MLB Player News

Braves infielder Jace Peterson started at second base in Monday's season opener against the Marlins. Peterson appears to have won the starting second base job for Atlanta over Alberto Callaspo, who started at third base Monday.

The rookie Peterson hit .324 (22 for 68) with no home runs, four RBI, five doubles, 10 walks, 12 runs and 16 strikeouts in 25 spring games. He also had three stolen bases.

The Brewers have announced their Opening Day lineup and it will go: center fielder Carlos Gomez, catcher Jonathan Lucroy, right fielder Ryan Braun, third baseman Aramis Ramirez, first baseman Adam Lind, left fielder Khris Davis, second baseman Scooter Gennett, shortstop Jean Segura and pitcher Kyle Lohse.

Gomez and Gennett were competing throughout camp to see who would end up as the leadoff hitter in the lineup. Gomez has hit leadoff in 106 of 148 games, posting a .276/.356/.488 slash line with 20 home runs and 50 RBI.

The Nationals have placed pitcher Erik Davis (elbow), Casey Janssen (shoulder), Nate McLouth (shoulder), Anthony Rendon (knee), Denard Span (abdominal) and Jayson Werth on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 27, the team announced Sunday.

The Giants have included infielder Matt Duffy and pitchers Jean Machi and George Kontos on the Opening Day roster, the team announced Sunday.

Machi and Kontos could eventually be battling for the same bullpen spot, but the team has decided to carry 13 pitchers at the beginning of the season. Duffy earns a bench spot over Ehire Adrianza after hitting .361/.400/.639 with three home runs in 61 spring at-bats.

Adrianza was designated for assignment Sunday.

The Cubs announced the starting lineup for Sunday's season opener against the Cardinals, with right fielder Jorge Soler slotted into the second spot of the lineup.

Soler spent most of his brief action in 2014 batting fourth or fifth, but he'll slot in between center fielder Dexter Fowler and first baseman Anthony Rizzo Sunday.

The full Cubs lineup Sunday: CF Fowler, RF Soler, 1B Rizzo, SS Starlin Castro, LF Chris Coghlan, 3B Mike Olt, C David Ross, SP Jon Lester, 2B Tommy La Stella.

Ross draws the start at catcher with former Red Sox teammate Lester on the mound. Manager Joe Maddon will bat the pitcher eighth, Olt and La Stella join Rizzo and Castro in the infield for the team's first game, with Arismendy Alcantara set to come off the bench.

Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez will bat second against the Brewers on Opening Day Monday.

Gonzalez saw most of his at-bats in 2014 in the third and fourth slots. Just 99 of his 2,817 career at-bats have come in the second slot of the lineup.

The full Rockies lineup for Opening Day: CF Charlie Blackmon, RF Gonzalez, SS Troy Tulowitzki, 1B Justin Morneau, 3B Nolan Arenado, LF Corey Dickerson, C Nick Hundley, 2B DJ LeMahieu, SP Kyle Kendrick.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado was scratched from the lineup solely to take a breather, reports the Denver Post.

Arenado has played a lot this spring, batting .267 with five home runs and 15 RBI in 63 plate appearances. 

He finished last season with a batting average of .287 with 18 home runs and 61 RBI in 111 games played.

Giants infielder Matt Duffy is "at peace" with whatever the Giants decide to do with him after delivering an excellent performance this spring, MLB.com reports.

"I've done everything in my power," Duffy said Thursday. "I know it's not always an easy decision for them out of camp, so whatever happens, whatever it is, I can sleep at night knowing I've done everything I can to show them I can help them win games."

Duffy has hit .382/.424/.691 with three home runs and 15 RBI in 55 at-bats this spring.

"I don't know what else he could do," manager Bruce Bochy said. "There's nothing else. This series won't matter as far what happens to Matt Duffy. What a terrific spring this kid's had. Wherever we've put him, he's done a good job, and as far as swinging the bat. He done what you're hoping all these guys do, young players, force the issue. He certainly has done that."

Duffy is competing for a utility-infielder spot this spring.

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche revealed to reporters that he worked in Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt's hitting group throughout spring training, and has been able to apply what he learned during games, per the Philadelphia Inquirer.

"It was a lot of hitting stuff. We talked the game a lot," Asche said. "It's not like I can point out one thing. I think we both have respect for each other and willingness to learn from each other. I was glad I was able to pick his brain."

Asche is hitting .255/.280/.489 with two doubles, no home run and eight RBI over 47 Grapefruit League at-bats. He had gone four consecutive games with at least a hit before being held hitless against Tampa Bay on Thursday.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura has worked all spring on his swing at the plate. With Opening Day on the horizon, Segura is putting the finishing touches on his swing and working to hit the ball to the opposite field, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"That's my approach," Segura said. "I always hit the ball to the other side of the field. When you lose that, you want to get it back because not many players can do it in the big leagues. I'm just lucky to have the ability to do that, and I'm just trying to improve every day."

Manager Ron Roenickes is taking notice of Segura's adjustments. 

"The sound of that ball is different," he said. "You're like 'Whoa.' I'm watching as he hits and the load is different. The hands work better. He's doing a couple of things really nice."