MLB Player News

Manager John Gibbons thinks that Donaldson (calf) has a good chance of returning to the lineup Friday and that Donaldson "is feeling better today," Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports.

Donaldson left Wednesday's game against the Rays in the seventh inning due to the ailment, although between the team's off day Thursday and how much the team downplayed the issue, a Friday return for the third baseman is seeming to be more realistic as game-time approaches. Of course, how he's feeling on the day of the game is most important and a start isn't set in stone until the lineup is released, but this development is definitely an encouraging sign for the Blue Jays and Donaldson's fantasy owners.

Manager John Gibbons said Thursday that Donaldson (calf) could be back in the lineup for Toronto's home opener Friday but noted that there won't be further confirmation until closer to game time, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports.

Donaldson remains in a holding pattern for the time being after leaving Wednesday's game when he tweaked his calf during an at-bat. Fortunately, the Blue Jays seem cautiously optimistic that Donaldson's calf injury won't cause him to miss additional time beyond Wednesday's early departure. More information on Donaldson's status should be made available early Friday.

Ramirez will bat second as the Indians' left fielder for the second consecutive day Thursday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Ramirez moved out of the infield and into left for Wednesday's contest against the Red Sox and he moved up to second in the order as well. He answered by going 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI, so manager Terry Francona will keep the order the same for Thursday's series finale.

Longoria went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Wednesday's 5-3 victory over the Blue Jays.

The veteran third baseman now has two multi-hit games over the first four contests of the season, and has reached based in three of those outings overall. Although he's only driven in one run so far, Longoria should have plenty of RBI opportunities this season if he continues to slot into the three-hole in the Rays lineup.

Segura went 2-for-5 in Wednesday's loss to the Rockies and added his first steal of the year. He's now 6-for-14 to begin the season.

Segura is turning a hot spring training (.469 average in 64 at-bats) into a hot first week of the regular season. With his speed and place atop a potent Arizona lineup, Segura should be a solid contributor of steals and runs if he continues to get on base at a good clip.

LeMahieu went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over Arizona.

Batting leadoff with Charlie Blackmon on the bench against lefty Patrick Corbin, LeMahieu began the game with a single and later homered to left field. It was the second home run in as many days for LeMahieu, who hit a career-high six homers last season. The 27-year-old also set a career high in stolen bases last year with 23, but it may be tough to match that numbers if he continues to bat out of the No. 8 spot against right-handed pitching.

Duffy's only hit in Wednesday's loss to the Brewers went for a solo shot.

Duffy is flashing power early after coming out of nowhere to finish second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2015. Fantasy owners were wondering if he could repeat last year's success given his lack of pedigree (never hit more than nine home runs in the minors). Duffy has put those questions to rest early on, smashing two homers in his first three games with Wednesday's ball traveling a career-high 424 feet. He could end up being a great value this season for those who believed in him considering where he was going in drafts.

Plouffe went 1-for-4 with a sixth-inning solo homer in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Orioles.

By this point in his career, we pretty much know who Plouffe is as a hitter -- he's got the pop and the lineup slotting to hit 20 homers and clear 80 RBI (which he's done twice in his career already), but is a batting-average liability who won't add any speed. There's a place for those contributions in deeper formats, but if he's starting at third base for you in a 12-team league, that's less than ideal.

Suarez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored Wednesday against the Phillies.

After Maikel Franco put Philadelphia up 2-0 in the top of the first, Suarez cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning, then both offenses went silent until the ninth, when he led off with a single to start the game-winning rally. The 24-year-old Venezuelan has decent pop, but with last year's .341 BABIP not likely sustainable, he's probably not going to be better than a .260 hitter. Still, the potential for close to 20 homers in combination with dual eligibility at shortstop and third base makes him a viable fantasy asset.

Josh Donaldson, who is day to day after exiting with a calf strain in the seventh, accounted for all of the Blue Jays' runs with a three-run homer off Matt Moore in the third inning of Wednesday's loss against the Rays.

Donaldson brought the rain for the second time in his last three games with his homer. According to Statcast, Donaldson's second of the year was projected to travel 386 feet and left his bat at 106 mph. The reining MVP will benefit from a day off Thursday, and expects to be ready to play Friday against the Red Sox.