MLB Player News

Shelved Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon, who has been sidelined all season with knee and oblique injuries, took batting practice Saturday for the first time since going down, per CSNWashington.com.

Rendon is still quite far away from returning to the team, however. He still must participate in similated games starting early next week before heading out on a rehab assignment. There remains no timetable for him to rejoin the Nationals.

"He feels good where he is at right now," manager Matt Williams said about Rendon. "We'll assess again tomorrow and see. After yesterday, he reported today feeling great."

Cubs Opening Day third baseman Mike Olt is making progress in recovering from a fractured wrist, suffered in the second week of the season. 

Olt got the cast off of his wrist last week and took batting practice for the first time this week. 

When Olt returns, he'll find out that his spot has been filled by rookie Kris Bryant. 

"Kris is doing a great job right now, and I’m just making sure I get this back to 100 percent and be able to play with that team wherever they need me," Olt said, per the Chicago Sun Times.

There's a possibility Olt may play the outfield when he returns to the Cubs. 

Rockies slumping slugger Nolan Arenado will occupy the second spot in the order Friday against San Francisco for just the second time this season.

Arenado, who began the season on fire, has just 10 hits in his last 51 at-bats with one home run during that stretch. His average has fallen from .314 to .270 while he has fanned 12 times in the last 10 games.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon's knee is 100 percent and he feels no pain in his oblique, general manager Mike Rizzo told MLB Network Radio on Friday. However, Rizzo still doesn't have a timetable for Rendon's activation off the disabled list.

Rendon is fielding grounders and taking swings in the batting cage, but he is not quite ready to resume a rehab assignment, manager Matt Williams said Wednesday. Rendon was on a rehab assignment in early May before having to stop because of an oblique strain.

Williams said Friday that Rendon fielded around 40 grounders and turned some double plays at second base. He also took part in live batting practice for the first time since suffering his oblique injury.

With the Brewers looking more and more like eventual sellers, rival teams are saying pitchers Matt Garza and Kyle Lohse have limited trade value, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Early on, teams seem to be preferring Lohse due to his pending free agency at the end of the season, and his excellent clubhouse presence. Both pitchers have struggled this season, each with an ERA over 5.00 in nine starts. 

Heyman also notes that teams are unsure if the Brewers would consider trading young shortstop Jean Segura, who is currently on the disabled list with a broken finger. There seems to also be uncertainty whether catcher Jonathan Lucroy or outfielder Carlos Gomez would be available, though Gomez would probably be the most likely to go since his contract is up after the 2016 season. 

The hot streak that sent the numbers soaring for Braves second baseman Jace Peterson is decidedly over.

Peterson went on a 20-for-51 tear in late April and early May to catapult his average from .171 to .293 and increase his on-base percentage to .362. He has not gone into a slump, but he has certainly cooled off. Peterson has just five hits in 27 at-bats since.

His slash line is now at .269/.346/.328.

After starting six straight games, Giants second baseman Joe Panik is being held out of Thursday's lineup against the Dodgers. Panik has been hitting well lately, batting .282 with two doubles and a triple over his last 10 games. 

But, with tough lefty Clayton Kershaw on the mound for the Dodgers, Panik will cede the start at second base to Matt Duffy. 

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, who has started all but two games, will not be in the starting lineup against the Phillies on Thursday.

Arenado is 1 for 15 in his last four games, dropping his season line to .265/.308/.500.

Daniel Descalso, who has started everywhere on the infield this season except third base, will replace Arenado on Thursday.

Nationals Manager Matt Williams said infielder Anthony Rendon was able to field some grounders and take some swings in the batting cage on Wednesday, according to The Washington Post's Chelsea Janes. 

Though he was able to get some work in, Williams said he's not ready to resume rehab games just yet. 

Rendon had a setback in early May when an oblique injury occurred while rehabbing his knee. 

"His legs are in decent shape, it's not like you're not playing all winter, but nonetheless there's some start-over feel there because you have to get going again," Williams said. "There's nothing like playing games. There's nothing like getting out there in competition, so that process is underway, and we'll get him to the point where he can go out and start playing some games and see where he's at."

Rendon's absence was felt early on in the season. However, the Nationals have become scorching hot of late, winning 10 of their last 12 games. They're now in first place of the NL East.

This recent surge should allow the Nationals to exercise caution with Rendon's injuries. 

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez hit a solo home run in the fourth inning of Tuesday's loss to Minnesota. 

Alvarez went 2 for 5, improving his average to .227. He homered for the seventh time and drove in his 17th run.