MLB Player News

Rizzo went 1-for-2 with three walks, a run scored and an RBI in Thursday's season-opening win over the Rangers.

Javier Baez supplied two home runs and Kris Bryant went deep once in this one, but Rizzo was content being patient and getting on base four times. The 29-year-old has seen his walk rate hover between 11 and 13 percent the past six seasons, so he'll likely be somewhere in that range again in 2019.

The Padres optioned France to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

France was one of the Padres' final four cuts of spring training, with he, Luis Urias and Jose Pirela ultimately losing out to Greg Garcia for the lone reserve infield job. The 24-year-old should handle an everyday role at a corner spot for El Paso, where he slashed .287/.382/.532 with five home runs over 110 plate appearances after a late-season promotion in 2018.

Cooper is starting in right field and poised to serve as the Marlins' cleanup hitter in the early going this season, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports. "He's a guy that hits righties and lefties and there's potential double power and that's a guy that drives in runs," manager Don Mattingly said when explaining why Cooper is his cleanup hitter.

This is an awful lineup, but Cooper will at least be in a better position to drive in runs than if he were hitting fifth or sixth. He doesn't offer a ton of upside, given his lack of plus power, but he could be serviceable in deeper formats.

Goldschmidt is hitting second Thursday against the Brewers.

The Cardinals will put their best hitter in the two hole, putting an end to any thoughts that they might give that spot to Dexter Fowler in an effort to get him off to a hot start. Matt Carpenter is leading off while Paul DeJong and Marcell Ozuna hit third and fourth, respectively.

Alonso is starting at first base and hitting second Opening Day against the Nationals.

Not only did the Mets surprise everyone by putting Alonso on the Opening Day roster, but they are also giving him a prestigious spot in the lineup. He will hit behind Brandon Nimmo and in front of Robinson Cano and Michael Conforto. It is worth noting that Alonso doesn't even have the platoon advantage against righty Max Scherzer, so he should theoretically stick in the No. 2 spot for now.

Blandino (knee) was placed on the 10-day IL.

He had surgery to reconstruct a torn ACL and MCL in July of 2018, and is still working his way back. If he beats Scooter Gennett (groin) back, Blandino could get time at the keystone, but he could also be optioned to Triple-A.

General manager Brodie Van Wagenen confirmed Wednesday that Smith would be included on the Mets' Opening Day roster, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Smith played his way onto the active roster with a stellar spring (.831 OPS in 61 plate appearances), but top prospect Pete Alonso (1.006 OPS in 75 plate appearances) was even better. The Mets confirmed Wednesday that Alonso would also stick around with the big club, and the organization probably wouldn't have made that decision if they didn't intend for the 24-year-old to play on everyday basis. Unless Alonso flops in his first taste of the big leagues, Smith will likely head to Triple-A Syracuse once the team gets Jed Lowrie (knee) or Todd Frazier (oblique) back from the injured list.

Alonso will break camp on the Mets' 25-man roster, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Indications had pointed toward Alonso making the team for much of spring, and that's finally been confirmed. The 24-year-old will make his big-league debut following a strong spring in which he hit .352/.387/.620 with four homers.

Alonso got the start at first base and hit second in Monday's exhibition game against the Orioles, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

The Mets have yet to announce their plans for Alonso -- it's possible they're trying to follow the current trend across MLB and sign him to a long-term deal before putting him on the Opening Day roster -- but if this lineup was a preview of his assignment in the regular season, it's an intriguing spot in the batting order for a player who posted a .395 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A in 2018 along with his 36 homers. Wherever he hits, Alonso has the upside to make a fantasy impact.

Smith got the start at DH in Monday's exhibition game against the Orioles, going 1-for-5 with a three-run home run.

The ninth-inning blast off Pedro Araujo won the game for the Mets. Smith closes the books on a solid spring that saw him slash .321/.367/.464 with two homers, but assuming Pete Alonso breaks camp on the 25-man roster, Smith will likely be relegated to a bench role unless the rookie really struggles.