MLB Player News

Royals All-Star third baseman Mike Moustakas homered during a 4-2 win in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the White Sox. He hit a solo home run off Jeff Samardzija in the fifth inning.

Moustakas, who went 1 for 3 with a walk and strikeout, entered play Friday mired in a 5-for-43 slump. He homered for the first time in 13 games.

As expected, Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson was back in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Rays, reports SportsNet.

Donaldson missed Sunday's start due to an illness, but he was able to play in the All-Star game. He will bat second and play third base. Donaldson is hitting .271 with four home runs and 14 RBI in his last 17 games.

Indians utility player Mike Aviles was reinstated from the family emergency list Thursday. To clear a roster spot, infielder Jose Ramirez was optioned to Triple-A Columbus.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado went 1 for 2 with a double, run and RBI in Tuesday's All Star Game. 

Machado was 0 for 1 in his previous All Star appearance, in 2013. That was the last year that an Orioles All Star doubled, scored (Adam Jones) or drove in a run (J.J. Hardy). 

Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson started his second straight All Star Game on Tuesday. 

Donaldson walked in both of his plate appearances before leaving for a pinch hitter in the fifth inning.

Donaldson also committed a throwing error. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe closed out the first half of the season on a high note, hitting .348 over his last 10 games to raise his average by 12 points, to .259. 

Plouffe went 8-for-23 over the stretch, with six runs scored and three RBIs. In addition, he hit his first home run since June 26 in the Twins' final game of the first half last Sunday, giving him 11 on the season. 

Plouffe remains locked in at third base thanks to his stellar defense, moving top prospect Miguel Sano to the DH spot for now. 

Angels sluggers Mike Trout and Albert Pujols lead a powerful American League lineup for Tuesday's All-Star Game, which was announced Monday by AL manager Ned Yost. 

Trout will play center field and bat leadoff, while Pujols will hit third and play first base. Together, the pair of Los Angeles teammates have combined for 52 home runs and 111 RBIs to rally the Angels into first place at the break. 

Here's the full AL lineup:

1. Mike Trout, CF, Angels
2. Josh Donaldson, 3B, Blue Jays
3. Albert Pujols, 1B, Angels
4. Nelson Cruz, DH, Mariners
5. Lorenzo Cain, RF, Royals
6. Adam Jones, LF, Orioles
7. Salvador Perez, C, Royals
8. Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros
9. Alcides Escobar, SS, Royals 

Blue Jays outfielder Danny Valencia got the nod at third base Sunday and responded with two hits and two RBIs as Toronto nearly rallied from a seven-run deficit in its 11-10 loss to the Royals.

Valencia laced a two-run double in the sixth inning to help the Blue Jays trim the deficit to 7-5 and then came around to score to make it 7-6. 

Valencia capped a solid first half by finishing at .299 with six homers and 27 RBIs. 

Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.

Donaldson left Saturday's matchup in the sixth inning because he was suffering from flu-like symptoms.

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis gets a break from the field on Sunday. Kipnis will lead off and play designated hitter for Sunday's game. 

Kipnis had started the last 20 games at second base and has started 85 of the team's 87 games there this season. The only other time he DHed this season was June 20. 

Jose Ramirez, called up from Triple-A on Saturday, gets his first start of the season at second base.