MLB Player News

Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez hit his third home run of the year in Monday's win over Washington. 

"He got it enough," Nationals manager Matt Williams said, per MLB.com. "When it's humid and warm like this, the ball carries pretty well, and he hit it in the perfect spot. Just got it over, inside the pole."

After hitting one home run in his first 16 games of the year, Suarez now has two in his last five games. He went 3 for 4 with two RBI, getting as many hits as he had in his previous 12 at bats, spanning four games. 

"[Suarez has] been a run producer, not just getting hits but timely hits, driving in runs," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He's shown a little bit of power. That was a big one there off of [Casey] Janssen to give us a lead. There's nothing like being able to take a lead in the late innings knowing that Mattheus, Parra, Hoover and Chapman in that mix ends up finishing a lot of our wins."

Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson connected on his 20th home run of the season during Monday's 4-2 loss to the White Sox.

Donaldson hit the solo shot off Chris Sale in the sixth inning. He finished the game 2 for 3 at the plate. Prior to his two-hit game Monday, Donaldson was hitting .250 with two home runs and 10 RBI in his last 15 games.

The American League reserves for the 2015 MLB All-Star game were announced Monday and the following players were selected:

Catcher: Russell Martin, Blue Jays; Stephen Vogt, Athletics

First Base: Prince Fielder, Rangers; Albert Pujols, Angels (will start in place of injured Miguel Cabrera); Mark Teixeira, Yankees (replaces injured Cabrera on roster)

Second Base: Jason Kipnis, Indians

Shortstop: Jose Iglesias, Tigers

Third Base: Manny Machado, Orioles

Outfield: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays; Adam Jones, Orioles; J.D. Martinez, Tigers

Utility: Brock Holt, Red Sox

Starting Pitchers: Sonny Gray, Athletics; Felix Hernandez, Mariners; David Price, Tigers; Dallas Keuchel, Astros; Chris Sale, White Sox; Zach Britton, Orioles; Chris Archer, Rays

Relief Pitchers: Dellin Betances, Yankees; Brad Boxberger, Rays; Zach Britton, Orioles; Wade Davis, Royals; Kelvin Herrera, Royals; Darren O'Day, Orioles; Glen Perkins, Twins

The following players are eligible to be voted in during the final Fan Vote: SS Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox; OF Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers; OF Brett Gardner, Yankees; 2B Brian Dozier, Twins; 3B Mike Moustakas, Royals

The National League All Star reserves and pitchers were announced on Monday evening, and there was no room for the reigning National League MVP.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was not selected for the All Star team, although he's one of five candidates to take the final spot on the roster in the Final Vote. 

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant made the team as an injury replacement for the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton. Bryant is one of two rookies on the team, along with Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson. 

The Pirates sent two starting pitchers to the All Star team for the first time since 1960. MLB wins leader Gerrit Cole and fellow Pittsburgh starter A.J. Burnett will both be making their first appearance. 

National League reserves are:

Catchers: Yasmani Grandal, Dodgers; Yadier Molina, Cardinals
First basemen: Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers; Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
Second basemen: DJ LeMahieu, Rockies; Joe Panik, Giants
Third basemen: Nolan Arenado, Rockies; Kris Bryant, Cubs
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford, Giants
Outfielders: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates; Joc Pederson, Dodgers; A.J. Pollock, Diamondbacks; Justin Upton, Padres

National League pitchers are:

Madison Bumgarner, Giants; A.J. Burnett, Pirates; Aroldis Chapman, Reds; RHP: Gerrit Cole, Pirates; Jacob deGrom, Mets; Zack Greinke, Dodgers; Mark Melancon, Pirates; Shelby Miller, Braves; Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies; Francisco Rodriguez, Brewers; Trevor Rosenthal, Cardinals; Max Scherzer, Nationals; Michael Wacha, Cardinals

The five candidates for the Final Vote are:

Johnny Cueto, Reds; Jeurys Familia, Mets; Carlos Martinez, Cardinals; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers; Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson was held out of the starting lineup Monday against the Brewers. It was the first time he was held out of the starting lineup since June 6.

Peterson could probably use a bit of a breather, as he is mired in a 7-for-54 slump in his last 14 games. He has one home run, two doubles, five RBI, four runs, six walks and 18 strikeouts in that span.

The American League starters for the 2015 All-Star Game on July 14 were announced Sunday. The Royals will send four starters to the Summer Classic, with Salvador Perez, Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon leading the votes in their respective positions.

Angels outfielder Mike Trout will make his fourth consecutive All-Star appearance. He received the most votes of any outfielder and the second most on the AL roster.

Catcher: Salvador Perez, Royals
First baseman: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers (injured)
Second baseman: Jose Altuve, Astros
Third baseman: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays (top AL vote-getter)
Shortstop: Alcides Escobar, Royals
Outfield: Mike Trout, Angels
Outfield: Lorenzo Cain, Royals
Outfield: Alex Gordon, Royals
Designated Hitter: Nelson Cruz , Mariners

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run home run as part of a five-run Pittsburgh rally in Sunday's win over Cleveland. 

Alvarez hit his twelfth home run of the year and second in four games. He went 1 for 3 and reached 37 RBI. 

Giants third baseman Matt Duffy was held out of Sunday's lineup at Washington, the team announced.

Duffy was replaced at third by Ehrie Adrianza, who will hit eighth. Duffy is hitting .283 with two home runs and four RBI in his last 11 games.

The Giants are the underdogs (+155) at Washington on Sunday.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is not in Sunday's starting lineup for just the fourth time this season. 

Arenado had started the last 43 games at the hot corner, dating back to May 21. 

In his place, Daniel Descalso gets his second start of the season at third. 

So much for the slump plaguing Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu. He ended that in style Saturday night with three hits in a loss to Arizona.

LeMahieu ripped three singles, including one that tallied a run in the third inning. He also scored a run and raised his average back to .300 in breaking a 3-for-30 slide.