MLB Player News

Josh Donaldson continues to produce for the Blue Jays, as the third baseman cracked his 25th homer of the season to cap the scoring as Toronto picked up a 5-2 win over the Royals on Wednesday. 

Donaldson's fourth-inning homer went to deep left-center, and with protection in the new-look Toronto lineup from Troy Tulowitzki and Jose Bautista, Donaldson went 2-for-3 with a walk. 

Donaldson has six home runs and 19 RBIs in July. 

The Twins will place third baseman Trevor Plouffe on paternity leave, according to MLB.com. 

To replace Plouffe on the roster, the Twins will recall infielder Jorge Polanco from Triple-A Rochester.

Polanco is hitting .284 at Rochester. 

Indians third baseman Giovanny Urshela isn't in the starting lineup for Sunday's game. 

Mike Aviles gets the call in Urshela's place. It's his third start in seven games and 15th of the season. 

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas isn't in the starting lineup for Sunday's game. 

Moustakas has started 85 games at third, including the last eight. He'll be replaced by Chelsor Cuthbert , who gets his fifth start of the season at third base. 

Twins first baseman Joe Mauer isn't in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees. 

Mauer has started 81 games at first this season, including the last 11. Trevor Plouffe moves across the diamond from third base to replace him, starting at first for the fifth time this year. 

Eduardo Escobar replaces Plouffe at third, starting there for the first time since June 3. 

Blue Jays left fielder Chris Colabello will get a start at first base in Saturday's game. 

Colabello gets his 12th start of the year at first base, and his second in the last four games. Danny Valencia takes his place in left field. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe enjoyed a solid night at the plate in Friday's 10-1 victory over the Yankees. ploufe went 3 for 4 with a double and a solo home run while also scoring two runs.

The home run, his 14th of the year, put the Twins up 7-0 in the eighth inning. The three-hit effort gives Plouffe a .282 batting average and four home runs over his past 10 games.

In an attempt to strengthen the middle of his lineup, Buck Showalter has moved Orioles third baseman Manny Machado from the leadoff spot to third in the order for their game Friday night against Tampa Bay.

Jimmy Paredes will bat first instead.

Machado has exhibited the power needed to take over the third spot. He has a career-high 21 home runs with more than one-third of the regular season remaining.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe smacked his 13th home run of the season to send the Twins to a 3-0 win over the Angels on Thursday.

Plouffe hit the three-run shot off Garrett Richards in the fourth inning. It was his only hit in four at-bats during the contest.

Prior to Thursday's win, Plouffe was hitting .262 with two home runs and seven RBI in his last 11 games.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado went 1 for 4 with a solo home run, his 21st of the season, on Thursday against the Yankees.

Machado is hitting .285 with six hits, two doubles, two home runs, six walks and three RBI over his last six games.