MLB Player News

Even after a two-hit performance Monday at Minnesota, which included his first double, Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson expressed disappointment with his slow start. He's batting just .161 through seven games.

"I don’t feel good at the plate right now," Donaldson said after Monday's game, per Bay Area News. "I’m trying to battle through it. My problem right now is with my contact point. I’m catching the ball in front or too deep. It’s been a little frustrating. But so far we haven’t played a lot of games."

The good news is that Donaldson was batting just .120 through seven games last season and finished the year with a breakout campaign. Manager Bob Melvin said Donaldson's double to right-center Monday is a good sign.

"He’s at his best going to right-center like that," Melvin said.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is still not running the bases, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Machado was able to run on a treadmill in a pool Monday. He's coming off knee surgery. There's no timetable for Machado's return at this time. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria continued his recent success at the plate on Monday, recording three hits in a 4-2 loss to the Royals in Kansas City.

Longoria doubled in the second, singled in the sixth and reached on an infield single in the ninth. He finished 3 for 4, raising his batting average to .414 on the year. He has a hit in all but one of his eight games played.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (knee) will continue to go through baseball activities Sunday. If Machado checks out OK Monday, then he could progress to the next step in his rehab.

"His next step is hopefully running full speed," manager Buck Showalter said, per MLB.com. "The last thing he’s had yet to do is sprint. And to be able to do it the next day and the next day so to speak. I don’t know when that’s going to be."

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura was not in the team's starting lineup Sunday.

It's unclear whether it's a normal day of rest for Segura, or if the team is still giving him occasional off-days to rest his shoulder. Segura also had a brutal night defensively Saturday, and it's not known whether that played a role in the decision. He should return Monday.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado had a huge game Saturday, going 3 for 4 with a double, two home runs and three RBI in his team's 9-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

Arenado hit solo home runs off Arizona starter Brandon McCarthy in the fourth and sixth innings before adding a double during the two-run eighth inning. He entered play just 3 for 21 with no extra-base hits. Arenado has four more games at home before the Rockies hit the road again.

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt has returned to the starting lineup Saturday.

Olt was held out of Friday's game due to concerns about his shoulder. The club doesn't want Olt to over-exert himself early. It doesn't seem to be a serious concern, however, and Olt will get right back into the lineup Saturday. He will hit sixth.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez came up big at the plate, launching a pair of home runs in his team's 12-2 win over the Cardinals.

Alvarez took St. Louis starter Shelby Miller deep for a pair of solo home runs in the second and fourth innings, respectively. He drove in another run on a ground out in the eighth inning and finished 2 for 4 with one walk, three runs and three RBI. He improved his batting average to .158 (3 for 19) on the year.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado continues to recover from a knee injury, and was able to do some baseball activities Thursday. Beyond running, it is not clear what these activities entailed, but MLB.com reports he felt good the following day.

Machade remains without a concrete timetable for his return from knee surgery, but it is a good sign that he has been cleared to begin running. 

Rick Renteria plans on easing Cubs promising third baseman Mike Olt into the lineup as an every-day player to take it easy on a shoulder that experienced soreness this spring, per ESPN.

Renteria cited slick conditions at Wrigley Field for holding Olt out of the lineup Friday against Philadelphia. Olt slugged his first major league home run Thursday against Pittsburgh.