MLB Player News

Third baseman Evan Longoria returns to the field for the Rays for Sunday's game against Texas. 

Longoria had started at DH the last two games. He also makes his second straight start in the three-hole in the order after batting cleanup 29 times this season. 

Joey Butler returns to the DH spot 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria went 2 for 3 at the plate in Tampa Bay's 7-2 win over the Rangers on Saturday.

Longoria did his damage in the first inning when he ripped a 1-0 pitch from Ross Detwiler over the center field wall for a three-run shot, his fourth of the season. Longoria moved his average to .304 with 12 RBI in 102 at-bats this season.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Indians.

Plouffe is getting his first break from starting in three weeks, as he's manned the hot corner for 19 straight games. Eduardo Escobar will get the start Saturday and bat sixth.

The Twins have 50-50 odds (-105) against the Indians Saturday.

Josh Donaldson and Chris Colabello connected for solo home runs in the Blue Jays' rout of the Red Sox on Friday.

Donaldson delivered a first-inning solo shot while Colabello added a bases-empty blast in the second.

Blue Jays utility player Danny Valencia made his return to the starting lineup Friday against the Red Sox after missing two games due to an ankle injury. He started in right field.

Valencia is batting .333 (9 for 27) with three RBI and four doubles in his last seven games (six starts). Left-hander Wade Miley is pitching Friday for Boston. Valencia is batting .533 (8 for 15) with two doubles and two RBI in eight games against lefties in 2015.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria made it back into the lineup for Friday's game vs. Texas after sitting out Thursday due to an illness. However, he was at DH on Friday and not third base.

Right-hander Yovani Gallardo is on the mound Friday for Texas. Longoria is batting .234 with three home runs, seven RBI, eight doubles and 12 runs in 27 games against right-handers in 2015.

He is batting .365 with two home runs, five doubles, six RBI, eight walks and 10 runs in his last 14 games.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was scratched from the lineup on Thursday due to flu-like symptoms. 

On Friday afternoon, the Rays still weren't sure if Longoria would be able to play on Friday. Manager Kevin Cash said, "We anticipate Longoria playing tonight, but we're not definite yet," per MLB Network Radio.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria will not play in Thursday's game against the Rangers on Thursday due to flu-like symptoms, according to the Tampa Bay Times. 

Longoria first began feeling ill during the Rays' previous series against the Red Sox. 

Longoria's streak of 198 consecutive starts and 270 consecutive games played will come to an end. 

Twins left fielder Eduardo Escobar stayed hot in Thursday's 6-5 win over Oakland. Escobar, who had three hits and five RBI on Wednesday, went 1 for 2 with a go-ahead two-run single in the bottom of the fifth.

Escobar is now batting just .230 on the year, but he has hit safely in three of his last four games. 

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin seems reluctant to trade catcher Jonathan Lucroy and shortstop Jean Segura, even though both players could garner interest at the trade deadline, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

"Those are two tough positions to fill," Melvin said. "I guess you have to be open to everything. But you'd have to be overwhelmed. We have some pretty good shortstops in the system. But they are doing well in the minors (and Segura) is doing well in the majors. Those are positions that can take years to fill. We've got two young ones who are making (little) money."

The Pirates, Mets, Mariners and Padres could all be in the market for shortstop help. However, Melvin suggested it is going to take a pretty good haul for him to part with Segura, who is under team control through 2018.