Former Tampa Bay Rays star third baseman Evan Longoria has yet to officially retire from professional baseball, but he admitted last weekend that he's unlikely to play again. "One of the only things I haven't accomplished is winning a World Series," said Longoria. "So if you said I would go hit .080 for the rest of the season, but the team would win the World Series, then I'd [continue playing.] But that's probably about the only thing I'd want to do." The 38-year-old three-time All-Star played in 74 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks last year and came up just short of a World Series ring last fall. He hit just .223/295/.422 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI in 237 regular-season plate appearances. If the former first-rounder doesn't return to an MLB diamond, he'll finish his 16-year career with a .264/.333/.471 slash line, an .804 OPS, 342 home runs, 1,159 RBI and 58 stolen bases in 1,986 regular-season contests.
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Evan Longoria is back at third base and is hitting eighth in Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi as the D-backs look to stave off elimination. Emmanuel Rivera will return to the bench after starting at the hot corner in Game 4 on Tuesday. In the first three games of the Fall Classic, the 38-year-old Longo went 2-for-8 with an RBI and two runs scored. In 15 postseason games in October, Longoria has hit just .156 (7-for-45) with two doubles, four RBI, 20 strikeouts and three runs scored. He's had some modest success against Eovaldi in his career, going 4-for-14 with an RBI, two walks and four strikeouts. Arizona is going to need Longoria to heat up with the bat if they are going to make things interesting in this series.
Emmanuel Rivera Starting Over Evan Longoria In Game 4
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Evan Longoria will retreat to the bench for Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday against the visiting Texas Rangers. Instead, Emmanuel Rivera will start at the hot corner and bat eighth against Rangers left-hander Andrew Heaney. Rivera has gone 2-for-2 with a double, two RBI, a walk and two runs scored off the bench in the first three games of the World Series, and he'll now receive his first start of the Fall Classic. The 27-year-old is hitting .286 (4-for-14) with no homers, a double, three RBI and three runs scored this postseason. During the regular season, he hit .289 (26-for-90) with one of his four home runs against left-handed pitchers. Rivera has never faced Heaney in his career.
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Evan Longoria has been slumping at the plate, but will remain in the lineup for Monday's Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies. The D-Backs will stick with Longoria at third base despite him going 3-for-18 at the plate during the postseason. Although, the 38-year-old has played well on defense, so at least he has that going for him. He'll cover the hot corner and bat eighth versus right-hander Zack Wheeler during Game 1 of the NLCS.
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Evan Longoria (hand) is back at third base and is batting eighth on Wednesday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers for Game 3 of the National League Division Series. Longoria was removed for a pinch-runner in the ninth inning in Game 2 on Monday after being hit by a pitch on his right hand, but X-rays came back negative and he's good to go after an off day on Tuesday. The 38-year-old will look to help the Snakes to what would be a surprising three-game sweep of the division-rival Dodgers in the best-of-five series after winning the first two games in LA. So far in four postseason games this year, Longo is 3-for-15 with a double and five strikeouts in 17 plate appearances. In his career against Dodgers right-hander Lance Lynn (Wednesday's starter), Longoria is 1-for-7 with a double, an RBI and four strikeouts.
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Evan Longoria (hand) is being labeled as day-to-day after he was hit by a pitch on his hand in the Game 2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series on Monday. X-rays came back negative on Longoria's hand, so he could be able to return for Game 3 in Arizona on Wednesday. The 38-year-old veteran was replaced by a pinch-runner after getting hit in the hand in the top of the ninth inning. Longo ended up going 1-for-3 in the contest with the hit by pitch and two strikeouts, so he's now 3-for-15 with a double and two RBI in four postseason games this year. Overall in his career, Longoria hasn't been clutch in the playoffs, as he came into Monday's game batting just .181 (26-for-144) with 10 home runs, 24 RBI and 45 K's in 156 career postseason plate appearances .
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Evan Longoria (back) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno on Thursday night. Longoria suffered a setback with renewed stiffness in his lower back earlier this month, but it looks like he's made progress and is approaching a return to the big leagues. The 37-year-old veteran has been out since late July, but he could become a part-time option at third base for the Snakes again soon if he doesn't have another setback during his rehab assignment. Longo is mainly a corner-infield option in deeper fantasy leagues at this point in his career. Before going on the injured list, he was hitting .238/.303/.500 with an .803 OPS, 11 home runs, 24 RBI and 24 runs scored in only 55 games in his first year in the desert.
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Evan Longoria (back) has been placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday. The 37-year-old is dealing with a lower back strain, so he'll get some time off to rest. The assumption is that Longoria is only going to require a minimal stint on the injured list. In a corresponding move, infielder Josh Rojas has been recalled to take the spot on the active roster. Rojas will cover third base and bat seventh versus right-hander Bryan Woo on Saturday.
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Evan Longoria is not in the starting lineup for Monday night's series opener versus the St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Adam Wainwright. The veteran went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in Sunday's series finale with the Reds but will take a seat on Monday. Longoria's bat has remained productive at the age of 37 as he has hit 11 home runs along with a .335 wOBA across 53 games. However, he also sports a .363 xwOBA which suggests he could see improved results moving forward. Emmanuel Rivera will take over at the hot corner Monday night, hitting sixth against Wainwright in Arizona.
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Evan Longoria is out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. It appears the veteran slugger will get a routine rest day here. He could use it considering he's 2-for-19 since the beginning of July. In his absence, Emmanuel Rivera will cover third base and bat seventh versus right-hander Blake Lively on Friday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly with Longoria sidelined.
