MLB Player News

The Phillies plan to promote third baseman Cody Asche, signaling Michael Young is expected to be traded Tuesday, according to Yahoo! Sports. Asche is considered the Phillies' seventh-best prospect by MLB.com.

Asche homered twice Monday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, which was his second two-homer game in his last seven appearances. He's batting .381 (16 for 42) with five home runs and 12 RBI in his last 10 games. After hitting .264 in April and .267 in May, Asche hit .318 in June and is batting .330 in July.

Phillies third base prospect Cody Asche hit a pair of home runs off Red Sox prospect Rubby De La Rosa during a 9-1 win for Triple-A Lehigh Valley over Pawtucket Monday.

"I was facing a good pitcher in De La Rosa," Asche said, per MLB.com. "You have to work hard to get a pitch to hit, and he has a lot of plus pitches he can come with in different ways. I was able to see some pitches in each at-bat, got a feel for what he had on the night and was able to capitalize on a couple mistakes."

Asche had a pair of home runs in a game for the second time in his last seven appearances. He's batting .381 (16 for 42) with five home runs and 12 RBI in his last 10 games. After hitting .264 in April and .267 in May, Asche hit .318 in June and is batting .330 in July.

"In baseball, you tend to get a good feeling in the box, and you're able to consistently put good swings on the ball," he said. "You do that, and the numbers will come. I'm just feeling a little more comfortable in the box, seeing pitches well. You take some tough ones and swing at the good ones."

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado homered for the first time in 30 games Monday against the Braves. He finished 2 for 4 with one double and one RBI.

Arenado is beginning to pick up the offensive pace. He has hit safely in eight of nine games and has multi-hit games in four of his last five contests. Arenado is batting .353 (12 for 34) with a .471 slugging percentage, one double, one home run and five RBI in his last nine games.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez hit his 27th home run Monday during a 9-2 win over the Cardinals. Alvarez went deep in the first inning for a three-run blast with no outs against Jake Westbrook.

Alvarez finished 1 for 4 with the three RBI. He added a walk and is batting .244 for the year.

Alvarez has recorded at least one base hit in eight straight games and has three homers and six RBI over that stretch. He's up to 68 runs driven in on the year.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura was back in action Monday against Chicago after he missed Sunday's game with a forearm injury. 

Segura batted third for the Brewers in the 5-0 as he went 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. He's batting .313. 

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura returned to the starting lineup Monday against the Cubs after sitting out Sunday with forearm tightness. Segura is mired in a 3-for-20 slump in his last five games, but he's batting .273 in 22 July games.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura is out of Sunday's lineup due to forearm tightness, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Segura's injury is not expected to be serious and he is targeting a Monday return to action.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss said it has been a joy to watch rookie third baseman Nolan Arenado and veteran shortstop Troy Tulowitzki man the left side of the infield, according to The Denver Post.

"The rule of thumb is that if the third baseman goes to his left, and can get the ball, he should go get it," Weiss said. "Really, that's a luxury for a shortstop, because that play Tulo makes going to his right -- and he makes that play as well as anybody I have ever seen -- is tough for a shortstop. So anytime a third baseman can make that play, it helps the team."

Tulowitzki has no problem with Arenado stealing some plays since it helps his positioning on the field.

"Sometimes Nolan will say, 'Oh, my bad.' But I've told him to get every ball that he possibly can, and don't worry about it," Tulowitzki said. "If he takes more balls in the hole, I can cheat up the middle a little bit more."

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura said after Saturday's game that he does not expect to play Sunday, MLB.com reports. He was removed from Saturday's game against the Rockies due to forearm tightness.

Segura is targeting a return for Monday's series opener against the Cubs.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura left Saturday's game against the Rockies after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning. The team announced that Segura is suffering from forearm tightness, MLB.com reports.

Segura was 2 for 3 with one run, two RBI and his 31st stolen base of the season before exiting.