PT TOMORROW: AL East—Post-Machado, Nunez gets first crack at 3B in BAL

Baltimore Orioles

Updating Matt Dodge’s write-up in Playing Time Today in the immediate aftermath of the Manny Machado (SS, LAD) trade, the Orioles have given the first three post-All-Star-break starts at third base not to Danny Valencia (3B, BAL), but to Renato Núñez (3B, BAL). While this decision may have to do somewhat with the fact that Valencia is currently the best available right fielder on the roster, the team seems genuinely intrigued to find out what it has in Nunez, who had posted a .289/.361/.443 line in 56 games for AAA-Norfolk before being called up after the Machado trade. Nunez had a 76% contact rate, a slight improvement over the 74% he posted at the same level in 2017.

Longer term, the Orioles continue to hope that...

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From PT Tomorrow

This week's NL West column answers the lineup questions we posed at the beginning of spring training.
Mar 28 2026 3:05am
Opportunities abound for young interesting players in the National League Central.
Mar 27 2026 3:05am
Following up on our spring training questions, including what happens to the rest of the lineup if Kevin McGonigle makes it onto the Tigers' roster?
Mar 26 2026 3:08am
Before spring training began, we asked about each team's playing time. Here are the answers for the AL West as spring training comes to an end.
Mar 25 2026 3:05am
Coby Mayo's spring surge has him well-positioned to be the beneficiary of Baltimore's infield injuries. Plus, more spring training topics revisited as Opening Day nears.
Mar 24 2026 3:06am

Tools