MLB Player News

There aren't many hitters in the majors who approach Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez's streakiness.

When Alvarez is on, as he has been over the last seven games with four home runs, he can look like one of the best power hitters in the game. Even when hot, though, you can see signs of what makes Alvarez so hard to depend on, as he is hitting the ball well right now, but still has eight strikeouts in his last 24 at bats.

Fantasy owners feel pressure to get Alvarez in the lineup when he is feeling it, but it is not yet clear the Pirates feel the same way. Alvarez has been out of the starting lineup the last three times the Pirates have faced a left-handed starter. With three lefties on the way in Week 5 (April 29-May 5), even a scorching hot Alvarez may not give you the production you are looking for. Our Scott White thinks Alvarez is a risky start for Week 5 due to his matchups. 

Our Scott White is not pleased with the depth at the third base position this season, but he begrudgingly considers Manny Machado of the Orioles a worthy start in his Hit Parade column for Fantasy Week 5 (April 29-May 5).

Machado has been up and down in his second season, but is batting .327 over the last 13 games and has some decent matchups this week. The Orioles do not seem likely to face much in the way of high-end starting pitcher during matchups with the Angels and Mariners. Machado could remain hot and worth starting for the scoring period. 

The depth at the position should be improving in the next few weeks with a handful of high-end options set to return. Until that happens, Machado is a decent low-end Fantasy option.

The Nationals said prospect Anthony Rendon's first stint in the majors would last only until Ryan Zimmerman's return from the DL. Apparently, they're not even going to give him a chance to change their minds.

Rendon was out of the lineup for a second straight game Friday. By now, Zimmerman is only a week away from returning, so unless a week of irregular at-bats from an unproven commodity appeals to you, Rendon is probably a waste of a roster spot.

Obviously, he still has long-term appeal, but in single-season formats, you'll want to try your luck with Josh Donaldson, Juan Francisco or even Luis Jimenez instead.

At a position rife with underachievers like Will Middlebrooks, Pedro Alvarez, Mike Moustakas and Lonnie Chisenhall, Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson deserves to be owned in more than 48 percent of Fantasy leagues. His hot start may be an aberration.

Remember, after a lengthy stint at Triple-A Sacremento last year, he returned to hit .290 with eight home runs and an .844 OPS over the final six weeks. Combine those numbers with his numbers so far this year, and he's batting .293 with 10 home runs over his last 256 at-bats in the majors. That's not such a small sample.

I'm not saying he'll outperform Middlebrooks, Alvarez and Moustakas all year, but he won't finish so far behind them that you should ignore him while he's clearly the hot hand.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight game Friday against Cincinnati. Rendon, who is hitting just .133 through his first four major-league contests, has not played in either game of the series despite Washington manager Davey Johnson previously stating the 22-year-old would start every day.

"It's a little more difficult when I'm looking for somebody in the lineup to set the table, and [Rendon] is not in that category," Johnson told reporters Friday. "Nothing against his ability, but I'm trying to create a lineup that can kind of feed off itself."

Through all of the Brewers' issues this season -- multiple injuries and slumps -- manager Ron Roenicke has received consistency from an unexpected source: shortstop Jean Segura. The 23-year-old, who is in his first full major-league season, has defied his estimated time of arrival and ranks among the NL leaders with a .356 batting average (fourth) and paces the league with six stolen bases.

"He's gone beyond expectations," general manager Doug Melvin said. "When we made the deal, I'm not sure we really thought he'd be a big leaguer at this time."

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon is not in the lineup Thursday. 

The team is attempting to shake up their order, and Rendon has struggled thus far. Stephen Lombardozzi will get the start at third and bat second. 

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez hit his fourth home run in the last six games on Wednesday night against the Phillies. He took Antonio Bastardo deep for a solo shot in the seventh inning.

The 26-year-old also had an RBI single and finished 2 for 4 in a 5-3 win.

Alvarez has really picked up the pace of late. He is batting .348 (8 for 23) with seven RBI in his last seven contests.

Twins infielder and utility player Eduardo Escobar does the little things, his manager Ron Gardenhire told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. 

The 24-year-old has been a pinch-runner and pinch-hitter. He's played shortstop and third base and has been an emergency outfielder as well. 

"He says he can pitch," teammate Wilkin Ramirez said. "He’s done it before."

Even more impressive, Escobar is hitting for the Twins. The smallest player on the roster racked up his second three-hit game Tuesday night and he added a walk. Only Joe Mauer has more three-hit games this year with three. 

"He’s a nice little player," Gardenhire said. "He’s been swinging great. A lot of fun to watch out there."

Escobar is batting .480 after 12 games and 25 at-bats with a double, triple, homer and five RBI. 

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado continued to produce big hits on Wednesday during an extra-inning loss against Toronto. Machado hit an RBI triple, his first of the year, in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the score at five runs apiece. 

Machado finished 2 for 5 in the game and now has 14 RBI on the season for the Orioles. He's batting .276 after going 5 for 11 in the three-game series with the Blue Jays with a double, triple and three RBI.