MLB Player News

Kieboom is dealing with a groin injury but will serve as the designated hitter Saturday against the Yankees, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The injury evidently only hurts when he moves laterally, so he'll be able to hit and run the bases. Saturday's game will be his season debut, as he didn't appear in Thursday's season opener. Exactly how often he'll be in the lineup this year remains to be seen, as he's expected to split time at the hot corner with Asdrubal Cabrera.

Longoria (oblique) is expected to return from the injured list Thursday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

Longoria has been dealing with a moderate right oblique strain for over a week. He's on the 10-day injured list, but the assignment was made retroactive to July 20, so he'll be eligible to return just seven days into the season. Expect him to be the Giants' everyday third baseman once healthy.

Rendon (oblique) remains on the bench Saturday against Oakland but is feeling better and will take groundballs on the field prior to the game, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Rendon has been dealing with a tight oblique for just over a week. The issue never appeared particularly serious, and he avoided a trip to the injured list, so it sounds as though he could be making his Angels debut sometime soon. David Fletcher again starts at the hot corner Saturday.

Toro entered Friday's game after Aledmys Diaz suffered a right groin injury. He went 1-for-1 with a walk and a double.

Diaz, who started as the designated hitter, tweaked the groin while running the bases during the Astros' five-run fifth inning. With Yordan Alvarez (undisclosed) weeks away from activity, the Astros will need a DH, so Toro may be in line for regular plate appearances depending on the severity of Diaz's injury.

Vargas entered Friday's game as a pinch hitter for Jake Lamb and remained in the game at first base. He struck out in his only plate appearance.

Vargas was one of the Diamondbacks' best hitters during summer camp, and manager Torey Lovullo vowed to find ways to get his bat in the lineup. The switch-hitting utility infielder could be a primary pinch hitter for Arizona in addition to spelling all infielders on random days.

Muncy went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs, a double, a walk and three runs scored during Friday's win over the Giants.

Muncy got the scoring started with a solo home run off Tyler Anderson in the first inning, then added his second long ball of the night with another solo shot in the sixth. He also doubled and scored in the fourth and walked in the second. The two-homer night was Muncy's first since a June 27, 2019 contest at Colorado. The 29-year-old produced 35 homers for the Dodgers a season ago.

Moncada went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and a double in Friday's loss to Minnesota.

Moncada set up Chicago's initial run with a first-inning double and knotted the score in the second frame with a three-run homer off Minnesota ace Jose Berrios. Moncada missed most of summer camp after testing positive for COVID-19, but the time away appears to have done little to slow his momentum following a breakout 2019 season.

Ramirez went 1-for-3 with a double during Friday's 2-0 win over the Royals.

Ramirez is coming off a sub-par season in which he hit for .255 with a .806 OPS -- those were his lowest numbers in both categories since the start of the 2016 season. He seems primed for a bounce-back campaign in 2020 and got off to a strong start in the season debut.

Moustakas went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in the Reds' 7-1 win over the Tigers on Friday.

Moustakas drove in a run in his very first plate appearance (on a hit-by-pitch) and later put one "out in Adam Dunn territory," as the Reds' broadcasters put it, for his first home run in a Reds uniform. Moustakas also made a couple very nice plays at second base. Batting fifth in this lineup is an extremely advantageous spot for run production and he should be in that spot nearly every day.

Rendon (oblique) took swings and played catch Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Rendon wasn't ready for Friday's Opening Day matchup against the Athletics, but he was able to get some on-field work in and remains day-to-day. Manager Joe Maddon said Friday that Rendon is progressing in his recovery. The 30-year-old didn't appear in any of the Angels' exhibition games while battling oblique tightness.