MLB Player News
-
Yoan Moncada 3B | LAA
White Sox's Yoan Moncada: Scores twice in Monday's loss
Moncada went 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored in Monday's 5-4 loss to the Rays.
Moncada showed some power, as one of his two hits was a double. Although he went hitless in Sunday's outing, the 22-year-old has put together multi-hit performances in two of his last three games. While he's beginning to accumulate hits at the dish, strikeouts remain an issue for Moncada, as he's struck out in 34.1 percent of his plate appearances this season.
-
Pedro Alvarez 3B | MIA
Orioles' Pedro Alvarez: Heads to bench Monday
Alvarez is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.
As expected, Alvarez will take a seat on the bench with a left-hander starter (J.A. Happ) toeing the rubber for the Blue Jays. In his place, Danny Valencia will pick up another start at designated hitter, batting sixth.
-
Rafael Devers 1B | SF
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Knocks in two Sunday
Devers went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 8-7 win over the Rays.
Devers plated two and scored a run during Boston's six-run uprising in the eighth inning, turning what appeared to be a sure loss into a win. The third baseman has driven in runs in six of eight games played and is tied for the team lead in RBI (nine) with Xander Bogaerts. It's a shame to waste an impact bat like that in the lower third of the order, but manager Alex Cora likely doesn't want the 21-year-old putting too much pressure on himself in the middle of the order.
-
Danny Valencia 3B | BAL
Orioles' Danny Valencia: Hits home run Sunday
Valencia went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Sunday's win against the Yankees.
Although his batting average is sitting at a bleak .167 for the year, Valencia found some power and hit his first home run of the season Sunday. However, Valencia's fantasy value remains low, as he figures to platoon at the designated hitter spot with Pedro Alvarez until Mark Trumbo (quadriceps) comes off the disabled list.
-
Jose Ramirez 3B | CLE
Indians' Jose Ramirez: Continues early struggles
Ramirez went 0-for-3 on Sunday but had a walk and a RBI in Cleveland's 3-1 win over the Royals.
Ramirez has had a dismal start to the 2018 campaign, hitting .061 in 33 at-bats, but he got the job done Sunday when he drove in the tying run with a groundout in the bottom of the eighth. He hit over .300 in each of the past two Aprils, so this is an uncharacteristically slow start for the 25-year-old. A day off to clear his head could be on the horizon, as Ramirez has played in every one of the team's games to begin the year.
-
Drew Robinson 3B | TEX
Rangers' Drew Robinson: Gets day off Sunday
Robinson is out of the lineup Sunday against the Blue Jays.
Robinson has taken over as the club's primary center fielder since Delino DeShields (hand) hit the shelf, but the 25-year-old will hit the bench Sunday with a lefty (Jaime Garcia) on the mound for Toronto. Right-handed batter Carlos Tocci will enter the lineup in Robinson's stead and bat ninth.
-
Jean Segura 3B | CLE
Mariners' Jean Segura: Crosses plate twice Saturday
Segura went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs in the Mariners' 11-4 win Saturday over the Twins.
He once again made some hay out of the two-hole, posting his fourth multi-hit effort in the last five games. The hot-hitting Segura has already started racking up the two-baggers as well, as he's now laced a trio of doubles over the last five games. Given his body of work over the last two seasons and hot start to 2018, Segura appears primed for a prolific fantasy campaign as a pivotal part of a potent Mariners lineup.
-
Matt Chapman 3B | SF
Athletics' Matt Chapman: Keeps mashing in win
Chapman went 1-for-3 with an RBI triple, two walks and two runs in Saturday's 7-3 win over the Angels.
Chapman's first three-bagger of the season extended the Athletics' lead to 5-3 in the eighth, providing some much-needed breathing room that they'd go on to expand. The 24-year-old is riding a nine-game hitting streak, and given that he walked during an 0-for-4 performance on Opening Day, he's reached safely in all 10 games this season.
-
Pedro Alvarez 3B | MIA
Orioles' Pedro Alvarez: On bench Sunday
Alvarez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Yankees, Rich Dubroff of PressBoxonline.com reports.
Alvarez has started in just one of the Orioles' last six games, with three of those absences coming when southpaws have toed the rubber for the opposition. It appears that Alvarez and Danny Valencia will work in a platoon at designated hitter until Mark Trumbo (quadriceps) is ready to return from the disabled list.
-
Yoan Moncada 3B | LAA
White Sox's Yoan Moncada: Scores lone run Saturday
Moncada went 2-for-4 with a walk, a strikeout and a run scored in Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Tigers.
Moncada doubled and then advanced to third on a wild pitch, putting himself in position to score on Avisail Garcia's sacrifice fly. That's an example of Moncada's strengths: on-base ability and speed on the basepaths. The 22-year-old second baseman has reached base safely in six of seven games. Over time, that will pay off in runs and stolen bases. He's still learning the art of putting together better at-bats, though, so there will be some painful moments, particularly in the area of strikeouts. He's whiffed 12 times in 35 plate appearances (34.3 strikeout percentage).