MLB Player News

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado and left fielder Corey Dickerson returned to the starting lineup Wednesday night against San Diego.

Wrist soreness kept Arenado sidelined since Sunday, while Dickerson has been battling plantar fasciitis since spring training. Dickerson, who made a pinch-hit appearance on Tuesday, is hitting .280 (14 for 50) with two homers, 10 RBI and a .308 on-base percentage in 14 games. Arenado has a hit in each of his last five games. He is hitting .311 (14 for 45) with three homers and 10 RBI in 12 games.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg. The plan is for ramp up from five to nine innings over the next five days with the Senators, per Comcast SportsNet Washington.

Rendon, who finished fifth in NL MVP voting last season, started the year on the 15-day disabled list with left MCL sprain.

Manager Matt Williams said he plans to have Rendon play third when he's activated from the disabled list. Yunel Escobar has been filling in for the Nationals' while Rendon remains sidelined.

"Right now, we're gonna play him at third," Williams said, per the Washington Post.

Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco and first baseman Pedro Alvarez are back in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Cubs, the team announced.

Polanco got the day off Tuesday with Sean Rodriguez getting the start in right. Polanco is hitting .250 with four doubles and three RBI in 52 at-bats this season. Alvarez got his first day off of the season Tuesday, allowing Corey Hart to take over at first. Alvarez is hitting .227 with four home runs and seven RBI in 44 at-bats this season.

The Pirates are currently the favorites (-110) against Chicago.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura went 2 for 4 at the plate Tuesday in Cincinnati's 16-10 loss to the Reds. Segura did his damage in the third when he ripped a double to center field off of Jason Marquis and was driven home on an Elian Herrera double.

Segura, who was moved to lead off in the lineup when Carlos Gomez was placed on the DL, is hitting .238 in 21 at-bats from the lead off slot. He is heating up at the plate of late, boosting his average to .308 in 52 at-bats this season. In his last seven games, Segura has recorded four multi-hit performances.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game. 

Arenado also missed Monday's game with a sore left wrist. He was able to swing a bat earlier in the day and is available to pinch hit, if necessary, per MLB.com.

Rafael Ynoa got the start at third base for the second straight day and is batting ninth in the order. 

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (knee) played three innings at third base during an extended spring training game Tuesday, manager Matt Williams told reporters.

Rendon is scheduled for five innings Wednesday before resting Thursday. He then might begin a rehab assignment Friday.

Williams added Rendon could get some playing time on his rehab assignment at second base. However, he has only played third base thus far because it is less physically demanding.

Williams said Rendon told him Monday night that his knee is no longer bothering him. Rendon sprained the MCL in his left knee diving for a baseball during a March 9 spring game.

“It does get a little stiff but the pain has subsided,” Williams said, per The Washington Post. “That’s a real good sign that it’s not an issue. Beyond that, it’s getting in shape. Anything that has to do with your legs and not being able to do much then you’re not in baseball shape. So we want to make sure that he’s in shape and his legs are underneath him.

"So beyond the pain, that’s probably the biggest thing. His swing will come. The timing will come. We don’t want him getting out there too quickly and not being in baseball shape and being ready to go.”

Braves infielder Philip Gosselin will start at shortstop in Tuesday's game at the Mets, in place of regular starter Jace Peterson. He'll hit eighth in the lineup.

It's just Gosselin's second start at short this season. He's also started one game at third. 

Gosselin is hitting .100 this season, with a stolen base and two RBI. 

The Braves are +135 underdogs at the Mets. 

The Cubs optioned infielder Arismendy Alcantara to Triple-A Iowa Tuesday while also transferring third baseman Mike Olt to the 60-day disabled list.

Both moves clear 25-man and 40-man roster spots for top prospect Addison Russell, who is set to start at second base and bat ninth in his major-league debut Tuesday.

Alcantara was just 2 for 26 with five walks and one stolen base in 11 games with the Cubs. Olt is recovering from a hairline fracture in his wrist.

Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco and first baseman Pedro Alvarez had missed one start between them heading into Tuesday. But both are absent from the lineup against Cubs southpaw Travis Wood.

Alvarez has been particularly unproductive against Wood. He is 1 for 18 against him lifetime. Polanco has just one hit agianst lefties this season.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado thinks he'll be able to return to the diamond for Tuesday night's game against the Padres. 

According to The Denver Post, Arenado said he started feeling soreness in his wrist just before his final at-bat against the Dodgers on Sunday. That carried over to Monday, which is why he was a late scratch in the lineup. 

“This is nothing chronic, just some soreness,” he said. “I’ve never had this before. I think I’ll be fine.”

Arenado is hitting .311 with three home runs and 10 BRI.