MLB Player News

Chapman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a win over the Red Sox on Monday.

Chapman followed up his third multi-hit effort of the season Sunday with a 408-foot solo shot in the eighth Monday to extend the Athletics' lead to 5-0 at the time. The 25-year-old is off to just as good a start at the plate as in the field, as he's hit safely in each of the Athletics' first seven games.

Escobar went 1-for-5 with an RBI in Monday's 10-3 win over the Padres.

Escobar singled home a run in the second inning, snapping a run of 13 at-bats without a hit. Arizona's starting third baseman is off to a slow start, hitting .150 (3-for-20) over five games. In news that tangentially relates to Escobar, manager Torey Lovullo had first baseman Jake Lamb work out at third base Monday, preparing him to occasionally play there. The manager is looking for a way to get both Lamb and Christian Walker in the lineup together; when Lamb plays third, Escobar loses at-bats.

Arenado went 3-for-4 with an RBI double in a 7-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Monday.

Arenado drove home the Rockies' lone run with a sixth-inning double. The superstar third baseman is 7-for-22 to start the year but has just two RBI and two extra-base hits. Then again, he hasn't had the opportunity to hit at Coors Field yet, where his power will surely flourish as usual.

LeMahieu will slot in as the everyday third baseman following Miguel Andujar's shoulder injury, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

LeMahieu has already seen a few starts at third base this season, so this shouldn't be anything new for the veteran infielder. With Andujar in jeopardy of missing substantial time while on the mend from a torn labrum, LeMahieu could find himself exclusively at the hot corner for the better part of the 2019 campaign, although Tyler Wade is also a candidate to see starts at third.

Moncada batted leadoff and went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in Monday's 5-3 loss to Cleveland.

Leury Garcia, who had hit leadoff the first three games, was given the day off. Moncada has hit safely in all four games with extra-base hits in the last three. The White Sox gave him a good shot at leadoff in 2018, and Moncada may still end up there, but he was pretty comfortable at the second spot during spring training (1.110 OPS) and has continued that into the regular season (1.150).

Longoria (calf) is starting at third base and hitting third Monday against the Dodgers, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

As expected, Longoria is back in action after being limited to pinch-hit duties Sunday due to a minor calf injury. The veteran infielder will look to stay hot at the dish, as he's gone 4-for-11 with a homer and two RBI through four games this season.

Muncy is not in the lineup Monday against the Padres, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Muncy will give way to David Freese at first base with lefty Drew Pomeranz slated to start for the opposition. Through four games this season, Muncy is 2-for-15 with a homer and four RBI.

Vargas was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Monday.

Vargas will head to the minors after going 1-for-6 with a double and a run scored in the team's season-opening series against the Dodgers. Jon Duplantier will take his spot on the Diamondbacks' active roster.

LeMahieu is starting at third base and hitting seventh against the Tigers on Monday.

LeMahieu is 4-for-6 to start the season, so manager Aaron Boone will keep his bat in the lineup and have him man the hot corner Monday against Detroit. The veteran is expected to be in a super-utility role this season that could see him play all over the infield, and his versatility and strong contact-hitting abilities should allow him to break into the lineup with frequency, even if he occasionally finds himself as the odd man out.

Chapman went 2-for-3 with an RBI single and a walk in a win over the Angels on Sunday.

Hopes were high this spring that Chapman could take the next step at the plate after already reaching elite status with his glove. Thus far, the 25-year-old is delivering on those expectations by a wide margin. Sunday's multi-hit effort was Chapman's third over the first six games, and he's already compiled four RBI as well.