MLB Player News

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.

Lowe isn't in the lineup for Friday's season opener against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 26-year-old will begin the season on the bench with southpaw Hyun-Jin Ryu on the bump for the Blue Jays, while Mike Brosseau receives the start at the keystone. Lowe likely will be in the lineup Saturday against right-hander Matt Shoemaker.

Rojas made the active roster despite going hitless in summer camp, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Rojas' versatility won out over his struggles at the plate during camp, when he went 0-for-27 with four walks. He was marginally better in spring training, going 5-for-34. Rojas, who batted .217 in 138 at-bats for the Diamondbacks last season, plays the infield base positions and corner outfield spots.

Hernandez went 4-for-5 with a solo home run, five RBI and two runs scored during Thursday's win against the Giants.

Hernandez got the Dodgers on the board with an RBI single in the fourth inning off Johnny Cueto. He later extended the Dodgers' lead with a two-run single off Tyler Rogers in the seventh before smacking his first homer of the season with a solo shot off Conner Menez. The 28-year-old, who hit 17 long balls across 130 games last year, was named the starting second baseman for Opening Day following the demotion of Gavin Lux this week and is expected to share duties with Chris Taylor.

Arauz made the Red Sox's Opening Day roster, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

The Red Sox opted to keep Arauz, a Rule 5 selection in the offseason, instead of more established infielders and prospects the organization has cultivated. The Red Sox must maintain Arauz on the active roster (barring injury) for the entire season or offer him back to the Astros. It's easy enough to carry Arauz the first two weeks, when rosters are expanded to 30 players. The team will be challenged to keep him when rosters are trimmed to 28 on Aug. 6, then down to 26 on Aug. 20.

Rengifo (hamstring/undisclosed) is not on the Angels' 30-man roster.

Rengifo missed most of summer camp for undisclosed reasons and then tweaked his hamstring after reporting in mid-July. His timeline for returning to action remains unclear.

Jones is not included on the Angels' 30-man roster.

Jones has yet to play beyond the Double-A level, so his exclusion from the Opening Day roster is no surprise. The 22-year-old was expected to start the campaign with Triple-A Salt Lake before spring training was suspended, but he'll instead head to the team's alternate training site.