MLB Player News

The Braves have launched the 2015 season better offensively than they did last year. But don't credit the top of the lineup.

The team has yet to score two or fewer runs in a game. They did so four times and were blanked twice in their first seven games of 2014. Yet the first two hitters in the lineup are struggling mightily.

Braves leadoff hitters are 8-for-37 (.216) with a .275 on-base percentage. But they've been raking compared to those hitting behind them. The second spot, which has been manned by Jace Peterson, Alberto Callaspo, Phil Gosselin and Andrelton Simmons, has produced a .114 average with no extra-base hits, .162 OBP and .114 slugging percentage.

The Cubs placed third baseman Mike Olt on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 15, with a hairline fracture in his right wrist, per the team's official website. Olt will have a cast on his wrist for three weeks before he resumes his rehab.

Third base prospect Kris Bryant was promoted to take his place at third base. Olt batted .154 on 13 at-bats before landing on the DL.

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt is heading to the disabled list after an MRI revealed that he has a hairline fracture of his ulna, according to the Daily Herald. 

Olt will have his wrist in a cast for three weeks. With Olt down, the Cubs are calling up third-base prospect Kris Bryant on Friday. 

Olt is hitting .154 on 13 at-bats to start the season. 

Giants third baseman Casey McGehee (knee) is not in the starting lineup Thursday for the fifth straight game.

McGehee hasn't seen any action since coming out of Saturday's game after just one at-bat due to a strained left knee.

"He came out and he ran. He's not quite ready," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said before Thursday's game, per MLB.com.

Bochy added that head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner estimated that McGehee needs at least one more day of rest. With the third baseman out of the lineup again, Matt Duffy, who has made four straight starts at third base and hit his first home run of the season Wednesday, will start and bat sixth.

The Giants are heavy favorites (-175) against the Diamondbacks Thursday.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Thursday that while third baseman Anthony Rendon has continued with his fielding work and hitting in the batting cage, he remains without a timetable to begin playing in games, masnsports.com reports.

Rendon is on the disabled list due to an MCL sprain, and while it initially sounded as if he could be back within three weeks of the beginning of the season, he's running out of time to hit that target as he has yet to see any action in game situations. The Nationals will continue to use Yunel Escobar at the hot corner until Rendon is ready.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura minced no words when asked about his forced move out of the eighth hole and into the leadoff spot due to the hamstring injury that befell Carlos Gomez.

While he expressed sadness at the misfortune of his teammate, Segura added that he was certainly happy to rise in the batting order.

"This is the worst spot ever in baseball," he told MLB.com.

Segura earned the move-up. He has opened the season by compiling a .333/.379/.519 slash line with three extra-base hits.

Giants infielder Matt Duffy connected for his first career home run during a 4-2 loss Wednesday against the Rockies. He hit a solo home run off Boone Logan in the eighth inning.

"It was a pretty good feeling," Duffy said of his home run, per MLB.com. "It's good to get the first one out of the way I guess. At the same time I came up in big situations early on that I wasn't able to put the barrel on the ball. So it would have been nice to get it then or have a better at-bat."

Duffy is batting .292 (7 for 24) with one double, four RBI, one run, three walks and six strikeouts in eight games.

"He's a nice player," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He hasn't played a lot of third base, but I think he's done fine there. As far as hitting in the two-hole, he can do some things with the bat. He's going to grind out the at-bats for you.

"He does what you want. He competes so well up there. He's going to battle you and use the whole field. He's got some pop. He's a ballplayer. We have thrown a lot at this kid, including first base. I think he's handled it well. You have to like his at-bats. He goes up there fighting you."

With Carlos Gomez sidelined with a hamstring injury Thursday, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke moved shortstop Jean Segura into the leadoff spot. Gomez had started the first eight games as the leadoff hitter.

Segura has appeared in the leadoff spot just 20 times in his career. He is batting .271 (23 for 85) with one triple, two doubles, six RBI, seven stolen bases and 15 runs in that span.

The Cardinals are starting John Lackey on Thursday. Segura is 3 for 3 in his career against Lackey.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado gave his team an early 3-0 lead Wednesday at San Francisco with a three-run homer off Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum in the first inning. Lincecum got ahead of Arenado, 0-2, before Arenado golfed a 79-mph changeup into the left-center field seats.

"I just wanted to make sure I stayed on the ball, think middle, before I pulled off it," said Arenado, who is celebrating his 24th birthday Thursday, per MLB.com. "Luckily enough, I got a pitch to hit and put a swing on it."

Arenado has had plenty of success against Lincecum in his career, and it extends to spring training as well. Arenado hit a three-run homer off Lincecum in a March 31 spring game. In the regular season, Arenado is batting .417 (5 for 12) with one double, one home run and three RBI in his career against the right-hander.

"He [Arenado] is their guy," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's a nice player. He's maybe the best defensive third baseman in the game and the guy hits in the heart of the order."

When the Rockies and Dodgers kick off a three-game series Friday night in Los Angeles, Colorado will have the tough task of facing Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. While the lefty is 13-5 with a 3.17 ERA in 26 career starts against Colorado, some Rockies batters have had success against him.

Catcher Nick Hundley is batting .310 (9 for 29) with one double, three walks and three RBI in his career against Kershaw. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu is batting .296 (8 for 27) with one double and one RBI in his career against the lefty.

LeMahieu is batting .514 (18 for 35) with one triple and six RBI in nine games this season, while Hundley is batting .321 (9 for 28) with one RBI and two doubles in seven games.