MLB Player News

The Indians have promoted middle infielder Jose Ramirez from Triple-A Columbus after placing second baseman Jason Kipnis on the disabled list.

Ramirez impressed during a short stint with Cleveland in 2013. It remains to be seen how much playing time he receives with veterans Mike Aviles and Ryan Raburn also on the roster.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was able to get through his first game of the season without any issues, according to the Baltimore Sun. 

Though Machado went 0 for 5 at the plate, he was able to show off his glove. "Manny saved us two or three runs tonight defensively," manager Buck Showalter said. Showalter said he kept asking Machado how he felt throughout the game. By the sixth inning, he knew Machado was fine.

Machado received a standing ovation in his first at-bat since knee surgery. As a rookie, he hit .283 in 667 at-bats. 

So now that we've waited all this time for him, what exactly is the value of Manny Machado?

It's a tricky question to answer because the gap between what he could be and what he has been is so wide. With that in mind, if you like what he has been, which was good enough to make him the 10th-best third baseman in Head-to-Head leagues and the ninth-best in Rotisserie last season, great. He shouldn't have much trouble repeating those numbers, at least on a per-game basis. But if you set your sights at the position a little higher than that, well, he may be just the ticket there, too.

Keep in mind he was one of the most hyped hitting prospects of the last few years, getting compared to Alex Rodriguez when the Orioles selected him third overall in the 2010 draft. His ability was so evident that the Orioles kept moving up the ladder despite lackluster numbers, and only last year did the numbers begin to catch up. Judging by the progress from his first season to his second, the 21-year-old could have big things in store in the next year or two.

Coming off major knee surgery and an extended rehabilitation, you'll want to keep your expectations in check this year, but if Fantasy owners rate Machado about on the level of Kyle Seager, who was getting drafted before him because of the injury, and that's the downside for him, he might be worth buying even now that the wait is over.

The Orioles have activated third baseman Manny Machado from the disabled list, but he is not in the lineup for the opener of the Thursday doubleheader against Pittsburgh. He said he expects to be in the lineup for the nightcap.

Machado has been sidelined with a knee injury since late last season. He thrived in a minor league rehab stint for Class A Advanced Frederick, going 8 for 12 with four doubles and a triple.

Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar delivered his best offensive performance of the season Wednesday, going 4 for 4 with a double and two RBI in his team's 6-4 loss to the Dodgers.

Escobar kicked off the scoring Wednesday with an RBI double in the second inning before the Dodgers answered with six runs to go into the ninth with a 6-1 lead. Escobar drove in another run in the final frame and scored on a two-run double, but the Twins rally fell short as Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen slammed the door. Escobar has hit .345/.355/.414 with five RBI in 29 at-bats.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe is back in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Plouffe was expected to make his return Tuesday, but that game between the Dodgers and Twins was postponed due to inclement weather. He's batting third for Wednesday's game, which he enters with a .310/.419/.483 line in 87 at-bats.

With the postponement of Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado will have his season debut delayed another day.

Machado was scheduled to make his first appearance of the season Tuesday before that game was postponed. With his debut pushed back a day, Wednesday's scheduled game was also postponed, putting him on track to make his debut during the team's Thursday doubleheader. He has been sidelined while recovering from a knee injury.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe has never enjoyed success trying to use the whole field. That is, until this year.

His career stat line hitting the ball to the opposite field is .204/.200/.313 compared to .387/.384/.735 pulling it, ESPN reports. But he has five singles, five doubles and a triple to center field this season, along with three doubles to right.

The result of his success using the entire field is that Plouffe ranked first among American League third basemen heading into Tuesday action in on-base percentage and batting average and fourth in slugging percentage.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was expected to come off the disabled list Tuesday, but that evening's game against the Pirates has been postponed due to rain. He will likely be activated Wednesday instead, after overcoming knee surgery and appearing in three games during a minor-league rehab assignment.  

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (knee) will be in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Pirates, if the game isn't postponed due to weather. If the game is postponed, then Machado will remain on the disabled list for at least another day.