MLB Player News

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Frazier will serve as the team's leadoff hitter in Thursday's regular-season opener against the Cubs, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Frazier has ignited a surprisingly potent Pirates offense this spring, posting a monstrous 1.510 OPS over 39 at-bats. The small sample shouldn't supersede the .749 OPS he's posted over parts of five seasons in the majors, but Frazier's spring surge could at least give fantasy managers reason to hope that the 29-year-old may have more power upside than anticipated. Frazier hasn't merely lived off an elevated BABIP this spring, as 10 of his 21 hits entering play Monday have gone for extra bases.

Diaz will get reps at third base at the Marlins' alternate training site, Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald reports.

The 24-year-old's quickest path back to the majors could be in a utility role after he lost out on the starting job at the keystone to Jazz Chisholm this spring. First though, Diaz will need to find his swing after posting a .385 OPS in 42 plate appearances during Grapefruit League play and a .545 OPS through his first 56 big-league games.

Marte (illness) is back in the lineup Monday against the Cubs, leading off and playing center field, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Marte was scratched Sunday with a non-COVID illness, but it was evidently a minor issue. There's little reason to fear for his readiness for Opening Day.

Lopez was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.

Lopez appeared to be the favorite to start at second base to begin camp, but he struggled during spring training and will begin the season at Triple-A Omaha as a result. The 26-year-old hit just .118 with one double, four RBI and 13 strikeouts in 16 Cactus League games. Whit Merrifield could now shift to second base to begin the year with Jarrod Dyson potentially starting in center field.

Manager Alex Cora confirmed Sunday that Hernandez would begin the season as the Red Sox's leadoff hitter, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Mainly a short-side platoon player for the Dodgers over the past six seasons, Hernandez will not only be on tap for an everyday role in his debut campaign in Boston, but he'll also be setting the table against both left- and right-handed pitching. The Boston lineup doesn't look like the top-to-bottom juggernaut it was earlier this season, but batting in front of Alex Verdugo, J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers should still be fertile ground for Hernandez. The 29-year-old looks like a worthy target late in drafts for fantasy managers looking for a boost in the runs category.

Marte was scratched from Sunday's Cactus League lineup with a non-COVID illness, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old was slated to start in center field and bat leadoff, but he'll instead receive the day off. The specifics of the situation remain unclear, but it's unlikely to affect Marte's availability for Opening Day.

Diaz will begin the season at Triple-A Jacksonville after Jazz Chisholm was named the starter at second base by general manager Kim Ng on Sunday, Craig Mish of SportsGrid.com reports.

The pair were competing for the starting job throughout spring training, but Diaz won't make the Opening Day roster after going 2-for-34 with 13 strikeouts in 19 Grapefruit League appearances. Diaz will receive regular reps in the minors rather than operating as a bench piece for the Marlins.

Lopez could lose playing time at second base due to a poor spring as Whit Merrifield has seen the most time at second base recently, MLB.com reports. Lopez is hitting just .118 (4-for-34) this spring.

Lopez hit just .201 with a .552 OPS last season, so he'll need as strong start to the season to remain a starter. It's possible he could move to a platoon or reserve role if the Royals decide to give a prospect like Kyle Isbel playing time in right field or call up top prospect Bobby Witt early in the season.

Andrus is 5-for-14 with a double, a triple, three RBI, a walk and four runs over his last four spring starts.

Andrus' 2-for-4 day against the Dodgers on Friday pushed his spring average over the Mendoza Line to .205 and was only his second multi-hit effort in 14 Cactus League contests. The recent flashes with the bat are particularly welcome in Andrus' case, as he's being counted on as the everyday shortstop and is coming off a 2020 season in which he slashed an unsightly .194/.252/.330 with the Rangers (111 plate appearances).

Kemp is 4-for-8 with two doubles, a walk and two runs in his last three spring starts.

The versatile veteran's ability to fill in at both second base and the outfield helps his cause from a defensive standpoint, but it certainly doesn't hurt Kemp that he's picked it up at the plate in recent games after seeing his spring average dip as low as .190 at one point. Looking ahead to the regular season, the 29-year-old still projects to see time at the keystone in tandem with Jed Lowrie, who Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports has made the Opening Day roster.