MLB Player News

Angels manager Joe Maddon indicated Sunday that he is considering having Rendon (oblique) return to action as the designated hitter before playing third base, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Rendon took batting practice and fielded groundballs over the weekend, suggesting that his regular-season Angels debut is imminent. While the team could play it safe by having Rendon open in a designated-hitter role, the move would likely be temporary given the value his defense adds to the team's infield.

Bregman went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 7-6 loss to Seattle.

Bregman has hit safely in all three games thus far, going 3-for-13 with a double, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored. As one of the Astros' more prolific bats, Bregman has hit third or fourth in the order in 2020.

Donaldson went 0-for-2 with two walks in Sunday's win at the White Sox. He's 1-for-9 with four walks in his first three games with the Twins, hitting second in the order in all three contests.

Donaldson had a quiet weekend at the plate even with the Twins scoring 27 runs in three games. Donaldson still drew walks at a good clip and saw 3.9 pitchers per at bat, according to The Athletic, which shows he's seeing the ball well at the plate and his hits should come.

Riley went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 14-1 win over the Mets.

Riley stretched the Braves' lead to 12-1 with his sixth-inning long ball, his first of the season. The 23-year-old is expected to share third-base duties with Johan Camargo during the 2020 campaign.

Machado went 0-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Machado was intentionally walked by Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel in the seventh inning, and proceeded to work a double-steal with Fernando Tatis. While Machado only picked up five stolen bases in 2019, the Padres have shown a willingness to run rampant on the basepaths with seven steals as a team through three games in 2020. Machado may not be a big part of that, but it could give a slight boost to his RBI count down the line.

Ramirez went 3-for-5 with two home runs, four RBI, four runs and one strikeout in Sunday's win against the Royals.

After struggling in 2019, Ramirez provided a boost to his numbers early this season as he took part in Cleveland's strong showing on offense Sunday. In addition to home runs in the fourth and sixth innings, Ramirez scored two additional times as all but one of the members of the starting lineup recorded hits. The 27-year-old has gone 5-for-12 with three extra-base hits to begin the season.

Anderson went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and two runs scored against the Phillies on Sunday.

Anderson took Reggie McClain deep in the fifth inning, a big blow in the Marlins 11-run offensive performance. Anderson has started the season well, reaching base three times Saturday prior to his power production Sunday. He'll have the opportunity to build on these performances with a friendly matchup against the Orioles next on the schedule.

Senzel was scratched from Sunday's game against the Tigers since he wasn't feeling well, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

It's a worrying development for the Reds, as Mike Moustakas was scratched and placed on the injured list for similar reasons earlier in the day, and Matt Davidson tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. The fact Senzel remains on the roster is a positive sign, though his availability for the immediate future is now up in the air.

Rendon (oblique) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Oakland.

The 30-year-old will sit for the third straight game to begin the season as he continues his recovery from the oblique issue sustained in summer camp. Rendon fielded grounders and took batting practice prior to Saturday's contest and is scheduled for increased work Sunday, so he appears to be trending toward his return. David Fletcher receives another start at third base in his place.

Chapman, who entered Sunday's action 1-for-9 over his first two games, is also showing some signs of frustration with his future financial outlook, Shayna Rubin of the Marin Independent Journal reports.

Chapman is under team control through 2023, was originally on the books for a modest $623,500 this season (now prorated to $230,926) per Spotrac and isn't slated for unrestricted free agency until he's 30. That's a frustrating overall outlook for a player that, this year's slow start (1-for-9) over a very modest two-game sample notwithstanding, has outpaced his current compensation with 60 home runs, 159 RBI and a pair of Gold Gloves over his first two full seasons as an everyday player. However, the Athletics, already notorious for a conservative financial approach when it comes to doling out big paydays, could become even more prudent in that regard in light of their likely significant revenue losses in 2020. Chapman notably stated "it's every player's goal to get to free agency and be able to choose where you go" during a recent appearance on ESPN's Opening Night broadcast of the Dodgers-Giants game, lending credence to the notion he's playing with his financial future already weighing fairly heavily on his mind.