MLB Player News

Nationals manager Matt Williams said third baseman Anthony Rendon is "getting better," per The Washington Post. However, he still has some sorenees in his left knee when he tests it with light swings.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said having first baseman Brandon Belt play in the outfield is "currently being discussed" as Hunter Pence is nursing a broken arm and Angel Pagan is dealing with a sore back, per SFGate.com.

“I’m down, for sure. I’m here to do whatever they need me to do,” Belt said. “If they want me to go the outfield, I’m ready to do it. If they want me to go on the mound and pitch, I’m ready to do that.”

Bochy also said Matt Duffy and Adam Duvall could be options to play in the outfield as well.

“We have coverage. It’s going to be up to us to decide which way we’re going to go,” Bochy said. “A lot depends on where we’re at with Angel before I jump to any conclusions.”

Barring any unforseen circumstances, Cody Asche will win the Phillies' third base job. 

The Phillies sent Maikel Franco to their minor league camp on Friday, eliminating Asche's competition for the starting job.

Asche made a statement of his own later in the day, hitting a home run for the second straight game.

"I think he's one of our more solid hitters as we speak," manager Ryne Sandberg said, per MLB.com's Adam Berry.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado connected for a pair of home runs during Thursday's 13-2 spring win against the Royals. Arenado had a two-run homer off Jason Vargas in the first inning and a three-run homer off Vargas in the second inning.

“Today was a good day,” Arenado said, per The Denver Post. “I was just trying to see the ball over the plate. Vargas has a good changeup. Last year, he kinda carved me up. Luckily I got a couple pitches middle in to swing at.”

Arenado is batting .345 (10 for 29) with three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, two walks and five runs through 11 spring games.

“There are a lot of things I still need to work on,” he said. “But I’m starting to see the offspeed better. And I’m just trying to be aggressive in the zone. Sometimes I’m ready to swing first pitch and I end up swinging at anything. That’s something I need to cut down and just swing at my pitches.”

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon, who had an MCL sprain in his left knee, told reporters he doesn't anticipate a lengthy absence, however, he's still unsure when he'll be able to return to the lineup, according to the Washington Post.

"I'm feeling all right," Rendon said. "Just taking it day by day, I'm still a little sore, but we see how it is each and every day. It's not something you fix overnight.

"I know it’s not going to be like weeks, weeks, weeks and months. Well, I hope not -- barring any setbacks. I think I should be out there not too long from now."

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon remains sidelined with a sprained knee ligament, and manager Matt Williams doesn't know when he'll return to action, MLB.com reports.

"He has a little sprain in there so we are being cautious, keeping in mind that he is going to need at-bats. You do run out of time eventually," Williams said.

Rendon suffered the injury diving for a ball a week ago.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon will miss another day with an ACL sprain. He hasn't appeared since being scratched from the lineup on Tuesday with swelling and pain in his left knee. 

Manager Matt Williams said that Rendon's condition was unchanged on Saturday morning. While he won't return to the lineup yet, Williams said the injury wasn't a major concern, promising, "He'll be fine." 

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Friday third baseman Anthony Rendon will need a few more days to rest his left knee. Williams said Rendon has a mild MCL sprain.

“It’s mild,” Williams said, per The Washington Times. “It wasn’t getting better as quickly as we thought it would and he wanted it to be. We got an (X-ray) of it yesterday. So, it’s a mild sprain. We’ll shut him down for a few days. Make sure that it’s good.

“It’s odd that he did it on the dive, but it is what it is and we’ll make sure we take care of it. In the next week or so, he’ll be back playing. It’s just an odd injury.”

Rendon is batting .222 (2 for 9) with one strikeout through three spring games.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez returned to the spring lineup Thursday against the Red Sox after missing a few days due to a hyperextended elbow. He was hitless in two at-bats.

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche returned to the spring lineup Thursday against the Tigers after leaving Monday's game due to injury. Asche suffered a bruised right triceps Monday against the Orioles after he was hit by a pitch in the top of the sixth inning.

Asche is batting .273 (3 for 11) with two doubles, two RBI, one run, one walk and three strikeouts in five games.