MLB Player News

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon is not in the starting lineup for Double-A Harrisburg Tuesday, the Washington Post reports.

Rendon is working his way back from a knee injury, but he was scratched Monday after feeling fatigued. He is expected to be used at both second base and third base when he returns to the lineup.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said infielder Anthony Rendon will be used at second and third base when he returns to the lineup, reports CSNWashington.com.

Rendon is dealing with a knee injury, but he has begun his rehab assignment at Double-A. He was scheduled to play seven innings during a rehab game Monday, but he was a late scratch due to feeling fatigued, the team announced. 

"It's important for him just to make sure that he feels good," Williams said, per MLB.com. "That he feels able to play every day."

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche and catcher Carlos Ruiz are back in the starting lineup Monday against the Cardinals, the team announced.

Asche was given the day off Sunday after starting the last nine games in a row for Philadelphia. He is hitting .305 with two home runs and three RBI in 59 at-bats this season.

Ruiz got Sunday off after starting the last two games in a row, pushing Cameron Rupp to the bench. Ruiz is hitting .196 in 46 at-bats. The Phillies are currently the underdogs (+135) against St. Louis.

Nationals manager Matt Williams will have a decision to make when his regular third baseman Anthony Rendon comes back from injury. With Rendon on the shelf, Yunel Escobar has shifted to third and Williams is considering leaving him there even after Rendon returns, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

The team is unsure yet what will happen when Rendon returns, but one theory has Escobar staying at third and Rendon shifting to second base, according to Heyman.

Escobar is hitting .292 with five RBI in 65 at-bats while slotted at third base.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez indicated Sunday that he's returning to his initial plan to use infielder Jace Peterson as his primary second baseman, MLB.com reports.

Peterson has shared time at second base with Alberto Callaspo, who has also made eight starts at third base, and Phil Gosselin, leading to Peterson seeing just 11 of a possible 17 starts at the position. He's seen action all over the starting lineup, batting first or second in four of the team's first five games but spending most of his time batting seventh or eighth as of late.

Peterson has hit just .171/.239/.220 in 41 at-bats. He's starting at second base and batting sixth in Sunday's matchup with the Phillies, in which the Braves are underdogs (+100).

Phillies third basemanb Cody Asche is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Braves.

Asche has started 13 straight games at the hot corner but will get a break from starting in Sunday's series finale. Cesar Hernandez will make the start at third basem and bat sixth against the Braves.

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

The woeful Brewers lost again Saturday night, but they can take at least a bit of solace that two of their key players had big games.

Both leadoff hitter Jean Segura and veteran third baseman Aramis Ramirez slammed two singles and a double.

The effort of the latter was particularly encouraging. Ramirez has emerged from a four-game hitless streak to hit safely in four of his last five. The multi-hit game was only his second since the opener.

Segura, on the other hand, has been pretty much raking all year. He has been the subject of trade rumors and his hot hitting can only raise his stock.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon reported no issues with his left knee following his first minor-league rehab assignment game on Friday with Double-A Harrisburg.

"Everything is good," Rendon said, per the Washington Post. "Getting back into the swing of things and trying to feel comfortable."

Rendon went 1 for 2 with one double before being lifted after five innings.

"I haven't seen him since the play he got injured on so it was good to see him back out there,"Double-A manager Brian Daubach said. "He had a normal workday. He took infield with the club. He looked good in the game. He looked good on the double. Had a couple plays at third and made the plays. Another step in the right direction and staying on schedule."

Rendon is expected to play at least five days on a rehab assignment. He will play seven innings on Saturday before receiving an off day on Sunday. The team wants him to play a full game before activating him from the disabled list.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (knee) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg on Friday. He went 1 for 2 with one double before being lifted from the game.

Rendon is expected to play at least five days on a rehab assignment.

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche went 1 for 3 with a solo home run in his team's 6-1 loss to the Marlins Wednesday.

Asche has swung a hot bat in the early going, and he's delivered a .340/.392/.511 line with two home runs and three RBI in 47 at-bats over his first 14 games. His home run evened the game in the second inning and the two teams stayed tied until the Marlins broke through with a run on a balk in the seventh inning. Asche will look to stay hot as the team's wrap up the series in a day game Thursday.