MLB Player News

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado didn't encounter any issues while running the bases Wednesday, the Baltimore Sun reports.

It was his first opportunity to run the bases, and he passed the test. He should continue to run the bases through the rest of the week. Machado is slowly working his way back from knee surgery.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (knee) took infield and batting practice, while also hitting five times during a simulated game Tuesday. He did three sprints each from distances of 90 and 180 feet, and he will run the bases Wednesday.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was able to run sprints Monday, according to MLB.com.

Machado ran six sprints at 90 feet. He'll work his way up to 180 feet in the coming days, and will likely play two or three extended spring games before he's ready to return. Machado is recovering after knee surgery.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado got six at-bats in a simulated game Sunday and has been cleared to run sprints Monday, masnsports.com reports.

Machado's simulated game went well, and he'll hope to continue to progress in his return from knee surgery.

Scuffling Phillies third baseman Cody Asche has been given the night off Saturday against the Marlins. He has been replaced in the lineup by Freddy Galvis.

Ashe is hitless in his last seven at-bats and has not produced a multi-hit game since opening day. He is 4 for 26 since then and has fanned 11 times in 30 at-bats.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, who is working back from knee surgery, is expected to have two at-bats in a simulated game Saturday in Sarasota, the Baltimore Sun reports. His at-bats will come against Johan Santana, however, he won't be allowed to run the bases.

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson started the season mired in a 2-for-22 slump, but his struggles at the plate appear to be a thing of the past.

Donaldson collected his third straight multi-hit game and extended his hitting streak to four games during a 6-1 win Thursday against the Twins.

Donaldson homered for the first time this season -- connecting for a two-run homer off Mike Pelfrey in the third inning to give Oakland a 3-1 lead. Donaldson added an RBI single in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 6-1.

Donaldson is batting .368 (7 for 19) over his last four games, raising his season average from .091 to .220. He has five RBI in nine games -- all coming in his last four games.

A hamstring ailment will not keep Phillies third baseman Cody Asche out of the starting lineup again. He was out Wednesday, but is set to start and bat eighth Thursday against Milwaukee.

Asche, who smacked a double in a pinch-hitting role Wednesday, is batting .304 in 23 at-bats this season.

The power decline Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe experienced from 2012 to 2013 has continued to start this season, but that falls into the category of nitpicking. He has remained on a tear from opening day.

Plouffe has opened the year on an eight-game hitting streak and is tied for ninth in the American League with a .364 batting average. Though 12 of his 15 hits have been singles and he has yet to homer, he owns six walks and a .475 on-base percentage. His improved patience at the plate is apparent. He has never boasted an OBP higher than .309.

Cubs infielder Mike Olt snapped out of a season-opening slump Wednesday, clubbing his second home run of the season in a 7-5 win over the Pirates.

Olt doubled his hit total for the season with one game, going 2 for 5 in the win, with both hits driving in runs. He hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to give the Cubs their first lead, and then provided the ultimate winning margin with a sixth-inning RBI single.

Olt is hitting just .158 through the first eight games of the season, but has two home runs and four RBI.