MLB Player News

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson had his six-game hitting streak halted Wednesday. And he is out of the lineup Friday against Pittsburgh with discomfort between his left thumb and index finger, MLB.com has reported. He will definitely sit Saturday as well and could be sidelined beyond that.

Pedro Ciriaco is set to start instead.

Peterson, who has led off in every game since May 15, has started them all since May 8. He owns a slash line of .262/.335/.337.

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman is batting in the No. 2 hole Friday for the Nationals for just the second time this season as Washington juggles its lineup in search of offense. 

Zimmerman hit second on April 27 but has spent the majority of the season in the five-hole for the Nationals. He has just four hits in his last 37 at-bats. 

"I think the top of the lineup will help because he’ll get more turnaround and have more at-bats sooner and take the pressure off hitting behind Bryce and relax," hitting coach Rick Schu said, per The Washington Post.

Anthony Rendon, fresh off the disabled list, will hit fourth, while Wilson Ramos returns from a right thumb injury to bat fifth. 

Twins utility man Eduardo Escobar waited until his last at-bat to record his lone hit of Thursday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox. Escobar went 1 for 5 with an RBI double in the top of the ninth inning that gave the Twins some un-needed insurance.

Despite the two-bagger on Thursday, Escobar has been scuffling at the plate recently. After Thursday, Escboar has just two hits in his last six games.

After missing the first 53 games of the season due to a left knee sprain, Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon will make his return in Thursday's game against the Cubs, the team announced.

"You can't expect him to be the catalyst, but we are glad to have him back," manager Matt Williams said about Rendon, per MLB.com. "The fact that he is physically able to play is important to us and important to him as well. So he feels good. He got some at-bats, not the ideal amount of at-bats, but nonetheless he is like what we said [Wednesday], he is a quick study."

Rendon will bat second and play second base during the game. He will face Jake Arrieta, who he is 0 for 3 against in his career.

The Nationals are favored (-111) over the Cubs on Thursday.

The Nationals announced that they have reinstated infielder Anthony Rendon to the roster from the disabled list on Thursday.  

Rendon hasn't played a game this season as he's been recovering from a left knee sprain. He also experienced a setback during his first rehab assignment where he injured his oblique. In eight games with Double-A Harrisburg, Rendon hit .250 with three doubles and three RBI. 

A year ago, Rendon hit .287 with 21 homers. 

The Nationals also recalled pitcher A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse. The corresponding roster moves were optioning pitcher Taylor Jordan to Triple-A Syracuse and infielder Wilmer Difo to Double-A Harrisburg.

Giants general manager Bobby Evans revealed that he'll continue to give Matt Duffy more opportunities at third base, while Casey McGehee works on climbing back to the majors.

Duffy has been the team's regular third baseman since May 17. He is hitting .238 (15 for 63) with two homers and seven RBI over that span.

"We've given Matt Duffy a long look there and we'll continue to," Evans said, per MLB Network Radio. "There's a chance [Casey] McGehee could be back up here soon as well.

"We'll continue to monitor that, but we have fallback options in that area." 

Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon played both ends of a doubleheader for Double-A Harrisburg on Wednesday.

Rendon, who is working his way back from knee and oblique issues, went 2 for 7 combined in the twinbill, serving as a designated hitter in the second game. He has five rehab games in the books since May 29.

"He's done everything fine. He's turned double plays. He made a diving play up the middle the other night and threw the guy out at first. So I think with regards to his health and him playing second, he's done well," manager Matt Williams said, per the Washington Post. "If we have opportunity for him to go back over to third, that's second nature anyway, at this point. But it was important that if he is gonna play second base he gets some reps there, too. Because he didn't do it all of last year."

Twins utility man Eduardo Escobar went deep on Wednesday for his third home run of the season. Escobar took Alexi Ogando out of the park for a two-run shot in the ninth inning, but it wasn't enough as the Red Sox took Game 1 of the doubleheader by a score of 6-3.

Escobar, who started at third base but moved to left field, homered for the first time since May 6. It was his only hit of the game, and he now has just six hits in 32 at-bats over his last 10 games.

The Tigers purchased the contracts of infielder Josh Wilson and outfielder Daniel Fields from Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday. 

Wilson posted a .291/.350/.362/.712 slash line in 37 games for Toledo. He also had nine doubles, 10 RBI and 15 runs.

Fields had a .271/.394/.486/.879 slash line in 48 games. He also had three home runs, seven triples, 15 doubles, 21 RBI and 33 runs.

Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon is scheduled to play nine innings at second base with Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday, MASNSports.com reports.

"He's scheduled to play nine again," Williams said. "Came out of the last one fine. Depending on rain and how the weather is then, he's scheduled for that today."

Williams didn't have a timetable for Rendon's return to the active roster but said the second baseman is progressing.

"I think he's making good progress," Williams said. "The fact that he's played those games and had no issue. Had a really good work day, we were fortunate to get his work done yesterday before the rain came. Had no problem with it and was eager to get back is a good sign. The fact that he's feeling good is a positive for us."

Rendon has yet to make his season debut due to knee and oblique injuries.