MLB Player News

Two infield regulars are out of the Phillies' lineup for Saturday's game. 

Slumping second baseman Chase Utley will sit out for the third time in the last four games. Cesar Hernandez takes his place. 

Third baseman Cody Asche also goes to the bench, replaced by Andres Blanco.

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

Plouffe is getting his first break from starting in three weeks, as he's manned the hot corner for 19 straight games. Eduardo Escobar will get the start Saturday and bat sixth.

The Twins have 50-50 odds (-105) against the Indians Saturday.

Josh Donaldson and Chris Colabello connected for solo home runs in the Blue Jays' rout of the Red Sox on Friday.

Donaldson delivered a first-inning solo shot while Colabello added a bases-empty blast in the second.

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson will be getting his first day off in nearly two weeks, as he is out of the starting lineup Friday against the Nationals. Peterson has been hitting well lately, batting .417 with five RBI over his last 11 games, though he has no extra base hits in that span.

Phil Gosselin will get the start at second, batting seventh. This is just Gosselin's fourth start of the year.

Blue Jays utility player Danny Valencia made his return to the starting lineup Friday against the Red Sox after missing two games due to an ankle injury. He started in right field.

Valencia is batting .333 (9 for 27) with three RBI and four doubles in his last seven games (six starts). Left-hander Wade Miley is pitching Friday for Boston. Valencia is batting .533 (8 for 15) with two doubles and two RBI in eight games against lefties in 2015.

Not many hitters have enjoyed great success against Cardinals young standout Michael Wacha, but Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez has been particularly poor heading into the matchup against him Friday night.

Alvarez has just one hit in nine at-bats lifetime against Wacha. That hit traveled over the fence, but the mark is still .111. with three strikeouts.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria made it back into the lineup for Friday's game vs. Texas after sitting out Thursday due to an illness. However, he was at DH on Friday and not third base.

Right-hander Yovani Gallardo is on the mound Friday for Texas. Longoria is batting .234 with three home runs, seven RBI, eight doubles and 12 runs in 27 games against right-handers in 2015.

He is batting .365 with two home runs, five doubles, six RBI, eight walks and 10 runs in his last 14 games.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was scratched from the lineup on Thursday due to flu-like symptoms. 

On Friday afternoon, the Rays still weren't sure if Longoria would be able to play on Friday. Manager Kevin Cash said, "We anticipate Longoria playing tonight, but we're not definite yet," per MLB Network Radio.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria will not play in Thursday's game against the Rangers on Thursday due to flu-like symptoms, according to the Tampa Bay Times. 

Longoria first began feeling ill during the Rays' previous series against the Red Sox. 

Longoria's streak of 198 consecutive starts and 270 consecutive games played will come to an end. 

Twins left fielder Eduardo Escobar stayed hot in Thursday's 6-5 win over Oakland. Escobar, who had three hits and five RBI on Wednesday, went 1 for 2 with a go-ahead two-run single in the bottom of the fifth.

Escobar is now batting just .230 on the year, but he has hit safely in three of his last four games.