MLB Player News

Escobar is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers, Brandon Warne of ZoneCoverage.com reports.

Escobar is just 3-for-22 (.136) in seven games this month, so he'll head to the bench for a breather after starting nine straight contests. Jorge Polanco will take his place at shortstop for the game.

Moustakas has been battling a sore knee since being hit by a pitch that cleared the benches on July 26 vs. the White Sox, Rustin Dodd of The Kansas City Star reports.

Based on his current streak (8-for-18 with two homers, four RBI and four runs over his last five games), Moustakas doesn't appear to be hindered much. However, the third baseman has looked uncomfortable at times recently, most noticeably while running the bases. Manager Ned Yost said Moustakas suffered a deep bruise in his hip that required draining, causing stiffness in the slugger's knee that may be lingering. Fantasy owners have no reason to sit the All-Star as of now, but it's certainly a situation worth monitoring.

Machado went 1-for-4 with a grand slam during Monday's win over the Angels.

Machado has caught fire of late with three home runs, six doubles, 12 RBI and eight runs through his past nine games. The heater has been long overdue, as his .256/.318/.464 slash line is still well below the standard he set over the previous two years. A two-month surge could go a long way toward closing the gap, though.

Moustakas went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Monday's loss to St. Louis.

This was Moustakas' 32nd homer of the year and seventh through his past 16 games. The 28-year-old is up to an impressive 73 RBI and 57 runs with a .276/.307/.588 slash line for the season, finally reaching the high-end power potential that made him the second overall selection in the 2007 draft.

Chapman went 2-for-4 with an RBI double, another two-bagger, a walk and two runs in Sunday's 11-10 win over the Angels.

The rookie has already compiled five extra-base hits (four doubles, one home run) and six RBI over his first six games in August. He's been much more patient at the plate during that span as well, posting a 23.1 percent walk rate while striking out at only an 11.5 percent clip. Those numbers, while generated in what is admittedly a modest sample, represent an encouraging juxtaposition to his season-long 10.5 percent and 29.3 percent figures, respectively, in those categories.

Machado went 4-for-5 with a home run, five RBI and two runs in Sunday's win over Detroit.

Machado logged a season-high five RBI in his third four-hit game of the season. The third baseman hit .230 with a .741 OPS during the first half, but he's turned it around in a big way since. Over 91 at-bats since the All Star break, Machado is slashing .352/.398/.505 with 10 extra-base hits, 14 RBI and 15 runs.

Moustakas went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's loss to the Mariners.

Moustakas' eighth-inning long ball pulled his team back within one run after they fell behind by seven through two innings, but that's as close as it would get in this 8-7 loss. His 31 home runs are just five behind Giancarlo Stanton for the league lead, as the third baseman has already obliterated his 2015 career high of 22 and is also just 10 RBI short of his career-best 82 from that season.

Bregman went 1-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and a run during Sunday's win over Toronto.

Bregman hit a two-run triple to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, and then he scored on a Juan Centeno single to clinch the victory. After a bit of a disappointing start to the campaign, Bregman has caught fire of late with a .351 batting average, 21 extra-base hits, 14 RBI, six stolen bases and 28 runs through his past 27 games. A monster finish to the season is well within reach, and considering Bregman has just 631 plate appearances in the majors, his long-term fantasy stock is pointing straight up.

Valencia, who went 3-for-5 with a triple, two-run home run and two runs in the first game of a doubleheader Sunday, is projected to platoon with newly acquired, left-handed-hitting Yonder Alonso at first base moving forward, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Although Valencia has steadily improved against right-handed pitching as his career has unfolded, Alonso brings a solid .286 average and .948 OPS -- along with 18 home runs and 40 RBI -- against that handedness this season. Valencia's overall playing time thus projects to take a hit, although the designated hitter spot serves as a way to get both players in the lineup simultaneously on occasion.

Moncada finished up the four-game set against the Red Sox, going 5-for-17 with three walks, but continues to have issues with offspeed offerings, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Moncada showed some improvement over the weekend, but is an unimpressive 9-for-52 (.173) overall with 21 strikeouts, a 33-percent strikeout rate. '"The swings-and-misses on both sides of the plate have been in breaking-ball counts," manager Rick Renteria said. '"Exponentially, he will grow to understand those. My hope is by the time we finish September, you will see an approach to those pitches because he's seeing them more." Moncada acknowledged the difference between Triple-A pitchers and hurlers in the majors, who have an approach for each at-bat.