MLB Player News

Phillies third baseman Cody Asche was scratched from Thursday's spring lineup against the Blue Jays due to back tightness. Asche said he began to feel tightness in his back while the team was stretching Thursday.

Asche is batting .238 (10 for 42) with two doubles, three home runs, five runs and seven RBI in 16 spring games.

Chances of Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon being ready for Opening Day appear "pretty slim" after a second MRI showed that his left knee is still structurally sound, but remains sore, according to Comcast SportsNet Washington. Manager Matt Williams confirmed that his status is in jeopardy, as he remains without a timetable for return.

"It's still lingering. There is no point in pushing it right now and going back to square one during the season," Rendon said, per MLB.com. "We might as well fix it right now rather than later."

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson went 1 for 4 with a walk in his team's 5-3 loss to the Phillies Tuesday.

Peterson missed a few games due to an infected finger before returning Tuesday. He's likely headed for the starting role at second base this season. Peterson has hit .341/.449/.390 in 41 at-bats this spring.

Cody Asche is heating up as Phillies' spring training enters its home stretch. 

Asche shook off a slow start and finished Monday hitting .231. He hit a two-run homer in the second inning, giving him three on the spring, along with seven RBI. 

"Cody has a nice swing working," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He's making good contact. Another thing that he's doing is laying off pitches, avoiding strikeouts and having the count come back to him for strikes to hit. He continues to do real well, a real steady bat for us."

Braves' infielder Jace Peterson sat out Monday's game, the second straight day he's missed with a finger injury. 

A runner stepped on Peterson's hand during a play at second base last week, and his pinky finger became infected. The nail had to be removed, but manager Fredi Gonzalez said that Peterson would be back in the lineup on Tuesday, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Monday that third baseman Anthony Rendon is still dealing with knee soreness and remains without a timetable for a return, MASNsports.com reports.

Rendon will rest the knee, and the continued issue has put his status for Opening Day in doubt. He's just 2 for 9 this spring.

Third baseman Anthony Rendon, who has been dealing with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee, has been cleared to participate in baseball activities, per ESPN, and will begin work in order to return to the Nationals' lineup. 

"He'll start to throw. He'll start to run," manager Matt Williams said. "He'll start to do the things he needs to do ... but with that type of nagging injury, it can stay around awhile."

The plan is to give Rendon at least 20 spring at-bats in order to be ready for Opening Day. 

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson is suffering from an issue with his finger.

Peterson's hand was stepped on during a game a few days ago, and the pinky on his throwing hand became infected. 

Peterson said it wasn't serious, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien. He's been able to keep playing and made several plays in the field during Saturday's game.

Peterson hit .113 with the Padres last season.

The Pirates are making an adjustment to infielder Pedro Alvarez's stance to help improve his offensive output. 

Working with hitting coach Jeff Branson, Alvarez is resting his bat on his shoulder before starting his swing, instead of holding it off the shoulder. 

“We're trying to ... figure out ways to get him relaxed at the plate and take the tension out of him at the plate,” Jeff Branson said, per Travis Sawchik of Trib Total Media. “You'll see him start on the shoulder and take it off when he's ready to hit."

It seems to be working. Alvarez is hitting .381 this spring, with two home runs and eight RBI. 

Nationals manager Matt Williams said third baseman Anthony Rendon is "getting better," per The Washington Post. However, he still has some sorenees in his left knee when he tests it with light swings.