MLB Player News

Escobar went 2-for-4 with a double -- his fourth in three games -- and a run scored Thursday against the Twins.

Escobar's cleared 30 doubles in consecutive seasons already, and he's off to a fine start in his pursuit of accomplishing that for the third straight time. If last year's power improvement (he doubled his previous career high in homers with 12) can be sustained, he'll have value as a low-end starting shortstop in deeper mixed leagues.

Machado went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's win over Minnesota.

The sixth-inning shot was the first for Machado htis season, but it surely won't be the last for the young star, who busted out with 35 long balls last season. It's worth noting that Machado's struck out five times in the first three games of the year, including twice Thursday, but he's also hit safely in each game.

Manager John Gibbons thinks that Donaldson (calf) has a good chance of returning to the lineup Friday and that Donaldson "is feeling better today," Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports.

Donaldson left Wednesday's game against the Rays in the seventh inning due to the ailment, although between the team's off day Thursday and how much the team downplayed the issue, a Friday return for the third baseman is seeming to be more realistic as game-time approaches. Of course, how he's feeling on the day of the game is most important and a start isn't set in stone until the lineup is released, but this development is definitely an encouraging sign for the Blue Jays and Donaldson's fantasy owners.

Manager John Gibbons said Thursday that Donaldson (calf) could be back in the lineup for Toronto's home opener Friday but noted that there won't be further confirmation until closer to game time, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports.

Donaldson remains in a holding pattern for the time being after leaving Wednesday's game when he tweaked his calf during an at-bat. Fortunately, the Blue Jays seem cautiously optimistic that Donaldson's calf injury won't cause him to miss additional time beyond Wednesday's early departure. More information on Donaldson's status should be made available early Friday.

Ramirez will bat second as the Indians' left fielder for the second consecutive day Thursday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Ramirez moved out of the infield and into left for Wednesday's contest against the Red Sox and he moved up to second in the order as well. He answered by going 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI, so manager Terry Francona will keep the order the same for Thursday's series finale.

Longoria went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Wednesday's 5-3 victory over the Blue Jays.

The veteran third baseman now has two multi-hit games over the first four contests of the season, and has reached based in three of those outings overall. Although he's only driven in one run so far, Longoria should have plenty of RBI opportunities this season if he continues to slot into the three-hole in the Rays lineup.

Plouffe went 1-for-4 with a sixth-inning solo homer in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Orioles.

By this point in his career, we pretty much know who Plouffe is as a hitter -- he's got the pop and the lineup slotting to hit 20 homers and clear 80 RBI (which he's done twice in his career already), but is a batting-average liability who won't add any speed. There's a place for those contributions in deeper formats, but if he's starting at third base for you in a 12-team league, that's less than ideal.

Josh Donaldson, who is day to day after exiting with a calf strain in the seventh, accounted for all of the Blue Jays' runs with a three-run homer off Matt Moore in the third inning of Wednesday's loss against the Rays.

Donaldson brought the rain for the second time in his last three games with his homer. According to Statcast, Donaldson's second of the year was projected to travel 386 feet and left his bat at 106 mph. The reining MVP will benefit from a day off Thursday, and expects to be ready to play Friday against the Red Sox.

Manager John Gibbons said that Donaldson has a strained calf and is day-to-day, Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star reports.

Donaldson left Wednesday's game in the seventh inning after limping through a decent chunk of the game, and it appears the calf issue was to blame for the limp. The Blue Jays don't think the ailment is a very big deal, though, which is definitely an encouraging sign that could allow him to get back in the lineup fairly soon. That being said, it would be unlikely that the Blue Jays would push him back to action too hard this early in the season. Thankfully, Toronto has the day off Thursday, so he'll have an extra day to rest prior to Friday's bout with the Red Sox. Donaldson's status should become clearer as game-time approaches Friday.

Donaldson was removed from Wednesday's game versus the Rays in the seventh inning, Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com reports.

Donaldson seemed to be limping a bit earlier in the game, and it appears that there may actually be an issue of some sort. What's wrong is currently unknown, but more information about the possible ailment and severity should come soon. Darwin Barney took over at third base following Donaldson's exit.