MLB Player News

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.

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.