MLB Player News

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons moved third baseman Josh Donaldson to second in the batting order Wednesday against the Rays. Donaldson -- who hit fifth in the first eight games -- was batting behind Jose Reyes and in front of Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion.

Donaldson is batting .167 (2 for 12) with one home run and three RBI in his career against Erasmo Ramirez, who is starting for the Rays on Wednesday.

Donaldson has a career .275 average, .473 slugging percentage, five home runs, nine doubles and 19 RBI in 34 games batting second.

Just as it did for Indians slugger Carlos Santana in 2014, the move from third base to first base appears to have had a positive effect at the plate for Pedro Alvarez.

The Pirates made the switch after turning down trade proposals during the offseason. Alvarez has responded with a fine start. He boasts a slash line of .308/.333/.692 with three home runs and five RBI in 26 at-bats.

It's too early to determine how well Alvarez will perform long-term at his new position. He has one error in eight games.

"There's a lot more to it [than people realize]," he told ESPN. "With every position, there's a lot of responsibility that comes with it. I've never played first before, so it's obviously all new to me. It's just a matter of getting the repetitions and the work in and having those things become second nature."

Alvarez made at least 25 errors every year from 2012 to 2014 as a third baseman. The emergence of Josh Harrison prompted his move to first.

Rockies infielder DJ LeMahieu continued to swing a hot bat on Tuesday, as he drove in a run and had hit safely in all eight games this season. He finished 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored in a 4-1 victory. LeMahieu is hitting .516 (16 for 31) with a triple and six RBI this season.

"It was just a matter of time for DJ," manager Walt Weiss said, per the Denver Post. "Sometimes for guys like DJ, it takes a little bit longer to grab attention from those outside the game, and maybe even some inside the game. But as far as we are concerned around here, we know how valuable he is.

"Over time, people start to appreciate him more. But it's also hard to ignore his hot start."

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez told MLB.com that rookie second baseman Jace Peterson will start again Wednesday against Miami after being absent from the lineup Tuesday.

Peterson, who had started five of seven previous games and played in all of them, has four singles in 20 at-bats, but has scored four runs.

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt was held out of the lineup for a third straight game Tuesday against the Reds due to a wrist injury. Jonathan Herrera was once again in the starting lineup at third base for Chicago.

Olt is batting just .154 (2 for 13) with one home run and one RBI in five games. He has five strikeouts and no walks.

With Chris Johnson, Alberto Callaspo and Jace Peterson all off to promising starts in 2015, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez is faced with the dilemma of finding playing time for all three players. Although, it is an issue right now Gonzalez is fine with since all three players are producing.

"It's nice to have flexibility," Gonzalez said, per MLB.com. "It keeps everybody engaged and you feel like you have the advantage off the bench. It's a good mixture right now."

Peterson has started five of seven games at second base, Johnson has started three of seven at third base, while Callaspo has started four times at third and once at second base.

"If I play, I'm going to be ready to play," Johnson said. "If not, I'm going to do whatever I can to help the team on the bench or to get ready for a pinch-hit. Right now, we're winning ballgames and I'll never complain being on a winning team."

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura struggled with his glove in Monday's 5-4 win over the Cardinals. Segura made a throwing error in the fourth inning that led to a run and again in the seventh on a Matt Holliday ground ball. Holliday eventually scored later in the inning, but Segura will continue to press on and put it in the past, reports MLB.com.

"You can't control making errors in the game. It's part of being human in baseball," Segura said. "I don't want to make any mistakes, but just don't stop. Come strong and keep doing your best and be ready for the next one. I make those two errors, and then I make the diving play that might save the game. … It was a big play to me."

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe went 1 for 4 at the plate Monday in Minnesota's 12-3 loss to the Royals.

Plouffe opened up the seventh inning with a solo home run off of Danny Duffy on a 1-1 pitch to left field, his only hit of the game. Plouffe has struggled at the plate early on, hitting just .130 in 23 at-bats with seven strikeouts so far this season.

"We're not sugarcoating anything," Plouffe said to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "It's been bad. These first seven games now have been bad. We do have to clean those things up." 

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt has been scratched from his scheduled start Monday, reports MLB.com.

Olt is dealing with a wrist injury suffered Saturday and was also out of the lineup Sunday, even though he came on in a pinch hit situation. Jonathan Herrera will replace him at third base.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez went 1 for 3 in Pittsburgh's 5-4 win over the Tigers Monday. Alvarez led off the seventh inning with a solo home run to center field off of Anibal Sanchez to extend Pittsburgh's lead to 3-1.

It was Alvarez's third home run of the year and boosted his average .304 in 23 at-bats.