MLB Player News

With Kelly Johnson on the disabled list, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez opted to move Nick Markakis from the leadoff spot to the cleanup spot for Friday's contest against the Marlins, according to MLB.com. Jace Peterson was inserted to the top of the order.

Markakis is hitting .302 (38 for 126) with no homers and 10 RBI in 33 games this season.

Atlanta is an underdog (+119) at Miami, per VegasInsider.com.

After all the major roster changes Padres general manager A.J. Preller made this offseason, it will be interesting to see what, if any, mid-season moves he makes.

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman is reporting that the Padres would be interested in Brewers shortstop Jean Segura if the team made him available, though that seems unlikely at this point. 

The Padres currently have Alexi Amarista installed as their regular shortstop, but he has not hit well this year and the team views him more as a utility-type player. And as we saw this past winter, with Preller, just about anything seems possible.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon is on his way to Viera (Fla.) Thursday to begin baseball activities at the team's spring training facility, MLB.com reports.

Rendon will take it slowly after having to previously start and stop his rehab. He opened the season on the disabled list due to a knee injury then suffered an oblique strain during his previous rehab assignment. The infielder will start taking light grounders at Viera while also throwing and doing light work in the batting cage.

"In recent days, he has been doing strengthening with our physical therapist," manager Matt Williams said. "Now he is going to be off to Florida to start that progression with baseball. So it's a good sign. He feels good to get to the baseball part of it, which is really important stuff for him. It will be a slower process for him. At least he will get a chance to do some stuff."

The Brewers have placed shortstop Jean Segura on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 13, with a fractured pinky finger, the team announced Thursday. 

The team will call up infielder Luis Sardinas from Triple-A on Friday to take Segura's spot on the roster. 

It is not know how Segura fractured the finger or if he is expected to be out more longer than the minimum 15 days. 

Veteran Indians utility man Mike Aviles could be destined to take over the starting shortstop job, according to the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Aviles is currently on the family medical emergency list after his daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, but he should be back this weekend.

He would replace struggling Jose Ramirez, who would be sent to Triple-A Columbus for steady work. Ramirez is batting .179.

"I'm encouraged by the way Jose continues to work, both offensively and defensively, to try to improve his performance," said general manager Chris Antonetti. "But it's been a struggle for him. He's a young player that's going through an extended struggle in the major leagues in an environment where there's high expectations for team success."

Ramirez has admitted that, though he remains confident, he's not the same player that helped spark the team following the 2014 trade of Asdrubal Cabrera.

His potential demotion would thrust Zach Walters into the backup shortstop role.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is not in Thursday's lineup against the Phillies. More than likely, this is just a day off for the veteran. 

After a cold start in April, McCutchen has seen his batting average rise as he's recorded hits in seven of his last eight games. 

Outfielder Gregory Polanco is back in the lineup and hitting first. First baseman Pedro Alvarez is hitting fifth. Third baseman Jung Ho Kang is hitting sixth and catcher Chris Stewart is batting ninth. 

Brewers leadoff hitter and infielder Jean Segura was scratched with soreness in his right pinky finger on Wednesday against the White, per the team's official website. With Segura sidelined, manager Craig Counsell moved Elian Herrera to the leadoff spot. Scooter Gennett was also included in the lineup at the No. 8 spot.

Segura is hitting .262 (33 for 126) with two homers and 12 RBI this season.

Milwaukee is favored (-125) at home against Chicago, per VegasInsider.com.

Indians general manager Chris Antonetti has claimed that preventing premier shortstop prospect Francisco Lindor from reaching Super Two status is not why he has yet to be promoted from Triple-A Columbus, per the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

The struggling Indians are struggling partly because current shortstop Jose Ramirez has been weaker defensively than expected and a disaster offensively. He has three extra-base hits all year and owns a slash line of .179/.222/.238.

The 21-year-old Lindor, however, has not been tearing it up for the Clippers. He has started slow at every level and the same has held true in 2015. He does have a six-game hitting streak, but that has served to raise his average to just .256.

The Indians have claimed that Lindor needs more seasoning in the minors.

The Twins gave slugger Kennys Vargas the night off Wednesday night against the Tigers, per MLB.com.

With Vargas out of the lineup for the second time since Sunday, the club moved Eddie Rosario to left field, Aaron Hicks to center and moved Eduardo Escobar to designated hitter.

Minnesota is considered an underdog (+121) against left-hander Kyle Lobstein and the Tigers. The current Twins roster is hitting .348 (8 for 23) against the Southpaw.

Giants second baseman Joe Panik is out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's game aginst the Astros. With a left-hander on the mound for Houston, manager Bruce Bochy decided to give the lefty-swinging Panik a day off after starting 10 straight games.

Matt Duffy, who is riding a six-game hitting streak, is playing second base while batting second in the lineup.