MLB Player News

Nationals manager Matt Williams said that third baseman Anthony Rendon has continued his rehab work from an MCL sprain in Viera, Fla., at the Nationals complex, MASN Sports reports. 

"Wet field conditions today, so he didn't run today, but he did all the other things. He hit, he threw, he took grounders because we can cover the field. So all is well. He's progressing nicely."

Rendon, who finished fifth in NL MVP voting last season, started the year on the 15-day disabled list with the injury. The team has not given a timetable for Rendon's return. In the meantime, Washington will use Yunel Escobar at third base while Rendon remains sidelined.

Evan Longoria is in the Rays' lineup against the Yankees as a designated hitter, according to the Tampa Bay Tribune. 

Longoria was hit by a pitch in Thursday night's 4-2 win against the Blue Jays. He was forced to leave the game after a pitch from Blue Jays pitcher Marco Estrada plunked him in the left hip. Following the game, Rays manager Kevin Cash said Longoria would be day-to-day. 

Longoria said he feels fine and could return to third base on Saturday. 

Logan Forsythe will fill in defensively for Longoria at third base. 

The Braves have launched the 2015 season better offensively than they did last year. But don't credit the top of the lineup.

The team has yet to score two or fewer runs in a game. They did so four times and were blanked twice in their first seven games of 2014. Yet the first two hitters in the lineup are struggling mightily.

Braves leadoff hitters are 8-for-37 (.216) with a .275 on-base percentage. But they've been raking compared to those hitting behind them. The second spot, which has been manned by Jace Peterson, Alberto Callaspo, Phil Gosselin and Andrelton Simmons, has produced a .114 average with no extra-base hits, .162 OBP and .114 slugging percentage.

The Cubs placed third baseman Mike Olt on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 15, with a hairline fracture in his right wrist, per the team's official website. Olt will have a cast on his wrist for three weeks before he resumes his rehab.

Third base prospect Kris Bryant was promoted to take his place at third base. Olt batted .154 on 13 at-bats before landing on the DL.

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt is heading to the disabled list after an MRI revealed that he has a hairline fracture of his ulna, according to the Daily Herald. 

Olt will have his wrist in a cast for three weeks. With Olt down, the Cubs are calling up third-base prospect Kris Bryant on Friday. 

Olt is hitting .154 on 13 at-bats to start the season. 

Giants third baseman Casey McGehee (knee) is not in the starting lineup Thursday for the fifth straight game.

McGehee hasn't seen any action since coming out of Saturday's game after just one at-bat due to a strained left knee.

"He came out and he ran. He's not quite ready," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said before Thursday's game, per MLB.com.

Bochy added that head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner estimated that McGehee needs at least one more day of rest. With the third baseman out of the lineup again, Matt Duffy, who has made four straight starts at third base and hit his first home run of the season Wednesday, will start and bat sixth.

The Giants are heavy favorites (-175) against the Diamondbacks Thursday.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Thursday that while third baseman Anthony Rendon has continued with his fielding work and hitting in the batting cage, he remains without a timetable to begin playing in games, masnsports.com reports.

Rendon is on the disabled list due to an MCL sprain, and while it initially sounded as if he could be back within three weeks of the beginning of the season, he's running out of time to hit that target as he has yet to see any action in game situations. The Nationals will continue to use Yunel Escobar at the hot corner until Rendon is ready.

When the Twins and Indians open a three-game series Friday, Cleveland will be sending ace Corey Kluber to the mound. Twins DH Kennys Vargas and third baseman Trevor Plouffe have fairly good history against the 2014 AL Cy Young award winner.

Vargas went 4 for 11 (.364) with one double, one home run and two RBI against Kluber last season, while Plouffe is batting .360 (9 for 25) with one double, two home runs and seven RBI in his career against Kluber.

Kluber is 4-2 with a 4.01 ERA in 10 career starts against the Twins. He went 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts against the AL Central foe last season and is 2-1 with a 4.66 ERA in five starts at Target Field.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura minced no words when asked about his forced move out of the eighth hole and into the leadoff spot due to the hamstring injury that befell Carlos Gomez.

While he expressed sadness at the misfortune of his teammate, Segura added that he was certainly happy to rise in the batting order.

"This is the worst spot ever in baseball," he told MLB.com.

Segura earned the move-up. He has opened the season by compiling a .333/.379/.519 slash line with three extra-base hits.

Twins outfielder Oswaldo Arcia was given a day of rest against Royals left-hander Jason Vargas on Thursday. Arcia is a .221 lifetime hitter against southpaws and has just one hit in his first eight at-bats against left-handed pitching.

Manager Paul Molitor inserted switch-hitter Eduardo Escobar to play left field and bat seventh in the order. Molitor wants to see more consistency out of Arcia before he starts facing more lefties, per the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

"I'd like to see his at-bats pick up in terms of consistency, and I think the best chance to do that right now is against right-handers in the short term," Molitor said.