MLB Player News

Valencia (hamstring) hit a game-tying two-run single in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Rangers.

Despite being scratched from the starting lineup with hamstring tightness, Valencia was able to come through in a pinch-hit capacity. His seventh-inning single plated Guillermo Heredia and Jarrod Dyson, knotting the score at 3-3. What has been a miserable season at the plate is starting to progressively turn around for Valencia, who's now hit safely in six straight while raising his average 46 points to .227 and knocking in eight runs over that span.

Plouffe went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a stolen base in Sunday's 8-6 win over the Tigers.

Plouffe's two hits broke a 3-for-30 stretch and helped him raise his slash line to .204/.269/.337 on the season. His stolen base was his first of the year. Plouffe has decent pop, but his inconsistent playing time and career-high 29.6 percent strikeout rate make him unreliable in all other areas. Ryon Healy, who can also play third base, is younger with more upside and could start seeing more starts at the hot corner.

Valencia is day-to-day with right hamstring tightness, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Valencia was a late scratch from Sunday's home contest against the Rangers with an undisclosed issue, which has now been addressed as what sounds like a minor concern. The utility man hasn't exactly been an asset at the dish thus far in 2017 with his new team (.219, 11 RBI, 10 runs in 96 at-bats), so his absence shouldn't make many fantasy waves. Taylor Motter took Valencia's place at first base Sunday.

Valencia was scratched from Sunday's lineup for an undisclosed reason, MLB.com's Greg Johns reports.

Valencia had been set to bat sixth and start at first base, but he'll be replaced by Taylor Motter for the afternoon contest. No reason was disclosed initially, but check back for an update once the team provides a reason.

Segura went 3-for-5 with two runs in Saturday's 8-2 win over the Rangers.

The talented infielder is now slashing .458/.519/.625 over his first 24 at-bats of May, a line that includes a double, a home run and four RBI. Segura has rattled off four straight multi-hit efforts and has six overall since coming off the disabled list April 25. The 27-year-old has generated stellar production despite a notable jump in strikeout rate (14.6 percent to 20.2 percent) and a corresponding decrease in contact rate (84 percent to 79 percent) compared to last season, with a .429 BABIP playing a substantial role in negating those undesirable trends.

Arenado is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

After starting the team's first 31 games, Arenado will receive his first day of rest Sunday against the Diamondbacks. The star slugger will be replaced by Pat Valaika at third base. Expect Arenado to rejoin the heart of the Rockies' batting order Monday against the Cubs.

Machado went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and a walk in Saturday's 6-5 victory over the White Sox.

Machado's eighth blast of the campaign gave the Orioles a four-run lead in the fourth inning of a winning effort. Despite getting off to a slow start with a .234 batting average, he's still an elite fantasy option, and owners can expect the batting average to improve as the season progresses.

Rendon went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer in Saturday's 6-2 victory over the Phillies.

Rendon launched his sixth blast of the season to help the Nats win a big divisional contest. He now has belted five homers over his last six games and is slashing .290/.372/.477.

Plouffe is out of Saturday's lineup against the Tigers, MLB.com's Jane Lee reports.

He is in a 3-for-29 (.103 average) funk over his last nine games, striking out at a 25.8 percent clip over that span. Ryon Healy will get the start at third base with Khris Davis getting the nod at DH.

Longoria went 3-for-4 with a double and a run in Friday's 8-4 loss to the Blue Jays.

The veteran slugger was due for a breakout game after enduring a 4-for-37 slump over the prior nine games. It was Longoria's first multi-hit effort since the game prior to that slump on April 22, and his two-bagger served as his seventh of the season after he racked up 41 in 2016.