MLB Player News

Through all of the Brewers' issues this season -- multiple injuries and slumps -- manager Ron Roenicke has received consistency from an unexpected source: shortstop Jean Segura. The 23-year-old, who is in his first full major-league season, has defied his estimated time of arrival and ranks among the NL leaders with a .356 batting average (fourth) and paces the league with six stolen bases.

"He's gone beyond expectations," general manager Doug Melvin said. "When we made the deal, I'm not sure we really thought he'd be a big leaguer at this time."

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon is not in the lineup Thursday. 

The team is attempting to shake up their order, and Rendon has struggled thus far. Stephen Lombardozzi will get the start at third and bat second. 

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez hit his fourth home run in the last six games on Wednesday night against the Phillies. He took Antonio Bastardo deep for a solo shot in the seventh inning.

The 26-year-old also had an RBI single and finished 2 for 4 in a 5-3 win.

Alvarez has really picked up the pace of late. He is batting .348 (8 for 23) with seven RBI in his last seven contests.

With a steal in each of his last five games, the Brewers' Jean Segura has pretty much established that the stolen base will remain as much a part of his game in the majors as it was in the minors, where he stole 50 bags one year. As last year's Emilio Bonifacio owners can attest, steals alone are enough to make a player indespensible at one of the weakest positions in Fantasy.

But part of the allure of Segura is that he may be more than just a pure speedster. In fact, his steals were often overshadowed by his high batting averages in the minors, and it's pretty clear by now strikeouts aren't going to hold him back. I also like that he hit .321 over his final 24 games last year, seemingly turning the corner after a bumpy start to his major-league career.

I'll be moving Segura into my top 15 at shortstop in short order, keeping him behind Alcides Escobar for now but recognizing that he has the higher ceiling of the two.

Rockies third base prospect Nolan Arenado continues to tear up Triple-A pitching. Arenado added three more hits for Colorado Springs Tuesday, raising his season average to .414 (24 for 58) through 16 games.

The rest of Arenado's slash line is .431/.759/1.189. He's added three home runs, 11 doubles, 14 runs and 21 RBI.

ESPN analyst Jim Bowden tweeted Monday one scout who saw Arenado play recently said, "He's more than ready."

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura added three more hits Tuesday against San Diego, as well as a run scored, RBI and his sixth stolen base.

Segura continues to rake, as he raised his average to .377 with a sharp .941 OPS. Segura also notched his eighth infield hit.. According to FanGraphs, Segura has recorded an infield hit on 24.2 percent of ground balls. Considering last year's league leader, Norichika Aoki, finished at 13.5 percent, we should expect Segura to stop reaching on dribblers at such an absurd rate.

Still, Segura is consistently making enough contact (10.8 percent strikeout rate) to keep hitting for a solid average.

To recap, the Pirates' Pedro Alvarez hit .042 with a home run over his first eight games last year. Then, he hit .367 with six home runs over his next 14 games. Then, he hit .143 with a home run over his next 33 games (brr, that's cold). Then, he hit .308 with 13 home runs over his next 30 games (ow, that's hot).

Then, he hit .217 with no home runs over his next 20. Then, he hit .407 with six home runs over his next 15. Then, he hit .212 with three home runs over his final 29.

And that, folks, is how he arrived at a .244 batting average and 30 home runs for the season.

After his 4-for-45 start this year, you probably benched him, but seeing as he has three home runs in his last five games, you should probably activate him before the next cold spell arrives.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura is hitting at a torrid pace to open the season.

Segura has been used primarily near the top of the order this year, and has rewarded manager Ron Roenicke with his play. Segura is showing the same strikeout and walk rates he displayed last season, but has also shown a little more power. He's not a threat to club a ton of home runs, but he's capable of using his speed to leg out doubles and triples.

Segura has also been a little lucky with a .400 BABIP thus far. Like most .359 hitters, his average is going to drop. But considering he's hitting at the top of a strong lineup, and has displayed solid skills, he should remain an above-average Fantasy asset when his numbers even out. 

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon collected his first career hit and RBI in Monday's series opener against the Cardinals. He drove in Ian Desmond with an opposite-field double in the fourth inning and finished 1 for 4 in a 3-2 loss.

"It is the one thing you are going to cherish for the rest of your life," Rendon told MASNSports.com. "You don't get another one. The second one doesn't count as much as the first one. It is just a memory in the back of your head."

Rendon, filling in for the injured Ryan Zimmerman, has gone 1 for 8 with four strikeouts in two games.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez continued his recent power surge on Monday night against the Phillies. He went 2 for 4 with a home run in a 3-2 loss.

The 26-year-old took starter Jonathan Pettibone deep for a solo shot in his first at-bat before reaching on an infield single in the seventh inning.

Alvarez has gone 5 for 15 (.333) in his last five games with three homers and four RBI.