MLB Player News

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was back in the lineup as the designated hitter Tuesday in Houston. Longoria wasn't able to run full speed, but he notched two hits and a walk. 

Longoria went 2 for 4 with a walk and two singles. He's batting .301. Manager Joe Maddon said before the game he was unsure when Longoria would be able to play third again. The Rays will take things day by day with him. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, who returned to the order Tuesday in Houston as the designated hitter, is not able to run at full speed, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Manager Joe Maddon may have to pinch-run for him late in the game. 

Maddon is unsure when Longoria will return to play third base. It could come Wednesday, but the Rays will take it day by day with the star 3B. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria returned to the starting lineup, batting fourth in Houston. Longoria has missed time due to an aggravation of his plantar fasciitis, the Tampa Bay Times reports. 

Longoria was limited to designated hitting Tuesday against the Astros after missing three straight starts. He's avoided the disabled list but may stay off his feet as much as the Rays can afford in the short term. 

As expected, Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was held out of the starting lineup Monday at Houston, which was the third straight game he didn't start as he deals with plantar fasciitis. Rays manager Joe Maddon said Sunday he was hopeful Longoria would avoid a stint on the disabled list and return to the lineup during the team's four-game series at Houston.

Longoria said his foot is feeling better each day and he feels he might be able to pinch-hit Monday. However, he has to test his foot running prior to the game.

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson finished June with a home run and double during Sunday's 7-5 win against the Cardinals. It was his sixth multi-hit game in his last 13 starts.

Donaldson is batting .378 (17 for 45) with three doubles, four home runs, 10 runs, 11 RBI and seven walks in his last 13 games. Donaldson's hot streak comes after he hit .121 (4 for 33) over an eight-game span from June 6-15.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado had another multi-hit game Sunday against the Yankees, going 3 for 4 with one double and a solo home run. The home run was Machado's sixth, but first in 51 games.

Machado might be lacking in home runs, but that hasn't been the case with multi-hit games and doubles. Machado has totaled 34 multi-hit games and 38 doubles in 83 games.

He's managed 10 multi-hit games in his last 18 starts, batting .342 (27 for 79) with one home run, eight RBI, 11 doubles and 12 runs in that span.

Rays manager Joe Maddon was so encouraged by third baseman Evan Longoria's progress Sunday that he feels Longoria might be able to pinch-hit as soon as Monday's game against the Astros and could avoid a stint on the disabled list. Longoria is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

"He actually felt pretty good (Sunday)," Maddon said, per the Tampa Bay Times. "It's kind of encouraging. A lot of the pain was different. It wasn't nearly as severe, so we'll see. We might be able to use him in Houston like we had thought."

The Rays aren't ruling out a stint on the disabled list, but Maddon feels confident Longoria can remain on the active roster.

"As of right now I don't think so because he's making some progress," Maddon said. "It's possible, but I don't know. He's just feeling better (Sunday)."

Rangers infield prospect Mike Olt missed several weeks earlier this season while the team tried to diagnose why he could not produce tears in his right eye, which was beginning to affect his vision. Since Olt began using a special eye drop, the highly touted prospect is back on track for Triple-A Round Rock.

"It's been night and day since then," he said, per MLB.com.

After batting .139 with one home run and six RBI in 20 April games, Olt returned to the lineup in June to hit .255 with a .520 slugging percentage, .883 OPS, six doubles, seven home runs and 17 RBI in 27 games.

"I think I started over," he said. "I started a new season for myself. I mean obviously the numbers are going to be the numbers. Baseball people will understand it's not about your numbers. The last 20 games, I feel definitely more like myself. My power is back. I'm swinging at pitches I was letting go by earlier this season."

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe homered in the ninth inning of Sunday's 9-8 loss at home to the Royals.

Plouffe's seventh home run came off closer Greg Holland, a solo shot. Plouffe was 1 for 4 with a walk and is batting .273. 

The 27-year-old has hit in 12 straight games and 13 of 14 since coming off the disabled list in mid-June. He has 12 RBI over 14 games in June. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was out of the lineup, as expected, Sunday against the Tigers. Longoria is dealing with his case of plantar fasciitis that was aggravated Friday. 

Tampa Bay has decided to keep him off his feet in order to rest the injury in hopes he'll be able to avoid going on the disabled list. He's day to day for now.