MLB Player News

Ramirez -- who has just one hit in the team's last 10 games -- hit .456 with an .822 slugging percent against fastballs over the last 40 games of the first half, but that production has dropped in the second half to .216 and .297, respectively, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

In the 40 games leading up to the All-Star break, Ramirez was one of the hottest hitters in baseball. Over that stretch, he hit .405/.450/.753 with 10 homers, 19 doubles, three triples, 40 runs scored and nearly as many walks (12) as strikeouts (15) in 171 plate appearances. In the 36 games that have followed, Ramirez is hitting .218/.268/.324 in 153 plate appearances. Manager Terry Francona pointed out that the third baseman has been taking more called strikes, but ultimately, the skipper isn't too concerned about Ramirez's recent slump. "The good part about Josey is he's a known, very good hitter," Francona said. "He'll get hot again."

Bregman went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer Wednesday against the Nationals.

Bregman provided some insurance in the bottom of the eighth inning, turning a narrow two-run lead into an insurmountable five-run advantage. With three home runs in his past five games, Bregman's starting to show the hitting ability that led Houston to take him second overall in the 2015 draft. He's now slashing .278/.357/.487 on the year.

Machado went 2-for-6 with a game-winning solo home run in the bottom of the 12th inning of Wednesday's win over Oakland.

Machado has caught fire of late and now has 10 homers, 29 RBI and 16 runs through his past 19 games. His .264/.318/.496 slash line is slowly creeping closer to the marks fantasy owners have come to expect from him, too. With his struggles in the rearview mirror, Machado projects to remain an elite asset moving forward.

Robinson went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in Tuesday's 10-1 loss to the Angels.

Robinson drew the start in left field, effectively entering the lineup in place of Joey Gallo (concussion), who was placed on the 7-day disabled list Tuesday. While Gallo is sidelined, it's expected that Robinson and Ryan Rua will be the main beneficiaries of increased at-bats, but Robinson should be the favored option of the two. In addition to batting from the left side, Robinson is the most versatile player on the roster, having made starts at four different positions this season.

Machado went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk in Monday's loss to Oakland.

Fresh off his AL Player of the Week honors, Machado crushed his 27th homer of the year in the sixth inning off Simon Castro. The third baseman is slashing a blistering .341/.492/.810 with nine homers and 30 RBI this month.

Moncada went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Twins.

He also struck out, however, marking his 10th straight game with at least one whiff -- a stretch during which he's hitting only .179 (7-for-39) with a 5:20 BB:K. Until Moncada learns to make more consistent contact, it will be difficult for him to play up to his potential.

Plouffe was designated for assignment Tuesday.

Plouffe receives the news of his designation for assignment after getting off to a 3-for-17 start at the plate during the month of August. The 31-year-old is hitting just .204 on the season and will likely report to Triple-A Durham if he passes through waivers unclaimed.

Donaldson is starting at shortstop and hitting second Tuesday against the Rays.

The Blue Jays will indeed continue to give Donaldson starts at shortstop, despite the fact that they are no longer playing in a National League ballpark. It may depend on league parameters, but at this rate, Donaldson has a chance to qualify at shortstop and third base next season. He is hitting .265/.393/.526 with 20 home runs in 81 games this season.

Manager John Gibbons slyly suggested that he'll continue deploying Donaldson at shortstop routinely through the end of the season, Richard Griffin of The Toronto Star reports.

Shifting the slugger up the middle, and moving Jose Bautista to third base, gives Gibbons a chance to bolster his offense through the outfield. Donaldson has played three games at short thus far, and the Jays have 38 games remaining on the schedule. Judging by the sound of it, the third baseman should be able to gain eligibility at shortstop in the near future. Even more exciting is the prospect of Donaldson logging enough time this year to enter 2018 with that same flexibility.

Moncada (shin) will start at second base and bat second in Game 1 of the White Sox's doubleheader Monday against the Twins, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports.

Moncada had been sidelined for the last two games while dealing with shin splints on his right foot, but a couple days of rest was all he needed for the pain to subside. The White Sox could look to keep Moncada on the bench for the nightcap Monday just to be safe, but the 22-year-old otherwise looks like he'll be in line for a full slate of starts during the week. After a rough start to his tenure with the White Sox, Moncada's bat has heated up in August, with the infielder submitting a .377 on-base percentage across 14 contests.