MLB Player News

The Phillies assigned infielder Cody Asche to the minor leagues so he can receive work in left field, the team announced.

"Going forward as an organization it's better for me to play left field so I've got to go do that," he said, per The News Journal. 

Asche has been spending time before games taking fly balls in the outfield. He is hitting .235 in 102 at-bats this season.

The Phillies are expected to call up third baseman Maikel Franco to replace Asche on the roster, reports CSNPhilly.com. Franco is hitting .341 with four home runs in the minors. 

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is having another strong year at the plate, and he has maintained his pace thus far in May. 

In seven games this month, Arenado is hitting .296/.296/.704 and has registered three home runs - as many as he hit during the first month of the season. Over the last seven days, however, Arenado's numbers have tailed off a bit, as he is just 3-for-15, as the entire Rockies team has stumbled to a nine-game losing streak. 

Arenado remains a big run producer for the Rockies, with a .364 batting average and six RBIs with two outs and a runner in scoring position. 

For a guy batting .348, Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu sure is cold. His average has fallen 69 points over the last six games.

LeMahieu has two measly singles in his last 20 at-bats, though it's certainly excusable. He was destined to slump, having entered May batting .406. And he still boasts a .400 on-base percentage.

Giants infielder Matt Duffy came up in the ninth inning with something to prove. After Buster Posey was intentionally walked to face Angel Pagan, Marlins pitcher Steve Cishek struck out Pagan, bring Duffy to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs.

Duffy came up huge, cracking a 1-0 pitch from Cishek into left field, driving in the game-winning run.

"He's a good hitter, he battles up there," manager Bruce Bochy said to CSN Bay Area. "That's a tough matchup for a righty (against Cishek). The thing I liked was that he was aggressive. He got his pitch to hit and he let it go."

Bochy will keep his utility man involved, but could give him more time if Casey McGehee continues to struggle.

"When he's not playing, it's a nice weapon we have on the bench," Bochy said. "He can pinch-run, pinch-hit … we saw what he did last year. You can really use him in critical situations because he's such a tough-nosed ballplayer and he wants to be up there with the game on the line."

Duffy is hitting .228 with 10 RBI in 66 at-bats this season.

Giants catcher Buster Posey, shortstop Brandon Crawford and center fielder Angel Pagan are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Second baseman Joe Panik will serve as the team's No. 3 hitter, a slot that normally features Pagan, while shortstop Matt Duffy will slot into Panik's regular No. 2 spot. First baseman Brandon Belt has been bumped to the cleanup role.

The Giants are a coin flip (-105) against the Marlins Sunday.

The Pirates are using Sunday to give several players a break from starting, as right fielder Gregory Polanco, second baseman Neil Walker and first baseman Pedro Alvarez are not in the lineup against the Cardinals.

The Cardinals are sending a lefty to the mound, making it the first time in 10 games that the Pirates have faced a lefty starter. Polanco and Alvarez have been in the lineup for that entire stretch but also sat in the team's last game against a southpaw. The switch-hitting Walker also received last Sunday off from starting.

With the shakeup to the lineup, Josh Harrison will man second and return to the leadoff spot, while Jung Ho Kang will bat second and play third base.

The Pirates are favorites (-115) at home Sunday.

Phillies infielders Chase Utley, Cody Asche and Ryan Howard are back in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.

The Phillies gave all three a break from starting with a lefty on the mound Saturday, but all have returned to their regular roles.

The Phillies are home underdogs (+130) against the Mets Sunday.

Leadoff hitter Jean Segura connected for a solo home run in the Brewers' victory over the Cubs on Friday.

The home run was his second of the year and first since April 11.

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche was out of the lineup again on Saturday against the Mets, but may be preparing for a shift to the outfield, according to MLB.com.

Asche is shagging fly balls in the outfield and working on outfield drills during pregame warmups with the club. 

"He's looked fine," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He seems to have the moves and the foot speed for it. He seems to be doing all right if that would ever be the case."

But Sandberg wouldn't say for sure whether Asche will move to the outfield. Asche has played exclusively at third base in his major league career and is hitting .237 with two home runs in 97 at-bats this season.

Two infield regulars are out of the Phillies' lineup for Saturday's game. 

Slumping second baseman Chase Utley will sit out for the third time in the last four games. Cesar Hernandez takes his place. 

Third baseman Cody Asche also goes to the bench, replaced by Andres Blanco.