MLB Player News

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson homered for the third time in as many days during Friday's win over the Indians in Cleveland.

Donaldson launched a towering shot over the left field wall for a three-run home run the second inning, part of an eight-run outburst by the A's. He finished 1 for 3 with a run scored and three RBI in an 11-1 victory. He is hitting .266 with 10 homers and 31 RBI in 169 at-bats.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura's bat came to life Friday, in a 4-3 win over the Cubs.

Segura had his first three-hit game since April 5, and his first was the biggest. He drove in two runs with a second-inning single, runs that would prove to provide the game-winning margin. He finished the game 3 for 5 with two RBI and one run scored.

Segura got off to a slow start and has struggled to find consistency, but is now hitting .288 in the month of May.  

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt was not in the team's starting lineup Friday.

Olt will be replaced by Luis Valbuena at third. Olt is hitting .181, with eight at-bats, over 94 at-bats this year. He'll likely return to the lineup Saturday. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe went 2 for 5 with a home run and two RBI in his team's 9-4 loss to the Red Sox Wednesday.

Plouffe smacked a double in the first inning, but he was unable to come around and score. His two-run home run came in the ninth inning to bring his team within five, but it was too little, too late. Plouffe has hit .252/.339/.415 with two home runs and 24 RBI in 147 at-bats.

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 4-2 loss to the White Sox Wednesday.

Donaldson's fourth-inning home run put his team up 2-1, and it was a lead they would enjoy until the ninth inning, when a White Sox home run put the A's down for good. Donaldson has hit .267/.344/.491 with nine home runs and 28 RBI in 165 at-bats.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg stuck with third baseman Cody Asche for Wednesday's afternoon game against the Angels after Asche committed three errors Tuesday. Asche has six errors in 29 games this season, as compared to five errors in 44 games last season.

"I don't think nights off are the answer," Sandberg said, per MLB.com. "With our type of pitching staff, and ground balls and left-handers that pitch inside, it's an important position for our pitching staff. We need pitching and defense to set the tone."

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt has been working on a new approach at the plate over the last week, and he's happy with the early returns, per ESPN. He is batting .261 (6 for 23) with four home runs and eight RBI in his last six games.

"I'm not worried about the hits, they'll come," said Olt, who is batting .187. "I was happy with my approach in every at-bat [Monday against the Cardinals]. Had a plan going into the game and didn't second guess myself."

Scuffling Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe is catching a break Saturday against Detroit ace right-hander Max Scherzer.

Plouffe is hitless in his last 19 at-bats. His last hit was recorded on May 5.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado's hit streak has been snapped at 28 games.

Arenado walked in one plate appearance, but went hitless in three other at-bats. He struck out, grounded out to first and lined out to first. Arenado did manage to set the franchise record for 28 consecutive games with a hit. He's hitting .315/.342/.517 in 149 at-bats.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado hit his first home run of the season Friday, in a 4-3 win over the Astros.

Machado, who has gotten off to a slow start since returning from a knee injury, was 1 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored, on a solo home run. He also struck out once, while raising his batting average to .161 in 31 at-bats.

Machado has his first home run and extra-base hit out of the way, and still has just one RBI in eight games.