MLB Player News

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt is back in the starting lineup Monday against the Reds.

Olt was hit by a pitch on the wrist Saturday but was able to pinch hit one day later before returning to the lineup Monday. Second baseman Tommy La Stella, who is dealing with a strain on his side, is not in the lineup Monday.

The Cubs are favorites (-131) against the Reds Monday.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado finally ended his hitless slide to begin the season Sunday against the Blue Jays.

Machado began the season in a 0-for-15 slump before leading off the second inning Sunday with a single off Drew Hutchison. However, it was his only hit in four at-bats.

Machado is batting .053 (1 for 19) with one RBI, three walks, four strikeouts and one stolen base in six games. He also has grounded into two double plays.

"The stats haven't matched up with how good he feels," manager Buck Showalter said Monday. "They will, they will."

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Monday that third baseman Anthony Rendon is making progress in his recovery from an MCL sprain.

Rendon did some throwing and took some dry swings Sunday, progressing from the side-to-side drills he began Friday. He remains without a timetable for return from the disabled list.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is 9 for 24 with four doubles, two home runs and seven RBI in his first six games of the season, giving him a .375/.423/.792 line after one week of play.

Arenado hit fifth in each of his team's first three games of the season, but he appeared twice in the third spot of the lineup in this weekend's series against the Cubs. After opening the season with a five-game hitting streak, he went 0 for 4 in Sunday's 6-5 loss.

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt was able to pinch-hit Sunday after being hit on the wrist in Saturday's game.

"Last night, it was swollen, and I woke up this morning, and it wasn't," Olt said to MLB.com. "That's a big step in the right direction. I could probably steal a bag, whatever they need."

Olt struck out, but remained in the game at third for Jonathan Herrera.

Rockies infielder DJ LeMahieu recorded three RBI in Sunday's 6-5 loss against the Cubs. 

LeMahieu went 1 of 4 for the game but made his lone hit count. He hit a three-run triple in the second inning, scoring Corey Dickerson, Michael McKenry and Daniel Descalso. LeMahieu finished the series against the Cubs 7 for 12. 

"He might have got star of the series award," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, via MLB.com. "He was really good."

Cody Asche returned to the lineup after two days off and picked up three hits in the Phillies' 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Nationals on Sunday. 

Asche, who was batting third, got the Phillies on the board with a fifth-inning single off Washington starter Max Scherzer and was the potential tying run in the 10th inning after earning a walk against closer Drew Storen. 

Asche is hitting .429 on the season with one RBI. 

Giants third baseman Casey McGehee is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres and has been diagnosed with a bone bruise on his left knee, CSN Bay Area reports.

McGehee came out of Saturday's game with a left knee strain, so his absence Sunday afternoon doesn't come as a surprise. He indicated that he initially suffered the injury Monday and felt it intermittently all week, and he'll continue to get treatment for a few days.

Infielder Matt Duffy, who has seen starts at second base and third base already this season, will start at third base.

The Giants are underdogs (+120) against the Padres Sunday.

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt will not start Sunday, one day after getting hit by a pitch on his wrist that required X-rays, according to MLB.com, with Jonathan Herrera getting the nod at third base. 

The X-rays on Olt were negative, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Saturday that if the wrist remained sore, Olt might not play. Herrera made the Cubs roster with a strong spring training after signing with the team as a free agent in the offseason. He hit .233 in 90 at-bats with Boston last year and has one at-bat in two games this year. 

Olt said that he woke up without any swelling in the wrist and felt good after taking some batting practice swings, noting that he could come off the bench if need be. 

Twins outfielder Oswaldo Arcia and designated hitter Kennys Vargas are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against lefty Chris Sale and the White Sox.

The team is going righty-heavy against Sale, with Joe Mauer, who is serving as the team's designated hitter Sunday, the only lefty in the lineup. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe moves across the diamond to play first base, while Eduardo Escobar and Eduardo Nunez enter the lineup in place of Arcia and Vargas.

The Twins are underdogs (+135) against the White Sox Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.