MLB Player News

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 3-2 loss to the Reds Thursday.

Alvarez was 1 for 6 with a double in his first two games before putting together a nice offensive showing Thursday. His home run came in the sixth inning and put his team up 2-0, but the Pirates let the lead slip away in the bottom half of the inning. Alvarez has two 30-homer seasons on his resume but hit just .231/.312/.405 with 18 home runs in 398 at-bats last season.

Giants infielder Matt Duffy will start getting work at first base and could possibly be an option to start at the position by Saturday, CSN Bay Area reports.

Manager Bruce Bochy hopes to have Brandon Belt available to resume starting Monday, but it's possible Duffy will see some time at first base in the interim. He's been primarly a shortstop in the minors and hasn't seen any action at first base at any level of his professional career.

The Giants will use Buster Posey at first base Friday, with Hector Sanchez starting behind the plate and catching Tim Lincecum.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon took a positive step forward in his recovery from an MCL sprain in his left knee. He did some side-to-side agility drills, along with some change of direction workouts. His next step will be modified groundball work, manager Matt Williams told reporters, according to MASN.

"Yesterday, he did a little bit of side-to-side movement, which has been the issue," Williams said. "He's been running straight. He'll start some modified groundball activity, which is just making sure that he's getting into the position he needs too without irritating the area. Yesterday, he did some figure eight stuff where he has to change some direction, which is a good step. We'll evaluate that and go from there.

"The more he can tolerate in that regard, the better. And the more stuff he can do to get into baseball shape, ultimately that's what's most important. It's one of those spots where if he does go side to side or twists on it, it can irritate it. So we want to stay away from that."

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's matchup with the Diamondbacks.

Belt left Tuesday's game with a groin injury and was scheduled to undergo an MRI Wednesday. With the first baseman sidelined, catcher Buster Posey will shift to first base and Hector Sanchez will enter the game at catcher.

The Giants will also start Matt Duffy at second base and Justin Maxwell in right field Wednesday, sending Joe Panik and Gregor Blanco to the bench.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura was hit by a pitch in the helmet by Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles on Tuesday. Segura stayed in the game and ended up popping out. The Brewers lost 5-2.

“I thought my nose was broken,” said Segura, who managed to avoid serious injury last year when struck on the face by a bat being swung on-deck by teammate Ryan Braun.

“I asked the trainer if I’m bleeding or something. It was scary. When I was lying on the ground, I felt pain in my nose. When the trainer said, ‘You’re not bleeding,’ I stayed in the game. Thank god it was nothing serious," per the Journal Sentinel.

Segura went one for two with one run scored, putting his batting average at .400 through two games. 

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado went 3 for 4 during Monday's 10-0 blowout victory over the Brewers on Opening Day. 

Arenado scored three runs and accounted for four RBI. He hit a two-run homer in the top of the third inning. He also recorded an RBI on a double in the first and another RBI on a single in the fourth. 

Arenado later drew a walk in the ninth. 

Braves infielder Jace Peterson started at second base in Monday's season opener against the Marlins. Peterson appears to have won the starting second base job for Atlanta over Alberto Callaspo, who started at third base Monday.

The rookie Peterson hit .324 (22 for 68) with no home runs, four RBI, five doubles, 10 walks, 12 runs and 16 strikeouts in 25 spring games. He also had three stolen bases.

The Brewers have announced their Opening Day lineup and it will go: center fielder Carlos Gomez, catcher Jonathan Lucroy, right fielder Ryan Braun, third baseman Aramis Ramirez, first baseman Adam Lind, left fielder Khris Davis, second baseman Scooter Gennett, shortstop Jean Segura and pitcher Kyle Lohse.

Gomez and Gennett were competing throughout camp to see who would end up as the leadoff hitter in the lineup. Gomez has hit leadoff in 106 of 148 games, posting a .276/.356/.488 slash line with 20 home runs and 50 RBI.

The Nationals have placed pitcher Erik Davis (elbow), Casey Janssen (shoulder), Nate McLouth (shoulder), Anthony Rendon (knee), Denard Span (abdominal) and Jayson Werth on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 27, the team announced Sunday.

The Giants have included infielder Matt Duffy and pitchers Jean Machi and George Kontos on the Opening Day roster, the team announced Sunday.

Machi and Kontos could eventually be battling for the same bullpen spot, but the team has decided to carry 13 pitchers at the beginning of the season. Duffy earns a bench spot over Ehire Adrianza after hitting .361/.400/.639 with three home runs in 61 spring at-bats.

Adrianza was designated for assignment Sunday.