MLB Player News

Altuve went 1-for-2 with a stolen base, two runs scored and a pair of walks in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Mariners.

Altuve had no trouble getting on base Saturday. His steal came in the third inning after his lone hit, a single. Speed is not as big a factor as it used to be for the second baseman, who managed a career-low six steals in 2019. He has scored three times in the first two games of the season.

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.

Kemp remains on the bench for the second game of the season Saturday against the Angels.

Preseason reports suggested that Kemp would be platooning with Franklin Barreto at second base, but it's been Chad Pinder who got the nod in both of the first two games of the year. Pinder started against lefty Andrew Heaney on Opening Day and remains in the lineup against righty Dylan Bundy on Saturday, which suggests both Kemp and Barreto could be nothing more than bench options 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.

Arraez isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox.

After driving in two runs on two hits in Friday's contest, Arraez will sit for Saturday's day game, likely to prevent any potential injuries. Ehire Adrianza is starting at second base, batting ninth.

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.

Biggio went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run, two runs and three strikeouts in Friday's win against the Rays.

After generating some production in summer camp, Biggio translated his results to regular-season action. He put the Blue Jays ahead with a three-run home run in the fifth inning that forced Rays starter Charlie Morton out of the game. The 25-year-old hit .234/.364/.429 with 16 home runs, 48 RBI and 14 stolen bases over 100 games in his rookie season with the Blue Jays last season.

Merrifield went 1-for-3 with a stolen base during Friday's 2-0 loss against the Indians.

Merrifield failed to make an impact at the top of the order, but the entire Royals lineup struggled in this season opener -- they went 4-for-30 and 0-for-2 with RISP. Merrifield is a good bet to produce sooner than later, though, as he racked up 206 hits while posting a .302 average and a .348 on-base percentage during the 2019 season.

Kemp isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.

Kemp is expected to be in a platoon at second base this season, and he'll sit for the season opener against left-hander Andrew Heaney. Chad Pinder is starting at second base, batting sixth. With the Athletics expected to face righty Dylan Bundy on Saturday, Kemp should be in the starting nine.

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.