MLB Player News

After not starting in the last three games because of a sore wrist, Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was back in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angles, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

Longoria will bat third and play third base during the contest. He will face Jered Weaver, who he is 5 for 17 against in his career with three doubles. Over his last 11 games, Longoria is hitting .182 with no home runs and two RBI.

The Rays are favored (-115) over the Angels on Wednesday.

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas continued swinging the bat well in Tuesday's win over the Twins. Moustakas went 1 for 5 with an RBI single. He's now batting .313 (10 for 32), hitting safely in seven of eight games this month. 

The power has been quiet lately, as Moustakas hasn't gone deep since May 27 and he has five on the year. But he's reaching base on a consistent basis for the Royals lately.

Indians rookie third baseman Giovanny Urshela is set to make his major league debut Tuesday night against visiting Seattle after his promotion from Triple-A. He is batting eighth.

He will remain the starter at third for the time being, per the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.

Urshela, who was batting .276 with three home runs and nine RBI in 76 at-bats at Columbus, is replacing disappointing Lonnie Chisenhall, who was sent down. Urshela is also considered a far superior defensive player.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria is unable to return to the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Angels. Longoria has been bothered by a sore wrist, and did not start either of the last two games, though he was used as a pinch-runner on Sunday.

Longoria took some swings in the cage to test out his wrist on Tuesday, but the team decided to give him one more day to rest. He expects to return on Wednesday and insisted the injury is nothing serious, according to the Tama Bay Times. 

The team has not provided an update on Longoria's status, and it is not known if he will be available off the bench on Tuesday.

Blue Jays outfielder Danny Valencia drove in two runs to help the Blue Jays defeat the Marlins 11-3 on Monday.

Valencia went 2 for 5 with two RBI. He drove in the two runs when he doubled off Brad Hand in the first inning, which scored Jose Bautista and Chris Colabello.

Over his last 11 games, Valencia is 12 for 40 with one home run and seven RBI.

Blue Jays designated hitter Josh Donaldson drove in a team-high three runs to help propel the Blue Jays to an 11-3 victory over the Marlins on Monday.

Donaldson went 2 for 5 during the game with one run scored. His biggest hit was a solo home run in the second inning off Andre Rienzo.

Over his last 13 games, Donaldson is 20 for 55 with seven home runs and 15 RBI.

Third baseman Josh Donaldson will get a change of scenery Monday, as he's scheduled to be the DH for the Blue Jays as they take on the Marlins. 

Donaldson has only been the DH twice previously this season, and not since April 24. But Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has said he wanted to give Donaldson a break from the field, yet keep his potent bat in the lineup. 

Donaldson has hit 10 of his 15 homers at Rogers Centre. 

The Indians are shuffling their infield very dramatically right now.

In one day, the team optioned shortstop Jose Ramirez and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall to Triple-A Columbus, while recalling Zach Walters and Giovanny Urshela to take their respective spots.

Urshela was hitting .276 with three home runs and nine RBI in 76 at-bats for Triple-A Columbus this season.

Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar will likely take over as the team's starting shortstop following the option of Danny Santana to Triple-A Rochester.

Escobar has bounced around the diamond for the Twins, playing 24 games in left field but making eight starts at shortstop and also seeing limited time at second base and third base. He's the only Twins player besides Santana to get a start at shortstop, and the team balanced the move by recalling Kennys Vargas.

Eduardo Nunez has experience at the position as well, so the team could opt to split playing time between the pair of utility players. The Twins could also end up promoting infielder Doug Bernier, who is already on the 40-man roster.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

It's Plouffe's first break from the starting lineup since May 10. He's had a tough time offensively in June, going 1 for 24 with one walk in six games this month. Eduardo Nunez will man third base, while Torii Hunter will slot into the cleanup spot in the lineup.

The Twins are home underdogs (+113) on Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.