MLB Player News

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe began August on a tear and seems to be setting out to end it the same way.

Plouffe pitched in to a two-touchdown pounding of Detroit on Friday in a big way. He singled, doubled and put the cherry on top with a 422-foot blast in the eighth inning. He scored four runs and drove in three to improve his stat line on the year to .245/.312/.407.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria snapped out of a slump in a big way Friday, in an 8-0 win over the Blue Jays.

Longoria, who had failed to record multiple hits in his previous six games, brought out with a 3-for-4 performance Friday. He added a double and a home run, driving in three runs and scoring once in the blowout.

Longoria has struggled through the worst season of his career so far, hitting just .254/.327/.397, with 16 home runs and 70 RBI in 128 games. 

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is expected to have season-ending knee surgery, according to Yahoo!

Machado has been out since August 11 due to a knee sprain. He'll have surgery on his right knee next week, and will likely be lost for the season. Machado ruptured a ligament in his left knee last season. He's hit .278/.324/.431 over 327 at-bats. 

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has yet to begin baseball activities as he recovers from a sprained right knee, and manager Buck Showalter told reporters he will need more than the minimum time to return from the disabled list.

Machado is eligible to return Aug. 27, but he appears to be behind schedule at this point. The hope was that he would begin baseball activities by Sunday, but it appears unlikely. According to MASNSports.com, Showalter is expected to give an update with more details on Machado's timetable Saturday. 

Slumping Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson is out of the lineup Wednesday against the visiting Mets.

Donaldson has just three hits in 21 at-bats since slugging two home runs in Kansas City on Aug. 12.

Twins infielder Trevor Plouffe came up with a big hit late in Monday's game against the Royals, but it was not enough to stave off a 6-4 loss.

Plouffe had just one hit, but it was a big one, as he brought the Twins back into the game with his three-run home run in the ninth inning. Unfortunately, the rally would end there, with Plouffe finishing the game 1 for 4 with three RBI and a strikeout.

Plouffe has nine home runs and 58 RBI in 402 at-bats on the season, while hitting .244/.313/.400.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is expected to need just the minimum amount of time to recover from his sprained right knee, reports the Baltimore Sun Friday.

Machado was placed on the DL Wednesday as a result of the injury, but manager Buck Showalter told reporters Thursday he doesn't expect Machado's recovery time to extend far beyond the minimum 15 days on the DL.

"We've got a pretty good feel," Showalter said. "We've got our arms around it. Hopefully, it will manage itself during [the DL] period, and he will be back there or close to it."

The team wants Machado to begin baseball activities Aug. 24, in order to return in the minimum amount of time. The specific ligament injured has not yet been announced. 

The Orioles announced Wednesday third baseman Manny Machado was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a right knee sprain. The move is retroactive to Aug. 12.

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson went 3 for 4 with two home runs and four RBI in his team's 11-3 win over the Royals Tuesday.

Donaldson has racked up at least one hit in nine straight games but hadn't homered since the calendar turned to August before doing so twice Tuesday. He managed to deliver an RBI single in the third inning and a second RBI on a sacrifice fly in the fifth before smashing solo home runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Donaldson owns a .255/.341/.475 line with 25 home runs, 84 RBI and seven stolen bases in 451 at-bats.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has been diagnosed with a ligament sprain in his injured right knee, masnsports.com reports.

Machado suffered the injury Monday while slipping while attempting to come out of the batter's box. An MRI was scheduled, and while a ligament sprain is the diagnosis, the team is scheduled to have a further update on his condition tomorrow. Machado has hit .278/.324/.431 with 12 home runs and 32 RBI in 327 at-bats.