MLB Player News

Frazier went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored Tuesday against the Brewers.

Frazier went deep in the eighth inning to put the Pirates ahead 8-6, which was ultimately the final score. It was his first home run of the season. Frazier had been fairly quiet at the plate prior to going yard, and he has reached base only four times in 22 plate appearances to this point.

Albies went 3-for-6 with a homer, three RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's 14-1 win over the Mets.

Albies made a big mark in the contest, and his two-run homer in the seventh inning closed out the scoring in the rout. He had gone hitless in nine at-bats to begin the year. The 23-year-old hit .295/.352/.500 with 24 homers, 102 runs scored and 86 RBI in 2019. He's likely to remain near the top of the Braves' order throughout the season.

Marte went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Padres.

Marte scored the tying run in the eighth inning after getting aboard with a walk. In the ninth, his sacrifice fly put the Diamondbacks ahead. Marte has gone 4-for-11 with a pair of doubles in the first three games of 2020. Serving as the leadoff hitter will likely suppress his RBI count, but he gets on base frequently enough (.389 OBP in 2019, .342 career) to make up for that in runs scored.

Hoerner is starting at second base and batting seventh in Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Hoerner returns to the lineup after sitting Saturday in favor of Jason Kipnis. The Cubs have faced three straight righties to begin the season, though the right-handed Hoerner now has two starts to the one for the left-handed Kipnis. That indicates Hoerner has the edge for playing time at this point and is not stuck in a true platoon.

Marte batted leadoff and went 1-for-4 with a double in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Padres.

Marte was primarily the second hitter in the order in 2019, when he had a breakout season, but he's been used as the leadoff hitter in both games to start this campaign. He's hit safely in each of the first two games.

Rosario went 2-for-4 with an RBI triple and a run scored in Saturday's 5-3 extra-inning loss to the Braves.

Rosario's fifth-inning triple scored Michael Conforto. The shortstop then came home himself on a Jeff McNeil sacrifice fly. Through two games, Rosario is 3-for-7. It's early in 2020, but the 24-year-old appears set to prove last season's .287 batting average wasn't a fluke.

Diaz will be on the bench Saturday against the Phillies, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Diaz started the season opener Friday but went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Jonathan Villar moves in from center field to second base Saturday, with Jon Berti filling in in center. Diaz hit just .173/.259/.307 over 201 plate appearances in his debut last year, so he won't be guaranteed a full-time role this season.

Urias (illness) has been cleared to work out at the Brewers' alternate training site, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Urias missed the entirety of summer camp after testing positive for COVID-19, but he'll now be able to work toward building up to game readiness. Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that Urias is a "full go" but also said that it will still take some time before he's ready to return to regular-season action. After being acquired by the Padres via trade in November, Urias should compete with Brock Holt for the top utility infield job when he's healthy.

Hoerner isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers.

Hoerner got the Opening Day start Friday against righty Brandon Woodruff, but he'll sit in favor of Jason Kipnis for the team's second game. Hoerner went 1-for-3 with one run in the season opener. Kipnis will bat eighth and play second base Saturday.

Hoerner will bat eighth and play second base in Friday's season opener against the Brewers.

Hoerner is the second baseman of the future for the Cubs, and it appears that future begins now. He was pressed into duty earlier than expected last year due to a September injury crisis and held his own, hitting .282/.305/.436 with three homers in 20 games. It's perhaps significant that he'll be starting over the left-handed Jason Kipnis even with righty Brandon Woodruff on the mound for Milwaukee, as the pair was expected to platoon, though it may take a few games until the playing-time split at the keystone becomes clear.