MLB Player News

Twins outfielder Oswaldo Arcia was given a day of rest against Royals left-hander Jason Vargas on Thursday. Arcia is a .221 lifetime hitter against southpaws and has just one hit in his first eight at-bats against left-handed pitching.

Manager Paul Molitor inserted switch-hitter Eduardo Escobar to play left field and bat seventh in the order. Molitor wants to see more consistency out of Arcia before he starts facing more lefties, per the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

"I'd like to see his at-bats pick up in terms of consistency, and I think the best chance to do that right now is against right-handers in the short term," Molitor said.

Giants infielder Matt Duffy connected for his first career home run during a 4-2 loss Wednesday against the Rockies. He hit a solo home run off Boone Logan in the eighth inning.

"It was a pretty good feeling," Duffy said of his home run, per MLB.com. "It's good to get the first one out of the way I guess. At the same time I came up in big situations early on that I wasn't able to put the barrel on the ball. So it would have been nice to get it then or have a better at-bat."

Duffy is batting .292 (7 for 24) with one double, four RBI, one run, three walks and six strikeouts in eight games.

"He's a nice player," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He hasn't played a lot of third base, but I think he's done fine there. As far as hitting in the two-hole, he can do some things with the bat. He's going to grind out the at-bats for you.

"He does what you want. He competes so well up there. He's going to battle you and use the whole field. He's got some pop. He's a ballplayer. We have thrown a lot at this kid, including first base. I think he's handled it well. You have to like his at-bats. He goes up there fighting you."

With Carlos Gomez sidelined with a hamstring injury Thursday, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke moved shortstop Jean Segura into the leadoff spot. Gomez had started the first eight games as the leadoff hitter.

Segura has appeared in the leadoff spot just 20 times in his career. He is batting .271 (23 for 85) with one triple, two doubles, six RBI, seven stolen bases and 15 runs in that span.

The Cardinals are starting John Lackey on Thursday. Segura is 3 for 3 in his career against Lackey.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was pleased with his decision to move third baseman Josh Donaldson to second in the batting order Wednesday against the Rays.

Donaldson, who spent the first eight games of the season in the No. 5, singled in the opening frame and scored on a two-run homer by Jose Bautista. He finished 3 for 5 with two singles, a double, two runs scored and three RBI in a 12-7 victory over the Rays.

"Donaldson I thought might be a good guy there, thought we'd give him a try now," Gibbons said of moving Donaldson from the fifth spot. "You always like your top hitters there. They might get that extra at-bat. He's up there setting the table. He's a threat."

Donaldson has four games with at least two hits, including two in as many days. He is hitting .286 with three doubles, three walks and six RBI in nine games.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado gave his team an early 3-0 lead Wednesday at San Francisco with a three-run homer off Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum in the first inning. Lincecum got ahead of Arenado, 0-2, before Arenado golfed a 79-mph changeup into the left-center field seats.

"I just wanted to make sure I stayed on the ball, think middle, before I pulled off it," said Arenado, who is celebrating his 24th birthday Thursday, per MLB.com. "Luckily enough, I got a pitch to hit and put a swing on it."

Arenado has had plenty of success against Lincecum in his career, and it extends to spring training as well. Arenado hit a three-run homer off Lincecum in a March 31 spring game. In the regular season, Arenado is batting .417 (5 for 12) with one double, one home run and three RBI in his career against the right-hander.

"He [Arenado] is their guy," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's a nice player. He's maybe the best defensive third baseman in the game and the guy hits in the heart of the order."

When the Rockies and Dodgers kick off a three-game series Friday night in Los Angeles, Colorado will have the tough task of facing Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. While the lefty is 13-5 with a 3.17 ERA in 26 career starts against Colorado, some Rockies batters have had success against him.

Catcher Nick Hundley is batting .310 (9 for 29) with one double, three walks and three RBI in his career against Kershaw. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu is batting .296 (8 for 27) with one double and one RBI in his career against the lefty.

LeMahieu is batting .514 (18 for 35) with one triple and six RBI in nine games this season, while Hundley is batting .321 (9 for 28) with one RBI and two doubles in seven games.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado hit a three-run homer during Wednesday night's 4-2 win over the Giants. 

Arenado hit the homer, which also scored Charlie Blackmon and Troy Tulowitzki, in the first inning off of Tim Lincecum. It's Arenado's third home run of the season. He now has a total of 10 RBI through nine games. 

Arenado finished the game 1 for 4. 

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado went 1 for with a walk and a solo home run in his team's 7-5 win over the Yankees Wednesday.

Machado picked up his first home run of the season in the fourth inning off Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi after entering the game just 4 for 27. Machado owns a .161 average over his first 31 at-bats.

Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera and third baseman Cody Asche each had three hits in Wednesday's 6-1 loss to the Mets. 

Herrera hit two doubles, one triple and scored the Phillies' lone run of the game. Asche hit a double and two singles. Herrera now holds a .250/.300/.429 slash line. Asche's slash line is now .500/.571/.667. 

"Asche's swinging the bat well," manager Ryne Sandberg said, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I like the way against the lefthander he used the left-field stroke of his. He's had success against (Mets lefthander Jonathon) Niese in the past, so he was a good match-up tonight actually. He's got a good approach going."

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt is out of the starting lineup for the fourth straight game Wednesday against the Reds, the team announced.

Olt is dealing with a wrist injury and is hitting just .154 on 13 at-bats to start the year. Jonathan Herrera will again take his place at third and bat ninth in the order.