MLB Player News

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt (wrist) and reliever Neil Ramirez (shoulder) will have their rehab assignments moved from Double-A to Triple-A on Tuesday, according to 670 The Score.

Olt is batting .444 (4 for 9) with one triple, two doubles, three walks and five runs in three games for Tennessee. Ramirez hasn't allowed a run, hit or walk in two innings for Tennnessee. He also has three strikeouts.

An injury to Zack Cozart has thrust Reds reserve shortstop Eugenio Suarez into a starting role. Initial returns were not good, but Suarez certainly came on strong this weekend against Miami.

Suarez slammed five hits in the series, including two doubles, to raise his average from .150 to .258.

He could remain the starter the rest of the year with Cozart done. That will allow him to become more comfortable with his new situation. After all, he was just promoted on June 11.

"It's hard because I got there and [there were] new things, new guys, nobody knows me," he told MLB.com. "Now, I know everybody and I got my family here, my heart here now. ... Now I feel like family."

It is closing in on one month since Braves second baseman and leadoff hitter Jace Peterson has experienced back-to-back hitless games.

Three hitless games in a row? Late April.

Consistency continues to mark his season. Peterson is batting .314 (27-for-86) since May 28 with 10 doubles and 13 runs scored. He is also tied for sixth in the National League with three triples and even has 12 walks in 18 games this month.

Peterson boasts a fine slash line of .284/.363/.389 on the year.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado went 2 for 4 during Sunday's win over the Brewers.

Arenado hit his 17th home run of the season on a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Arenado extended his hitting streak to nine games -- He's hitting .371 with two home runs and seven RBI over that stretch.

A matchup against Washington left-hander Gio Gonzales has both outfielder Gregory Polanco and first baseman Pedro Alvarez out of the lineup for the Pirates on Sunday.

Polanco has struggled despite steadier playing time lately. He has just five hits in his last 38 at-bats and is just 5-for-32 against left-handers this season.

Alvarez is on a similar slide. He is batting .167 (5-for-30) since June 6 and is 3-for-21 against southpaws in 2015.

Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon has been benched Sunday against Pittsburgh in favor of Danny Espinosa.

Rendon, who had started every game since June 4, is in a 2-for-16 mini-slump and owns a disappointing slash line on the year of .233/.333/.311.

Phillies left fielder Cody Asche was the lone bright spot in an otherwise meager offensive display on Saturday against the Cardinals. Asche went deep for his third home run of the season, a solo home run which accounted for all of the Phillies' scoring in the 10-1 rout.

The home run was Asche's first since April 22. Asche has generally been struggling at the plate after spending some time in the minor leagues. Since his return on May 29, Asche is batting .200 with 13 strikeouts to just three walks.

"It's not what I expect out of myself, not what I know that I have in me," Asche said, per MLB.com. "That gets frustrating at times. I'm not a .230 hitter, I know that. I'm not going to be. It's just a thing you've got to keep working through. Hopefully they keep trusting me and trusting in my ability. Hopefully tonight is a step in the right direction."

Cubs infielder Mike Olt played in his first minor-league rehab game on Friday. Manning third base for Double-A Northwest Arkansas, Olt went 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored. 

The team has not unveiled any next steps in the infielder's recovery from a fractured wrist suffered in April.

Cubs infielder Mike Olt will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee on Friday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Olt has been on the disabled list since mid-April with a fractured wrist. 

There is currently no indication how many rehab games Olt will need, and what the plan for him will be once he is deemed healthy.

A 3-for-28 slide has Phillies outfielder Cody Asche on the bench Friday night in St. Louis.

Asche actually owns a better average against lefties this season - and southpaw Tyler Lyons will be on the mound for the Cardinals.