MLB Player News

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run home run as part of a five-run Pittsburgh rally in Sunday's win over Cleveland. 

Alvarez hit his twelfth home run of the year and second in four games. He went 1 for 3 and reached 37 RBI. 

Giants third baseman Matt Duffy was held out of Sunday's lineup at Washington, the team announced.

Duffy was replaced at third by Ehrie Adrianza, who will hit eighth. Duffy is hitting .283 with two home runs and four RBI in his last 11 games.

The Giants are the underdogs (+155) at Washington on Sunday.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is not in Sunday's starting lineup for just the fourth time this season. 

Arenado had started the last 43 games at the hot corner, dating back to May 21. 

In his place, Daniel Descalso gets his second start of the season at third. 

So much for the slump plaguing Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu. He ended that in style Saturday night with three hits in a loss to Arizona.

LeMahieu ripped three singles, including one that tallied a run in the third inning. He also scored a run and raised his average back to .300 in breaking a 3-for-30 slide.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe had a nice night at the plate in the 5-3 win over the Royals on Saturday. Plouffe just missed hitting for the cycle, as he went 3 for4 with a double, a triple, an RBI and a run scored.

Plouffe seems to be heating up at the plate again, as he is batting .316 with a home run and five RBI over his last 10 games.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado hit his 17th home run of the season on Saturday against the White Sox.

Machado went 1 for 3 with a two-run shot in the eighth inning that tied the game at 2-2.

Machado is hitting .364 with 24 hits, six doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI over his last 16 games.

Matt Williams has admitted that neither Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (foot) nor third baseman Anthony Rendon (quad) are running yet as they try to progress in their respective rehabs from injuries, per the Washington Times.

Zimmerman has been out for four weeks. Rendon is only nine days removed from his placement on the disabled list.

Williams added that both are making progress, but it appears neither is close to returning.

Blue Jays outfielder Danny Valencia went 2 for 4 on Thursday in the 12-6 loss to the Red Sox. Valencia launched his fifth home run of the season, but it was too little, too late. The home run came in the ninth inning with the game already well out of reach.

Valencia has hit two home runs in his last 11 plate-appearances.

Phillies left fielder Cody Asche hit his fourth home run of the season during Thursday's loss to the Brewers.

Asche went 3 for 5 with two RBI. He hit a two-run blast off Brewers starter Matt Garza in the second inning.

Over his last 12 games, Asche is hitting .381 with 16 hits, two home runs and five RBI.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura went 3 for 5 with two RBI in Thursday's win over the Phillies.

Segura singled to right field in the fifth inning, bringing two runners around to score.

The three-hit performance snapped a 0-for-14 streak at the plate for Segura over his last three games.