MLB Player News

Donaldson has passed concussion tests, and will be monitored, but he's expected to be okay, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports.

Unlike teammate Jose Bautista (expected to play), Donaldson's status for Friday's game remains a bit more up in the air moving forward. He's expected to be fine, but that doesn't necessarily mean he will be in the lineup Friday. His presence would provide a big boost for the Blue Jays, but the situation should be revealed prior to the game.

Donaldson was removed from Thursday's game against the Rangers in the fifth inning, MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm reports.

The Blue Jays have not provided an official reason for Donaldson's removal, but he was only able to play one more half inning after taking a knee to the head sliding into second base in the bottom of the fourth frame. Expect his status to be updated as more details become available.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan said third baseman Trevor Plouffe is unlikely to play in the outfield, MLB.com reports.

That wouldn't be a problem except Ryan also stated he expects Miguel Sano to play regularly in the field, meaning the Twins could have a logjam at the hot corner. It seems like Plouffe could be a player to watch this offseason, as the Twins might look to move their 29-year-old third baseman, if the right deal arises.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado went 1 for 4 with a solo homer in Saturday's Game 2 victory over the Yankees.

Machado is wrapping up 2015 on a homer tear, with Saturday night's solo shot marking his second dinger of the day and making it four consecutive contests with at least one long ball. The superstar third baseman has also totaled 8 RBI over those four games, and has set benchmarks in every offensive category in what has been a breakout campaign.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez is not in the lineup against the Reds on Saturday, Tom Singer of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez hasn't recorded a hit in his last four appearances and with lefty Brandon Finnegan set to take the mound for the Reds, Alvarez will take a seat in favor of Mike Morse who will hit sixth in the lineup and man first base.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado went 2 for 4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored in a win over the Giants on Friday.

The ridiculous season continues for Arenado, as that marks his 42nd home run and 42nd double of the season. An even more ridiculous number is that he has 130 RBI this year.

Arenado should be garnering MVP votes, but the Rockies are just too bad to get any support from the voters. He should easily be a top-25 pick going into next season.

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas went 2 for 5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in a win over the White Sox on Thursday.

The two-hit effort brought Moustakas to a modest four-game hit streak and he appears to be getting hot at the right time. Over his last seven games, Moustakas has 10 hits, including two home runs and four doubles.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria went 2 for 5 with an RBI double and a solo homer against the Marlins on Thursday.

Longoria's production this year has come in fits and starts, as he's had some nice hot streaks, but at the end of the year, his numbers are mediocre by third-base standards. But hey, he's closing things out on a high note, with five hits in the last three games.

Indians rookie third baseman Giovanny Urshela (shoulder) is back in the lineup Thursday against Minnesota.

The physical issue sidelined Urshela for nearly two weeks, but as Terry Francona noted Wednesday, he's now healthy enough to take the field.

Urshela has shined defensively since his promotion, but has struggled at the plate. He will be considered a risky Fantasy option in 2016, particularly since he has not locked up a starting job.

National League Rookie of the Year candidate Matt Duffy went 3 for 4 with a home run, two RBI, a steal and two runs scored in a 5-0 win for the Giants over the Dodgers on Wednesday.

This performance brought Duffy's average to an even .300 and he continues to impress. With 12 homers, 28 doubles, 12 steals and 76 RBI, Duffy is becoming a must-own in every format. The problem is that he showed no power in the minors or in college and it's tough to gauge if this is sustainable next season.