MLB Player News

Cody Asche is heating up as Phillies' spring training enters its home stretch. 

Asche shook off a slow start and finished Monday hitting .231. He hit a two-run homer in the second inning, giving him three on the spring, along with seven RBI. 

"Cody has a nice swing working," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He's making good contact. Another thing that he's doing is laying off pitches, avoiding strikeouts and having the count come back to him for strikes to hit. He continues to do real well, a real steady bat for us."

Braves' infielder Jace Peterson sat out Monday's game, the second straight day he's missed with a finger injury. 

A runner stepped on Peterson's hand during a play at second base last week, and his pinky finger became infected. The nail had to be removed, but manager Fredi Gonzalez said that Peterson would be back in the lineup on Tuesday, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Monday that third baseman Anthony Rendon is still dealing with knee soreness and remains without a timetable for a return, MASNsports.com reports.

Rendon will rest the knee, and the continued issue has put his status for Opening Day in doubt. He's just 2 for 9 this spring.

Third baseman Anthony Rendon, who has been dealing with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee, has been cleared to participate in baseball activities, per ESPN, and will begin work in order to return to the Nationals' lineup. 

"He'll start to throw. He'll start to run," manager Matt Williams said. "He'll start to do the things he needs to do ... but with that type of nagging injury, it can stay around awhile."

The plan is to give Rendon at least 20 spring at-bats in order to be ready for Opening Day. 

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson is suffering from an issue with his finger.

Peterson's hand was stepped on during a game a few days ago, and the pinky on his throwing hand became infected. 

Peterson said it wasn't serious, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien. He's been able to keep playing and made several plays in the field during Saturday's game.

Peterson hit .113 with the Padres last season.

The Pirates are making an adjustment to infielder Pedro Alvarez's stance to help improve his offensive output. 

Working with hitting coach Jeff Branson, Alvarez is resting his bat on his shoulder before starting his swing, instead of holding it off the shoulder. 

“We're trying to ... figure out ways to get him relaxed at the plate and take the tension out of him at the plate,” Jeff Branson said, per Travis Sawchik of Trib Total Media. “You'll see him start on the shoulder and take it off when he's ready to hit."

It seems to be working. Alvarez is hitting .381 this spring, with two home runs and eight RBI. 

Nationals manager Matt Williams said third baseman Anthony Rendon is "getting better," per The Washington Post. However, he still has some sorenees in his left knee when he tests it with light swings.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said having first baseman Brandon Belt play in the outfield is "currently being discussed" as Hunter Pence is nursing a broken arm and Angel Pagan is dealing with a sore back, per SFGate.com.

“I’m down, for sure. I’m here to do whatever they need me to do,” Belt said. “If they want me to go the outfield, I’m ready to do it. If they want me to go on the mound and pitch, I’m ready to do that.”

Bochy also said Matt Duffy and Adam Duvall could be options to play in the outfield as well.

“We have coverage. It’s going to be up to us to decide which way we’re going to go,” Bochy said. “A lot depends on where we’re at with Angel before I jump to any conclusions.”

Barring any unforseen circumstances, Cody Asche will win the Phillies' third base job. 

The Phillies sent Maikel Franco to their minor league camp on Friday, eliminating Asche's competition for the starting job.

Asche made a statement of his own later in the day, hitting a home run for the second straight game.

"I think he's one of our more solid hitters as we speak," manager Ryne Sandberg said, per MLB.com's Adam Berry.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado connected for a pair of home runs during Thursday's 13-2 spring win against the Royals. Arenado had a two-run homer off Jason Vargas in the first inning and a three-run homer off Vargas in the second inning.

“Today was a good day,” Arenado said, per The Denver Post. “I was just trying to see the ball over the plate. Vargas has a good changeup. Last year, he kinda carved me up. Luckily I got a couple pitches middle in to swing at.”

Arenado is batting .345 (10 for 29) with three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, two walks and five runs through 11 spring games.

“There are a lot of things I still need to work on,” he said. “But I’m starting to see the offspeed better. And I’m just trying to be aggressive in the zone. Sometimes I’m ready to swing first pitch and I end up swinging at anything. That’s something I need to cut down and just swing at my pitches.”