MLB Player News

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon is beginning a rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg on Friday, according to the Washington Times. Rendon, who is batting second and starting at second base Friday, is scheduled to play 5-7 innings.

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reported Friday that Rendon is believed to be 7-10 days away from returning. Rendon has been on the disabled list all season recovering from knee and oblique injuries.

The Phillies have wasted no time getting Cody Asche into the lineup after promoting him. He is set to play left field and bat sixth Friday night against visiting Colorado.

Asche had been sent to the minors to learn his craft in the outfield. He hopes to return with a hotter stick - he was on a 3-for-29 slide before leaving.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura was activated off the 15-day disabled list Friday. Segura has been out since May 13 due to a broken finger. 

Luis Sardinas saw most of the playing time at shortstop in Segura's absence. Sergura is batting .243 with one home run, two triples, four RBI, six runs and two stolen bases in his last 10 games.

He returned to the starting lineup Friday against the Diamondbacks, batting sixth.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon is believed to be 7-10 days away from returning, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reported Friday. He began playing in extended spring games Wednesday.

Rendon has been on the disabled list all season recovering from knee and oblique injuries.

The Phillies recalled outfield/third baseman Cody Asche from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

Asche was sent to the minors on May 11 to work in the outfield. He hit .295 with one home run, three doubles, three RBI, six walks and nine strikeouts in 15 games. He played all 15 games in left field.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon was able to play five innings of an extended spring training game on Wednesday, manager Matt Williams said per The Washington Post.

Rendon, who is working his way back from an oblqiue strain, took a couple of at-bats and played in the field for all of the innings after his second at-bat. 

"It's important. It helps you get your legs under you," Williams said. "…there's no way to simulate that other than to play. He felt good. His legs felt good."

Rendon is scheduled to get the day off on Thursday and the team will re-evaluate his health.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez has worked on becoming more than just a hitter that likes to pull pitches this season. 

Wanting to change this, Alvarez has been working before games to break the habit of trying to pull pitches on the outside corner of the plate, according to MLB.com. 

"The approach has always been the same," Alvarez said. "I just think it's a combination of seeing pitches out there and being able to put good swings on them and executing the swing to the pitch."

In Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Marlins, Alvarez was able to record an RBI opposite-field single in the seventh inning during his team's rally to win. 

"The work he is doing before the game and in the cage is transferring to the game. That's the biggest part," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "Our guys have found a way to slow themselves down to a better pace, a much more workable pace, the last week or so. Pedro in particular."

Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu extended his hitting streak to 10 games with two singles during Wednesday's game against the Reds. He also had a walk and one run.

LeMahieu is batting .405 (15 for 37) with one triple, one home run and seven RBI in his last 10 games. He has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado connected for his 10th home run during a 6-4 win Wednesday against the Reds. Arenado wasted no time getting Colorado on the board, as he parked a two-out, three-run homer off Mike Leake in the first inning.

Arenado finished the game 2 for 4 with one strikeout. He has homered three times in his last four games.

He is 9 for 16 (.563) with one triple, three home runs and 10 RBI in his last four games after batting .177 (11 for 62) with one home run, three doubles and four RBI in his previous 17 games.

The Pirates will face off against the Marlins with a number of moves whithin their lineup.

Catcher Francisco Cervelli, first baseman Pedro Alvarez and right fielder Gregory Polanco -- all regulars in the lineup -- will not start on Wednesday. 

Alvarez went 1 for 4 with an RBI in his team's 5-1 win on Tuesday, but left four runners on base. Cervelli struck out twice and left two runners stranded. Polanco will be out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive game.