MLB Player News

Third baseman Josh Donaldson will get a change of scenery Monday, as he's scheduled to be the DH for the Blue Jays as they take on the Marlins. 

Donaldson has only been the DH twice previously this season, and not since April 24. But Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has said he wanted to give Donaldson a break from the field, yet keep his potent bat in the lineup. 

Donaldson has hit 10 of his 15 homers at Rogers Centre. 

The Indians are shuffling their infield very dramatically right now.

In one day, the team optioned shortstop Jose Ramirez and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall to Triple-A Columbus, while recalling Zach Walters and Giovanny Urshela to take their respective spots.

Urshela was hitting .276 with three home runs and nine RBI in 76 at-bats for Triple-A Columbus this season.

Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar will likely take over as the team's starting shortstop following the option of Danny Santana to Triple-A Rochester.

Escobar has bounced around the diamond for the Twins, playing 24 games in left field but making eight starts at shortstop and also seeing limited time at second base and third base. He's the only Twins player besides Santana to get a start at shortstop, and the team balanced the move by recalling Kennys Vargas.

Eduardo Nunez has experience at the position as well, so the team could opt to split playing time between the pair of utility players. The Twins could also end up promoting infielder Doug Bernier, who is already on the 40-man roster.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

It's Plouffe's first break from the starting lineup since May 10. He's had a tough time offensively in June, going 1 for 24 with one walk in six games this month. Eduardo Nunez will man third base, while Torii Hunter will slot into the cleanup spot in the lineup.

The Twins are home underdogs (+113) on Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

Second baseman Danny Espinosa was held out of the Nationals' lineup on Sunday, after starting eight of the last nine games.

Espinosa is replaced by Anthony Rendon, who starts his second game at second base, both coming in the last four outings. 

Rendon will bat cleanup. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.

Longoria has been dealing with a sore wrist, and will hit the bench for a second straight day as a result. He has hit .273/.351/.414 with five home runs and 25 RBI in 198 at-bats.

The Rays are road favorites (-129) in Seattle, per VegasInsider.com.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Braves.

Alvarez is taking a seat against Braves lefty Alex Wood. Sean Rodriguez will start at first base and bat seventh.

The Pirates are road favorites (-148) in Atlanta, per VegasInsider.com.

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson is in the starting lineup and batting leadoff in Sunday's matchup with the Pirates.

Peterson has been sidelined since Wednesday with a hand injury. He has hit .262/.335/.337 with one home run, 22 RBI and six stolen bases in 172 at-bats.

The Braves are home underdogs (+138) on Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

The Tigers pounded out 18 hits on Saturday, and four of them belonged to infielder Josh Wilson. Wilson was making his first start of the season for the Tigers after being recalled on Tuesday. The result was his second-career four-hit game.

All four hits were singles for Wilson, who also drove in and scored a run as the Tigers grabbed the 7-1 victory over the White Sox. 

The Rockies put on an offensive show in their 10-5 win against the Marlins on Saturday.

As a team, the Rockies put 17 hits on the board -- three hits apiece for CF Charlie Blackmon, 2B DJ LeMahieu and 1B Wilin Rosario.

Rosario (4) and RF Carlos Gonzalez (5) both hit home runs, and 3B Nolan Arenado and C Michael Mckenry each hit a triple.