MLB Player News

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals.

Peterson will be replaced at second base by Pedro Ciriaco, who will hit out of the second spot in the lineup.

Peterson isn't in the lineup for just the second time in his team's last 13 games.

In an attempt to strengthen the middle of his lineup, Buck Showalter has moved Orioles third baseman Manny Machado from the leadoff spot to third in the order for their game Friday night against Tampa Bay.

Jimmy Paredes will bat first instead.

Machado has exhibited the power needed to take over the third spot. He has a career-high 21 home runs with more than one-third of the regular season remaining.

First baseman Pedro Alvarez might not be wearing a Pirates uniform for long if trade rumors swirling around him prove prophetic. But perhaps he is going out with a bang - as in his solo blast in the second inning of a Thursday defeat of Washington.

Alvarez sent a Doug Fister pitch over the fence in left and later added an RBI groundout and walk. He is still batting just .160 (8-for-50) since July 3.

The Pirates are exploring the possibility of trading first baseman Pedro Alvarez, an American League talent evaluator has told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

They would likely need someone in return that could play that position since their current options are limited, though Travis Ishikawa has similar career numbers to those of Alvarez.

The 28-year-old Alvarez has struggled despite slugging a home run Thursday. He entered play with a .231/.299/.414 slash line. But he can also play third base, which might attract suitors.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe smacked his 13th home run of the season to send the Twins to a 3-0 win over the Angels on Thursday.

Plouffe hit the three-run shot off Garrett Richards in the fourth inning. It was his only hit in four at-bats during the contest.

Prior to Thursday's win, Plouffe was hitting .262 with two home runs and seven RBI in his last 11 games.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado went 1 for 4 with a solo home run, his 21st of the season, on Thursday against the Yankees.

Machado is hitting .285 with six hits, two doubles, two home runs, six walks and three RBI over his last six games.

Blue Jays left fielder Danny Valencia went 2 for 4 with a walk and a solo home run in his team's loss to the Athletics on Wednesday.

Valencia is hitting .500 with five hits, two home runs and six RBI in his last four games.

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas only had one hit in four at-bats Wednesday, but he used it to smack a three-run home run to help send the Royals to a 5-1 win over the Pirates.

Moustakas hit the three-run shot in the seventh inning off Charlie Morton. It was his 10th home run of the season.

Prior to Wednesday's game, Moustakas was hitting .333 with two home runs and five RBI in his last six starts.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura went 3 for 4 at the plate with two RBI to help send the Brewers to a 8-1 win over the Indians on Tuesday.

Segura hit a two-run home run in the second inning off Danny Salazar. It was his fourth home run of the season. He also scored two runs.

Prior to Tuesday's three-hit game, Segura was hitting .404 with five runs and three RBI in his last 13 games.

Twins shortstop Danny Santana isn't in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game. 

Santana has started 60 games at short this season, including five of the last six. He will be replaced in the lineup by Eduardo Escobar. Escobar will be starting his 19th game.