MLB Player News

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is again sidelined with a groin ailment and will not play Saturday against visiting Cleveland.

Machado was also absent Friday after being removed from the series opener Thursday with the issue.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado was forced to leave Friday's game against the Braves in the second inning, after injuring his hand while sliding into second base.

Arenado left the game in the top of the second inning with a broken finger on his left hand. More details are not known at this point, but MLB.com reports infielder Josh Rutledge was pulled from Friday's game with Triple-A Colorado Springs, possibly portending a roster move following the game. 

The Pirates moved third baseman Pedro Alvarez down in the lineup Friday, with manager Clint Hurdle citing disappointment in Alvarez production out of the leadoff spot so far.

"The production hasn't matched up with the opportunities," Hurdle told MLB.com.

Though Alvarez has 24 RBI on the season, the majority (15) have come on his eight home runs. He has left 100 runners on base in the season. Alvarez's struggles in the cleanup spot are not limited to this season, as he is a .250 hitter for his career as a No. 6 hitter, compared to just .192 at No. 4. 

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is absent from the Friday night lineup against Cleveland with a groin issue. Ryan Flaherty is set to play the position instead with Jonathan Schoop batting second. Machado, however, said before the game that he is just resting the groin and should be fine Saturday.

Machado has played in just 20 game since returning from a knee injury that kept him sidelined since late last season. But he's on an eight-game hitting streak in which he has 10 hits in 32 at-bats to raise his average from .176 to .229. Machado, however, has just three RBI in 83 at-bats on the year.

Brewers shortstop and leadoff hitter Jean Segura didn't do enough to help his team win at Atlanta on Thursday, but he did plenty. He doubled, singled twice, scored twice and stole his ninth base of the season.

Segura singled and scored in the first, then doubled and scored in the third. He has lifted his batting average from .240 to .262 since May 4.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado left Thursday's game against the Indians early, due to an injury.

Machado left the game late due to stiffness in his right groin. He finished the game 1 for 6 overall, and his status moving forward is not yet known. 

Though Mike Moustakas' demotion is the big news of the day, he was already demoted in the hearts and minds of Fantasy owners, who are more focused on what seemed like a side note to everyone else: his replacement.

Danny Valencia has the potential to be ... OK. If he makes the most of this opportunity and doesn't force the Royals to seek out alternatives, he'll probably put up numbers somewhere in the Trevor Plouffe-Casey McGehee range. He's been far more effective against lefties than righties in his career, which may cause his batting average to tank over time, but at his best, he's a decent contact hitter with gap power.

As weak as third base his proven to be this year, that sort of player has value in Fantasy, just as Plouffe and McGehee have so far, but not as more than a last resort in leagues where corner infield spots have consumed much of the third base pool.

In AL-only leagues, Valencia obviously needs to be owned, but otherwise, he's probably not a game changer.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore announced Thursday that Danny Valencia is now the full-time starting third baseman for the Royals , per the Kansas City Star. That became official upon the demotion of Mike Moustakas, with whom he had been platooning.

Valencia has primarily played against left-handers, against whom he is batting .333. But he has six hits in 22 at-bats against righties as well and boasts an impressive .308/.362/.423 stat line on the year.

He has not served as a full-time starter since 2011 with Minnesota.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 2-0 win over the Padres Wednesday.

Plouffe has posted three straight two-hit games and five multihit performances in his last eight games, with two of his three home runs this season during that stretch. He has hit .257/.337/.427 with 29 RBI in 171 at-bats.

Joe Maddon has gone back to an experiment he tried briefly in the summer of 2013 by batting slugger Evan Longoria second for the game Wednesday night for the Rays against Oakland. He last played that spot on July 31, 2013.

Longoria hasn't had a multi-hit game since May 11 and is just 3 for 26 since to lower his batting average from .282 to .257. His four home runs in 175 at-bats this season is also a disappointment.