MLB Player News
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Tommy Edman 2B | LAD
Cardinals' Tommy Edman: Scheduled for MRI
Edman (wrist) will receive an MRI on Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Edman has been held out of action since undergoing surgery on his wrist during the offseason, and his MRI will help determine whether or not he's ready to begin swinging a bat. It is still unclear how long it will be before the 28-year-old is able to return to St. Louis' lineup.
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Gavin Lux SS | TB
Dodgers' Gavin Lux: Sits down against lefty
Lux isn't in the Dodgers' lineup Friday against the Cardinals.
With left-hander Zack Thompson slated to start on the bump for St. Louis, the left-handed bat of Lux will begin Friday's game in the dugout. Mookie Betts will slide over to second base, allowing Miguel Rojas to start at shortstop and bat ninth.
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Xavier Edwards 2B | MIA
Marlins' Xavier Edwards: Hitting and throwing
Edwards (foot) is able to hit and throw at the Marlins' spring training complex in Florida, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Edwards in on the injured list with an infection in his left foot. While it is understandably keeping him from running, he is able to perform other baseball activities. It's not clear when he might be ready for a rehab assignment.
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Whit Merrifield 2B | ATL
Phillies' Whit Merrifield: Expected to get starts vs. LHP
Merrifield is not the lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta. However, with the Phillies set to face lefties Saturday and Sunday, Merrifield will likely be in the lineup, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson described Merrifield as effectively the baseball equivalent of a sixth man in the NBA. Merrifield seems confident that he will force the skipper's hand and end up as a regular, as he reportedly told Thomson before signing that he would work himself into the lineup. The 35-year-old Merrifield enjoyed a resurgence last season in Toronto and will be the top backup at several positions, at least for now.
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Joseph Ortiz 2B | MIL
Brewers' Joey Ortiz: Getting call at second base
Ortiz is starting at second base and batting seventh in Friday's opener versus the Mets.
Ortiz is in line to see plenty of action at third base, but he'll be at the keystone for this one as the Brewers get another right-handed bat in the lineup against southpaw Jose Quintana, in this case Andruw Monasterio. The 25-year-old Ortiz was picked up from the Orioles over the offseason in the trade that sent Corbin Burnes to Baltimore.
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Brice Turang 2B | MIL
Brewers' Brice Turang: Sitting versus southpaw
Turang is not in the lineup for Friday's season opener against the Mets.
Turang will begin the season as the Brewers' primary second baseman, but he's out of the starting nine for Opening Day since lefty Jose Quintana is pitching for New York. Joey Ortiz is manning the keystone while Andruw Monasterio starts at third base.
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Jeff McNeil 2B | ATH
Mets' Jeff McNeil: Batting cleanup in opener
McNeil is starting at second base and batting cleanup in Friday's opener versus the Brewers, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
McNeil is an atypical choice for the cleanup spot given that he's hit more than 10 home runs just one time in six seasons. It's a nice boost for his fantasy outlook if he sticks there, however, as Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso are batting ahead of him and should provide plenty of RBI chances.
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Jonathan India 2B | KC
Reds' Jonathan India: Starts at second base
India started at second base and batted leadoff in Thursday's 8-2 win over Washington on Opening Day. He went 1-for-4 with a walk.
The Reds' planned second baseman, Matt McLain, injured his shoulder during spring training and underwent surgery Tuesday. He was placed on the 60-day injured list Thursday, which means India, who was training for a utility role, is expected to have a steady home for the first two months of the season.
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Ji-Hwan Bae 2B | NYM
Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Placed on 10-day IL
The Pirates placed Bae on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left hip flexor strain.
Bae is coming along in his recovery, having progressed to full baseball activities, but he simply ran out of time to be ready for Opening Day. The Pirates are thus hopeful that Bae's stay on the IL will be a brief one. Once healthy, he's pegged for a utility role.
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Vidal Brujan 2B | NYM
Marlins' Vidal Brujan: Makes 26-man roster
Brujan will begin the season on the Marlins' Opening Day roster.
This isn't a surprise, as Brujan is out of minor-league options, and the 26-year-old could become Miami's new speedy super-utility player with Jon Berti now a Yankee. Brujan hit just .219 (7-for-32) in Grapefruit League play and was successful on only one of three steal attempts, a performance which aligns with his career .157/.218/.221 over 272 career big-league plate appearances for the Rays.