MLB Player News

There was no doubt about the offensive star for the Nationals against the Cubs in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. It was third baseman Anthony Rendon, who had his bat and legs involved in every run.

Rendon doubled and scored in the sixth, then tripled in a run and scored in the eighth. He also had a single to fall a home run short of the cycle and sweeten a fine stat line to .282/.341/.485.

The Rockies are rushing third baseman Nolan Arenado right along. He was to begin a rehab assignment Sunday, but will start his minor league stint Saturday night instead at Triple-A Colorado Springs, the Denver Post has reported.

Arenado had been a key cog in the Colorado attack before going down with a broken finger sustained on May 23. He will assume a fine .305/.333/.489 stat line upon his return.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was in the team's starting lineup Saturday.

Machado had his suspension hearing earlier this week, and was expected to get word on his appeal soon. Machado is expected to serve at least a couple games of his suspension, but will continue to start until MLB makes an official ruling following his appeal.

The Twins expect to have both Trevor Plouffe and Eduardo Nunez back from the disabled list Monday, according to MLB.com.

Plouffe was with the team in Texas taking batting practice, while recovering from a rib injury, while Nunez is working his way back from a hamstring injury at Double-A New Britain.  

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado's batting practice session went well Friday, and he has been cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment.

Arenado is working his way back from a broken finger that has kept him out for more than a month. He will begin his assignment at Triple-A Colorado Sunday according to the Denver Post, and should stay there for at least a few days before the team considers bringing him back. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe will not require a minor league rehab assignment as he recovers from an oblique injury that has had him sidelined since June 14. He should be activated from the disabled list by Monday, per the St. Paul Pioneer-Press.

He will return with a stat line of .241/.320/.400 and 38 RBI in 245 at-bats.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado continued to find himself at the plate Friday as the lone bright spot in the opener of a doubleheader against Tampa Bay. He slugged a solo home run in the seventh inning and added a single.

Machado has eight hits in his last five games to elevate his average to .243.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado expressed optimism about the current pace of his recovery from a broken finger that has kept him out since May 23.

That optimism stemmed from his Thursday activity, including hitting off a tee and taking fielding practice. He is closing in on a rehab assignment and might be back on the field for Colorado by the July 4 game against the visiting Dodgers.

"I'm getting really close to returning," Arenado told the Denver Post.

The Rockies can certainly use Arenado, who hit off a tee Thursday and hopes to take regular batting practice Friday. He was enjoying a breakthrough season, as his .305/.333/.489 stat line attests.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado continues to make excellent progress in his recovery from a finger injury, as he was cleared to take swings for the first time Thursday.

Arenado hit off a tee for the first time Thursday, after he was first cleared to swing a bat just three days ago. According to the Denver Post, Arenado will take batting practice for the first time Friday, and hopes to be cleared for a rehab assignment in the minors within the next week. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe will join the team Thursday night and work out with the team in Texas over the weekend, MLB.com reports.

The news indicates that the Twins don't believe Plouffe needs a rehab assignment before returning from the disabled list early next week. Fellow injured infielder Eduardo Nunez is being sent on a rehab assignment Thursday, while Plouffe will fly to Texas to be with the team. He's expected to return from left rib inflammation early next week.