MLB Player News

While the Orioles await the decision from Major League Baseball about a potential suspension for third baseman Manny Machado for his actions over the weekend against the A's, the team is wrestling with their own decision on whether or not to demote the struggling third baseman.

Machado, who missed the first month of the season recovering from knee surgery, is batting just .229 in 35 games since his activation. He's also committed seven errors and has a .938 fielding percentage.

"That’s always an option," executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette told FOX Sports Tuesday. "The guy distinguished himself in the big leagues last year. We’d much rather see him develop his skills here. But that’s always an option."

Cubs manager Rick Renteria said Monday the team has no plans to demote struggling third baseman Mike Olt to the minors.

"If that’s ever to be a situation that we would consider that would be something we would be talking about [internally]," Renteria said, per ESPN. "Right now he’s here with us. He’s going to continue to develop his skills here."

However, Renteria said Olt won't play every day while he struggles offensively.

"We’re going to pick the matchups that put him in a position to have success," Renteria said. "We want him to know he shouldn’t be too concerned about anything. Things happen. You have hiccups. I know there was a time when he was doing very, very well and everybody wanted him in there every single day so we started putting him in there. You give him rope and allow them to go out there and perform and feel the landscape. Now we’re going to pull back a little bit."

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon is out of the lineup for the third straight game Monday, but he is available as a pinch hitter and will likely return to the lineup Tuesday, the Washington Post reports.

"He’s good," manager Matt Williams said Monday. "He’s a little bit sore still. He hit today. He’s a lot better today than he was yesterday. I think one more day, he’ll be ready to go tomorrow. Still a little sore, though."

Rendon has been battling a thumb injury suffered on a defensive play Friday, but it sounds like his return is imminent. He has hit .272/.328/.470 with nine home runs and 34 RBI in 232 at-bats.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon is out of the lineup for a third straight game Monday.

Rendon injured his thumb fielding a groundball Friday. He had been on a hot streak at the plate, going 10 for 24 with four home runs and eight RBI in the six games prior to missing the last three.

The Orioles expect to learn third baseman Manny Machado's punishment Tuesday, reports MLB.com. Machado was ejected Sunday after what appeared to be an intentional throw of the bat toward Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson.

A day earlier, Machado overreacted to a fairly routine tag by Donaldson. The Orioles held a team meeting Monday to discuss Machado and his actions over the weekend.

Orioles infielder Manny Machado was ejected from Sunday's game against the Athletics in the eighth inning.

With the Athletics up by 10, Machado thought reliever Fernando Abad threw a little too far inside. Machado took a swing at the second pitch of the at-bat, which was thrown inside, and let go of the bat, which sailed towards third base. Machado and third baseman Josh Donaldon got into a bit of a dustup Saturday after Machado thought Donaldson applied an aggressive tag. 

Machado and Abad were immediately ejected following the play.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon said his thumb is still sore, and he was not in Sunday's lineup against the Padres, reports MLB.com. Rendon, however, was able to take batting practice.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon was not in the starting lineup Saturday after suffering a hand injury in Friday's game, and manager Matt Williams doesn't expect him to return to the lineup Sunday either, the Washington Post reports.

"It’s pretty sore," Williams said. "We’ve got a quick turnaround tomorrow. We’ll have to see how it is. The good news is, there’s no fracture. That’s the good thing."

Neither Rendon nor the Nationals expect the injury to send the infielder to the disabled list. He has been treating the hand with ice and heat, to try and alleviate the swelling and soreness.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Padres.

Rendon is nursing a thumb injury after taking a groundball off his hand Friday. He remains day-to-day moving forward.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon is considered day-to-day with a hand injury, according to The Washington Post. 

Rendon took a ball off his hand, and had to leave during the fifth inning. Manager Matt Williams said Rendon's thumb was pretty swollen, and that he would have to be re-evaluated Saturday. Rendon doesn't believe the injury is too serious. Rendon is hitting .272/.328/.470 over 232 at-bats.