MLB Player News

Donaldson went 1-for-1 with a three-run homer, three walks and two runs in a victory over the Astros on Saturday.

Donaldson blasted his ninth home run of the season to erase a one-run deficit. The blast was his first since June 11, and he's now slugging .478.

Valencia went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs in Friday's 7-2 win over the Athletics.

Valencia already has a pair of three-hit efforts in his first seven games of July and is sporting a .346 average over that stretch. Although all but two of his nine hits during that span have been singles, Valencia is doing an excellent job of setting up RBI opportunities for the likes of Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, Mitch Haniger and Kyle Seager hitting behind him. His production from the beginning of May to date -- which includes a .312/.367/.470 line with eight home runs and 38 RBI --exemplifies exactly why the Mariners opted to bring his veteran bat on board this offseason.

Plouffe is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's clash with the Red Sox.

Plouffe has seen some irregular playing time lately, starting just four of the last 10 games. The veteran infielder likely needs to demonstrate more consistency at the plate to get an everyday role, as his .216/.276/.357 slash line leaves much to be desired. Corey Dickerson starts as the DH in his stead, allowing Shane Peterson to take over in left field.

Machado went 4-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI in Friday's loss to the Twins.

He twice took Minnesota rookie Felix Jorge deep in the first three innings, helping to stake Baltimore to a 6-0 lead that Kevin Gausman and the bullpen couldn't hold. It's been a disappointing first half for Machado in terms of his batting average, but his 18 homers and 45 RBI over 81 appearances is right in line with expectations.

Moustakas made the AL All-Star team after winning the event's final vote.

Moustakas beat out Xander Bogaerts, Didi Gregorius, Elvis Andrus and Logan Morrison to capture the final vote for the second time in his career (2015). The 28-year-old is hitting .275/.309/.570 with 25 home runs this season, a career high, and was already slated to take part in the Home Run Derby. Moustaskas will need to pack for an extra night, though, as he prepares for his big weekend under the spotlight.

Valencia went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 7-4 loss to the Athletics.

Valencia gave Seattle a brief ray of hope with his ninth-inning round tripper, which marked his first homer of July. The veteran has hit safely in four of the first six games of the month as well, a solid start after hitting .306 and .308, respectively, in May and June.

Robinson was called up from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Robinson makes the journey up to the big leagues again after going 8-for-34 with five RBI during the past eight games with Round Rock. The shortstop was recalled to the team a little over a week ago, blasting a home run and a double in a win over the Yankees before getting sent back down to Triple-A. With Elvis Andrus on paternity leave, Robinson could get a little action on the field, although Jurickson Profar is in Friday's lineup at short against the Angels.

Ramirez went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and three RBI during Thursday's win over San Diego.

Ramirez entered Thursday with a jaw-dropping 1.370 OPS, seven homers, 15 RBI and 26 runs through his previous 22 games, as he continues to legitimize his status as an elite fantasy asset this season. He's up to a .330/.382/.597 slash line with 16 bombs, 45 RBI, nine stolen bases and 60 runs for the year, and his eligibility at multiple positions only boosts his value.

Escobar went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI in Thursday's win over the Orioles.

His two-run triple in the third inning helped push the Twins' lead to 5-3 and he came around to score on a fielder's choice later in the inning. Escobar continues to showcase his defensive versatility as well as he made his 27th appearance of the season at the hot corner with Miguel Sano sliding over to first base in place of the injured Joe Mauer. He's hitting .333 with two extra base hits thus far in July.

Donaldson went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run during Thursday's win over Houston.

After receiving a breather Wednesday and starting the month in an 0-for-13 slump, this was an encouraging showing form for Donaldson. He's been limited to just 43 games and owns a disappointing .238/.350/.457 slash line for the campaign, but there's still potential for a strong second half. Pouncing on a buy-low opportunity could pay off handsomely.