Description: Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis will undergo surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back and will miss 10-12 weeks, according to Andy McCullough of the Newark Star-Ledger.
Insight: Youkilis (.219, 2 HR) has played just 28 games due to his back injury this season. With both Mark Teixeira and Youkilis back on the DL, Lyle Overbay will reclaim the starting first base job.
Description: Padres third baseman Chase Headley has struck out 10 times in 31 at-bats against Matt Cain of the Giants, but he is also 10-for-31 (.323) with four doubles, four RBI and three walks against the right-hander.
Insight: Headley has failed to live up to last season's numbers. He's hitting .161 with a .489 OPS and two homers over his last 29 games.
Description: It's a small sample size, but it is worth mentioning that Reds third baseman Todd Frazier is 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, a homer and three RBI against Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton.
Insight: Morton will start Tuesday against the Reds, so make sure Frazier is in your fantasy lineup.
Description: Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is 3-for-18 (.167) against Phillies starter Cliff Lee, who will start Tuesday against Washington.
Insight: Zimmerman has hit safely in eight of the last nine games despite striking out 11 times in that span. His matchup Tuesday with Lee should be avoided.
Description: Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval (foot) could begin a minor league rehab assignment Friday, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Insight: Sandoval is dealing with a strained left foot. He should be able to return when eligible on June 26.
Description: Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe missed Sunday's game against Pittsburgh due to tightness in his back and may need a day or two before he can start.
Insight: Uribe is playing well in a backup role this season batting .274 with an .778 OPS, but has limited upside.
Description: Cincinnati third baseman Todd Frazier will get Sunday's game off while Jack Hannahan handles the hot corner.
Insight: Frazier is hitting just .244 with eight homers and 36 RBI this season. He put up an .858 OPS with six homers in 124 at-bats against left-handed pitching last season but has gone just 14-for-65 (.215) with a .703 OPS against southpaws this year.
Description: Milwaukee third baseman Aramis Ramirez is one Brewers' hitter who will be happy to see Johnny Cueto activated from the DL Sunday, as he has gone 13-for-39 (.333) with four doubles, four homers, 10 RBI and six walks against the Reds righty. UPDATE: Ramirez is getting Sunday off.
Insight: Cueto will return from a strained lat Sunday to face Milwaukee. With Ryan Braun on the DL with a thumb injury, the team will have to rely more on Ramirez to carry the offense, but the third baseman has zero homers, six RBI and a .253 average over his last 22 games. The team has rested him often this season to get his knees healthy.
Description: Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon went 3-for-5 with a solo homer Saturday versus Cleveland.
Insight: It was his first career jack. Rendon, Washington's top prospect, has been starting at second base since being recalled and is batting .333 with six RBI and seven runs.
Description: Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe came off the DL and went 3-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs Saturday against Detroit.
Insight: Plouffe had not appeared in a game since May 21 a left calf strain. The third baseman had one of the top line-drive rates in baseball at 28.7 percent when he went on the DL, and yet his BABIP is only .299 and his average is .270 after Saturday's game.
Description: A's third baseman Josh Donaldson, missed Friday's game due to a hamstring injury, but is back in the lineup on Saturday.
Insight: Donaldson has been one of fantasy's biggest overachievers this season, collecting a .310 batting average and 42 RBI through his first 67 games.
Description: A's third baseman Josh Donaldson, missed Friday's game, but says he expects to be back in the lineup on Saturday.
Insight: He dealing with a sore hamstring. Donaldson has been one of fantasy's biggest overachievers this season, collecting a .310 batting average and 42 RBI through his first 67 games.
Description: Minnesota third baseman Trevor Plouffe is probable for Saturday's game against Detroit after being actibvated from the disabled list.
Insight: Plouffe hasn't appeared in a game since May 21st. He's batting .254 with four homers and 17 RBI. he hit 24 home runs last season and will have to get hot fast if he is going to match that total.
Description: Padres third baseman Chase Headley is hitless in nine at-bats against Diamondbacks left-hander Wade Miley.
Insight: Headley (.223, 6 HR, 20 RBI) is just three for his last 22. He's killing fantasy owners who believed that last season was more than just a "career year."
Description: Phillies third baseman Michael Young has only faced Colorado starter Tyler Chatwood six times, but he's banged out five hits and four RBI in the half dozen at-bats.
Insight: Young is on a six-game hitting streak, batting .423 over the span and this favorable matchup should keep him swinging a hot bat. Start him.
Description: Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez is not only hitless against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, but contact-less with six strikeouts in six at-bats
Insight: The third baseman must be avoided on Saturday.
Description: A's third baseman Josh Donaldson says he expects to be back in the lineup on Saturday. SOURCE: Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle
Insight: He missed Friday's game with a sore hamstring. Donaldson has been one of fantasy's biggest overachievers this season, collecting a .310 batting average and 42 RBI through his first 67 games.
Description: The Padres have acquired infielder Pedro Ciriaco from Boston.
Insight: Ciriaco was DFA'd earlier in the week to make room for Will Middlebrooks. He's fast and he should have eligibility at multiple positions. With Jedd Gyorko sidelined with a groin injury and Everth Cabrera waiting to hear about a possible PED suspension, Ciriaco (.216, 1 HR, 4 RBI) couldn't have asked for a more favorable fantasy situation.
Description: New York third baseman Kevin Youkilis has landed back on the DL.
Insight: The Yankees are calling it a "lumbar spine sprain." It's pretty obvious Youk came back from the DL too soon. In 11 games since being activated on May 31st, Youkilis has gone 6-for-41 (.146) with 11 strikeouts. His batting average has tumbled from .266 to .219 over that span.
Description: Oakland third baseman Josh Donaldson will get the night off Friday to rest his sore hamstring. SOURCE: Athletics on Twitter
Insight: Donaldson (.310, 9 HR, 42 RBI) started feeling tightness during Thursday's 18-inning game against the Yankees. It's not a major concern and he should be back before the end of the weekend.
Description: Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson left Thursday's game against New York with cramping in his right hamstring.
Insight: Donaldson's pace has slowed after a torrid start this season, but he's still batting .310 with nine homers, 42 RBI and 34 runs scored even after his recent 4-for-29 stretch.
Description: Cardinals third baseman David Freese is getting a routine day of rest Thursday afternoon against the Mets.
Insight: Freese's 20-game hitting streak came to an end Wednesday night, so the team can afford to get him a day off without worrying about messing up his mojo.
Description: Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is 9-for-19 (.474) with three doubles, one homer and four RBI against Colorado starter Jeff Francis.
Insight: Zimmerman is only hitting .178 (8-for-45) with 11 K since his three-homer game on May 29, but he's a must-start Thursday against Francis.
Description: Rays third baseman Evan Longoria came away with five hits, including two homers, in 12 career at-bats against Royals starter Ervin Santana.
Insight: Longoria has homered in three straight games, and with Santana on the hill he has a good shot to make it four.
Description: Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon has hit safely in all six games since being recalled from the minors.
Insight: Rendon, Washington's top prospect, has been starting at second base since being recalled and is batting .306 with five RBI and five runs. Danny Espinosa might not get his job back when he comes off the DL.
Description: According to Nick Cafardo from the Boston Globe, at least three teams are interested in acquiring Red Sox third baseman Pedro Ciriaco.
Insight: The emergence of Jose Iglesias (.449 AVG this season) made Ciriaco expendable and the team eventually designated him for assignment on Monday. Cafardo wasn't specific about who was interested but Ciriaco (.216, 1 HR, 4 RBI in 28 games) should have a new team soon.
Description: Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez's big night at the plate Tuesday included three hits and a homer.
Insight: Alvarez drove in three. The third baseman has hit .274 with eight home runs and 19 RBI over his last 19 games and has 14 home runs this season.
Description: Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left foot.
Insight: Sandoval aggravated his injury while running to first base last Saturday. Giants president Larry Baer said earlier Tuesday that Sandoval had a hairline fracture, but he was incorrect. Manager Bruce Bochy expects the third baseman to return after the minimum amount of time on the DL, according to Alex Pavlovic of the Bay Area News Group.
Description: Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who was activated from the disabled list on Monday night, will get Tuesday off after going 1-for-7 in his return.
Insight: Jose Iglesias will get the start. Middlebrooks is batting just .199 with eight homers and 22 RBI. Much more is expected of the 24-year-old who batted .288 with 15 HR and 54 RBI in 75 games last season.
Description: Padres third baseman Chase Headley is 1-for-13 against Atlanta veteran right-hander Tim Hudson.
Insight: Headley (.225, 5 HR, 19 RBI) is just one for his last 12. He's killing fantasy owners who believed that last season was more than just a career year.
Description: Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas is an ugly 1-for-17 against Detroit hurler Mex Scherzer.
Insight: Moustakas has had a disastrous season, hitting .180 with four homers and a .535 OPS. The 24-year-old has not lived up to the promise he displayed in the minors. Hopefully, you have already taken him out of the mix.
Description: Miami third baseman Placido Polanco exited in the sixth inning Monday because of a sore back. SOURCE: Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post
Insight: It sounds like he shouldn't miss too much time. Polanco hasn't been a viable fantasy option this season (.227 AVG, 0 HR in 53 games) so this won't affect many lineups.
Description: The Red Sox designated third baseman Pedro Ciriaco for assignment on Monday.
Insight: Ciriaco finds himself as the odd man out in Boston's crowded infield. He's a .287 lifetime hitter with good speed (16 steals last year) so he shouldn't have trouble catching on with another team.
Description: Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks (back) has been activated from the disabled list.
Insight: Middlebrooks hit just .201 with eight homers and 21 RBI prior to his injury. Much more is expected of the 24-year-old who batted .288 with 15 HR and 54 RBI in 75 games last season.
Description: Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall has been pounding the ball since being demoted to Triple-A Columbus in mid-May.
Insight: Chisenhall, a former first-round draft pick, is batting .393 with six homers, 22 RBI and a 1.190 OPS in 84 at-bats. The 24-year-old is likely to get a call up at some point, but with Mark Reynolds at third base and Nick Swisher at first, there isn't a spot for him to get enough bats to be fantasy worthy.
Description: Diamondbacks 3B/OF Martin Prado is 0-for-10 over his last three games.
Insight: Prado looked to be breaking out of his season-long slump when he went 7-for-8 on May 25-26, but he is 10-for-48 (.208) over his last 13 games.
Description: Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval's MRI Sunday showed that his foot strain wasn't made more severe Saturday, but he is expected to go on the DL, according to Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com.
Insight: Sandoval aggravated his injury while running to first base Saturday. The third baseman is currently in a walking boot and will have a second opinion on his foot. According to Baggarly, Giants manager Bruce Bochy didn't sound as if he thought going day-to-day with Sandoval is a good idea.
Description: Milwaukee third baseman Aramis Ramirez is resting on Sunday.
Insight: His knee has been bothering him but he hasn't let it affect his play. Ramirez went 2-for-4 in Saturday's win over Philadelphia. He should be back for Monday's series opener in Miami.
Description: Orioles DH Wilson Betemit expects to come off the DL sometime before the All-Star break. SOURCE: Baltimore Sun
Insight: Betemit hasn't played yet this season after suffering a knee injury in spring training. Chris Dickerson (.281, 4 HR, 11 RBI) has been filling in as the DH in Betemit's absence.
Description: According to Comcast Bay Area's Andrew Baggarly, Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval will have a precautionary MRI on his left foot.
Insight: Sandoval aggravated a foot injury that was bothering him earlier in the week. It's doubtful that Sandoval (.289, 8 HR, 37 RBI) will end up on the DL, though he's unlikely to play in the series finale Sunday at Chase Field.
Description: Padres third baseman Chase Headley is back in the starting lineup after leaving Friday's game with a sore calf. SOURCE: Corey Brock, MLB.com
Insight: Headley (.229, 5 HR, 17 RBI) is just four for his last 30 (.133) with six strikeouts and only one RBI. He'll try to bust out of his slump Saturday versus Rockies lefthander Jeff Francis (2-3, 6.00 ERA).
Description: San Diego third baseman Chase Headley left Friday night's game with a sore calf and will have an MRI on the injury.
Insight: The third baseman, who exploded for a career-high 31 homers and 115 RBI last year after never hitting more than 12 home runs or driving in more than 64 runs in a season prior to 2012, is batting .229 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 47 games. We expected so much more this season.
Description: Detroit third baseman Miguel Cabrera is a career .393 hitter (11-for-29) with a pair of home runs versus Cleveland right-hander Justin Masterson.
Insight: Cabrera is part of four Tigers in the heart of the lineup (Torii Hunter, Prince Fielder and Victor Martinez), who have a .300 or better batting average against Masterson.
Description: Cardinals third baseman David Freese extended his hitting streak to 17 games Friday against the Reds.
Insight: Freese went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs and is hitting .397 with 16 RBI during the streak. He was batting .209 when the streak started; his average is now .286.
Description: Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks (back) is eligible to come off the DL Saturday, but he'll remain with Triple-A Pawtucket through the weekend before returning next week, according to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe.
Insight: Middlebrooks hit just .201 with eight homers and 21 RBI prior to his injury. More was expected of the 24-year-old.
Description: Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas is getting a night off Friday.
Insight: Moustakas has had a disastrous season, hitting .180 with four homers and a .538 OPS. The 24-year-old has not lived up to the promise he displayed in the minors. His flyball rate this season is 50 percent, but his HR/FB is 5.4 percent. That's an awful lot of flyballs that are finishing their journey in a baseball glove. It's nothing new for him -- he had a 49.8 percent flyball rate and a 9.0 percent HR/FB last season.
Description: Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter continued his hot streak with two hits and a solo homer in five at-bats Thursday against the Diamondbacks.
Insight: Carpenter has gone 29-for-65 (.446) with five doubles, a triple, two homers, six RBI and six walks during his 15-game hitting streak. He's hitting .335 and has scored 49 runs, tied for most in the majors.
Description: Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre has gone deep in each of the last two games.
Insight: So much for the hamstring injury that caused Beltre to sit out for a few games this week. The third baseman is hitting .435 with four doubles, four home runs and eight RBI during an 11-game hitting streak.
Description: Toronto third baseman Brett Lawrie's sprained left ankle hasn't displayed any noticeable signs of improvement, according to MLB.com.
Insight: Lawrie (.209, 5 HR, 14 RBI) has been out since May 27 and is without a timetable for a return. "Still swollen, still painful," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "It's more than we expected early on, but you never know. Those high ankle sprains are the worst kind."
Description: Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado joined the hit parade Wednesday against the Reds.
Insight: Arenado had a career-high four hits in six at-bats and scored three runs. The rookie has had a tough time lately, hitting .125 with one RBI over his previous seven games.
Description: Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager tied the game with a grand slam in the bottom of the 14th Wednesday against the White Sox.
Insight: Seager (.283, 8 HR, 28 RBI) finished the afternoon with three hits and two walks, reaching base in five of his seven plate appearances. The 25-year-old is in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak. He had a 16-game streak back in April.
Description: Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson has produced multiple hits in four of the last five games. He went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run Wednesday and is batting .332 with a .931 OPS in 60 games.
Insight: Donaldson wasn't widely known at the beginning of the season, but he actually has been playing at a high level for more than 100 straight games. After being recalled from the minors on Aug. 14 last season, Donaldson hit .290 with an .844 OPS over 47 games.
Description: With Will Middlebrooks set to come off the disabled list this Saturday, the Red Sox will soon have to make an important roster decision.
Insight: Jose Iglesias (.431, 1 HR, 7 RBI) has been spectacular while filling in for Middlebrooks and deserves to stay in the major leagues. Meanwhile, Pedro Ciriaco (.234, 1 HR, 4 RBI) has struggled at the plate and he's been a major liability defensively (seven errors in 25 games). The Red Sox haven't made an official announcement yet but we're guessing Ciriaco will be the odd man out when Middlebrooks is activated. He could be sent down to Triple-A.
Description: Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon is starting at second base Wednesday against the Mets.
Insight: Rendon split time with Steve Lombardozzi at third base when Ryan Zimmerman was on the DL earlier this season and failed to make a splash, but he is expected to serve as the everyday second baseman with Danny Espinosa on the DL, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Rendon, who will turn 23 Thursday, hit .319 with six homers and a 1.064 OPS in 33 games with Double-A Harrisburg this season.
Description: Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez is getting Wednesday afternoon's game off.
Insight: Ramirez has to get days off to take care of his ailing knees and a day game after a night game is the normal place for a manager to make the change. Newly acquired Juan Francisco gets the start at third base and will bat seventh.
Description: San Diego third baseman Chase Headley has more strikeouts than hits in his matchups with Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. He's a career .175 hitter in 40 at-bats against the left-hander.
Insight: The third baseman, who exploded for a career-high 31 homers and 115 RBI last year after never hitting more than 12 home runs or driving in more than 64 runs in a season prior to 2012, is batting .229 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 44 games. Avoid this matchup.
Description: New York third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who is currently rehabbing from hip surgery, could be suspended for 100 games due to his connection to Tony Bosch and the Biogenesis Clinic, according to T.J. Quinn of ESPN.
Insight: Rodriguez admitted several years ago that he used PEDs during his time with Texas, and his name was listed in the Biogenesis Clinic records. Tony Bosch has agreed to testify that he provided PEDs to Rodriguez, Ryan Braun and about 20 other players.
Description: Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre is not in the lineup Tuesday at Boston but manager Ron Washington says he will play Wednesday, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort-Worth Star Telegram.
Insight: Beltre suffered a strained hamstring Saturday. He tried to talk his way into Tuesday's lineup, but was unsuccessful.
Description: The Nationals have recalled prospect Anthony Rendon from Triple-A Syracuse.
Insight: Rendon split time with Steve Lombardozzi and failed to make a splash when Ryan Zimmerman was on the DL, and he might find himself in the same timeshare at second base with Danny Espinosa out. Rendon, who will turn 23 in two days, hit .319 with six homers and a 1.064 OPS in 33 games with Double-A Harrisburg this season and was just called up to Triple-A last week.
Description: Phillies third baseman Michael Young is hitless in nine career at-bats versus Miami starter Ricky Nolasco, but is in the starting lineup, according to Phillies beat writer Ryan Lawrence.
Insight: Young returned from bereavement leave on Monday, but did not start. The career .300 hitter is in the midst of a 1-for-26 (.038) slump that has dropped his average from .296 to .258.
Description: Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks (back) will begin his rehab assignment at Pawtuket on Tuesday and if there are no setbacks could be ready to return when he is first eligible on June 8, according to manager John Farrell.
Insight: Middlebrooks' will have to improve on his first 46-game production (.201, 8 HR, 21 RBI, .642 OPS) if fantasy owners are going to get fair market value.
Description: Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre has been upgraded to doubtful for Tuesday's game against Boston due to a strained left hamstring.
Insight: The Rangers head to Boston for a three-game set and manager Ron Washington hopes to have Beltre (.305, 11 HR, 34 RBI, 34 runs) back sometime in the Red Sox series. Plan on being without him in the opener and be pleasantly surprised if he shows up in the lineup.
Description: Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe is a career .393 hitter (11-for-28) with three home runs against Padres starter Clayton Richard.
Insight: Uribe is playing well in a backup role this season batting .283 with an .787 OPS, but could get the start at third base over Luis Cruz (1-for-7 versus Richard) on Tuesday because of the more favorable matchup.
Description: Phillies third baseman Michael Young is hitless in nine career at-bats versus Miami starter Ricky Nolasco.
Insight: Young returned from bereavement leave on Monday, but did not start. The career .300 hitter is batting an un-Young like .258 and not been a productive fantasy option this season and Tuesday likely won't help his numbers.
