MLB Player News

Winker is not in the lineup for Friday's Opening Day game against the Tigers.

With southpaw Matthew Boyd starting for Detroit, the Reds will go with a heavily right-handed lineup, sitting both Winker and Shogo Akiyama, with righties Phillip Ervin and Matt Davidson starting at left field and designated hitter, respectively. Winker owns a career 137 wRC+ against righties compared to a 52 wRC+ against lefties, so expect him to continue to be platooned heavily this season.

Colon had his contract selected by the Reds on Friday and was added to the 30-man roster.

The 31-year-old was in camp as a non-roster invitee and was able to show enough for the team to justify creating room for him on the 40-man roster. Colon appeared in eight games for the Reds in 2019 and spent most of the season at Triple-A Louisville, where he had a .300/.372/.443 slash line in 136 games. He's unlikely to see significant playing time as a reserve infielder.

Collins was added to the White Sox's Opening Day roster, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Collins and Yermin Mercedes were in a battle for the same spot, but the White Sox opted for their top pick in the 2016 draft. It came down to Collins' left-handed bat and familiarity with the arms at the big-league level. He also had a productive bat during summer camp, putting into practice a more aggressive plate approach. He'll serve as the third catcher and depth option at first base and designated hitter.

Stanton went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in Thursday's win over Washington.

Stanton got his season started with a bang in the first inning, crushing a 459-foot homer to deep center off Max Scherzer. He got to Scherzer again in the fifth, driving in another run with a single to right field. After playing in only 18 games during an injury-riddled 2019 season, Stanton is looking to bounce back in the abbreviated 2020 campaign.

Torrens is not included on the Padres' Opening Day roster.

Torrens had been on the bubble for a roster spot throughout spring training and summer camp, but San Diego ultimately decided to carry only two catchers while Ty France serves as the emergency backstop. Though he is not on the active roster, Torrens will travel with the team during road trips as a member of the taxi squad, per Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The Giants selected Ruf's contract Thursday.

Ruf was one of six non-roster players the Giants bumped up the 40-man roster and 30-man Opening Day roster in advance of Thursday's opener versus the Dodgers. Back in North America after a three-year stint in the Korea Baseball Organization, Ruf will provide the Giants with some right-handed power off the bench. He could find himself in the lineup regularly versus southpaws, against whom he's posted a .299/.379/.542 career slash line (150 wRC+).

Goins signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Thursday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Goins will report to the team's alternative camp site in Schaumburg, Illinois, where he'll remain as organizational infield depth. The 32-year-old hit .250/.333/.347 across 52 games with Chicago in 2019.

General manager James Click said Thursday there is no update on Alvarez's status, other than that the team is doing everything it can to get him back on the field as soon as possible, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Suffice to say, Alvarez will not be in the Opening Day lineup and can be considered out indefinitely. He has been unable to report to camp for undisclosed reasons. Kyle Tucker and Aledmys Diaz are expected to get starts at designated hitter early in the season.

Buxton (foot) is on the 30-man Opening Day roster and has avoided being placed on the injured list to begin the season, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Buxton ran and took live swings during a workout Wednesday in St. Paul and was then reported to be headed to Chicago. It's not clear if Buxton will be in the Opening Day lineup or if he'll play in the team's first series against the White Sox, but it's a positive sign that he's not on the 10-day IL to begin the season.

The Rockies activated Blackmon (not injury related) from the COVID-19 injured list Thursday.

Blackmon was late to summer camp while he completed his quarantine process in his home in Georgia following his positive test for COVID-19 in late June, but his inclusion on the Rockies' 30-man Opening Day roster implies the team is now comfortable with where he stands on the health front. The 34-year-old concluded summer camp by appearing in back-to-back games Tuesday and Wednesday and should be ready to handle an everyday role when the Rockies open the regular season Friday in Texas.