MLB Player News

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle announced Sunday infielder Josh Harrison has supplanted Pedro Alvarez as the team's primary third baseman.

"Whether (Alvarez) is unplugged or plugged, Harrison is more than a viable option," Hurdle said, per the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review. "Harrison is our best defender on the club right now at third base."

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura was held out of the starting lineup Sunday against the Cardinals due to a quadriceps injury. Eilan Herrera started in Segura's absence Sunday.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon had himself a game Saturday night, plating four runs in his team's 11-0 victory over the Phillies.

Rendon singled in a run in the opening frame and launched a three-run home run in the second inning. He finished 3 for 5 with two runs scored and four RBI. He is hitting .281/.338/.469 with 14 homers and 61 RBI in 424 at-bats.

Giants infielder Matthew Duffy is in the starting lineup for his first game Friday against the Mets, just hours after he was recalled.

Duffy will bat second and start at second base in his major-league debut. He hit .332/.398/.444 in 97 games at Double-A Richmond prior to his callup.  

 The Giants called up infielder Matthew Duffy and outfielder Jarrett Parker from Double-A Richmond Friday, following the releases of Dan Uggla and Tyler Colvin. Both players will be making their major-league debut when they get on the field for the first time.

Parker is hitting .275/.368/.463 in 99 games with Richmond, while Duffy was hitting .332/.398/.444 in 97 games. 

Clint Hurdle has compared Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez to Travis Snider and Josh Harrison in justifying his move to bench the former again Wednesday.

"He's not outplaying Harrison," he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Snider's a hot bat that's in the lineup."

Alvarez is leading the major leagues in errors, including 21 on bad throws, and owns a stat line of .238/.309/.437.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez is out of the lineup for the second game in a row Wednesday against the Giants, despite the team facing a right-handed pitcher yet again. He has started just one of the team's last six games, though it is not yet clear if the knee injury that bothered him last week is still an issue.

"The Thing" has a hold on Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez - and it could cost him his starting job.

"The Thing" in baseball parlance is an inexplicable inability to throw accurately to the point it becomes a mental block. Alvarez has 23 errors this season, more than any player in any position in the major leagues, and 21 have come on throws. He has hidden when the media has come around to ask him about it, according to the Beaver County Times.

Alvarez has apparently allowed the problem to affect his hitting. He has not had a multi-hit game since July 10 and has just five hits in his last 25 at-bats. He has not scored or driven in a run in the last six games as his stat line has been weakened to .238/.326/.407. Despite cutting down a bit on his strikeouts this season, his production has suffered, though he has still managed 15 home runs and 47 RBI.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado hit his ninth home run Sunday against the Pirates.

Arenado struck on the first pitch he saw in the seventh inning. While facing Tony Watson, Arenado took a 93 mph fastball out to center for the solo shot. He also walked during the game. Arenado finished 1 for 4, with one run scored and one RBI. 

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez returned to the starting lineup Sunday against the Rockies after missing three straight starts with a knee injury. Alvarez is batting .222 with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI in 18 July games.