MLB Player News

A slump and the versatility of newcomer Ben Zobrist have Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas out of the lineup Saturday afternoon in Toronto.

Moustakas, who will give way to Zobrist, has finally tailed off after spending most of the year above .300. He has just six hits in his last 41 at-bats to drop his average to .283, its lowest point of the season. He has not driven in a run since July 22.

The Twins activated third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who had been on paternity leave, and pitcher Kevin Jepsen, who was acquired in a trade-deadline deal with Tampa Bay. 

To make room, the team optioned shortstop Danny Santana to Triple-A Rochester and shortstop Jorge Polanco to Double-A Chattanooga, per MLB.com.

Santana was hitting .219 with the Twins this season. Polanco hit .429 in three games.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe will be reinstated from the paternity list before the game Saturday against visiting Seattle, per ESPN.

Plouffe, who has been out since Tuesday, will return with a slash line of .257/.316/.456.

Josh Donaldson continues to produce for the Blue Jays, as the third baseman cracked his 25th homer of the season to cap the scoring as Toronto picked up a 5-2 win over the Royals on Wednesday. 

Donaldson's fourth-inning homer went to deep left-center, and with protection in the new-look Toronto lineup from Troy Tulowitzki and Jose Bautista, Donaldson went 2-for-3 with a walk. 

Donaldson has six home runs and 19 RBIs in July. 

The Twins will place third baseman Trevor Plouffe on paternity leave, according to MLB.com. 

To replace Plouffe on the roster, the Twins will recall infielder Jorge Polanco from Triple-A Rochester.

Polanco is hitting .284 at Rochester. 

Indians third baseman Giovanny Urshela isn't in the starting lineup for Sunday's game. 

Mike Aviles gets the call in Urshela's place. It's his third start in seven games and 15th of the season. 

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas isn't in the starting lineup for Sunday's game. 

Moustakas has started 85 games at third, including the last eight. He'll be replaced by Chelsor Cuthbert , who gets his fifth start of the season at third base. 

Twins first baseman Joe Mauer isn't in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees. 

Mauer has started 81 games at first this season, including the last 11. Trevor Plouffe moves across the diamond from third base to replace him, starting at first for the fifth time this year. 

Eduardo Escobar replaces Plouffe at third, starting there for the first time since June 3. 

Blue Jays left fielder Chris Colabello will get a start at first base in Saturday's game. 

Colabello gets his 12th start of the year at first base, and his second in the last four games. Danny Valencia takes his place in left field. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe enjoyed a solid night at the plate in Friday's 10-1 victory over the Yankees. ploufe went 3 for 4 with a double and a solo home run while also scoring two runs.

The home run, his 14th of the year, put the Twins up 7-0 in the eighth inning. The three-hit effort gives Plouffe a .282 batting average and four home runs over his past 10 games.