MLB Player News

Nationals' infielder Anthony Rendon, who is currently rehabbing from a knee surgery suffered in spring training, may not return to third base when he makes it back to Washington's lineup. Yunel Escobar is expected to stay at the hot corner, while Rendon moves over to second base, reports CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Escobar has committed just one error in 19 games at third this season, and has said he is more comfortable at third than second. Meanwhile, Rendon has played over 100 games at second in his career, and the move from third should take some pressure off of his knee.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon took grounders and ran Thursday, which should result in a return to the lineup Friday for Double-A Harrisburg if he feels well enough, according to the Washington Post.

Rendon has missed some action at that level with tightness to his side. He had been recovering from a knee injury that forced him into the minor league rehab assignment. He has yet to play a big league game this season.

Matt Williams has stated that Rendon will likely need five or six more rehab games before returning to the Nationals.

The hot streak of Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe continued Wednesday in a loss to Detroit. He slammed two more hits, including a three-run homer that gave his team a short-lived 7-3 lead.

Plouffe, who added a single, has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, raising his average from .133 to .250 in the process.

Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu is out of the starting lineup Wednesday against the Diamondbacks with Daniel Descalso drawing the start, according the Denver Post.

It is just LeMahieu's second night off of the early season after playing eight straight contests. He is hitting .406 with 13 RBI in 69 at-bats. Descalso is hitting .136 in 22 at-bats this year.

The Rockies are currently the underdogs (+105) against Arizona.

Giants second baseman Joe Panik and shortstop Brandon Crawford are back in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers, the team announced.

Panik has altered starts with Matt Duffy for the last four games, with Wednesday being Panik's second start in four games. Panik is hitting .296 in 71 at-bats this season. Crawford got just his second day off the season Tuesday with Joaquin Arias getting the start.

Crawford is hitting .215 in 65 at-bats this season.

The early-season slump of Orioles third baseman Manny Machado feels like more of a distant memory by the day.

Machado managed his first three-hit and three-run game of the year Wednesday against the visiting White Sox, giving him 10 hits in his last six games. He raised his average to a season-high .254 in the process.

He doubled and scored in a six-run first inning, then singled twice. His on-base percentage has peaked at .325.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon hit some before Wednesday's game with Double-A Harrisburg but said he didn't feel good enough to play, MASN Sports reports.

Rendon is rehabbing from a knee injury but is also dealing with tightness in his side. It'll be his third straight game missed with Double-A Harrisburg.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was hitless in four at-bats Tuesday against the Yankees, ending his hitting streak at six games.

Longoria hit .565 (13 for 23) with two RBI, three doubles, one walk and five runs during his hitting streak. His hit streak came after Longoria opened the season in an 8-for-43 slump (.186).

Its only April, but the addition of third baseman Josh Donaldson certainly appears to be a great one for the Blue Jays.

Donaldson has been mashing since an 0-for-7 start to the season. He remained on a roll Tuesday night with a three-hit game against Boston in which he singled in a run and scored in the third, singled and scored in the fourth and put the cherry on top in the ninth with a 415-foot solo homer to center.

The big night gave Donaldson 24 hits in his last 57 at-bats and 13 RBI during that stretch. He boasts a fine slash line of .349/.402/.602.

Twins right fielder Torii Hunter received another day of rest on Wednesday against the Tigers. With Hunter on the bench, Minnesota moved Oswaldo Arcia to right field, with Eduardo Escobar playing left.

Hunter is hitting .203 (14 for 69) with one homers and seven RBI in 18 games.