MLB Player News

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Wednesday the third opinion on third baseman Anthony Rendon's injured left knee confirmed the first two opinions -- a sprained MCL.

Williams said Rendon will continue to rehab the injury, but delivered the bad news that Rendon will begin the season on the disabled list. Williams said Rendon has a week-to-week type of injury, and sources told CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman that Rendon could be back in three weeks.

General manager Mike Rizzo did not put a timetable on Rendon's return.

“It's positive news,” Rizzo told Heyman. “All three (doctors) agreed. There's nothing seriously wrong, and it should remedy itself. Some turn the corner quickly and with other guys it takes a few weeks. But he will be fine.”

Yunel Escobar is expected to fill in at third base during Rendon's absence, which means Danny Espinosa will likely replace Escobar at second base. Dan Uggla could also be an option, if he makes the Opening Day roster. Ryan Zimmerman is not expected to move back to third base with Rendon sidelined.

Mike Olt is expected to be the Cubs' starting third baseman on Opening Day for a second straight year with the demotion of Kris Bryant to the minors. Even with the potential for Chicago to bring Bryant to the majors quickly, Olt is feeling confident heading into the 2015 season.

"It feels a lot different," Olt said of this season versus last year, per MLB.com. "I was able to go up there last year and learned a lot of things. I feel I'm back to the player who can really compete instead of the player who you hope is ready and you hope the swing is there. It's a lot different feeling, a lot less stressful."

Olt is having a decent spring at the plate, batting .279 with a .392 on-base percentage, .558 slugging percentage and .950 OPS in 19 games. It's a nice turnaround after batting .160 in 89 games in the majors last season.

"I had two crazy years and a lot of things happened to me," said Olt of some injury issues. "Now I feel it's in the past, and I have a new outlook on baseball and a new outlook on my career. I used to be one of those [top prospects like Bryant] -- and you forget about that. I feel myself becoming that guy again, and it makes baseball fun again."

Orioles regular shortstop J.J. Hardy is on the shelf for awhile and the team is in need of a replacement for the beginning of the season. Manager Buck Showalter hinted Tuesday third baseman Manny Machado may slide over to shortstop to provide some additional help, reports the Baltimore Sun.

"We are looking at all possibilities, all possible scenarios," Showalter said. "I don't have any doubt that we have a number of guys that could do it, including Manny, but you've got to be careful about robbing Peter to pay Paul."

Machado was a shortstop before making it to the majors.

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke told reporters Tuesday's spring lineup against the Reds will be the team's Opening Day batting order, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Tuesday's lineup had center fielder Carlos Gomez batting first, and he was followed by catcher Jonathan Lucroy, right fielder Ryan Braun, third base Aramis Ramirez, first baseman Adam Lind, left fielder Khris Davis, second baseman Scooter Gennett and shortstop Jean Segura. The pitcher will bat ninth.

Roenicke said he chose Gomez to bat leadoff over Gennett because moving Gomez to the middle of the lineup disrupts other hitters.

Nationals manager Matt Williams told reporters that a second option on Anthony Rendon's left knee sprain confirmed the same diagnosis, per the team's official website. Rendon is expected to seek a third opinion from Dr. Steve Singleton in Colorado, per the Washington Post.

"We're just trying to make sure we cover all bases, and everybody gets a chance to take a look at it and develop a course of action from today on," Williams said. “So far, the two doctors that have seen him and reviewed it have said the same thing. We'll see what Dr. Singleton says today."

Rendon suffered the injury while making a diving play on March. He has been prescribed rest and appears destined to start the season on the disabled list. If he is unable to play, Yunel Escobar will fill in at third base.

“The fact that we just don't know what kind of time frame Anthony's on, we have to look at all of the options that we have. And the fact that [Escobar] is willing to (do it), he came to us and said: 'Listen, if there's a need for me to play third, I'd be happy to do it.' That's great. That's a great attitude to have. So we have options in that regard.” Williams said, per Comcast SportsNet Washington.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez went 2 for 4 with a walk, two home runs and six RBI in Monday's 18-4 win over the Phillies.

Alvarez smacked a two-run home run in the fifth inning before coming back with a grand slam in the eighth. He has hit .325 with four home runs in 40 at-bats this spring and said after the outing that spring stats "don't count, but they do matter," per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Monday third baseman Anthony Rendon met with Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on the MCL sprain in his left knee, MLB.com reports.

"Right now we're looking at what Dr. Andrews sees and take the appropriate steps necessary," manager Matt Williams said. "Again, I have no results at this point. To speculate would be inaccurate at best. We'll see what that is. We'll get his report on what his findings are and go from there."

Rendon was injured while making a diving play on March 9 and appears headed to the disabled list to open the season.

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche returned to the starting lineup Monday against the Pirates after missing four straight spring training games due to back tightness. He started at third base and hit sixth Monday.

The Athletics decided to reassign three players Sunday including: shortstop Andy Parrino, catcher Luke Carlin and first baseman Max Muncy, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

Carlin git .273 with six RBI in 22 plate appearances this spring while Muncy hit .375 in 32 at-bats with two home runs and 10 RBI. Parrino hit just .196 with four doubles and 11 strikeouts in 46 at-bats.

Carlin is likely to be back with the team Tuesday to catch for Barry Zito, according to the report.

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche (back) plans to play in a minor-league game Sunday and believes he can be ready for Opening Day, The News Journal reports.

Asche was able to take batting practice Saturday and Sunday and is ready to test his injured back in game action. He was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to back tightness. Asche has hit .238/.267/.500 with three home runs in 42 spring at-bats.