Royals' Alcides Escobar: Homers in Thursday's win

Escobar went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, two RBI and scored twice in Thursday's game against the Marlins.

Analysis:

Escobar's fourth-inning shot was his third of the year, matching his total from each of the past two seasons. The shortstop's numbers won't pop open any eyes, but he has made some minor improvements since the All-Star break. Escobar is striking out less and walking more than he did in the first half of 2016, leading to a higher OBP since mid-July.