MLB Player News

Ozuna went 1-for-4 with a game-tying solo home run in Saturday's 5-3 extra-inning win over the Mets.

Mets closer Edwin Diaz was within one out of protecting a 2-1 lead when Ozuna knocked the game-tying homer into the right-field seats. The 29-year-old Ozuna will likely be a fixture in the heart of the Braves' order due to his powerful bat, but it remains to be seen if he'll serve more as a left fielder or a designated hitter in 2020.

Turner went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBI in Friday's win over the Giants.

Turner drove in the Dodgers' second run of the game with a single to left field in the second inning. He added another RBI in the fourth frame with a double to deep left field to bring home Max Muncy. The 35-year-old is 3-for-8 with a pair of doubles over his first two games this season.

Belt (Achilles) is expected to return from the injured list Thursday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Belt has been battling an Achilles injury since early in camp. His placement on the injured list was backdated to July 20, so he'll be eligible to return a week into the season.

Pederson went 1-for-3 with two runs, a walk and a stolen base in Friday's win over San Francisco.

Pederson worked on his flexibility during parts of spring and summer and demonstrated the results with a pair of stolen bases in intrasquad action, so Friday's theft may be indicative of a commitment to running more often this season. The slugger stole just one base both of the past two seasons, but he swiped between 26 and 31 bags in the minors for four straight campaigns between 2011 and 2014. It is also important to note that Pederson was in the lineup despite facing a southpaw starter, a rare occurrence in 2019. The 28-year-old's power is a given, but if he is able to play more consistently and add an occasional stolen base to his repertoire this season, his fantasy value could grow significantly.

Cespedes went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's win against the Braves.

Cespedes was playing in his first game in over two years after coming back from a pair of heel surgeries and a fractured ankle, but he looked like his old self as he blasted a go-ahead solo shot in the seventh inning. The home run proved to be the only run of the game in the Opening Day pitching duel. While the 34-year-old is still reportedly limited while running, Friday's performance as the designated hitter showed that he can still be a force at the plate.

Miller (ankle) arrived at the team's alternate training site in Springfield on Thursday night to get live at-bats, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The veteran utility man still needs to work his way up to running, but the at-bats will also help him keep his timing sharp after he was able to get some work against pitchers in summer camp. The Cardinals are aiming for Miller to be available by the start of next weekend's series against the Brewers, with his progress in the coming days revealing how realistic that timeline might be.

Winker is not in the lineup for Friday's Opening Day game against the Tigers.

With southpaw Matthew Boyd starting for Detroit, the Reds will go with a heavily right-handed lineup, sitting both Winker and Shogo Akiyama, with righties Phillip Ervin and Matt Davidson starting at left field and designated hitter, respectively. Winker owns a career 137 wRC+ against righties compared to a 52 wRC+ against lefties, so expect him to continue to be platooned heavily this season.

Colon had his contract selected by the Reds on Friday and was added to the 30-man roster.

The 31-year-old was in camp as a non-roster invitee and was able to show enough for the team to justify creating room for him on the 40-man roster. Colon appeared in eight games for the Reds in 2019 and spent most of the season at Triple-A Louisville, where he had a .300/.372/.443 slash line in 136 games. He's unlikely to see significant playing time as a reserve infielder.

Torrens is not included on the Padres' Opening Day roster.

Torrens had been on the bubble for a roster spot throughout spring training and summer camp, but San Diego ultimately decided to carry only two catchers while Ty France serves as the emergency backstop. Though he is not on the active roster, Torrens will travel with the team during road trips as a member of the taxi squad, per Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The Giants selected Ruf's contract Thursday.

Ruf was one of six non-roster players the Giants bumped up the 40-man roster and 30-man Opening Day roster in advance of Thursday's opener versus the Dodgers. Back in North America after a three-year stint in the Korea Baseball Organization, Ruf will provide the Giants with some right-handed power off the bench. He could find himself in the lineup regularly versus southpaws, against whom he's posted a .299/.379/.542 career slash line (150 wRC+).