MLB Player News

First baseman Pedro Alvarez might not be wearing a Pirates uniform for long if trade rumors swirling around him prove prophetic. But perhaps he is going out with a bang - as in his solo blast in the second inning of a Thursday defeat of Washington.

Alvarez sent a Doug Fister pitch over the fence in left and later added an RBI groundout and walk. He is still batting just .160 (8-for-50) since July 3.

The Pirates are exploring the possibility of trading first baseman Pedro Alvarez, an American League talent evaluator has told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

They would likely need someone in return that could play that position since their current options are limited, though Travis Ishikawa has similar career numbers to those of Alvarez.

The 28-year-old Alvarez has struggled despite slugging a home run Thursday. He entered play with a .231/.299/.414 slash line. But he can also play third base, which might attract suitors.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura went 3 for 4 at the plate with two RBI to help send the Brewers to a 8-1 win over the Indians on Tuesday.

Segura hit a two-run home run in the second inning off Danny Salazar. It was his fourth home run of the season. He also scored two runs.

Prior to Tuesday's three-hit game, Segura was hitting .404 with five runs and three RBI in his last 13 games.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon went 1 for 2 with a single during a Class A rehab game on Monday.

Rendon is on the 15-day disabled list because of a quadriceps injury.

With the Pirates playing an interleague game at Kansas City, regular first baseman Pedro Alvarez gets the call to start at DH on Monday. It's Alvarez's second start at DH this year in six games at AL parks. 

Replacing Alvarez at first is Travis Ishikawa, who gets the start there for the second straigth game. 

Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez went 3 for 5 with a double, a home run and a RBI in Sunday's loss to the Indians.

Suarez hit his fourth home run of the season in the second inning off Indians starter Carlos Carrasco.

Suarez is hitting .333 with 11 hits, three home runs and four RBI over his last nine games.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon, who began a rehab assignment Saturday, could be back with the team within 7-10 days, according to The Washington Post.

“A little bit out of shape right now,” he said. “Can’t do cardio. We all can’t look like Michael Taylor. Superman over there. Just trying to play in games, get back in that rhythm. … It was good to get back out there and standing on the field, that atmosphere, just getting used to it.”

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez was not in Sunday's lineup at Milwaukee, the team announced.

Alvarez was replaced at first by Travis Ishikawa, who will bat fifth. Alvarez is hitting .128 with one home run and six RBI in his last 12 games.

Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez was originally held out of the starting lineup Sunday against the Indians, as Ivan De Jesus drew the start in his absence. It would have been just the fourth time since Suarez became the starting shortstop June 11 that he was not in the starting lineup.

However, the Reds switched their original lineup and Suarez came off the bench to start at shortstop, as De Jesus moved to third base to replace All-Star Todd Frazier.

Suarez has homered twice in 11 July games. He is batting .250 with a .417 slugging percentage, .706 OPS, four RBI, three runs, two walks and 11 strikeouts in July as well.

Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu extended his hitting streak to 10 games, as he went 1 for 4 with a run scored in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Padres. 

The 2015 All-Star is batting .450 during the 10-game stretch.