Espinosa went 1-for-3 with two RBI from a second-inning single in Wednesday's 5-0 victory over the A's.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran slugger continues to demonstrate a penchant for timely hitting in the early going of 2017, with Wednesday's second-inning run-scoring single extending his RBI total to five over the first three games. In fact, Espinosa's only two hits over 11 at-bats have been run producers, after he smacked a go-ahead three-run home run in the top of the ninth in Tuesday's 7-6 victory. The 29-year-old's Achilles' heel -- strikeouts -- are still very much a presence as well, though, as four of the nine outs he's made on the young season have come on whiffs.

Espinosa socked a three-run homer in the top of the ninth Tuesday against the A's, turning a 6-4 deficit into the 7-6 final score. It was his only hit in four at-bats on the night.

EDGE Analysis

He'd left three men on base earlier in the game, so Espinosa stepped up to the plate in the ninth with a chance at redemption, and he delivered. Espinosa's coming off a career-high 24 homers, but he also hit just .209 last season thanks to a boatload of strikeouts. If he keeps selling out to hit home runs, it'll be fair to expect more of the same this year.

Espinosa went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Saturday's loss to the Dodgers, bringing his Cactus League batting average down to .105 in 19 at-bats.

EDGE Analysis

The Angels brought Espinosa in from Washington to help alleviate their weakness at the keystone, but he has struggled to find his groove with his new club. The 29-year-old has never been a great contact hitter, striking out at least 25 percent of the time in all seven of his major league seasons. Despite his struggles, Espinosa will start the year as the Angels' everyday second baseman. He will undoubtedly be a drag on batting average, but the switch-hitting infielder has 20-plus home run potential over the course of a whole season.

Espinosa agreed to a one-year, $5.425 million contract with the Angels on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

The former Washington National will see close to a $3 million pay raise with his new club in 2017. Espinosa had a disappointing final season with the Nationals, slashing .209/.306/.378 with 174 strikeouts. He did, however, mash 24 home runs and drove in 72 runs. Espinosa figures to be the Angels' primary second baseman, which is a position that the club struggled to find production from last year.

Espinosa was traded to the Angels on Saturday, Josh Norris of Baseball America reports.

EDGE Analysis

Espinosa will head to Los Angeles after playing 779 games with the Nationals over parts of the last seven seasons with the Nationals. He played shortstop in Washington, but with Andrelton Simmons playing that position for the Angels, Espinosa will presumably move to second base. Espinosa hit just .209 last season, but did set career highs with 24 home runs and 72 RBI over 157 games.

Espinosa went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer and a walk in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

His 423-foot shot in the second drove in Ryan Zimmerman, making it a 3-0 Nationals lead at the time. Espinosa has six RBI over his last four games, but is only slashing .131/.206/.295 overall in September. However, his power and RBI numbers have seen a resurgence in a season where he's played his highest number of games since 2012, with his 23 round-trippers and 69 RBI both serving as career highs.

Espinosa powered the Nationals' offense on Monday, going 1-for-2 with a three-run homer in a 4-3 loss to the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

The blast was Espinosa's 22nd of the year, but just his second in the last 15 games, a period over which he's hit an abysmal .146/.212/.292 while striking out 21 times in 48 at-bats. The 22 home runs set a new career-high for Espinosa, although his .384 slugging percentage is indicative of some luck in that home run tally and a potential reversion to the mean in 2017.

Espinosa (personal) is back in the lineup Saturday against the Braves, William Ladson of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Espinosa flew back to California earlier in the week to be with his wife following the birth of their child, but he's now rejoined the team and will get the starting nod at shortstop Saturday. Espinosa will bat seventh in the order against the Braves' Gio Gonzalez.

Espinosa is out of the lineup Friday against the Braves, MASN's Mark Zuckerman reports.

EDGE Analysis

There's a chance Espinosa rejoins the team in Atlanta for the start of the series, but he will not start the opener. Espinosa flew back to California after Wednesday's game to be with his wife for the birth of the couple's child. Stephen Drew will man shortstop and bat eighth in his absence.

Espinosa's bat showed some life on Monday, going 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Espinosa had a massive month of June, but hasn't gotten much done at the dish in any other month. The shortstop has a .175 batting average this month, and Monday's blast was his first home run since July 3. Fort he season Espinosa has a .216 average with 19 home runs and 59 RBI.