MLB Player News

Valencia went 2-for-5 with a walk and two RBI in Tuesday's game against the Rangers.

Tuesday marked Valencia's third straight two-hit effort, and pushed the third baseman's average up to a team-high .296. After a big first half, Valencia's performance has dipped a bit since the All-Star break. Through the season's first three months, the 31-year-old batted a combined .324. However, he's just 30-for-123 (.244) since July 1, and his .370 slugging percentage since the break is significantly lower than the .498 mark Valencia posted before the Midsummer Classic. Maybe his recent string of games is an indication that he's getting back on track as we head toward the home stretch of the fantasy season.

Duffy (Achilles) is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Padres, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Duffy departed Tuesday's game due to mild soreness in his left Achilles and he'll be held out Wednesday, likely as a precaution. The infielder missed nearly two months earlier in the season with an Achilles issue, though Duffy said Wednesday that he's "not concerned" about this latest setback.

Moncada aggravated his ankle injury after returning from a five-game absence, Kevin Thomas of the Portland Press Herald reports.

Moncada returned to action last Thursday and played a couple of games, but hasn't played since Friday. If the organization was tempted to bring Moncada up to Boston this season, the injury makes it unlikely that would happen.

Plouffe went 3-for-5 with an RBI single and RBI double, on Tuesday, scoring a run in the process to help the Twins beat the Braves 4-2.

Plouffe nearly had three RBI, but Jorge Polanco was gunned down by Braves' center fielder Ender Inciarte on Plouffe's RBI single in the top of the ninth. The RBI were just Plouffe's 28th and 29th of the year, and the double was just his 17th extra-base hit. Plouffe is hitting cleanup these days for the Twins, who have actually been a decent offensive team this season, 11th in the MLB in OPS. The power and RBI numbers are a little disappointing considering, but perhaps there's reason to expect more from Plouffe in the final month and a half of the season.

Bregman went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, his first, in Tuesday's loss to the Cardinals.

Bregman got off to a very slow start in the majors, but was starting show off his power stroke over the past nine games. In that span, he mashed five doubles, and he finally found his way onto the home run board in the first inning Tuesday night against Jaime Garcia. In 80 minor league games between Double-A and Triple-A this year, Bregman mashed 20 homers, so expect much more like this from him as he gets settled into the big leagues.

Donaldson went 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs and an RBI in Tuesday's 12-6 win at Yankee Stadium.

Donaldson didn't do much damage himself, but parlayed an infield single and two free passes into a very solid line thanks to strong production from the rest of the Blue Jays lineup around him. The 2015 AL MVP is still going through a rough patch by his lofty standards, with just two extra-base hits in an 8-for-38 stretch over the past 10 games.

Duffy left Tuesday's game with mild left Achilles soreness, Steve Carney of 620 AM Tampa Bay reports.

Indeed it was a setback with the Achilles that forced Duffy from Tuesday's game. The team is saying his removal was strictly precautionary but Duffy just returned last weekend after missing close to two months with an Achilles injury, so it may be a little difficult for some to take the Rays at their word.

Duffy was lifted from Tuesday's game against the Padres after three innings.

Tim Beckham assumed Duffy's spot at shortstop for the top of the fourth after Duffy singled twice in his two trips to the plate (one of the infield variety). Duffy was just activated from the DL last Friday following a nearly two-month stay on the DL due to an Achilles injury.

Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Angels.

That extends his hitting streak to 18 games and pushes his slash line in August to .444/.464/.722. Ramirez also has seven steals in his last seven games, as he's apparently decided that since he's getting on base so often, he might as well do something fun while he's there. He already has career-best numbers across the board, and the 23-year-old is doing everything he can this season to prove that he deserves to be an everyday player and not just a utility guy.

Donaldson went 0-for-3 with a bases-loaded walk, recording his 79th RBI of the year, in Sunday's win over the Astros.

Despite hitting safely in 11 of his last 12 starts, the third baseman has seen his average dip more than five points through the first half of the current month. History would indicate that he'll get back to his dominant ways soon. Last season, August was by far Donaldson's best month of the campaign -- he hit .324/.408/.724 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI and 29 runs -- and it propelled him to the AL MVP award. Over the past three seasons, Donaldson has hit a combined .307 in August, his highest average for any month.