MLB Player News

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche went 3 for 3 with a double in his team's 4-0 loss to the Marlins Monday.

Asche's double was his team's only extra-base hit in the game, and his three hits comprised exactly half of his team's hit total. Now 6 for 15 since returning from the disabled list, the third baseman has hit .274/.351/.437 with four home runs and 21 RBI in 135 at-bats.

With Bryce Harper getting closer to returning from a thumb injury, Nationals manager Matt Williams announced Ryan Zimmerman will be returning to third base upon Harper's activation off the disabled list and Anthony Rendon will move to second base, per MLB.com.

Although Zimmerman is happy to oblige his manager, he said Sunday he prefers to stay in left field and have Rendon continue to play at third base.

"Going out to left field, gave us the best chance to win. It’s a good problem to have. Too many good players and not enough spots," Zimmerman said. "I’ll see what happens. I’m pretty comfortable in left and I think Anthony is a hell of a third baseman. I think there is no doubt right now he is better over there than me. But you have to have your best players in the lineup somehow. Whatever [manager] Matt [Williams] needs me to do, that’s what I’ll do."

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he expects third baseman Trevor Plouffe (left rib inflammation) and infielder Eduardo Nunez (hamstring) to be ready to come off the 15-day disabled list after the team finishes a six-game road trip June 29, per MLB.com.

"I don't know if they're even going to need rehab," Gardenhire said. "When we get back from this trip, they should be both ready. Whether they're going to rehab or not, we're not decided yet."

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The Royals activated third baseman Danny Valencia (hand, wrist) from the 15-day disabled list, and he's in the lineup batting seventh Sunday against the Mariners and lefty Roenis Elias. Royals manager Ned Yost said Valencia will play against "most lefties."

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said third baseman Trevor Plouffe (oblique) and left fielder Eduardo Nunez (hamstring) are healing well, reports the St. Paul Pioneer Press. They're on track to return from the disabled list early next month, during a seven-game homestand that starts June 30.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon went 3 for 4 with two RBI in his team's 3-0 win over the Braves Saturday.

Rendon drove home the first run of the game in the third inning with a single, and then knocked in the final run of the game with a seventh-inning double. It was his third multihit performance in his last five games. Rendon has hit .274/.333/.473 with 11 home runs, 42 RBI and five stolen bases in 277 at-bats.

A five-game hitting streak heading into Friday night indicated that Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson had emerged from a long slump. His three-run homer in the first inning clinched it.

Donaldson gave his team a 3-0 lead with the blast. He added a walk later in the game, which he finished with a fine .490 slugging percentage.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura hits occasional home runs, but he had never slugged two in one game. That is, until Friday night in homer-happy Coors Field.

Segura slammed one solo bomb in the second inning inning and another in the third, then added an RBI single in the sixth. His three-RBI game marked his first since April 23 as he sweetened his stat line to .250/.278/.348.

Twins infielder Trevor Plouffe's recovery from an oblique strain is going as well as expected so far, according to MLB.com.

Plouffe told reporters Friday he is already feeling better five days after being placed on the disabled list. He remains hopeful he can return from the disabled list as soon as the minimum 15 days pass.