MLB Player News

Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa will start at second Thursday against the Mets.

Anthony Rendon has started the first two games for the club, but manager Matt Williams has been adamant that Espinosa will see time in the starting lineup. He'll hit seventh against Zack Wheeler.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve enjoyed a successfull debut Tuesday, going 2 for 4 with one run, two RBI and one stolen base out of the No. 3 spot in the batting order as the Astros defeated the Yankees, 6-2.

The diminutive Altuve is an odd fit on the surface for the key lineup spot, but he made it work for one game at least, helping lead the team to a 6-0 lead after two innings. He's topped 30 stolen bases in each of the last two seasons but has just 14 home runs in 1,423 major-league at-bats heading into 2014.

Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa is still drawing interest from "a lot of teams," but the Nationals aren't expected to trade him, MLB.com reports.

Epinosa could potentially man second base in 2015, with Anthony Rendon moving to third base and Ryan Zimmerman shifting to first base. He made the 25-man roster as a bench player this season. Espinosa is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2013 season in which he hit .158/.193/.272 in 158 at-bats at the major-league level.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said second baseman Gordon Beckham (oblique) could begin a rehab assignment this week, but the team is going to make sure not to rush Beckham back before he's healthy, per MLB.com.

"Obliques aren't something to be trifled with," said Hahn of Beckham, who is eligible to return on Satrurday. "Until he's 100 percent ready to go without restriction, we're not going to bring him back."

Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa will play regularly, according to CSN.

Manager Matt Williams said Espinosa and Anthony Rendon both players will "get ample opportunity to play." Rendon is set to start Monday, but Espinosa could work his way into the starting lineup sooner than expected. 

The White Sox announced Sunday they have placed infielders Gordon Beckham (strained left oblique) and Jeff Keppinger (right shoulder surgery) on the 15-day disabled list. Both moves were retroactive to March 21.

Yankees infielder Yangervis Solarte won a spot on the team's 25-man roster.

Solarte beat out Eduardo Nunez for the role. Solarte impressed during camp, hitting .429 in 42 at-bats. He has yet to make his major-league debut.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus returned to the field Friday, playing five innings at shortstop while going 1 for 3 at the plate in his team's 6-5 loss to the Astros in San Antonio.

Andrus had been limited over the second half of March while dealing with elbow tightness, but the team had him on a throwing program that aimed to have him ready by this weekend. He should be good to go for the regular season.

What was assumed is now official: Brad Miller is the starting shortstop for the Mariners. Lloyd McClendon has also announced the Nick Franklin has been demoted to Triple-A Tacoma.

Miller thoroughly outplayed Franklin in the spring competition. Miller batted .439 with 17 runs, four home runs and 12 RBI in exhibition play to run away with the position.

"Brad separated himself," McClendon told MLB.com. "I'd be a fool not to recognize that. Brad won the job. Nick didn't lose it."

Jose Altuve is about to become perhaps the shortest cleanup hitter in the history of major league baseball. Bo Porter announced that the 5-foot-5 second baseman will bat fourth for the Astros this season against right-handed pitching.

The team lacks power hitters with enough plate discipline to warrant holding down that spot in the lineup. Altuve hit just 12 home runs over the past two seasons combined, but his .286 battting average during that span makes him a credible candidate on the weak-hitting Astros.