MLB Player News

After an eight-game stint with the Nationals earlier this season, third baseman Anthony Rendon was squeezed from the roster following Ryan Zimmerman's return from the disabled list. But the organization's top prospect doesn't appear to be fazed by the demotion back to Double-A Harrisburg, producing a .451 batting average with eight RBI in his first nine games.

The 22-year-old has posted multiple hits in six of those outings, and six of his 14 total hits in that span have gone for doubles. For his efforts, Rendon was named the Eastern League Player of the Week and is now hitting .354 overall on the season.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado singled in the first, doubled in the fifth and singled in the seventh in Sunday's series finale against the Twins. He finished 3 for 5 and improved his batting average to .331 after Sunday's 6-0 victory.

Machado, 20, became the first player under 21 years old to have three-consecutive three-hit games since Rennie Stennett of the Pirates in September 1971. He is hitting .563 with two doubles and two RBI in his last three games -- all against Minnesota.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado went 2 for 4 with a double and run scored during an 8-2 victory over St. Louis Sunday. Arenado is 3 for 7 in his last two games after a four-game hitless streak.

"Nolan's swinging the bat really well," Colorado manager Walt Weiss told MLB.com. "You keep your eye on guys, particularly young guys. If they start to get beat up a little bit, that's when I'll give them a day. But for me, he's playing a helluva third base and he's putting together a lot of very good at-bats."

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura doubled, walked and stole a base in a 2-for-3 game against Cincinnati Sunday.

Segura has a .359/.406/.588 batting line, trailing just Carlos Gomez for best on the Brewers in all three categories. His stolen base was his 10th, good for fourth in the National League.

Athletics third basemen Josh Donaldson was able to shake off an ankle injury Saturday night against the Mariners. Donaldson appeared to twist his ankle while trying to stretch a double into a single in the ninth inning.

However, he remained in the game and told reporters afterwards that he is fine.

Donaldson finished 2 for 4 with a home run and one RBI in the 4-3 win. He is hitting .265 (9 for 34) with two home runs and five RBI over the last 10 games.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura turned in another big day at the dish Saturday against the Reds. Segura had a season-high four hits in a 13-7 defeat, including his sixth home run of the year off starter Mat Latos in the first inning.

Segura also singled twice and doubled in the loss, finishing 3 for 5 with three runs and an RBI.

He has hit safely in five of the last six games and is batting .423 (11 for 26) with two doubles, two home runs and three RBI over that span.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria blasted a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning off Padres closer Huston Street to lift Tampa Bay to an 8-7 victory Saturday night. The homer was Longoria's only hit of the game and extended his hitting streak to six outings.

During his current hot stretch, he has recorded four doubles and three homers while driving in 11 runs. His batting average stands at .333.

"You need games like this, whether it's myself or anybody coming through in the clutch, to kind of boost morale and jump-start everything," Longoria said.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has been better than fellow phenoms Mike Trout and Bryce Harper over the first 84 games of their respective big-league careers, MASNSports.com reports Saturday. 

Former Baltimore executive Jim Duquette pointed out that Machado tops Harper and Trout in batting average, homers, RBI and doubles over that span. 

Machado has a .284 average with 12 homers, 47 RBI and 20 doubles in his first 84 games. Harper has gone .258 with nine HRs, 29 RBI and 16 doubles. Trout is at .282 with 11 HRs, 42 RBI and 16 doubles. 

Machado's RBI single to right Friday in the 10th inning in Minnesota helped the Orioles rally for the win. He's batting .314 with five homers and 23 RBI over 153 at-bats. 

I don't know if Orioles third baseman Manny Machado's hot start this season is the breakout that vaults him to elite status in Fantasy, but judging by his pedigree as a former No. 3 overall pick and all the Alex Rodriguez comparisons that accompanied him coming out of high school, I'm confident the breakout is coming someday,. And I wouldn't want to miss out on it because of pure stubborness.

In theory, 20-year-olds who walk as infrequently as he does are destined to disappoint, but he's striking out once every five at-bats -- not bad, all things considered -- and hasn't fallen into the trap of trying to yank everything out of the ballpark. And again, his pedigree is as good as it gets.

I'll take the middle ground with him, ranking him 11th at third base but understanding he has the potential to finish in the top seven. In the strictest sense, he's a sell-high candidate, but if I owned him, I doubt I'd find a deal to my liking.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez broke an 0-for-14 slide in his previous four games with a 2-for-3 game Thursday against the Mets that included a home run, his sixth of the season. His batting average, which had dipped to .168, is now .182.