MLB Player News

Mike Olt is expected to be the Cubs' starting third baseman on Opening Day for a second straight year with the demotion of Kris Bryant to the minors. Even with the potential for Chicago to bring Bryant to the majors quickly, Olt is feeling confident heading into the 2015 season.

"It feels a lot different," Olt said of this season versus last year, per MLB.com. "I was able to go up there last year and learned a lot of things. I feel I'm back to the player who can really compete instead of the player who you hope is ready and you hope the swing is there. It's a lot different feeling, a lot less stressful."

Olt is having a decent spring at the plate, batting .279 with a .392 on-base percentage, .558 slugging percentage and .950 OPS in 19 games. It's a nice turnaround after batting .160 in 89 games in the majors last season.

"I had two crazy years and a lot of things happened to me," said Olt of some injury issues. "Now I feel it's in the past, and I have a new outlook on baseball and a new outlook on my career. I used to be one of those [top prospects like Bryant] -- and you forget about that. I feel myself becoming that guy again, and it makes baseball fun again."

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke told reporters Tuesday's spring lineup against the Reds will be the team's Opening Day batting order, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Tuesday's lineup had center fielder Carlos Gomez batting first, and he was followed by catcher Jonathan Lucroy, right fielder Ryan Braun, third base Aramis Ramirez, first baseman Adam Lind, left fielder Khris Davis, second baseman Scooter Gennett and shortstop Jean Segura. The pitcher will bat ninth.

Roenicke said he chose Gomez to bat leadoff over Gennett because moving Gomez to the middle of the lineup disrupts other hitters.

Nationals manager Matt Williams told reporters that a second option on Anthony Rendon's left knee sprain confirmed the same diagnosis, per the team's official website. Rendon is expected to seek a third opinion from Dr. Steve Singleton in Colorado, per the Washington Post.

"We're just trying to make sure we cover all bases, and everybody gets a chance to take a look at it and develop a course of action from today on," Williams said. “So far, the two doctors that have seen him and reviewed it have said the same thing. We'll see what Dr. Singleton says today."

Rendon suffered the injury while making a diving play on March. He has been prescribed rest and appears destined to start the season on the disabled list. If he is unable to play, Yunel Escobar will fill in at third base.

“The fact that we just don't know what kind of time frame Anthony's on, we have to look at all of the options that we have. And the fact that [Escobar] is willing to (do it), he came to us and said: 'Listen, if there's a need for me to play third, I'd be happy to do it.' That's great. That's a great attitude to have. So we have options in that regard.” Williams said, per Comcast SportsNet Washington.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez went 2 for 4 with a walk, two home runs and six RBI in Monday's 18-4 win over the Phillies.

Alvarez smacked a two-run home run in the fifth inning before coming back with a grand slam in the eighth. He has hit .325 with four home runs in 40 at-bats this spring and said after the outing that spring stats "don't count, but they do matter," per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Monday third baseman Anthony Rendon met with Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on the MCL sprain in his left knee, MLB.com reports.

"Right now we're looking at what Dr. Andrews sees and take the appropriate steps necessary," manager Matt Williams said. "Again, I have no results at this point. To speculate would be inaccurate at best. We'll see what that is. We'll get his report on what his findings are and go from there."

Rendon was injured while making a diving play on March 9 and appears headed to the disabled list to open the season.

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche returned to the starting lineup Monday against the Pirates after missing four straight spring training games due to back tightness. He started at third base and hit sixth Monday.

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche (back) plans to play in a minor-league game Sunday and believes he can be ready for Opening Day, The News Journal reports.

Asche was able to take batting practice Saturday and Sunday and is ready to test his injured back in game action. He was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to back tightness. Asche has hit .238/.267/.500 with three home runs in 42 spring at-bats.

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez is hoping to stick at his new position after converting from third base, reports triblive.com.

On opening day, Alvarez will be the team's 54th first baseman in its 129-year history.

“It's a matter of getting used to seeing the field from that point of view,” Alvarez said. “I need to get the reps in so the responsibilities that come with playing that position become second nature to me.”

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington talked about the team's past efforts of platooning the position.

“You can't develop something you don't have. You can't buy something you can't afford,” general manager Neal Huntington said. “That's why we've tried to platoon. Over the last couple of years, we've realized that's a challenge for a National League manager. Platoons are much harder here than they are in the American League, especially with a one-dimensional player who can only play one position.”

The hope around the organization is that they can get quality production from Alvarez.

“Our hope that is between Pedro Alvarez and Corey Hart, we'll get quality major league production,” Huntington said.

The 28-year-old is batting .306 with two home runs, nine RBI and eight strikeouts this spring.

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon tested his knee by running in the outfield on Friday. Rendon has been out with a sprained left knee since March 9. He can run straight ahead, but in his Friday workout, he tested the knee with lateral movement, per MLB.com's Jamal Collier. 

Rendon still hopes to be ready for Opening Day. 

Braves infielder Jace Peterson could be in line to beat out Alberto Callaspo for the second base job, according to Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday.

Peterson, 24, is hitting .341/.442/.386 with one RBI in 44 at-bats this spring. Callaspo has slashed .216/.212/.216 with four RBI over 51 at-bats in Grapefruit League play.