MLB Player News

Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson continues to have an impressive season, and his hot hitting is a big reason why Toronto is back in the mix in the AL East. 

Donaldson is now hitting .307 with 17 homers and 46 RBIs -- all on pace for career-highs in those categories. Donaldson has hit safely in seven of his last 10 games, and five of those gmes, he registered at least two hits. 

A testament to Donaldson's all-around ability to help the ballclub, he is currently second in the American League in wins above replacement at 3.9, trailing only the Indians' Jason Kipnis. 

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado blasted a solo home run in the first inning of Thursday afternoon's 2-1 loss to the Phillies. 

For Machado, that's his 14th home run of the season. It's also the third he hit during the four-game series between Baltimore and Boston. Machado finished Thursday's game 2 for 4 with a single. 

Machado is now hitting .289/.346/.510. 

Blue Jays slugger Danny Valencia put the proverbial nail in the coffin in the 8-0 win over the Mets on Wednesday. Valencia blasted a three-run home run to put an exclamation point on a five-run eighth inning.

It was Valencia's third home run of the season, and his only hit of the game. 

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez will not start on Wednesday against the White Sox.

Alvarez is hitting .226 with seven hits, three RBI and three walks during his last 11 games. He will be replaced by Corey Hart at first base.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon totaled two hits -- including his fourth double -- two runs and two RBI during a 16-4 rout of the Rays on Tuesday. He also had one walk for the seventh straight game.

Rendon pushed his hitting streak to seven games. He is batting .346 (9 for 26) with three doubles, three RBI, six runs, seven walks and two strikeouts in that span.

Rendon has totaled three multihit games since coming off the disbaled list June 4.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado crushed two home runs in Tuesday night’s 19-3 blowout victory over the Phillies.

Machado hit his first homer in the bottom of the first inning on a 0-1 pitch. He came back an inning later and blasted his second over the Camden Yards wall. Machado finished the day 3 for 4 with three RBI and a walk.

In his past 10 games, Machado is hitting .450

Machado now has a slash line of .290/349/.506.

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson went 0 for 5 with three strikeouts in Tuesday's loss to Boston. 

Peterson's hitless day ended a nine-game hitting streak, which was the second longest active streak in the National League. 

Peterson hit .385 with six RBI and a 1.006 OPS over the streak. 

Giants third baseman Matt Duffy drove in three runs to lead the Giants to a 6-2 win over the Mariners on Tuesday.

"He's a ballplayer," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said, per MLB.com. "This kid, runs well, I think he's getting better and better at third base. I just love the way he competes at the plate."

Duffy drove in two runs when he hit a home run off J.A. Happ in the second inning. He finished the game 3 for 4 with two runs scored. Over his last 11 games, Duffy is 13 for 36 with three home runs and seven RBI.

"It's nice to know you're going to be in the lineup more [often] than not," Duffy said. "I still go up to the plate with the same approach -- just trying to put together a good at-bat and do something to help the team win."

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was able to start Tuesday against the Nationals after leaving Monday's game after he was hit on the left wrist by a pitch. Longoria started at third base and hit third Tuesday.

Longoria is batting .244 with one double, one home run, four RBI, four runs, four walks and 12 strikeouts in 13 June games.

Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu is slotted in the No. 9 spot in the batting order for Tuesday's game against the Astros. LeMahieu is hitless over his last 10 at-bats, so after batting first or second in each of the last 18 games, he'll be at the bottom of the order in Houston.

Despite the mini-slump, LeMahieu is still having a fantastic month at the plate. Through 15 games in June, he owns a .328/.368/.406 slash line with five doubles and five RBI. He has hit safely in all but three of the 15 games this month.