MLB Player News

Eduardo Escobar made just his second start of the season Tuesday at Kansas City, but he was one of the few Twins' players to make an impact in a 7-4 loss. Escobar homered and drove in two runs, while going 3 for 4.

"I want to make sure everybody gets involved," manager Ron Gardehire said, per MLB.com. "'We'll mix it up and try to score more runs."

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura returned to the lineup Tuesday against the Cubs and had a productive performance.

After missing the previous contest due to a quad injury, he went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored in a 6-3 loss.

Segura doubled home a run in his first at-bat before hitting a triple off Carlos Marmol in the eighth inning. He appeared to tweak his ankle on the three-bagger but remained in the game after being checked out by trainers.

The 23-year-old is batting .458 (11 for 24) through seven games with one homer and three RBI.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura was back in the starting lineup Tuesday at the Cubs after missing the series opener with a minor thigh issue. Segura has hit in five of his first six games for a .450 batting average.

Strikeouts have stunted the progress of Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez during his brief major-league career and they continue to be a problem this season. Alvarez, who finished second in the National League with 180 strikeouts last year, has been punched out at least once in every game (12 total).

He is in the midst of an 0-for-17 slump and has struck out in eight of his past 10 at-bats and is hitting .080.

Despite heading into the season with just 51 games of experience at the major-league level, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was still lauded enough for his baseball acumen that he was installed as the No. 2 hitter in the lineup.

After starting the year with at least one strikeout in his first three games, Machado has sliced down on his whiffs and tallied just one strikeout in his past three outings while producing his first multihit performance in that span.

"You know, I'm a big leaguer and everyone here knows what they have to do in each position where you hit in the order," Machado told MASNsports.com about hitting second. "It's baseball mentality and everyone here has it. ... These are things you already should know."

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria reached base four times in a loss to Texas Monday. 

The All-Star third baseman went 3 for 3 to raise his average to .417. All three hits were singles and he scored a run.

Longoria has hit in all but one game with three multi-hit games. But he's yet to get his first extra-base hit and has just two RBI. 

Rangers prospect Mike Olt has struggled to get things going early on at Triple-A Round Rock.

After doubling in the season debut, Olt has gone 0 for 12 with eight strikeouts in his last three games. He is batting .167 (1 for 16) with an RBI, two walks and 10 strikeouts through four games.

Olt played 16 games last season for the Rangers and hit .152/.250.182 with five RBI in 33 at-bats.

Through three games at Triple-A, Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado already has two home runs and two doubles. He's hitting .538 thus far.

If Chris Nelson falters at third, Arenado could push for a job with the major-league club. The 21-year-old Arenado didn't live up to expectations in 2012, though he still performed well. With a little more seasoning, he could be ready to contribute soon. 

After driving in three runs in his last two games, Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson failed to make much of an impact during Sunday's series finale against the Astros.

He went 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Donaldson is mired in a 3-for-25 slump in his first seven games played. The A's will face the Angels and the Tigers this week. He hit .200/.226/.340 with a homer and two RBI in 50 at-bats against the Angels and .286/.375/.357 with two RBI in 14 at-bats against the Tigers last season.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura, who was forced out of Sunday's game with a bruised left thigh, was held out of the starting lineup in Monday's series opener against the Cubs. Segura told MLB.com he is "still sore" after a second-inning collision Sunday.

The Brewers have listed Segura as day to day. He is hitting .450 (9 for 20) with a home run and two RBI through his first six games.