MLB Player News

Villar went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two total RBI and two total runs scored in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Cubs.

Villar has gone deep four times in his last seven games, and he's recorded four multi-hit efforts in that span. The hot hitting has earned him a steady stretch of playing time as a versatile infielder capable of manning any base. He's still slashing just .228/.351/.457 through 111 plate appearances, but he's trending in the right direction. The 25-year-old has added five homers, 14 RBI, 14 runs scored and four doubles through 33 contests.

Donovan went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Pirates.

Donovan got the Cardinals on the board in the fifth inning with his solo shot. He's gone 7-for-20 (.350) with two homers and a double in his last five games, but he had endured a 46-game homer drought prior to that stretch. The utility man is up to four long balls with 39 RBI, 49 runs scored, two stolen bases and a .291/.392/.388 slash line through 386 plate appearances. He's hit leadoff in the last three games versus right-handed pitchers, and it appears he's displaced Lars Nootbaar from that role.

Arraez went 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Guardians.

Arraez has four doubles in his last four games, and he added an RBI single and a run in the Twins' ninth-inning rally that came up short. The infielder is hitting .289 (11-for-38) with five two-baggers and three runs scored through eight games in September, and he's been held without a hit only once this month. Arraez is back up to a .316/.377/.429 slash line with eight home runs, four stolen bases, 46 RBI, 76 runs scored and 28 doubles through 124 contests.

Rosario went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Twins.

Rosario went deep in the first inning to give the Guardians a lead they would not relinquish. The shortstop has gone 7-for-36 (.194) in eight games this month, with his homer counting as his first extra-base hit and RBI in that span. The 26-year-old is slashing .277/.309/.395 with nine homers, 54 RBI, 74 runs scored and 13 stolen bases through 130 contests as the Guardians' near-everyday No. 2 hitter.

Espinal went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, three RBI and a run scored in Saturday's victory over the Rangers.

Espinal put the Blue Jays up 4-0 with a two-run single in the first inning and added an RBI double in the third, both off Texas starter Kohei Arihara. The second baseman had been dreadful in his last nine games prior to this contest, turning in a .483 OPS in 31 plate appearances. Furthermore, the 27-year-old had recorded only two RBI in 39 at-bats over his last 14 games prior to Saturday.

Guillorme (groin) will be evaluated for a potential return after his rehab game for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Guillorme has missed nearly a month with a left groin strain, but he's almost ready to going after grabbing four hits in his first three rehab games. He could return as soon as early next week, at which point he'll face new competition for at-bats in the form of Mark Vientos, who earned his first career call-up Saturday.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Saturday that he hopes Polanco (knee) will be able to return early-to-mid next week, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Although Polanco is eligible to be reinstated from the injured list during the Twins' weekend series against Cleveland, he'll be held out for at least a few more days. However, he played catch Thursday and seems to be trending in the right direction.

Lux (back) is playing catch and doing fielding drills ahead of Saturday's game against the Padres, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Lux is expected to be sidelined until sometime next week, but it's encouraging to see him participating in pregame drills. He's also expected to swing a bat ahead of Saturday's matchup and will likely have a chance to return to the Dodgers' lineup early next week if he feels good following his workout.

Frazier isn't starting Saturday against Atlanta.

Frazier went 2-for-13 with four strikeouts over the last three games and will get a day off Saturday. Abraham Toro is starting at the keystone and batting ninth.

Rengifo isn't starting Saturday against the Astros, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Rengifo has recorded hits in six consecutive games, hitting .385 with a triple, a double, three runs, an RBI and a stolen base over that stretch. He'll take a seat Saturday while Matt Duffy starts at the hot corner and bats fifth.