MLB Player News

A hand injury has Royals third baseman Danny Valencia sitting again Thursday in Toronto.

Valencia has been sidelined pretty much since the demotion of Mike Moustakas handed him the starting job. He has not played since Saturday.

The Athletics offense struggled for much of Wednesday's game against the Tigers, but third baseman Josh Donaldson did enough with one swing to earn a 3-1 win.

Donaldson was the only player for the Athletics to have two hits, and it was his second that provided the big blow. He clubbed a three-run home run off Joe Nathan to win the game in the ninth inning, finishing 2 for 4 with one run scored and three RBI.

Donaldson is now hitting .277/.370/.529, with 13 RBI and 41 RBI in 52 games. He ranks fifth in the American League in home runs and sixth in RBI. 

Royals infielder Danny Valencia is not in the team's starting lineup Wednesday against the Astros.

Valencia is dealing with a hand injury, and is expected to miss 3-5 days. Through 61 at-bats, Valencia is hitting .279. 

Royals infielder Danny Valencia was unable to swing a bat Monday and is expected to be out another three to five days, MLB.com reports.

"He went in to try to swing, and he couldn't swing," manager Ned Yost said.

Valencia underwent an MRI on the injured hand Monday, but results are not yet known. He sprained the hand swinging a bat Saturday.

Athletics first baseman Josh Donaldson went 3 for 5 with a home run and two RBI in his team's 10-0 win over the Tigers Monday.

Donaldson went back-to-back on solo home runs with cleanup hitter Yoenis Cespedes in the third inning, and his shot was one of five home runs in the win. He has hit .276/.370/.523 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI in 199 at-bats after homering in each of his last two games.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe hit a 443-foot solo homer in the first inning of Monday's 7-2 loss to the Rangers. It was Plouffe's fourth homer, giving him 30 RBI.

He's hitting .249/.333/.422 in 185 at-bats.

Royals third baseman Danny Valencia was out of the lineup Monday for a second straight game after spraining his hand Saturday. Valencia is hitting .279 with a homer and seven RBI in 61 at-bats.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado went 1 for 2 with two walks and a solo home run in his team's 4-2 win over the Indians Sunday.

Machado broke a 2-2 tie with a home run in the fifth inning, and teammate Nelson Cruz would add his league-leading 16th home run later in the inning. The third baseman has hit .235/.290/.318 with two home runs and four RBI in 85 at-bats.

Royals third baseman Danny Valencia did not suffer a broken hand during Saturday's game against the Angels, per The Kansas City Star. He suffered a sprain and is day to day.

Valencia feared he suffered a fractured hamate bone as the led off the top of the 13th inning Saturday with a double. He was immediately lifted from the game for pinch runner Jarrod Dyson. Jimmy Paredes started at third base Sunday in Valencia's absence.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, who's been bothered by a groin injury, was back in the lineup Sunday against the Indians. He's hitting .229 with a homer and three RBI in 83 at-bats.