MLB Player News

Lowe is not starting Saturday against the Marlins.

Lowe had a strong season last year, homering 14 times in 56 games while producing a career-high .916 OPS, and he's started this season well, going 2-for-7 with a double. He's still a Ray, though, so he'll continue to find himself a victim of the team's heavy rotation policy. Most of his off days this season will likely come against southpaws, but he'll sit Saturday even with righty Elieser Hernandez on the mound for the Marlins. Mike Brosseau will get his first start of the season in his absence.

Altuve reached five times Friday, going 3-for-3 with two walks and four runs scored in a 9-5 win over Oakland.

So far, so good with Altuve atop the Astros batting order. He's 4-for-7 with three walks and six runs scored over two games. The top of the order -- Altuve, Michael Brantley and Alex Bregman -- combined to go 8-for-12 with four RBI and scored eight of Houston's nine runs Friday.

Hernandez batted leadoff and went 1-for-4 in Friday's 3-0 loss to the Orioles.

Hernandez opened the bottom half of the first inning with a line-drive single to right, building off the momentum generated during spring training when he slashed .327/.450/.592. However, the momentum died there when Hernandez was picked off first base with one out. His was one of only two Boston hits on the day.

Lowe went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk in Thursday's season-opening win over the Marlins.

Lowe's two-bagger off Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara was the only other extra-base hit of the day for the Rays besides Austin Meadows' solo home run. The relatively productive afternoon at the plate to open the season was an encouraging sight, considering Lowe hit just .179 (7-for-39) and struck out 14 times in Grapefruit League play.

Merrifield went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored during Thursday's Opening Day win over the Rangers.

Merrifield made his at-bats count and kept Kansas City's lead alive with a solo home run against Kolby Allard in the eighth inning. It looks like the 32-year-old is set for another season as a reliable fantasy producer in every category.

Arraez went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a walk during Thursday's extra-inning loss against the Brewers.

Arraez is expected to work as Minnesota's leadoff hitter in most games this season, and he certainly lived up to the role in the opener, reaching base in three of his six plate appearances. He's posted an on-base percentage north of .360 in each of his first two big-league seasons, so Arraez is a solid fit for the role despite his lack of speed.

Arraez will lead off and play left field in Thursday's season opener against the Brewers.

Arraez has spent the majority of his career in the infield, but he's no stranger to the outfield, having started 18 games in left in 2019. Per Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic, he's expected to fill the leadoff spot regularly this season, pushing Max Kepler (who's batting fifth Thursday) into the heart of the order. Arraez doesn't steal like a traditional leadoff man, as he's swiped just two bags in 124 major-league games, but his .390 on-base percentage fits well at the top of the order.

Haggerty has made the Mariners' Opening Day roster, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The versatile 26-year-old flashed potential in his first Mariners season in 2020 with a .260/.315/.400 slash over 13 games. Despite the fact that he followed it up with just a .239 average this spring, his experience playing every position in the field except catcher and first base made him too valuable not to stick.

Rosario is out of the lineup for Thursday's season opener versus the Tigers.

With southpaw Matthew Boyd on the hill for the Tigers, Cleveland will roll with the right-handed Jordan Luplow in center field. Cleveland's plans for that position remain less clear versus right-handed pitching, but the lefty-hitting Ben Gamel could have the edge for those starts over Rosario, who is right-handed like Luplow. If that's the case, Rosario would have to settle for a utility role to begin the season, limiting his overall playing-time outlook.

Barreto (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

The 25-year-old was shut down for 4-to-6 weeks March 22 with right elbow inflammation, and the move to the 60-day IL will guarantee he misses the first two months of the season. Barreto was competing for a utility role in camp and likely won't return until June.