MLB Player News

Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu batted ninth on Friday, one spot behind starter Tyler Matzek. 

Despite batting behind the pitcher, LeMahieu supplied plenty of offense, going three for four with an RBI and run scored. 

Giants utility infielder Matt Duffy will make his first career start at first base on Saturday. 

"I'd prefer to be a stud at one position," he said, per the San Francisco Chronicle. "But anything you learn that adds value to your name and team, especially in the National League, is a good thing. I think I'm athletic enough to do it. The big question is, does the player want to? I'm willing to learn to play multiple positions. The key is being effective. If you're standing there taking up space, that's different." 

Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson came up with three RBI during Friday's 12-5 win over the Orioles. 

Donaldson went 2 for 3, scored a run and drew a walk. Donaldson entered the game just 2 for 11 through three games.

Donaldson hit a sacrifice fly in the third and a two-run double in the fifth. Those were his first three RBI of the season. 

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (knee) fielded grounders and did some side-to-side drills Friday, manager Matt Williams said. There is still no timetable for Rendon's activation off the 15-day disabled list.

Braves infielder Phil Gosselin drew his first start of the season at second base Friday against the Mets. He replaced Jace Peterson, who started the first three games at second base for Atlanta.

Peterson, who won the starting second base job during spring training, is batting .200 (2 for 10) through three games. He has no extra-bat hits and no RBI. He does have two runs, two walks and two strikeouts.

Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar will leave the team after Friday's game against the White Sox to be with his fiancee for birth of their child, according to the the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He is expected to rejoin the club on Sunday.

Escobar is hitting .200 (1 for 5) through three games.

Rockies starting second baseman DJ LeMahieu has hit safely in each of the first three games. He had two hits in each of the first two games.

He is batting .385 (5 for 13) with one RBI and one strikeout. He has no extra-base hits, no runs and no walks.

Indians shortstop Jose Ramirez went 2 for 4 with a walk, a solo home run and two stolen bases in his team's 5-1 win over the Astros Thursday.

Ramirez, the team's starter at shortstop, was 0 for 6 in his first two games before breaking through Thursday, hitting a fifth-inning home run to extend his team's lead to four runs. He'll try to keep rolling this weekend against the Tigers.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 3-2 loss to the Reds Thursday.

Alvarez was 1 for 6 with a double in his first two games before putting together a nice offensive showing Thursday. His home run came in the sixth inning and put his team up 2-0, but the Pirates let the lead slip away in the bottom half of the inning. Alvarez has two 30-homer seasons on his resume but hit just .231/.312/.405 with 18 home runs in 398 at-bats last season.

Giants infielder Matt Duffy will start getting work at first base and could possibly be an option to start at the position by Saturday, CSN Bay Area reports.

Manager Bruce Bochy hopes to have Brandon Belt available to resume starting Monday, but it's possible Duffy will see some time at first base in the interim. He's been primarly a shortstop in the minors and hasn't seen any action at first base at any level of his professional career.

The Giants will use Buster Posey at first base Friday, with Hector Sanchez starting behind the plate and catching Tim Lincecum.