Bronson Arroyo and is now batting .287/.345/.485 with six home runs, five stolen bases and 18 RBI in 37 games this season. He is a must-own in all standard fantasy leagues.

Nick Franklin (knee) is back in the Mariners' lineup Sunday.

Franklin sat out Saturday after fouling a ball off his knee Friday. He returns to a .288/.347/.470 batting line with five homers, 17 RBI and five steals.

Nick Franklin is not in Saturday's lineup against the Reds.

Franklin fouled a ball off his knee in Friday's win, but managed to finish the game and will likely be listed as day-to-day. Brad Miller will replace him at second base, while Brendan Ryan is starting at shortstop.

Nick Franklin connected for a two-run homer in Friday's 4-2 win over the Reds.

Franklin is now batting .290/.350/.473 with five home runs, nine doubles, 17 RBI, and five stolen bases in 35 games since his promotion last month. Now the primary No. 2 hitter for the Mariners, the 22-year-old should be owned in most mixed fantasy formats.

Nick Franklin (neck) went 1-for-5 with two RBI in his return to the Mariners' lineup on Sunday.

Franklin sat out Saturday because of a stiff neck. The young infielder is hitting .295 with a cool .845 OPS over his first 124 plate appearances in the major leagues.

Nick Franklin is not in the Mariners' lineup Saturday against the Cubs due to a stiff neck.

Franklin is available off the bench, so the neck issue is not a major concern. He should return Sunday.

Nick Franklin went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI in Saturday's victory against the A's.

He also collected three RBI in Friday's game and he now has seven in his last three games. Franklin has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games. He's now batting .295 with four homers and 13 RBI over 88 at-bats.

Nick Franklin hit a three-run homer off Bartolo Colon in Friday's game against the A's.

Franklin finished 1-for-4. It was the rookie's first home run at Safeco Field and his fourth overall. The round-tripper, which came in the third inning, accounted for all of Seattle's offense in a 6-3 setback. Franklin has offered everything Seattle could have hoped for and more, rendering Dustin Ackley an afterthought. Franklin is batting an impressive .277/.362/.494 through 83 at-bats.

Nick Franklin collected three of the Mariners' five hits and drove in their only run Wednesday against the Astros.

Franklin singled in Endy Chavez in the bottom of the eighth to give the Mariners a brief 1-0 lead in what turned out to be a 6-1 loss. He's now batting .300 in 50 at-bats, and the Mariners showed their faith in him by putting Dustin Ackley in left field in Triple-A tonight.