MLB Player News

While Moncada will not start Friday night's game, manager John Farrell said he will get the majority of the starts at third base against right-handed starters moving forward, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

The Red Sox's plans for Moncada seemed somewhat uncertain when he was not included in Friday's starting lineup, but Farrell said that he simply wanted to give Moncada a day to get acclimated to life in the big leagues before inserting him into the starting group. Farrell is planning to use Aaron Hill at third base against left-handed starters, and will likely still mix in Travis Shaw at the position from time to time, but Moncada will be in the lineup for Saturday's game, and frequently thereafter.

Moncada is not in the lineup Friday against the A's, the Boston Globe's Pete Abraham reports.

As Abraham notes, the Red Sox did not start Xander Bogaerts or Andrew Benintendi in their first games after getting promoted to the big leagues, so this is not out of the ordinary for a top Red Sox prospect. Moncada's contract was selected from Double-A earlier in the day, and the hype surrounding the promotion is warranted. He is the top fantasy prospect in baseball, thanks to a five-category skill set that will be on display sooner than later for the Red Sox at the hot corner. Travis Shaw will get the start at third base Friday and Moncada will be available off the bench.

Moncada's contract was selected from Double-A Portland on Friday.

It was announced that Moncada would be getting the call a couple days ago, and it was fairly apparent that this was coming a couple weeks ago when he started playing third base with Portland (he is a second baseman by trade). He has some swing and miss in his game (30.9 percent K-rate at Double-A) and he has struggled to hit lefties (.167 average in 36 at-bats), but he is still quite easily the top prospect in baseball for fantasy purposes. He has all the makings of a five-category contributor, with his power starting to catch up to his speed, and he should occupy a prominent spot in the Red Sox's order for years to come. It is unclear how many days per week he will play initially, but Boston's other options at the hot corner have been horrendous in the second half so there are plenty of at-bats up for grabs. Based on his upside, Moncada should be rostered in the vast majority of formats.

Moncada, who will be called up to Boston on Friday, is expected to start at third base against right-handed pitchers, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

Moncada had his struggles against left-handers at Double-A Portland, so the Red Sox may be reticent to deploy him against southpaws. But if he's hitting while Boston continues to get paltry production out of Travis Shaw and Aaron Hill, Moncada could emerge as more than just a strict platoon guy. He also gives the the Sox some speed off the bench and could used as a pinch runner.

Moncada will be called up Friday, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports.

Moncada will see time at third base, where the Red Sox have experienced a black hole of production for a couple of months now. Aaron Hill, Travis Shaw and Brock Holt are a combined 50-for-242 (.203) as third baseman since July 8. The Red Sox will be cognizant of putting too much on the young man's plate, but Moncada can certainly help at third base and as a pinch runner.

Escobar is out of Wednesday's lineup against the Indians, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press reports.

Jorge Polanco will start at shortstop while Escobar gets the night off. Having gone 5-for-18 (.278) with two doubles over the last seven games, Escobar has remained consistent with his season line of .266/.298/.385.

Moncada figures to get the call from Double-A Portland when rosters expand Thursday, CSNNE's Sean McAdam reports.

This doesn't come as much of a surprise, as the Red Sox's post All-Star break offensive production at third base ranks in the bottom five in all of baseball, and Moncada has been getting used to the hot corner at Portland over the last 10 days. He is the unquestioned top fantasy prospect in baseball, and may therefore already be rostered in a large percentage of formats. However, if he is available, the time to grab him is now, as he could offer five-category production over the final month.

Duffy is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Duffy will get a scheduled day off, as the Rays go with Tim Beckham at shortstop and Brad Miller as the DH on Wednesday. Duffy is hitting .270 with three RBI in 63 at-bats since coming over from San Francisco.

Machado went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer Tuesday against Toronto.

Machado's 444-foot bomb in the fifth inning was one of three long balls for a homer-happy Orioles offense. The 24-year-old is now just three shy of last season's career-high 35 home runs, and has made up for a lack of steals with a .306/.357/.563 line. He has left the yard 10 times in August after doing so just nine times in the previous two months combined.

Longoria hit an eighth-inning solo blast off Boston reliever Clay Buchholtz that broke a 3-3 tie and proved to be the game-winner Tuesday.

The big fly was Longoria's 31st of the year and flew an impressive 434 feet to left-center field. It also came after catcher Luke Maile tied the game with a two-run home run the inning prior, driving an emotional dagger into a Red Sox team that is fighting for a playoff spot. The Rays are just 56-75 this season, but Longoria has been great, hitting .287/.337/.549. The .549 slugging mark is a career best for Longoria, who turned 30 years old last October.