MLB Player News

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche hit a three-run home run and stole his first base in his team's 5-1 win over the Braves Monday. Asche's 2-for-4 performance gives him a .225/.262/.425 line with two home runs and seven RBI in 40 at-bats.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe had a much-needed homer in Monday's win over the Indians.

Plouffe went deep for the 11th time this season in the second inning for all the runs the Twins would need in the game. He hit a two-run shot.

The corner infielder finished 2 for 3 with a walk in the nice performance. He's now batting .237 for the year.

The 27-year-old had recorded just one hit in his previous 16 at-bats.

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson will serve as the team's designated hitter Monday against the Blue Jays.

Donaldson will hit third against pitcher J.A. Happ. Alberto Callaspo will play third. Donaldson is hitting .296/.376/.484 in 419 at-bats. 

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez overcame a left index finger injury and launched his 28th home run of the season Sunday against the Rockies.

Alvarez took Chad Bettis deep for a solo shot in the second inning. He finished 1 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI in a 3-2 defeat. He is hitting .236/.296/.482 in 394 at-bats.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said he held second baseman Anthony Rendon out of the lineup Sunday against the Phillies for precautionary reasons to rest his left forearm, according to The Washington Post. Rendon was seeing flexing and rotating his left forearm after his final at-bat Saturday.

Rendon was deemed to have no problems with his forearm after being evaluated by team physician Dr. Wiemi Douoguih.

"He’s fine," Johnson said.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez, who was spiked on his left index finger Saturday, swung in the batting cages Sunday morning and reported feeling fine, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He is wearing a bandage, but doesn't have to wear a splint.

Alvarez was in the starting lineup Sunday against the Rockies.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon managed two RBI for a second straight game Saturday against the Phillies. He now has at least one RBI in six of eight August games.

Rendon is batting .308 (8 for 26) with a .577 slugging percentage, .932 OPS, one double, two home runs and eight RBI in August.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez left the clubhouse after Saturday's game against the Rockies without speaking to the media. Manager Clint Hurdle said Alvarez was spiked on the left index finger Saturday and had a bandage on it.

Alvarez hasn't homered in 11 games and has just one multi-hit game since July 12, batting .184 in his last 25 games.

Phillies infielder Cody Asche made his presence felt at the dish as he launched his first big-league home run Thursday afternoon against the Cubs.

Asche took reliever Eduardo Sanchez deep for a two-run home run to extend the lead for the Phillies. He fell a triple shy of the cycle and finished 3 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBI in a 12-1 win. He has five hits over his last nine at-bats and is hitting .231/.286/.423 through his first 26 at-bats this season.

Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu singled three times in four at-bats Thursday against the Mets. It was his second three-hit game of August.

LeMahieu is batting .296 (8 for 27) with two doubles and no RBI in seven August games.