MLB Player News

Astros slugger Chris Carter started all three games in the season-opening series against the Indians. Unfortunately, Carter didn't have a whole lot of luck offensively.

Carter, who hit 37 home runs in 2014, was hitless in 11 at-bats against the Indians. He struck out four times, including three strikeouts Thursday. 

Slow starts are nothing new for Carter, who has a career .181 average during the first month of the baseball season. In 2014, he hit .153 with three home runs, six doubles, eight RBI and 37 strikeouts in 26 games in April.

Indians first baseman Carlos Santana connected for his first home run Wednesday against the Astros. While hitting a home run isn't big news for Santana, who has 99 career home runs, hitting one Wednesday was significant because it was his birthday.

"This is not new for me," Santana said, per MLB.com. "Every year I try to get a home run for my birthday."

Santana has a knack for stepping up offensively on his birthday. Dating back to 2009 when he was with Double-A Akron, Santana has hit .444 (12 for 27) with six home runs and 14 RBI on his birthday, per MLB.com. 

"This is a special day for me," Santana said.

Indians first baseman Carlos Santana went 1 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 2-0 win over the Astros Wednesday.

Santana broke a scoreless tie with his fourth-inning homer, and it was all the offense the Indians would end up needing on the back of starter Carlos Carrasco. Santana is 2 for 7 in his first two games after hitting .231/.365/.427 with 27 home runs in 541 at-bats last season.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday's batting order against the Orioles will be the standard lineup for when a left-handed starter is on the mound, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The Orioles are starting Wei-Yin Chen on Tuesday.

The Rays lineup Tuesday was Brandon Guyer (LF), Steven Souza (RF), Asdrubal Cabrera (SS), Evan Longoria (3B), Desmond Jennings (CF), Logan Forsythe (DH), James Loney (1B), Rene Rivera (C) and Tim Beckham (2B).

Angels first baseman C.J. Cron, who started at DH on Monday against the Mariners, will be given the chance to play regularly, even against elite right-handed starters, manager Mike Scioscia said.

“The plan is to get C.J. in for a lot of at-bats,” Scioscia said, per The Orange County Register. “No doubt in the spring he was swinging the bat better than he was last year. I want to give him a chance to see if he can come out and contribute.”

Jose Abreu's solo home run accounted for the White Sox only scoring in a 10-1 loss to the Royals on Opening Day. 

Abreu led off the seventh inning by hitting a 2-0 pitch to left center for a home run off of winning pitcher Yordano Ventura. 

Abreu went one for three with a walk and grounded into a double play. 

First-year Rays manager Kevin Cash opted to bat Asdrubal Cabrera -- who is also in his first year with Tampa Bay -- third in Monday's season opener against Orioles right-hander pitcher Chris Tillman. Cabrera is batting .333 (3 for 9) with one double and four RBI in his career against Tillman.

Cabrera entered play Monday batting .276 with a .350 on-base percentage, .436 slugging percentage, .786 OPS, 20 home runs, 50 doubles and 101 RBI in 185 games batting third.

The White Sox posted their Opening Day lineup for Monday against the Royals. 

The Sox will start: Adam Eaton CF, Melky Cabrera LF, Jose Abreu 1B, Adam LaRoche DH, Leury Garcia RF, Conor Gillaspie 3B, Alexei Ramirez SS. Tyler Flowers C, Micah Johnson 2B. Jeff Samardzija will be the starting pitcher.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu only had one home run during spring training, but he's not concerned about the lack of power. 

That may have something to do with the fact that his batting average during spring games was .508. 

"I am feeling good," Abreu said, per ESPN. "Obviously, I'm a little anxious also because I want to hit home runs as well. But if God is saving that for the season, it's good for me. I'm just trying to get ready for the season and do my job."

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters that his lineup against the Tigers on Saturday, will be the same he uses on Opening Day, and against right-handed pitchers, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The club will roll with John Jaso, Steven Souza, Asdrubal Cabrera, Evan Longoria, James Loney, Desmond Jennings, Logan Forsythe, Rene Rivera and Kevin Kiermaier.

Against left-handed pitchers, Cash told reporters he will use Brandon Guyer at the leadoff spot, Jennings and Loney will flip spots in the order, Forsythe will serve as a designated hitter and Tim Beckham will be at second base, per the Tampa Tribune.