MLB Player News

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche went 3 for 4 with two solo homers and three runs scored in Tuesday's 6-4 victory over the Marlins.

Asche's round-trippers came in the fourth and eighth innings, respectively, and now give him four gopher balls in the month of September. The 25-year-old has displayed some pop over 390 at-bats for Philadelphia this season, totaling 22 doubles, two triples, and 11 homers. Asche has also slugged four homers against the Marlins this season.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez went 2 for 3 with his 25th homer Sunday against the Dodgers.

His .786 OPS now sits just below his career best of .788, set in his rookie season of 2010. Alvarez has hit homers in three of his last five games and continues to platoon at first base with right-handed hitters Michael Morse and Aramis Ramirez.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon will return to third base in 2016, The Washington Post reports. He'll have dual second base-third base eligibility in most leagues anyway, but Rendon is a better option defensively at third compared to Yunel Escobar.

Injuries have held Rendon to a .278/.360/.380 slash line in 68 games this season, but he's hitting .317/.397/.450 over the last month with four home runs, 16 RBI and 26 runs scored, providing a much better picture of his upside.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez is out of the lineup Saturday against the Dodgers.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle will give Mike Morse a turn at first base with lefty Clayton Kershaw hurling for the Dodgers. Alvarez is 0-for-9 with seven strikeouts for his career against Kershaw.

Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado went 3 for 4 with an RBI, a steal and two runs scored in a win over San Diego on Friday.

It was only his second steal of the season, but it just adds to his impressive resume. The young third baseman is not only the best fielder at his position in the league, he very well may be the best hitter at his position. Arenado now maintains a .286 average to go along with 39 homers and 112 RBI in 143 games this season. He is not in the MVP discussion, but with numbers like those and the defense he provides, he probably should be.

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson is not in the lineup Friday against the Phillies.

It will be the fourth day off in five games for Peterson, as the second baseman has struggled in the month of September to the tune of a .186/.255/.256 slash line in the month. Daniel Castro will get the start at the keystone Friday, batting second.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura went 1 for 4 with a three-run homer against the Cardinals on Thursday.

He's picked up extra-base knocks in three of the last four games, but that doesn't add a lot of shine to what's been another bad season for Segura. It was hoped that last year was an anomaly because of personal and injury issues, plus something of a sophomore slump, but this season may be proving that 2013 was in fact the outlier, as Segura has achieved only mild improvements in his statistics.

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson has returned to the lineup Thursday after sitting the last two games. He is batting seventh.

Peterson is back in action with a .238 average that is at its lowest point since May 1.

Rockies slugger Nolan Arenado went 3 for 7 with a go-ahead solo homer in the top of the 16th inning in a 4-3 win over the Dodgers on Tuesday.

The homer was his 39th of the season, tying Bryce Harper of Washington for the National League lead.

After playing all 16 innings of the game, it wouldn't be a surprise if manager Walt Weiss elected to rest Arenado for the series finale Wednesday.

Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Giants.

The 24-year-old will head to the bench following 21 consecutive starts, affording Ivan De Jesus an opportunity at shortstop. Suarez has hit safely in all but three games so far this month, although he's now gone 12 straight games without a homer and six straight without an extra-base hit.