MLB Player News

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.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez is hoping to stick at his new position after converting from third base, reports triblive.com.

On opening day, Alvarez will be the team's 54th first baseman in its 129-year history.

“It's a matter of getting used to seeing the field from that point of view,” Alvarez said. “I need to get the reps in so the responsibilities that come with playing that position become second nature to me.”

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington talked about the team's past efforts of platooning the position.

“You can't develop something you don't have. You can't buy something you can't afford,” general manager Neal Huntington said. “That's why we've tried to platoon. Over the last couple of years, we've realized that's a challenge for a National League manager. Platoons are much harder here than they are in the American League, especially with a one-dimensional player who can only play one position.”

The hope around the organization is that they can get quality production from Alvarez.

“Our hope that is between Pedro Alvarez and Corey Hart, we'll get quality major league production,” Huntington said.

The 28-year-old is batting .306 with two home runs, nine RBI and eight strikeouts this spring.

Twins manager Paul Molitor told reporters that he'll use a blend of Jordan Schafer and Shane Robinson at center field, but wouldn't describe the position as a straight platoon, according to the Star Tribune. With Danny Santana named the starting shortstop, Molitor added that Eduardo Escobar would also see some time in the outfield.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon tested his knee by running in the outfield on Friday. Rendon has been out with a sprained left knee since March 9. He can run straight ahead, but in his Friday workout, he tested the knee with lateral movement, per MLB.com's Jamal Collier. 

Rendon still hopes to be ready for Opening Day. 

Braves infielder Jace Peterson could be in line to beat out Alberto Callaspo for the second base job, according to Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday.

Peterson, 24, is hitting .341/.442/.386 with one RBI in 44 at-bats this spring. Callaspo has slashed .216/.212/.216 with four RBI over 51 at-bats in Grapefruit League play.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe is completely aware of the threat that Miguel Sano brings when it comes to the third base spot. Sano is considered by many to be a can't-miss player. But Plouffe is trying not to let that affect him or his play. 

“You can’t think about anything like that,” Plouffe said. “You can’t worry about what other people are saying about you. I’m more focused on getting this organization out of this rut that we’ve dug ourselves over the last four years.”

After moving around the infield for years, Plouffe seems to have found his place at third. The 28-year-old has a batting average of .245 with 62 home runs, 224 RBI and 398 strikeouts in five seasons.

Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar hits a homerun in the team's 5-4 loss to the Red Sox.

The homer was Escobar's third this spring. The 26-year-old is batting .333, adding 13 RBI. Escobar has seen time at shortstop, second base and third base over his career.

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche was scratched from Thursday's spring lineup against the Blue Jays due to back tightness. Asche said he began to feel tightness in his back while the team was stretching Thursday.

Asche is batting .238 (10 for 42) with two doubles, three home runs, five runs and seven RBI in 16 spring games.

Chances of Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon being ready for Opening Day appear "pretty slim" after a second MRI showed that his left knee is still structurally sound, but remains sore, according to Comcast SportsNet Washington. Manager Matt Williams confirmed that his status is in jeopardy, as he remains without a timetable for return.

"It's still lingering. There is no point in pushing it right now and going back to square one during the season," Rendon said, per MLB.com. "We might as well fix it right now rather than later."

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson went 1 for 4 with a walk in his team's 5-3 loss to the Phillies Tuesday.

Peterson missed a few games due to an infected finger before returning Tuesday. He's likely headed for the starting role at second base this season. Peterson has hit .341/.449/.390 in 41 at-bats this spring.