MLB Player News

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson started the season mired in a 2-for-22 slump, but his struggles at the plate appear to be a thing of the past.

Donaldson collected his third straight multi-hit game and extended his hitting streak to four games during a 6-1 win Thursday against the Twins.

Donaldson homered for the first time this season -- connecting for a two-run homer off Mike Pelfrey in the third inning to give Oakland a 3-1 lead. Donaldson added an RBI single in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 6-1.

Donaldson is batting .368 (7 for 19) over his last four games, raising his season average from .091 to .220. He has five RBI in nine games -- all coming in his last four games.

The power decline Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe experienced from 2012 to 2013 has continued to start this season, but that falls into the category of nitpicking. He has remained on a tear from opening day.

Plouffe has opened the year on an eight-game hitting streak and is tied for ninth in the American League with a .364 batting average. Though 12 of his 15 hits have been singles and he has yet to homer, he owns six walks and a .475 on-base percentage. His improved patience at the plate is apparent. He has never boasted an OBP higher than .309.

Even after a two-hit performance Monday at Minnesota, which included his first double, Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson expressed disappointment with his slow start. He's batting just .161 through seven games.

"I don’t feel good at the plate right now," Donaldson said after Monday's game, per Bay Area News. "I’m trying to battle through it. My problem right now is with my contact point. I’m catching the ball in front or too deep. It’s been a little frustrating. But so far we haven’t played a lot of games."

The good news is that Donaldson was batting just .120 through seven games last season and finished the year with a breakout campaign. Manager Bob Melvin said Donaldson's double to right-center Monday is a good sign.

"He’s at his best going to right-center like that," Melvin said.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is still not running the bases, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Machado was able to run on a treadmill in a pool Monday. He's coming off knee surgery. There's no timetable for Machado's return at this time. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria continued his recent success at the plate on Monday, recording three hits in a 4-2 loss to the Royals in Kansas City.

Longoria doubled in the second, singled in the sixth and reached on an infield single in the ninth. He finished 3 for 4, raising his batting average to .414 on the year. He has a hit in all but one of his eight games played.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (knee) will continue to go through baseball activities Sunday. If Machado checks out OK Monday, then he could progress to the next step in his rehab.

"His next step is hopefully running full speed," manager Buck Showalter said, per MLB.com. "The last thing he’s had yet to do is sprint. And to be able to do it the next day and the next day so to speak. I don’t know when that’s going to be."

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado continues to recover from a knee injury, and was able to do some baseball activities Thursday. Beyond running, it is not clear what these activities entailed, but MLB.com reports he felt good the following day.

Machade remains without a concrete timetable for his return from knee surgery, but it is a good sign that he has been cleared to begin running. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria didn't hit his first home run of the season until the 12th game a year ago, but he didn't feel like waiting that long this time around.

Longoria took Blue Jays reliever Esmil Rogers deep in the seventh inning for a three-run blast to cap off a 7-2 win. He finished the game 2 for 4 with one run scored and three driven in, while striking out in each of his other two at-bats.

Longoria is hitting .400 through the season's first four games, with three runs scored and four driven in. He hit 32 home runs a year ago.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe came up big on several occasions Thursday afternoon against the White Sox in Chicago.

Plouffe trimmed a two-run deficit in half with an RBI single in the seventh inning. He then tied the game with a run-scoring single off Matt Lindstrom in the ninth inning. He finished 2 for 4 with one walk, one run scored and two RBI in a 10-9 victory. He's hitting .533 (6 for 13) with five RBI in three games.

Royals manager Ned Yost said Danny Valencia could be in the starting lineup at third base on the days a left-handed starter is on the hill. However, manager Ned Yost wanted to stress it wasn't because of starting third baseman Mike Moustakas' struggles against left-handed pitchers.

"It's not because I don't think Moose can't hit a tough lefty. It's more trying to keep Danny sharp than it is worrying about Moose hitting against a lefty," Yost said, per MLB.com.