MLB Player News

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.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.

Longoria has been dealing with a sore wrist, and will hit the bench for a second straight day as a result. He has hit .273/.351/.414 with five home runs and 25 RBI in 198 at-bats.

The Rays are road favorites (-129) in Seattle, per VegasInsider.com.

The Tigers pounded out 18 hits on Saturday, and four of them belonged to infielder Josh Wilson. Wilson was making his first start of the season for the Tigers after being recalled on Tuesday. The result was his second-career four-hit game.

All four hits were singles for Wilson, who also drove in and scored a run as the Tigers grabbed the 7-1 victory over the White Sox. 

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado supplied the only offense his team could muster against Indians starter Danny Salazar on Saturday. Machado went deep in the third inning to give the Orioles a temporary 1-0 lead. 

The solo blast was Machado's ninth of the season, but just his third over his last 25 games. Machado also singled in the game, and now carries a .263 batting average on the season.

Third baseman Evan Longoria is out of the Rays' starting lineup for just the second time this season Saturday as they face a tough pitching matchup in Felix Hernandez and the Mariners. 

Longoria's only other absence from the starting lineup occurred on May 7. Since then, he's essentially hit third in the Rays' lineup every day. But Longoria said he's been dealing with a sore left wrist that's been bothering him and with a good right-hander on the mound, it was a good time to rest the injury. 

Longoria is hitting .273 with five homers and 25 RBIs so far this season. 

Max Muncy will start at third base for the Athletics on Saturday, replacing Brett Lawrie. 

Lawrie has started 52 games at third, including the last 10. Muncy will bat seventh in the lineup and start at third base for the sixth time this season, and first since May 25.