MLB Player News

The Nationals activated infielder Anthony Rendon from the 15-day disabled list, the team announced on Saturday. 

Rendon has been out the last 25 games with a quad strain. He returns from a minor league rehab assignment at Class A Potomac, where he hit .471.

To make room, the Nationals optioned pitcher Abel De Los Santos to Double-A Harrisburg. De los Santos had a 5.40 ERA in two relief appearances for Washington.  

Blue Jays left fielder Chris Colabello will get a start at first base in Saturday's game. 

Colabello gets his 12th start of the year at first base, and his second in the last four games. Danny Valencia takes his place in left field. 

Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu went 1 for 4 with a walk in Friday's win over Cincinnati. 

The single extended LeMahieu's hitting streak to 14 consecutive games, the longest current streak in MLB. 

LeMahieu is hitting .411 over the streak.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe enjoyed a solid night at the plate in Friday's 10-1 victory over the Yankees. ploufe went 3 for 4 with a double and a solo home run while also scoring two runs.

The home run, his 14th of the year, put the Twins up 7-0 in the eighth inning. The three-hit effort gives Plouffe a .282 batting average and four home runs over his past 10 games.

Frst baseman Pedro Alvarez put the Pirates on the board first on Friday, as he launched a two-run home run in the second inning. The home run, his 14th of the year, came off the Nationals' Max Scherzer, and gave the Pirates an early 2-0 lead, en route to the 7-5 victory.

It was the only hit for Alvarez on the night, but he has homered in back-to-back contests amid recent trade speculation. Alvarez is just 4 for 22 over his last seven ballgames.

The Nationals could get two injured outfielder Jayson Werth and infielder Anthony Rendon back for the series with Miami that starts on Tuesday. 

"It's reasonable," manager Matt Williams said, per the Washington Post. "That could be an option if they feel good about the next two or three days."

Werth has been out since May 16 with a left wrist contusion. He's on the 60-day DL. Rendon has been out with June 25 with a left quad strain. Both are on minor league rehab assignment.

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals.

Peterson will be replaced at second base by Pedro Ciriaco, who will hit out of the second spot in the lineup.

Peterson isn't in the lineup for just the second time in his team's last 13 games.

In an attempt to strengthen the middle of his lineup, Buck Showalter has moved Orioles third baseman Manny Machado from the leadoff spot to third in the order for their game Friday night against Tampa Bay.

Jimmy Paredes will bat first instead.

Machado has exhibited the power needed to take over the third spot. He has a career-high 21 home runs with more than one-third of the regular season remaining.

First baseman Pedro Alvarez might not be wearing a Pirates uniform for long if trade rumors swirling around him prove prophetic. But perhaps he is going out with a bang - as in his solo blast in the second inning of a Thursday defeat of Washington.

Alvarez sent a Doug Fister pitch over the fence in left and later added an RBI groundout and walk. He is still batting just .160 (8-for-50) since July 3.

The Pirates are exploring the possibility of trading first baseman Pedro Alvarez, an American League talent evaluator has told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

They would likely need someone in return that could play that position since their current options are limited, though Travis Ishikawa has similar career numbers to those of Alvarez.

The 28-year-old Alvarez has struggled despite slugging a home run Thursday. He entered play with a .231/.299/.414 slash line. But he can also play third base, which might attract suitors.