MLB Player News

Arenado went 4-for-5 with two homers, a double and seven RBI in Wednesday's 10-6 win over the Giants.

The star third baseman was off to a bit of a slow start, hitting just .222 coming in, but clearly a big bust-out was on the horizon. After last season's 42-homer outburst, it seems likely Arenado will be among the majors' top few power hitters again this year.

Bichette, 23, is 6-for-15 (.400) with two home runs and six RBI over the first four games of the year for Double-A Trenton.

Bichette already has nearly as many home runs in 2016 as he had all of last season (3). He struggled mightily in 2015 as he was shuttled between High-A and Double-A, slashing just .226/.274/.311 in a combined 112 games. A bounce back season could certainly put him back on the path to the big leagues, though, particularly with the impending retirement of Alex Rodriguez and the questionable play of Chase Headley.

Asche (oblique) will likely resume baseball activities in early May, Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal reports.

Asche was reevaluated in Philadelphia on Wednesday and the team's current plan of action is to have the young outfielder resume hitting in the first week of May. According to Montemurro, the team will adjust its timetable for Asche depending on how his body responds after he returns to baseball activities. Given that Asche has been on the shelf since early March due to his oblique injury, he may require a longer than normal rehab stint before being activated from the disabled list.

Rivera will bat eighth and play shortstop Wednesday against the Cardinals.

Rivera has looked good in each of his two starts-playing second and third base-grabbing at least one hit in each. He's 3-for-7 with two doubles this season and gets his first chance to start at his natural position, shortstop, in favor of Jonathan Villar on Wednesday.

Ramirez is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Rays.

Ramirez, who has been playing more in the outfield of late, will sit in favor of Collin Cowgill. Ramirez is off to a strong start at the plate, hitting .313 in four games this season. With Michael Brantley on the road to returning, Ramirez could be squeezed even more for playing time.

Rendon is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Braves.

Rendon had a tough night at the plate Tuesday, striking out twice in an 0-for-3 effort, so he'll get the night off Wednesday. Stephen Drew will get the start at third in his place, batting second.

Peterson is back in the lineup Wednesday against the Nationals, playing second base and batting eighth in the order.

There were reports earlier Wednesday that the Braves were considering plugging the recently recalled Daniel Castro in at shortstop and sliding Erick Aybar to second base, but they won't enact that plan until Thursday at the earliest. As such, Peterson will reclaim his spot at second base Wednesday and he'll bat eighth against Tanner Roark. Still, the potential for Aybar to slide over to second will be something for Peterson owners to monitor as Aybar could threaten Peterson's already inconsistent role.

Bregman hit his third home run of the young season Tuesday for Double-A Corpus Christi.

He is 8-for-24 with three home runs, two walks and two strikeouts through six games for the Hooks, and is one of the hottest hitters in the minor leagues through one week of play. Dansby Swanson, Brendan Rodgers and Andrew Benintendi overshadowed Bregman in dynasty league drafts this spring, but Bregman is a fantastic hitter in his own right. If he weren't blocked at the big league level, Bregman would have the look of a prospect who could move quickly to the majors.

Longoria hit a two-run home run, his second, in Tuesday's win against Cleveland as part of a 2-for-3 game.

The home run came off Cleveland reliever Cody Allen, who served up just two home runs in 69.1 innings in all of 2015 -- no small feat. Longoria is off to a strong start, with a .310/.333/.586 batting line thus far in 30 plate appearances.

Asche (oblique) will be reevaluated Wednesday in Philadelphia, Meghan Montemurro of the News Journal reports.

Manager Pete Mackanin said that Asche believes he's turned a corner in his recovery, which bodes very well for the young outfielder. If the reevaluation goes well Wednesday, Asche could resume baseball activities soon, which could help him get back to the Phillies around late-April or early-May.