MLB Player News

Blue Jays outfielder Danny Valencia got the nod at third base Sunday and responded with two hits and two RBIs as Toronto nearly rallied from a seven-run deficit in its 11-10 loss to the Royals.

Valencia laced a two-run double in the sixth inning to help the Blue Jays trim the deficit to 7-5 and then came around to score to make it 7-6. 

Valencia capped a solid first half by finishing at .299 with six homers and 27 RBIs. 

Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.

Donaldson left Saturday's matchup in the sixth inning because he was suffering from flu-like symptoms.

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis gets a break from the field on Sunday. Kipnis will lead off and play designated hitter for Sunday's game. 

Kipnis had started the last 20 games at second base and has started 85 of the team's 87 games there this season. The only other time he DHed this season was June 20. 

Jose Ramirez, called up from Triple-A on Saturday, gets his first start of the season at second base. 

Danny Valencia came through with a big three-run home run in the Blue Jays' 6-2 win over the Royals on Saturday. Valencia slugged his sixth homer of the season in the top of the ninth inning to give the Jays a four-run cushion.

Valencia did not start the game, but he entered in the sixth inning for Josh Donaldson who felt ill. Valencia has now homered three times in his last 11 games. 

Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson was forced to leave Saturday's game in the bottom of the sixth, due to illness. 

The team confirmed that Donaldson was suffering from flu-like symptoms, per TSN Radio.

"Donaldson has been sick, and then it was a tough day with the heat," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said, per MLB.com. "He was a little dehydrated."

The Indians placed infielder Mike Aviles on the MLB Family Medical Emergency list, the team announced on Saturday. 

To replace Aviles, the team recalled infielder Jose Ramirez from Triple-A Columbus. 

Ramirez was hitting .349 with 13 stolen bases at Columbus. He hit .180 with eight steals in an earlier stint with the Indians this year. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria went 0 for 2 in Friday's win over Houston. Longoria walked and drove in his 41st run of the season. 

The hitless day snapped an eight-game hitting streak for Longoria. He hit .343 with .847 OPS over the streak. 

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas will be an All-Star for the first time in his career, the team announced on Friday.

Moustakas won the final spot on the American League roster by being the top vote getter in the Fan Vote. He will join six other Royals on the roster.

Moustakas is hitting .301 with seven home runs and 31 RBI in 289 at-bats this season.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado enters play Friday with three home runs in his last five games and 19 on the season. He is also slugging .535 through 85 games.

Despite strong power numbers, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Friday he has no plans of removing Machado from the leadoff spot and have him hit lower in the lineup.

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas is back in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays.

Moustakas was placed on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency list earlier this week, and missed the team's mid-week series against the Braves. He will start at third base and hit second in the lineup on Friday.

For the season, Moustakas is hitting .301 with seven home runs and 31 RBI in 289 at-bats.