MLB Player News

With the Rockies demoting Josh Rutledge on Wednesday, DJ LeMahieu is expected to take over the starting second base job. Owned in six percent of leagues, it might benefit an owner in a deeper format to take a closer look at the 24-year-old. 

LeMahieu has never hit below .314 in any of his five minor league campaigns (he has a .321 career minor league BA). In 306 major league at-bats, he has a .294 average. I wouldn't expect much in the way of power or speed from LeMahieu, but 20 doubles the rest of the way (assuming he gets regular at-bats) wouldn't be out of the question, and you can pretty much bank on the average to be there. 

In NL-only, he's a must-add. But I would consider adding him in formats as shallow as 15-team Roto leagues (at MI or UT), based on his promise in batting average. 

With Josh Rutledge's demotion to Triple-A Wednesday, Rockies infielder DJ LeMahieu is expected to assume a starting role.

LeMahieu has started four of seven games since being called up May 16, and he is hitting .412 with two extra-base hits and two RBI in 17 at-bats. He will likely be the full-time starter at second base with Rutledge gone. 

Rockies second baseman DJ Lemahieu went 3 for 4 in Tuesday's win over Arizona.

Lemahieu doubled twice and knocked in two runs. He's 6 for 13 to open 2013 for the Rockies and is proving to be a solid backup to primary second baseman Josh Rutledge.

Nationals infield prospect Anthony Rendon has started the process of learning to play second base. He made his fifth start at the position for Double-A Harrisburg Monday.

It begs the question with Danny Espinosa struggling: Are the Nationals looking for Rendon to possibly take over at second base at the major-league level? Nationals manager Davey Johnson said that's not the plan quite yet.

"We like him -- we like him a lot," Johnson said of Rendon, per FOX Sports. "But putting him at second at the major-league level, he’s not there yet. He’s not (playing second) specifically. He’s just occasionally going over there."

Johnson added reserve infielder Stephen Lombardozzi and Triple-A infielder Zach Walters are options ahead of Rendon, who is widely considered the team's best prospect, if the team made a decision to replace Espinosa in the starting lineup.

Rendon continues to rake for Harrisburg. His slash line through 30 games is .346/.654/1.136. He has two triples, six home runs, 11 doubles and 23 RBI.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez hit his eighth home run, the decider in a 1-0 win Sunday over Houston.

Alvarez continues to struggle with his average (.201) and making contact (31.5 percent strikeout rate), but his power continues to show up. He's on pace for another 30 home run season with Sunday's blast.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura went 3 for 4 in Saturday's victory over St. Louis.

Segura scored a run and had two RBI with his fourth triple. Segura is hitting .361/.404/.542 in 158 at-bats after he hit .258/.315/.325 in 151 at-bats last season.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado snapped a nine-game homerless streak Thursday, as he went deep in an 8-6 loss to the Giants.

Arenado went 1 for 4 in the game, with a solo home run, his first since May 5. He also struck out once.

Arenado is batting .259 since May 1, with three home runs and seven runs scored. 

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez stole the third base of his career Thursday night against the Brewers as part of a 0-for-2 day that also featured one walk and one run scored.

Alvarez entered play Thursday with just two steals in 354 games and 1,370 career plate appearances. He recorded one stolen base in each of the last two years. Alvarez has hit just .188/.237/.336 with six home runs in 139 plate appearances this season.

The Rockies recalled infielder DJ LeMahieu from Triple-A Colorado Springs prior to Thursday's game against the Giants. LeMahieu will available to play.

LeMahieu hit .364 with one home run and 22 RBI in 143 at-bats before being promoted.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez was out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Brewers with a right-hander on the mound.

Manager Clint Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review the 26-year-old sat due to the matchup. Alvarez has gone 0 for 15 in his career against Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo.

"I've watched him go against (Gallardo) for two straight years, and this is the third year," Hurdle said. "We'll try something different."

It was his first time sitting against a righty since June 5, 2012.