MLB Player News

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has enjoyed hitting against Texas this series. He's recorded seven hits over the first three games of the four-game set. 

Machado went 3 for 5 with an RBI triple Wednesday and scored a run in the win. He's gone 7 for 14 (.500) in the series with two runs scored, a homer, a triple and three RBI. He's batting .318 with seven homers, 39 doubles and 45 RBI. 

Rays manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday that he doesn't believe third baseman Evan Longoria's hitting struggles have anything to do with his foot injury, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Maddon thinks it is more about Longoria expanding the strike zone.

Batting .285 on the season with 17 home runs and 50 RBI, Longoria has gone just 12 for 64 (.188) over his last 20 games with eight RBI and 19 strikeouts. 

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado homered in a loss to the Rangers Tuesday. Machado had a solo shot off starter Martin Perez in the third inning for his seventh home run. 

Machado finished 1 for 4 and is batting .315. He has hits in eight of his last 10 games, including two homers, two doubles and three RBI. He's among the top 10 in the American League in doubles, batting average and runs scored. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria has made progress with his injured foot and should be able to play the field regularly, according to the Tampa Bay Times. 

Manager Joe Maddon said Longoria's foot has improved and he'll likely play third the rest of the week. The team had occasionally been using him as a designated hitter when his foot acted up. Longoria is hitting .288/.365/.521 in 326 at-bats. 

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado recorded yet another three-hit game Monday during an 8-5 loss at home against the Rangers. Machado leads the majors in three-hit games.

He went 3 for 5 with his 43rd RBI of the season and is now batting .315. The 21-year-old has hits in eight of his last 10 games and has dropped his average slightly over that span. Machado was named an American League All-Star reserve.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe homered Sunday in an 11-5 loss at Toronto. Plouffe had a two-run shot in the eighth inning off Brett Cecil. 

Plouffe, who has nine HRs, finished 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored. He's batting .263. 

The 27-year-old had gone 0 for 8 in his previous two games. He has 33 RBI in 213 at-bats. 

Rays Evan Longoria will play third base Friday for the first time since returning from a plantar fasciitis issue Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Longoria is hitting .294/.365/.537 on the season but is just 2 for 11 since his return.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria said that his plantar fasciitis felt fine as he played through the pain Tuesday as the designated hitter, The Tampa Tribune reports. That said, Longoria doesn't know when he'll be able to get back in the field. 

Longoria, who started at DH again Wednesday, said he'd obviously rather play in the field, but he knows he can be more effective as the DH for the time being. 

The Orioles optioned infielder Danny Valencia to Triple-A Norfolk Wednesday, MLB.com reports. Valencia was optioned to make room for the addition of starter Scott Feldman. 

Valencia hit .230 with the Orioles with four homers and eight RBI over 61 at-bats. He could resurface with the team later in the summer. 

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson started July how he finished June -- with a home run. Donaldson homered, drove in two runs and finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored Tuesday against the Cubs.

Donaldson has homered four times in his last six games and is slugging .755 in his last 14 games. He is also batting .388 (19 for 49) with three doubles, five home runs, 12 runs, 13 RBI and seven walks in his last 14 games.