MLB Player News

Angels first baseman C.J. Cron, who started at DH on Monday against the Mariners, will be given the chance to play regularly, even against elite right-handed starters, manager Mike Scioscia said.

“The plan is to get C.J. in for a lot of at-bats,” Scioscia said, per The Orange County Register. “No doubt in the spring he was swinging the bat better than he was last year. I want to give him a chance to see if he can come out and contribute.”

Jose Abreu's solo home run accounted for the White Sox only scoring in a 10-1 loss to the Royals on Opening Day. 

Abreu led off the seventh inning by hitting a 2-0 pitch to left center for a home run off of winning pitcher Yordano Ventura. 

Abreu went one for three with a walk and grounded into a double play. 

First-year Rays manager Kevin Cash opted to bat Asdrubal Cabrera -- who is also in his first year with Tampa Bay -- third in Monday's season opener against Orioles right-hander pitcher Chris Tillman. Cabrera is batting .333 (3 for 9) with one double and four RBI in his career against Tillman.

Cabrera entered play Monday batting .276 with a .350 on-base percentage, .436 slugging percentage, .786 OPS, 20 home runs, 50 doubles and 101 RBI in 185 games batting third.

The Braves placed outfielder Joey Terdoslavich (wrist) on the 15-day disabled list and pitchers Daniel Winkler (elbow) and Shae Simmons (elbow) on the 60-day disabled list.

Terdoslavich is dealing with a sprained wrist. Winkler is working his way back from last June's Tommy John surgery. Simmons will miss the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The Cubs announced the starting lineup for Sunday's season opener against the Cardinals, with right fielder Jorge Soler slotted into the second spot of the lineup.

Soler spent most of his brief action in 2014 batting fourth or fifth, but he'll slot in between center fielder Dexter Fowler and first baseman Anthony Rizzo Sunday.

The full Cubs lineup Sunday: CF Fowler, RF Soler, 1B Rizzo, SS Starlin Castro, LF Chris Coghlan, 3B Mike Olt, C David Ross, SP Jon Lester, 2B Tommy La Stella.

Ross draws the start at catcher with former Red Sox teammate Lester on the mound. Manager Joe Maddon will bat the pitcher eighth, Olt and La Stella join Rizzo and Castro in the infield for the team's first game, with Arismendy Alcantara set to come off the bench.

The White Sox posted their Opening Day lineup for Monday against the Royals. 

The Sox will start: Adam Eaton CF, Melky Cabrera LF, Jose Abreu 1B, Adam LaRoche DH, Leury Garcia RF, Conor Gillaspie 3B, Alexei Ramirez SS. Tyler Flowers C, Micah Johnson 2B. Jeff Samardzija will be the starting pitcher.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu only had one home run during spring training, but he's not concerned about the lack of power. 

That may have something to do with the fact that his batting average during spring games was .508. 

"I am feeling good," Abreu said, per ESPN. "Obviously, I'm a little anxious also because I want to hit home runs as well. But if God is saving that for the season, it's good for me. I'm just trying to get ready for the season and do my job."

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters that his lineup against the Tigers on Saturday, will be the same he uses on Opening Day, and against right-handed pitchers, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The club will roll with John Jaso, Steven Souza, Asdrubal Cabrera, Evan Longoria, James Loney, Desmond Jennings, Logan Forsythe, Rene Rivera and Kevin Kiermaier.

Against left-handed pitchers, Cash told reporters he will use Brandon Guyer at the leadoff spot, Jennings and Loney will flip spots in the order, Forsythe will serve as a designated hitter and Tim Beckham will be at second base, per the Tampa Tribune.

Reds manager Bryan Price said that Friday's lineup against the Blue Jays will resemble what he'll likely use to start the regular season, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

Billy Hamilton is batting leadoff and Joey Votto is hitting second. Todd Frazier, Devin Mesoraco and Marlon Byrd are third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the lineup. 

Price said the lineup could change against right-handed pitchers. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit two doubles in Thursday's 10-2 win over the White Sox. He was also responsible for driving in two runs off of those hits.

Goldschmidt, 27, is batting .292 in his career with 83 home runs and 302 RBI.