MLB Player News

I'm not quite convinced Fantasy owners need to rush Orioles third baseman Manny Machado into their lineups for Week 4 (April 22-28). 

Machado has been on a good run the last few weeks, batting .302 (16 for 53) with two home runs, four doubles, 10 runs and 10 RBI in 13 games. But basically that surge takes him back to where his numbers were last season. His slash line through 17 games (.268/.307/.423/.729) is pretty similar to what he produced last year (.262/.294/.445/.739). It's also pretty close to what he did in the minors (.263/.344/.432/.776).

I have no doubt Machado has a bright future in the majors, but don't forget he's only 20 years old. Not every elite prospect is in the mold of Bryce Harper or Mike Trout. Many of them have ups and downs before hitting their stride.

I just don't think Machado is ready for his breakout run, so I would continue to temper expectations.

Shortly after promoting him from Double-A Harrisburg, Nationals top prospect Anthony Rendon was inserted into the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Mets. Rendon, who filled the roster hole created by Ryan Zimmerman's move to the disabled list, hit sixth in the batting order while patrolling third base.

The Nationals expect Zimmerman to spend the minimum amount of time on the DL and appear committed to providing Rendon -- the sixth overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft -- everyday playing time in his absence. At Harrisburg, the 22-year-old was hitting .292 with a robust .462 on-base percentage after averaging a walk per game.

"I don't like to bring a youngster up and have him sit," manager Davey Johnson told The Washington Post on Saturday. "He's been swinging the bat pretty good down there. It's no slight against some guys I got here."

After going 0 for 4 in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Dodgers, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado made up for it in the nightcap. He went 3 for 4 with a homer, four RBI and a pair of runs scored in the 6-1 win.

The 20-year-old singled in the third inning before driving in Nate McLouth with a double in the fifth. Then in the sixth, he launched a three-run bomb off starter Josh Beckett.

"He just left it a little up and I just took advantage of that," Machado told MASNSports.com. "It's been awhile since I had a good game, had a couple of games with an 0-fer. We had two good games today and now we try to come out tomorrow and get another one."

Machado is batting .311 (14 for 45) in the last 10 contests with two home runs and 10 RBI.

"You know I just think the more at-bats I get the more comfortable I feel at the plate," he said. "It comes with experience, this game is all about experience."

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura stayed hot with a double, single and stolen base against the Cubs Saturday, his second-straight game with two hits and a steal. He boosted his line to .386/.417/.526 and has three steals this year.

Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon is expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday against the Mets. The 22-year-old will likely be hitting sixth, according to the Washington Post.

General manager Mike Rizzo expects Rendon to return to the minors once Zimmerman comes off the disabled list. Zimmerman is expected to miss the minimum 15 days with a hamstring injury.

"I would think that when Zim comes back, we'll probably send [Rendon] down for more seasoning," Rizzo said. "But we'll take that as it comes. We see him as a long-term component of the team."

Just this week, I looked in on Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon's progress in the minors. I noted that although his bat was looking major-league ready, the team had no place for him to play in Washington. That changed Saturday when Rendon got the call from Double-A Harrisburg after third baseman Ryan Zimmerman injured his hamstring and is headed to the disabled list. What does this callup mean for Fantasy owners?

For one thing, it means Baseball America's No. 30 prospect is set to make his major-league debut after just 225 plate appearances in the minors. Rendon has looked advanced for Double-A in his brief chances this season, after struggling in a late call-up a year ago. Through 14 games, Rendon was batting .292, with six extra-base hits in 48 at-bats. Most impressively was the former No. 6 overall pick's advance command of the strike zone. He had 14 walks against nine strikeouts.

Rendon is going to be challenged much more by big-league pitchers who have nothing to fear from a 23-year-old, no matter how highly touted. It would be foolish to expect him to control the zone with such authority against the Clayton Kershaws and Adam Wainwrights of the National League. Still, plate discipline is a skill that can translate right away, while a young player is still developing the rest of his game.

Rendon is going to get plenty of chances to start over the span of at least a few weeks with Zimmerman out, and it will be interesting to see what he is capable of against top-flight competition.  At the very least, he is worth a speculative add off the waiver wires, with the caveat that his stay in the majors is unlikely to be permanent once Zimmerman recovers from his injury.

The Nationals have recalled prospect Anthony Rendon from Double-A Harrisburg Saturday, the Washington Times reports. The 22-year-old, who was the team's top pick in the 2011 draft, is expected to take Ryan Zimmerman's place in the starting lineup.

Rendon is hitting .292 with a .962 OPS. He also has two homers in 14 games at Double-A Harrisburg.

A day after launching a home run for the second straight game, Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez was held out of the starting lineup Saturday against Braves left-hander Paul Maholm. Alvarez is boasting a three-game hitting streak but strikeouts continue to limit the young slugger as he's whiffed 20 times in 52 at-bats this season.

Alvarez has also struggled against lefties, collecting just one hit in 16 at-bats with nine strikeouts. Russell Martin took his spot at third base.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria hit his fourth home run in his last five games Friday night against the A's.

Longoria's two-run home run came off reliever Evan Scribner in the fourth inning. He finished 1 for 4 with two runs in an 8-3 victory. Longoria is hitting .281/.364/.509 with four home runs and nine RBI in 57 at-bats.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria had another solid night at the plate as he homered for the third time in the last four games during Thursday's series finale against the Orioles.

Longoria took starter Miguel Gonzalez deep in the first inning for a solo shot. He finished 1 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI in a 10-6 defeat in extras.

Longoria has gone 4 for 17 with three homers, four runs scored and four RBI in his last four games. He is hitting .283/.371/.472 over his first 53 at-bats.