MLB Player News

LeMahieu (illness) is starting at second base and leading off in Monday's exhibition game against the Mets.

Although LeMahieu missed the first couple weeks of camp due to testing positive for COVID-19, he'll be included in the team's exhibition lineup for the second consecutive night. The 32-year-old has been optimistic about being ready for Opening Day, and his leadoff status in back-to-back games would suggest that's a fairly realistic possibility. Even if he isn't ready for the team's season opener, he's said that he expects to be available "pretty soon thereafter."

Rivera was reassigned to the Rangers' alternate training site Sunday, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Rivera was thought to be a strong candidate to begin the season on the team's 30-man roster when camp started, but he'll instead work at the team's alternate training site. Given the 28-year-old's abilities as a utility infielder, he could be one of the team's top options to fill in as depth if injuries occur on the major-league squad. Rivera hit .183/.258/.217 with three RBI and two stolen bases over 34 games with the Marlins last year.

The Tigers plan to proceed slowly with Paredes due to the time he's missed over the spring and early summer, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Back in late February, Paredes missed some time in camp due to a sore right shoulder. The 21-year-old also has missed time since the team started summer camp, and he acknowledged that was due to a positive COVID-19 test. He was cleared to rejoin the team Friday and said he's feeling better, but the team won't rush him along. "He's missed a lot of time," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We're going to let him ease back into this thing. He needs to get back into baseball shape, so we don't expect him to do too much here." Parades has yet to appear above Double-A, so he was unlikely to debut in the majors this year anyway, but his lost offseason should pretty much guarantee that he won't see MLB action until 2021 at the earliest.

LeMahieu (illness) is starting at second base and batting leadoff in Sunday's exhibition game against the Mets.

The 32-year-old said Saturday he hadn't ruled out the possibly of playing Opening Day but understood it may not be realistic, yet he still finds himself batting leadoff a day later. LeMahieu joined the team Friday after missing the first couple weeks of camp due to testing positive for COVID-19, and his quick introduction to game action is a positive sign for his potential availability. According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, manager Aaron Boone will try to get him 2-to-3 innings Sunday and hopes he'll be good to play again Monday. Even if he's not game ready for Thursday's season opener, he expects to be good for regular-season action "pretty soon thereafter."

Manager Joe Maddon said he is confident Rendon (oblique) will be ready for Friday's season opener against the Athletics, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

It is unclear if Rendon will be ready to play in any of the Angels' three upcoming exhibition games Monday through Wednesday. Maddon said Rendon is feeling better, but there is no timetable for him to return to exhibition play.

Reynolds cleared MLB's COVID-19 protocol and reported for summer training Sunday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

The 29-year-old was missing during the first few weeks of camp for unspecified reasons, but he was able to join the team for the final stretch before the regular season. Reynolds could be a factor as a utility infielder for the Royals in 2020, but the delayed start to camp may mean he's not game ready with Opening Day less than a week away.

LeMahieu (illness) has not ruled out the possibility of playing on Opening Day but admits that such a scenario may not be realistic, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

LeMahieu rejoined the Yankees on Friday after an extended absence due to testing positive for COVID-19, but it is unclear whether he'll have enough time to be game-ready by Opening Day. The 32-year-old indicated that he believes he'll be able to play "pretty soon thereafter" if he misses the Yankees' first game, so his return looks to be imminent. If LeMahieu does need to sit out at the start of the season, look for Tyler Wade or Thairo Estrada to fill his spot in the starting lineup.

White Sox manager Rick Renteria said Saturday that Moncada could make an appearance in one of three exhibition games scheduled this week, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Moncada joined Chicago's camp Friday after testing negative for COVID-19 but has only performed strength and conditioning exercises with coaches. An appearance in Sunday night's exhibition against the Cubs may be a stretch, but Renteria said Moncada is moving well and could appear in Monday's second exhibition against the Cubs or Wednesday's against the Brewers.

Manager Joe Maddon said Rendon (oblique) is considered day-to-day, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The veteran third baseman was scratched from Friday's intrasquad action with oblique tightness, and the team is remaining cautious only a day later. Rendon has no official timeline for his return, though Maddon indicated he could still be ready for Friday's season opener at Oakland.

Urshela (undisclosed) isn't seriously injured and is expected to play in Saturday's exhibition game against the Mets, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Urshela walked off the practice field with a team trainer, but the Yankees evidently aren't concerned with the issue. Assuming he is indeed healthy, he's expected to be the team's primary third baseman this season.