MLB Player News

Slumping Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez is getting the night off Saturday against Cardinals left-hander Tyler Lyons.

Alvarez, who is 4 for 17 with two home runs against southpaws this season, is 1 for his last 17 since reaching on an infield single in his first place appearance Monday.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon continued to justify his team's faith in him Friday night against visiting San Diego. He singled and scored in the first and third innings and doubled home two in the seventh to help his team rout the Padres.

Rendon, who has earned regular playing time, finished with the first four-hit game of his career. He owns a .510 slugging percentage and is on pace to exceed 100 runs and 100 RBI on the season.

Padres infielder Jace Peterson has been called up to the majors Friday.

Peterson is expected to replace Chase Headley for a couple weeks. He announced the news on Twitter Thursday night, and the team officially made the move Friday. Peterson has hit .311 in 74 Triple-A at-bats. 

The Padres will call up infielder Jace Peterson from Double-A San Antonio on Thursday, according to his Twitter account.

Peterson will likely fill in for an injured Chase Headley, who will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a calf strain. Peterson is hitting .311 with one home run and seven RBI in 74 at-bats.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura's bat is showing signs of waking up, as he homered for the first time in a 5-2 in over the Padres Wednesday.

Segura took Tyson Ross deep in his first at-bat, riving in three runs with a shot to left field. He finished the game 2 for 3 with three RBI and one run scored in the win.

Segura is still hitting just .247/.273/.341 as he tries to work his way out of a season-opening slump. He has five RBI and 11 runs scored, but has been caught stealing on four of his nine stolen base attempts. 

The Phillies are turning away from infielder Cody Asche recently, as he was on the bench for the third straight game Wednesday against the Dodgers.

He has started just five of the team's last 11 games, after he was in the starting lineup for eight of the first 10. Manager Ryne Sandberg told MLB.com he does not have to talk with Asche about the situation, even with Freddy Galvis, his replacement, struggling mightily.

"I don't need to because I already have," he said. "I just told him to be ready to go in any capacity. The biggest change in the last three games is quality pitching and good defense behind. Freddy has been a part of that combination for the last three games."

Asche is hitting just .196/.275/.304 through 46 at-bats, with one home run, three RBI, six runs scored and 14 strikeouts. 

Cubs manager Rick Renteria said Tuesday it's time to start playing Mike Olt at third base more often, per The Chicago Sun-Times.

"We’ve talked about gradually getting him into that role," Renteria said. "Do I plan on playing him [Wednesday]? Yes.

"Everything’s very calculated. So I’m going to throw him out there and let him run with it a little bit. We’re still measuring everything; we’re still trying to be kind of guarded, but he’ll be in there (Wednesday) again."

Olt is welcoming the opportunity for more playing time at third base.

"That’d be great," Olt said of getting regular playing time. "I definitely did a lot of work to get myself ready. I definitely feel I’m ready for the task and can build off the last couple games and go from there."

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt continued his all-or-nothing season Tuesday, clubbing his fourth home run of the season in a 9-2 win over the Diamondbacks.

Olt went 1 for 4 in the game and struck out twice, giving him eight strikeouts in the last four games. Still, he clubbed a three-run shot in the fifth inning to provide what would ultimately be the winning margin in the game.

Olt is hitting just .195, but is providing the kind of power that became his calling card in the minors. Of his eight hits in 16 games, four are home runs and five are for extra bases. He has a .195/.250/.512 line in 41 at-bats. 

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez hit his sixth home run of the season Thurday against the Brewers.

Alvarez managed to find himself on base four times during the game. He singled in the bottom of the fourth, and walked in both the sixth and seventh inning. In the bottom of the eighth, he clubbed a three-run home run off a 93 mph fastball from Wei-Chung Wang.

Alvarez finished the game 2 for 3, with one run scored and three RBI.

Matt Williams certainly can't regret using Anthony Rendon as a full-time starter this season. Rendon has justified that decision - at least so far.

Rendon has hit safely in 13 of 15 games for the Nationals and owns an encouraging stat line of .339/.381/.593. He is the surprising team leader with 12 RBI and is tied for the top with five doubles. His .974 OPS is the best among all starters not named Ryan Zimmerman.

He has also shown a decent eye at the plate and an ability to make consistent contact with 10 strikeouts in 59 at-bats.