MLB Player News

Moncada told Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski that his biggest takeaway from his time in the majors was the need to anticipate different pitches, Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com reports. "You can tell people that, but until they experience it," Dombrowski said. "When he's hitting at the minor league level and it's a 2-0 count and there's nobody on base and they're losing by a run he's probably seeing a fastball the majority of the time and here he might see a changeup or breaking ball."

Dombrowski said he doesn't regret bringing Boston's top prospect up to the majors for September, feeling a minor league player will never learn what its like at the major league level until they're here. With rare exception, every minor-leaguer will struggle when promoted to MLB. Moncada, who is currently playing third base in the Arizona Fall League, went 3-for-5 with a double and solo homer in his first game for the Surprise Saguaros. He'll continue to get action at third base in the AFL and is most likely to start the 2017 season in the minors.

Donaldson went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs in Sunday's series-clinching win over the Rangers.

Donaldson's second run in Game 3 of the ALDS was the walkoff winner as he barely beat the throw home after a botched double play in the bottom of the 10th inning. Through four postseason games, the third baseman is 9-for-18 (.500) with five doubles, three RBI and five runs. Donaldson, who's averaged a homer per 15 at-bats over the past two season, has yet to go deep in the 2016 playoffs.

Alvarez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Yankees, MLB.com reports.

Alvarez will be on the bench for the fifth game in a row. The Orioles will look to make outfield defense a greater priority by moving Mark Trumbo to DH to clear room for the speedier Michael Bourn in right field. A .208 average and three homers over 59 plate appearances since the start of September haven't helped Alvarez's argument for a regular lineup spot.

Valencia is out of the lineup Sunday against the Mariners.

Valencia, who's been dealing with a neck issue, was a late addition to the lineup Saturday. He proceeded to go 0-for-4 and strike out twice. He'll return to the bench Sunday while Matt Olson starts in right field.

Valencia (neck) is back in the lineup Saturday against the Mariners, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Valencia was scratched from Friday's lineup with what the team called a "neck issue," but it doesn't look to be anything serious. Valencia will get the start in right field and bat sixth in the order against Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma.

Bregman will not play this weekend, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The 22-year-old returned to the lineup Wednesday, but with Houston officially eliminated from postseason contention on Thursday, he will be shut back down. Bregman struggled initially upon arrival to the major leagues but quickly adjusted and finished with an impressive .791 OPS in 217 plate appearances. He appears primed to open 2017 in an everyday role.

Valencia has been scratched from Friday's lineup with a neck issue, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Matt Olson is now slated to start in right field against Taijuan Walker and the Mariners. The extent of the neck injury is uncertain and thus Valencia's status for the final two days of the regular season is up in the air.

Bregman is out of the lineup Friday against the Angels, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

It was feared that Bregman's season was over as a result of a hamstring injury but he made a surprise return to the lineup Wednesday, finishing 1-for-4 with an RBI in a loss to Seattle. He will turn third base over to Yulieski Gurriel on Friday but Bregman figures to start at least one of the Astros' final two games of the regular season.

Moncada has gone to Arizona to prepare for Fall League, ending his season with the Red Sox, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Though Moncada is immensely talented and certainly a centerpiece of the Red Sox future, his youth and inexperience were evident during his stint with the big league ball club this fall as he slashed .211/.250/.263 with 12 strikeouts in 19 at-bats. Brock Holt and Travis Shaw figure to man the hot corner the rest of the way while Moncada reports to Arizona Fall League.

Bregman went 1-for-4 with an RBI in his return to the lineup Wednesday against the Mariners.

Making his first start since Sept. 14 after dealing with a hamstring injury, Bregman was back in the two-hole and delivered an RBI single in the fifth inning. Prior to his injury, the 22-year-old was on fire, hitting .316 with three home runs and 12 RBI over 13 games in September. His return to the lineup is a welcome sight for the Astros, who are barely clinging onto playoff hope. However, another loss or Orioles win would eliminate them from contention.