MLB Player News

The Twins gave Trevor Plouffe the afternoon off after his heroic performance the previous night, per MLB.com. Plouffe belted a walkoff home run in the 11th inning to take down the Indians, 3-2. Utility man Eduardo Nunez will get the start and hit eighth for Minnesota against Danny Salazar.

Friday's home run was Plouffe's fifth hit of the season. He is hitting .143/.231/.343 with two homers and two RBI over 39 plate appearances.

Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar was not included in Saturday's lineup against the Indians. per MLB.com.

Escobar took a Corey Kluber pitch off his left big toe in the eighth inning of Friday's 3-2 over Cleveland. Although he was spotted limping at the clubhouse on Saturday, he told reporters he's healthy enough to play, per the St. Paul Pioneer-Press.

"I'm fine. I can play," Escobar said.

The Blue Jays moved Josh Donaldson to designated hitter and included Danny Valencia and Steve Tolleson in the lineup Saturday afternoon against Braves left-hander Alex Wood, according to the Toronto Star. Donaldson remained in his normal No. 2 hole, while Valencia will bat fifth and Tolleson eighth.

Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar was hit by a pitch on his foot, which forced him to leave Friday's win over Indians, reports MLB.com.

Escobar was hit by Corey Kluber during the eight inning of the game and he was replaced by pinch-runner Shane Robinson.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe broke a 3-all tie in the bottom of the 11th inning Friday with a walk-off home run to sink the Indians.

The game had been tied at 3 since the sixth inning.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said that third baseman Anthony Rendon has continued his rehab work from an MCL sprain in Viera, Fla., at the Nationals complex, MASN Sports reports. 

"Wet field conditions today, so he didn't run today, but he did all the other things. He hit, he threw, he took grounders because we can cover the field. So all is well. He's progressing nicely."

Rendon, who finished fifth in NL MVP voting last season, started the year on the 15-day disabled list with the injury. The team has not given a timetable for Rendon's return. In the meantime, Washington will use Yunel Escobar at third base while Rendon remains sidelined.

Evan Longoria is in the Rays' lineup against the Yankees as a designated hitter, according to the Tampa Bay Tribune. 

Longoria was hit by a pitch in Thursday night's 4-2 win against the Blue Jays. He was forced to leave the game after a pitch from Blue Jays pitcher Marco Estrada plunked him in the left hip. Following the game, Rays manager Kevin Cash said Longoria would be day-to-day. 

Longoria said he feels fine and could return to third base on Saturday. 

Logan Forsythe will fill in defensively for Longoria at third base. 

The Braves have launched the 2015 season better offensively than they did last year. But don't credit the top of the lineup.

The team has yet to score two or fewer runs in a game. They did so four times and were blanked twice in their first seven games of 2014. Yet the first two hitters in the lineup are struggling mightily.

Braves leadoff hitters are 8-for-37 (.216) with a .275 on-base percentage. But they've been raking compared to those hitting behind them. The second spot, which has been manned by Jace Peterson, Alberto Callaspo, Phil Gosselin and Andrelton Simmons, has produced a .114 average with no extra-base hits, .162 OBP and .114 slugging percentage.

The Cubs placed third baseman Mike Olt on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 15, with a hairline fracture in his right wrist, per the team's official website. Olt will have a cast on his wrist for three weeks before he resumes his rehab.

Third base prospect Kris Bryant was promoted to take his place at third base. Olt batted .154 on 13 at-bats before landing on the DL.

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt is heading to the disabled list after an MRI revealed that he has a hairline fracture of his ulna, according to the Daily Herald. 

Olt will have his wrist in a cast for three weeks. With Olt down, the Cubs are calling up third-base prospect Kris Bryant on Friday. 

Olt is hitting .154 on 13 at-bats to start the season.