MLB Player News

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon took grounders and ran Thursday, which should result in a return to the lineup Friday for Double-A Harrisburg if he feels well enough, according to the Washington Post.

Rendon has missed some action at that level with tightness to his side. He had been recovering from a knee injury that forced him into the minor league rehab assignment. He has yet to play a big league game this season.

Matt Williams has stated that Rendon will likely need five or six more rehab games before returning to the Nationals.

Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu is out of the starting lineup Wednesday against the Diamondbacks with Daniel Descalso drawing the start, according the Denver Post.

It is just LeMahieu's second night off of the early season after playing eight straight contests. He is hitting .406 with 13 RBI in 69 at-bats. Descalso is hitting .136 in 22 at-bats this year.

The Rockies are currently the underdogs (+105) against Arizona.

Giants second baseman Joe Panik and shortstop Brandon Crawford are back in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers, the team announced.

Panik has altered starts with Matt Duffy for the last four games, with Wednesday being Panik's second start in four games. Panik is hitting .296 in 71 at-bats this season. Crawford got just his second day off the season Tuesday with Joaquin Arias getting the start.

Crawford is hitting .215 in 65 at-bats this season.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon hit some before Wednesday's game with Double-A Harrisburg but said he didn't feel good enough to play, MASN Sports reports.

Rendon is rehabbing from a knee injury but is also dealing with tightness in his side. It'll be his third straight game missed with Double-A Harrisburg.

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche was chasing down fly balls in left field during batting practice prior to Tuesday's game against the Cardinals.

“I wanted him to do it,” manager Ryne Sandberg told CSNPhilly.com. “It could be helpful down the road adding versatility.”

Asche was introduced to playing in the outfield in February before he stopped workouts to focus on getting ready to be the team's starting third baseman. However, now that his workouts in the outfield has resumed, it could be to clear a path for Philadelphia to promote third-base prospect Maikel Franco, who is off to a good start with Triple-A Lehigh Valley (.333/.371/.512/.883).

“We’re covering all bases, preparing for situations that could arise,” he said.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon reported some tightness in his side -- not related to his injured knee -- on Tuesday, manager Matt Williams told reporters, per MASN Sports. Rendon was held out of the starting lineup for Double-A Harrisburg and will receive treatment for the day in hopes of resuming his rehab assignment on Wednesday.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez is not listed in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game. It's just the second time this year that Alvarez has missed a start at first. 

Corey Hart replaces Alvarez at first. It's his second start there this season and second in the last seven games. He'll bat cleanup. 

The Pirates are +107 money line underdogs at the Cubs. 

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.