MLB Player News

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles and a walk during Oakland's 9-6 loss at Boston Monday night. Donaldson, who also scored twice, drove in two runs on his double in the eighth inning, his fifth two-base hit overall this season.

The 27-year-old was back in the lineup against the Red Sox after sitting out the previous outing, the first time he did not start a game for the Athletics this season. He is now hitting .264.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe started his 15th straight game Sunday against White Sox. Plouffe is one of three Twins' position players, joining Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, to start every game this season.

Unfortunately, Plouffe is mired in a 0-for-12 slump, which has dropped his season average (.196) below the Mendoza Line. Plouffe has just two home runs and four RBI in 51 at-bats.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria reached on an error and doubled Sunday against the Athletics to extend his on-base streak to 18 games. It's the third-longest streak to start a season in franchise history, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Longoria's feat trails Rocco Baldelli's franchise-best 24-game streak and Jorge Cantu's 20-game streak.

"For the most part, he's kept his strike zone organized," manager Joe Maddon said. "And as long as he does, he'll hit the ball consistently well all year."

I'm not quite convinced Fantasy owners need to rush Orioles third baseman Manny Machado into their lineups for Week 4 (April 22-28). 

Machado has been on a good run the last few weeks, batting .302 (16 for 53) with two home runs, four doubles, 10 runs and 10 RBI in 13 games. But basically that surge takes him back to where his numbers were last season. His slash line through 17 games (.268/.307/.423/.729) is pretty similar to what he produced last year (.262/.294/.445/.739). It's also pretty close to what he did in the minors (.263/.344/.432/.776).

I have no doubt Machado has a bright future in the majors, but don't forget he's only 20 years old. Not every elite prospect is in the mold of Bryce Harper or Mike Trout. Many of them have ups and downs before hitting their stride.

I just don't think Machado is ready for his breakout run, so I would continue to temper expectations.

After going 0 for 4 in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Dodgers, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado made up for it in the nightcap. He went 3 for 4 with a homer, four RBI and a pair of runs scored in the 6-1 win.

The 20-year-old singled in the third inning before driving in Nate McLouth with a double in the fifth. Then in the sixth, he launched a three-run bomb off starter Josh Beckett.

"He just left it a little up and I just took advantage of that," Machado told MASNSports.com. "It's been awhile since I had a good game, had a couple of games with an 0-fer. We had two good games today and now we try to come out tomorrow and get another one."

Machado is batting .311 (14 for 45) in the last 10 contests with two home runs and 10 RBI.

"You know I just think the more at-bats I get the more comfortable I feel at the plate," he said. "It comes with experience, this game is all about experience."

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria hit his fourth home run in his last five games Friday night against the A's.

Longoria's two-run home run came off reliever Evan Scribner in the fourth inning. He finished 1 for 4 with two runs in an 8-3 victory. Longoria is hitting .281/.364/.509 with four home runs and nine RBI in 57 at-bats.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria had another solid night at the plate as he homered for the third time in the last four games during Thursday's series finale against the Orioles.

Longoria took starter Miguel Gonzalez deep in the first inning for a solo shot. He finished 1 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI in a 10-6 defeat in extras.

Longoria has gone 4 for 17 with three homers, four runs scored and four RBI in his last four games. He is hitting .283/.371/.472 over his first 53 at-bats.

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson went 0 for 4 out of the fifth spot in the lineup Wednesday, leaving eight men on base in his team's 7-5 win over the Astros.

Donaldson, who has played every inning at third base for the A's this season, hit fifth for just the third time this year. The hitless day lowered his season line to .242/.299/.419 with two home runs in 67 plate appearances.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado produced an RBI double Tuesday against the Rays. It was his third double and sixth RBI.

Machado has hit safely in six of his last seven games, batting .310 (9 for 29) with one home run, two doubles and five RBI. He hit just .192 (5 for 26) with one double and one RBI in his first six games.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria homered for the second straight game Tuesday at Baltimore. Longoria is batting .273 (6 for 22) with two home runs, three runs, four RBI and five walks during the first seven games of the team's current road trip.