MLB Player News

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. 

Twins utility man Eduardo Escobar is back in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox. Escobar did not start the last two games with the team in a National League park, but he's starting as the designated hitter and batting sixth on Friday.

Escobar has been hitting well lately, batting .346 with a home run and 11 RBI over his last 11 games. 

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.

Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson will get his first day off this season, as he is being held out of the lineup on Friday against the Mariners. Donaldson has hit well lately, batting .270 with two home runs and seven RBI over his last 10 games, batting solely out of the top two spots in the lineup.

Manager John Gibbons said Donaldson, who has started each of the team's first 43 games this year, has been playing on a "bad calf" and was looking to give him a day off, acording to SportsNet.

Danny Valencia will get the start at the hot corner, while Ezequiel Carrera will move up to the leadoff spot the batting order. 

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.

The Blue Jays got a home run each from Edwin Encarnacion and Danny Valencia in their 8-4 win over the Angels on Thursday. 

For Encarnacion, that's his 10th home run of the season. Encarnacion's shot was of the three-run variety and occurred in the bottom of the fifth inning. The homer also scored Steve Tolleson and Jose Bautista. 

This snapped a two-game hitless streak for Encarnacion. He finished the game 1 for 4 but struck out twice. He now holds a slash line of .231/.315/.455. 

Valencia hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot, which happened in the third inning. He finished 1 for 4 and is now hitting .339/.350/.508. Valencia has now recorded a hit in four consecutive games. 

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.