MLB Player News

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez continues to show off his power, as he homered twice in a 5-2 wni over the Brewers Saturday.

Alvarez went 2 for 3 with a walk and three RBI. He has four home runs over the last six games, while batting .278.

Alvarez went 14 games to open the season with out a home run and has hit his 10 homers over the last 29 games. He is hitting .248 in that span, but he has 23 RBI and 16 runs scored to go with his 10 homers. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe has passed a concussion test, MLB.com reports.

Plouffe also did cardio work Friday without issue. He is expected to return from the seven-day concussion disabled list soon.

Rangers third base prospect Mike Olt has been cleared to return to game action, the Dallas Morning News reports.

Olt has been dealing with a vision issue and has not played since April 25. He was prescribed eyedrops and other medication and his condition has improved. Olt will go to extended spring training to work his swing back into form and then return to Triple-A Round Rock. There is no firm timetable for his return.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado enjoyed his 10th multi-hit game of May during Thursday's 12-6 loss to the Blue Jays.

Machado had three doubles, including a two-run hit in the third. He finished 3 for 4 with two RBI and became the only player since 1916 to have multiple three-double games before his 21st birthday.

Machado has a .345/.368/.560 line with three home runs and 12 RBI in 20 May games. He is hitting .330 in 203 at-bats.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who is on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion, felt "a lot better" Thursday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

"No headaches or anything," Plouffe told the Pioneer Press. "I pretty much feel normal. As far as any timelines, it's still one step at a time."

Plouffe was scheduled to undergo a full-impact test Thursday to determine whether his injury was a concussion.

With the Rockies demoting Josh Rutledge on Wednesday, DJ LeMahieu is expected to take over the starting second base job. Owned in six percent of leagues, it might benefit an owner in a deeper format to take a closer look at the 24-year-old. 

LeMahieu has never hit below .314 in any of his five minor league campaigns (he has a .321 career minor league BA). In 306 major league at-bats, he has a .294 average. I wouldn't expect much in the way of power or speed from LeMahieu, but 20 doubles the rest of the way (assuming he gets regular at-bats) wouldn't be out of the question, and you can pretty much bank on the average to be there. 

In NL-only, he's a must-add. But I would consider adding him in formats as shallow as 15-team Roto leagues (at MI or UT), based on his promise in batting average. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria admitted Wednesday he was nervous he wouldn't make it through a full season because his legs felt tired at season's outset.

"I felt pretty bad after the first week of the season, like 10 games in. I was kind of scared," Longoria said, per the Tampa Bay Times. "Because in spring training, you probably don't play three-four games in a row at the most toward the end of spring. Once we got like a week, 10 days into the season, I was feeling like, man, my legs were tired. And thoughts started to creep in about how you're going to do it for 162 days."

The Rays made the decision to use Longoria as the DH in an April 10 game against Texas and the slugger said he has felt better ever since. The Rays continue to use Longoria at DH every now and then, and it seems to be the formula to ease the 27-year-old's mind and keep him fresh. Longoria extended his career-best hitting streak to 16 games Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

"I haven't felt that fatigue," he said. "I feel like my legs are getting stronger and feeling better as the season goes on. And with that worry behind me, I can be focused on other things."

With Josh Rutledge's demotion to Triple-A Wednesday, Rockies infielder DJ LeMahieu is expected to assume a starting role.

LeMahieu has started four of seven games since being called up May 16, and he is hitting .412 with two extra-base hits and two RBI in 17 at-bats. He will likely be the full-time starter at second base with Rutledge gone. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe was placed on the 7-day disabled list Wednesday, despite saying he was "feeling better" a day after getting kneed in the head as he attempted to break up a double play. Plouffe showed sensitivity to light during an exam for concussion-related symptoms.

Plouffe is expected to get a few days off before taking a concussion test. 

"He took a good shot in the head. That's what this rule is for, to protect the player," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Give him a little bit of a break here and do what's right. He was a little woozy and that's why there was concern."

Rockies second baseman DJ Lemahieu went 3 for 4 in Tuesday's win over Arizona.

Lemahieu doubled twice and knocked in two runs. He's 6 for 13 to open 2013 for the Rockies and is proving to be a solid backup to primary second baseman Josh Rutledge.