MLB Player News

Escobar is making his Diamondbacks debut at third base, hitting fifth Saturday against the Padres.

He is sandwiched between A.J. Pollock (hitting cleanup) and Ketel Marte (hitting fifth) against righty Tyson Ross. Escobar is expected to serve as the everyday third baseman until Jake Lamb (shoulder contusion) is activated from the disabled list in the coming weeks. Once Arizona is at full strength, Escobar should still see close to everyday at-bats, but will move around the infield, as he's capable of playing both spots on the left side as well as second base.

Vargas was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Saturday.

With newly acquired Eduardo Escobar added to the active roster, the Diamondbacks needed to clear a spot on the 25-man roster, and Vargas was an obvious casualty. He will continue to serve as organizational depth and should be recalled when rosters expand in September to work as a utility option off the bench.

Asuaje is out of Saturday's lineup against the Diamondbacks.

With southpaw Patrick Corbin on the hill, Asuaje, who is in an 0-for-14 funk in his last five games, takes a seat. Jose Pirela will start at the keystone and hit seventh.

Muncy isn't in Saturday's starting lineup against Atlanta, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Muncy has gone 0-for-9 with four strikeouts and a walk over his last two starts, so he'll get a day off to regroup at the dish. Logan Forsythe draws the starts at second and will bat sixth.

Chapman went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in a loss to the Rockies on Friday.

Although the Athletics underwhelmed as a whole in the friendly hitting conditions of Coors Field, Chapman was an exception. The 25-year-old continues to wield a smoldering bat, with Friday's tally representing his fifth multi-hit effort in the last seven games. Chapman is now hitting .329 overall in July, and coupled with an even more impressive June in which he hit .347, he's raised his season average 41 points to .269 over his last 32 games.

Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo said Escobar would receive significant time at third base initially after the club acquired the infielder from the Twins on Friday, the Associated Press reports.

Shortly after obtaining Escobar, the Diamondbacks put their everyday third baseman, Jake Lamb, on the 10-day disabled list with a bruised left shoulder, immediately creating an opening at the hot corner for the new pickup. It's unclear if Lamb's absence will extend beyond the minimum amount of time, but once he's back from the DL, Escobar would likely transition to a near-everyday role at second base or shortstop, resulting in fewer at-bats to go around for the likes of Nick Ahmed and Ketel Marte.

Devers went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Twins.

This was Devers' first homer since June 30, and he couldn't have picked a better spot to hit it. The 21-year-old third baseman scalded a leadoff blast in the ninth inning that left the bat at 112.1 mph with a 17-degree launch angle. The hit tied the game at 3-3, sending it into extra innings, where Mookie Betts won it in the 10th with a solo shot. Devers has driven in 19 runs over his last 26 games.

Madrigal is hitting .452 with three doubles, six RBI and eight runs scored over his first nine games at Low-A Kannapolis.

Madrigal battled a hamstring injury while getting his first exposure to pro ball in the rookie Arizona League but has returned from that setback. He came out of Oregon State known as a polished hitter and hasn't done anything to tarnish that impression. The 21-year-old middle infielder has yet to strike out in 53 minor-league plate appearances.

Arenado went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Colorado's 3-1 win over the Athletics on Friday.

Arenado had just one hit in his last 11 at-bats but he made quick work of the mini-lull by launching his 26th homer of the season with this fifth-inning blast off Sean Manaea. It's been business as usual this year for Arenado, who is sporting an elite .981 OPS that is actually higher than the .959 mark he posted during last season's spectacular campaign.

Moustakas was dealt to the Brewers in exchange for Brett Phillips and Jorge Lopez on Friday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Moustakas will head to Milwaukee after batting .249 with 20 homers and 62 RBI through 98 games with the Royals. He figures to take over as the everyday starter at the hot corner, with Travis Shaw likely shifting to second base. Moustakes figures to benefit from a home park upgrade and he'll join a better starting lineup.