MLB Player News

Escobar went 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in a 5-3 win over the Braves on Friday.

The Diamondbacks' trade-deadline acquisition of Escobar paid immediate dividends when the third baseman slashed .306/.361/.532 across his first 17 games with the club, but the switch hitter has since fallen into the prolonged offensive skid. Escobar hasn't recorded more than one hit in any of his last 16 starts, limiting him to a .203 average over that span. Given that Escobar is still in the midst of a career-best season and few attractive alternatives loom off the bench, he should be locked into a full-time role throughout September in spite of his ongoing slump.

Candelario went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and a second run scored in Friday's 5-3 win over the Cardinals.

His 18th home run of the year was a big one, as Candelario launched a walkoff shot in the ninth inning against Jordan Hicks. The 24-year-old has put together back-to-back games with three hits and a home run, but he's also struck out twice in both of those performances, and a 27.4 percent strikeout rate is a big reason why Candelario's stuck with a .238/.308/.400 slash line in 33 games since the beginning of August.

Devers will start at third base Saturday against the Astros, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

Devers no longer holds claim on the everyday third base job for Boston. He and Eduardo Nunez, who started Friday and will start Sunday, are splitting the position for now. Devers entered Friday's game as a pinch hitter and struck out with two men on base.

Segura was added to Friday's lineup at shortstop, TJ Cotterill of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Segura was initially left out of Friday's starting nine due to an illness he was dealing with in the morning, but he appears to have markedly improved over the past few hours and will play during the series opener versus the Yankees. Ben Gamel will no longer start and Dee Gordon will man center field.

Segura is not in the lineup against the Yankees on Friday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Segura will receive a standard breather following five straight starts. In his place, Dee Gordon will start at shortstop while Robinson Cano gets the nod at second base.

Moustakas is out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.

Moustakas will get the day off with left-hander Derek Holland slated to take the hill for San Francisco. Travis Shaw will handle the hot corner and bat sixth with Moustakas out of the starting nine.

Devers is not in the lineup against Houston on Friday, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston reports.

Devers will take a seat after going 1-for-3 during Wednesday's victory over Atlanta, which marked his first start since Aug. 15 after being activated from the DL earlier this week. He's expected to split time at third base with Eduardo Nunez moving forward, and Nunez will indeed man the hot corner and bat seventh during Friday's series opener.

Chapman went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a run scored and two RBI in Wednesday's win over the Yankees.

Chapman helped provide some insurance runs in this one, bringing home a run in the fourth on a groundout to put Oakland ahead by seven before doubling in another run in the sixth to make it 8-0. The young third baseman has been hot lately, slashing .345/.397/.690 with five homers and five doubles over the last 14 games, and his .890 OPS on the season ranks among the top 10 in the American League.

Candelario went 3-for-6 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 10-2 rout of the White Sox.

It's the young switch-hitter's first multi-hit performance since Aug. 21, and Candelario has been mired in an 8-for-49 (.163) slump in between those efforts. He still has a respectable 17 homers on the year, but his .225/.312/.403 line leaves a lot to be desired.

Muncy went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to the Mets.

He effectively has Justin Turner to thank for his 32nd homer of the year. Zack Wheeler was in complete control for the Mets until being struck by Turner's comebacker in the fourth inning, and three pitches later Muncy took the right-hander deep. The breakout star's batting average continues to fall, as he's gone 6-for-28 (.214) over his last 13 games, but four of those hits have left the yard.