MLB Player News

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.

Giants second baseman Matt Duffy hit his third home run of the season to help lead the Giants to a 6-3 win over the Brewers on Tuesday.

The two-run home run was hit off Matt Garza in the fourth inning and it was his only hit in four at-bats during the game. Over his last seven games, Duffy is 9 for 30 with two home runs and six RBI.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura is expected to be activated on Friday without going on a rehab assignment, manager Craig Counsell said per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Segura is currently on the 15-day DL with a broken finger and has been out of action since May 13. Segura is hitting .262 with 12 RBI in 126 at-bats this season and will immediately reclaim his starting role at shortstop.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon is scheduled to play five innings on Wednesday in a simulated game before being re-evaluated, according to the Washington Post. Rendon played three innings on Tuesday in a simulated game and was able to steal third. Manager Matt Williams described his play as "uninhibited."

If all goes according to plan, Rendon will be able to begin his rehab assignment on Friday. Rendon is yet to play this season while dealing with a knee and oblique injury. He hit .287 with 83 RBI in 2014.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez went 2 for 4 at the plate in Pittsburgh's 4-2 win over the Marlins on Monday. 

Alvarez did his damage in the sixth when he crushed a David Phelps pitch to left center field for a solo home run, his ninth of the season. Alvarez is now hitting .241 with 21 RBI in 133 at-bats this season.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado went 3 for 4 at the plate in Colorado's 5-4 win over the Reds on Monday.

Arenado started things off in the first when he ripped an RBI single to left field. Then in the fourth, Arenado blasted a solo shot to deep left center field off of Jason Marquis, his ninth of the season.

"I just want to do what I can. When I have the opportunity to drive runs in, I'm going to do my best to do it," Arenado said to MLB.com. "It's not going to work out every time."

Arenado is now hitting .287 with 28 RBI in 157 at-bats this season.

"His defense is always elite, every day," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "He had gone through a tough stretch offensively, but he's definitely beyond that."