OF Jonathan Villar had been given a shot in center but committed a key error when he dropped a fly ball on Tuesday. Villar batted .333 in the three-game series at Cincinnati, and manager Craig Counsell is trying to find a spot defensively in order to keep his bat in the lineup. "It's a risk," Counsell said of playing Villar in center. "We've had to take risks to get to the spot we are, and we will continue to take risks. It's how we're here, in my opinion." Keon Broxton started in center on Wednesday.

PHOENIX -- Chris Iannetta and A.J. Pollock homered, and Zack Greinke recorded his National League-leading 16th victory as the Arizona Diamondbacks completed a three-game sweep with an 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.Paul Goldschmidt doubled in two runs off Kenta Maeda in the first inning, Iannetta hit a two-run homer in a three-run second inning, and Pollock hit a two-run homer in the third as Arizona won its seventh straight game, tying a season high.The Diamondbacks had seven homers and scored 21 runs in the series, the first time Los Angeles has been swept this season. The Dodgers have lost a season-high five straight.Greinke (16-6) gave up four hits and one run in six innings while improving to 13-1 at home. He struck out six and walked two.Blue Jays 11, Orioles 8BALTIMORE -- Kendrys Morales hit three home runs and set a career high with seven RBIs as Toronto snapped Baltimore's seven-game winning streak.Morales' third homer in the eighth tied his career high and... [More]

2B Jonathan Villar made his first career start in center field Tuesday against Pittsburgh as manager Craig Counsell tried to stack his lineup with left-handed bats against the Pirates' Ivan Nova. Villar was almost exclusively a shortstop prior to this season, when he was moved to second base to accommodate top prospect Orlando Arcia.

2B Jonathan Villar had three hits Friday, including his 10th home run of the season, marking the first time since July 8-9 that Villar had back-to-back multiple-hit games. He was also charged with a pair of errors, giving him 14 for the year, the most by a National League second baseman this season.

SS Jonathan Villar provided Milwaukee's only offense while the game was still in the balance in Sunday's 6-3 loss in Philadelphia. Villar, who was 1-for-4 with a single and a run, knocked an RBI single to even the score at 2-2 in the top of the fifth inning. He also added his 19th steal in the loss.

2B Jonathan Villar, who has been struggling most of the season for Milwaukee, went 2-for-5 with a double.

2B Jonathan Villar singled in four trials Sunday, extending his hitting streak to a season-high eight games. Since returning from the disabled list June 27, Villar is batting .267 (16-for-60) with a double, two home runs, four RBIs and four stolen bases. A breakout player a year ago, Villar never got going in 2017 and was batting .212 when he landed on the DL with a back injury June 9.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Clayton Kershaw gave up three hits over seven innings to earn his major-league-best 12th win, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.Kershaw (12-2) allowed only an unearned run, struck out 12, his second-highest total of the season, and walked two while making 93 pitches. The Dodgers smashed three home runs, including what was essentially a game-clinching three-run blast by Joc Pederson in the sixth inning.Yasiel Puig and Chase Utley each hit solo shots, as all three homers came off Angels starter JC Ramirez. The home runs increased the Dodgers' total to 50 in June, the most in a calendar month in franchise history.Ramirez was knocked out of the game when a sixth-inning line drive by Puig struck him on the right hip. Ramirez (7-6) gave up all six Dodgers runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk in 5 2/3 innings.White Sox 4, Yankees 3CHICAGO -- James Shields earned his first victory since April 6, throwing a... [More]

2B Jonathan Villar was sent on a rehab assignment to Class A Wisconsin. Villar has been out since May 25 with a lower back strain.

2B Jonathan Villar will begin a minor league rehab assignment Thursday with Class A Wisconsin. Villar has been out since May 25 with a lower back strain. Villar was having a rough year before the injury. After batting .285 with 62 stolen bases a year ago, Villar had a .213 average and 76 strikeouts in 56 games.

2B Jonathan Villar got through two days of on-field workouts and reported no problems with his lower back but weather concerns in Colorado, home of Milwaukee's Triple-A affiliate, have temporarily put a minor league rehab assignment on hold.

2B Jonathan Villar resumed on-field workouts Monday for the first time since landing on the disabled list with a lower back strain on June 10. Manager Craig Counsell said Villar will go through two days of workouts and then head out for a minor league rehab assignment. But Villar might not immediately return to his starting role once healthy. Eric Sogard has remained red hot since being brought up to the majors on May 12 and has six-game hitting streak while reaching base in 24 of his 31 games this season. Villar, meanwhile, has been mired in a slump all season.

2B Jonathan Villar has been playing catch and taking swings in the batting cage but is still a ways from returning after straining his lower back last week at Arizona. Villar was scuffling when he was injured, batting .213 with 76 strikeouts, leading manager Craig Counsell to turn to the hot bat of Eric Sogard to lead off and play second base.

2B Jonathan Villar was placed on the 10-day disabled list Saturday after suffering a lower back strain Friday night while making a spectacular defensive play. "He's pretty sore today," manager Craig Counsell said. "We're hoping it goes fast and he's ready to go, but I don't have a time frame. If he shows up Tuesday in St. Louis and is itching to go then it will be at the short end (of the 10-day minimum). "He's young, he's durable. Hopefully, he'll recover quickly." X-rays were negative, Counsell said.

2B Jonathan Villar left Friday's game on a cart after suffering a back injury in the bottom of the eighth inning diving for a hard grounder headed to right field. Villar got up gingerly with help from trainers and was carted off to applause from the crowd at Phoenix's Chase Field. Manager Craig Counsell said Villar dealt with back spasms after the game and needed X-rays.

2B Jonathan Villar was not in the Brewers' starting lineup Tuesday against the Giants as manager Craig Counsell went with hot-hitting Eric Sogard, instead. Villar has struggled from the onset of the season, batting just .207 while striking out 73 times in 56 games. It's a far cry from a year ago when Villar appeared to lock himself into the Brewers' leadoff spot by hitting .285 with 19 home runs, 63 RBI and 62 stolen bases. Counsell dropped Villar from first to sixth in the batting order last week in an effort to get him going, but it hasn't worked out, so Villar will share time with Sogard for the time being.

2B Jonathan Villar was dropped out of the Brewers' leadoff spot Sunday against Arizona. Villar established himself as Milwaukee's top-of-the-order option last season when he batted .285 with 62 stolen bases but has struggled this season, posting a .219 average after a two-hit game Sunday, and has struck out 62 times.

2B Jonathan Villar got a day off Saturday and might be dropped from the leadoff spot when he returns to the starting lineup Sunday afternoon, manager Craig Counsell said. After batting .285 with 62 stolen bases a year ago, Villar has struggled this season, posting a .213 average with 12 steals and 60 strikeouts.

INF Jonathan Villar was moved out of the Brewers lineup spot on Saturday before the game was rained out against the Cubs. Villar is 1-for-16 on the trip. He has hit .207 with five home runs and 22 RBIs in 43 games.

2B Jonathan Villar was moved out of the lineup spot on Saturday before the game against the Cubs was rained out. Villar is 1-for-16 on the road trip. He has hit .207 with five home runs and 22 RBIs in 43 games.