MLB Player News

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson connected for his 22nd home run during a 5-1 win Saturday at Texas. Donaldson led off the seventh inning with a home run off Nate Adcock to give Oakland a 4-1 lead.

Donaldson has homered four times in July and three times in his last 12 games. He is batting .295 with a .545 slugging percentage, .930 OPS, two doubles, 10 RBI and 10 runs in his last 12 games.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is back in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Mariners, after he missed four due to a back injury. This is the first game Machado has appeared in since Monday. 

Orioles infielder Manny Machado was not in the team's starting lineup Friday against the Mariners.

Machado has missed four games due to a back injury. Over 258 at-bats, Machado is hitting .267/.317/.422.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe is catching a break Friday against the visiting White Sox. Eduardo Nunez is set to man the position instead.

Plouffe has been steady but far from spectacular lately. He has one hit in six of his last seven games and owns a .243/.314/.409 stat line on the year.

Royals manager Ned Yost told reporters that Billy Butler will lose some time as a designated hitter moving forward, the Kansas City Star reports Thursday. Yost is expected to give Danny Valencia and Raul Ibanez some reps at DH in the near future.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was held out of the starting lineup Thursday night against the Mariners, as he continues to work his way back from a back issue. Machado has now missed three straight games with the injury and is targeting a return at some point before the end of the week, according to the Baltimore Sun. He is hitting .267 with 10 homers and 23 RBI in 258 at-bats.

Orioles infielder Manny Machado was not in the team's starting lineup Wednesday against the Angels.

Machado is dealing with a back issue, and was also held out of Tuesday's game. Over 258 at-bats, he's hitting .267/.317/.422.

Indians just-promoted shortstop Jose Ramirez was easily their premier offensive player Wednesday in Minnesota - but that's not saying much.

Ramirez doubled in a run in the third inning and finished with two of their five hits. In the process, he matched his hit total in 18 at-bats in a previous stint this year with Cleveland.

The Royals have benched designated hitter Billy Butler on Wednesday against the White Sox in favor of Danny Valencia. Butler continues to struggle, particularly in regard to his power numbers. He has just one home run since June 14 and three doubles since June 19. His .267/.320/.347 stat line pales in comparison to those he has compiled in previous seasons.

Jose Ramirez is not the prime shortstop prospect for the Indians - that distinction belongs to Francisco Lindor. But Ramirez has already received a chance to display his wares at the big league level and has now gotten another with a promotion to Cleveland.

Ramirez could serve as the starter with Asdrubal Cabrera dealing with a back problem. He has been torrid with Triple-A Columbus, racking up seven hits in his last four games, including three doubles and a triple, to sweeten his stat line to .302/.360/.441.