MLB Player News

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 4 from the plate Monday, including a two-run home run, in Pittsburgh's 5-2 loss to the Reds.

McCutchen started 0 for 2 in the game, but rallied late. After a single in the sixth, McCutchen ripped a two-run homer to center field off reliever Kevin Gregg in the eighth inning to tie the game at 2.

"He has a comfort zone here," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's hit some big homers late."

However, Todd Frazier broke the tie in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run shot.

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in Washington's 3-1 loss to the Mets Monday. 

Harper was the only National to break through starter Bartolo Colon, taking him to deep right field to lead off the fourth inning with a home run. Harper also singled and struck out in Washington's Opening Day loss.

The Giants Opening Day lineup will go left fielder Norichika Aoki, second baseman Joe Panik, center fielder Angel Pagan, catcher Buster Posey, first baseman Brandon Belt, third baseman Casey McGehee, shortstop Brandon Crawford, right fielder Gregor Blanco and pitcher Madison Bumgarner.

It was uncertain where Aoki would be slotted in the lineup with manager Bruce Bochy experimenting with him leading off during spring training.

Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson drew the start in center field for Monday's season opener against the Padres. He was penciled in to hit seventh against starting pitcher James Shields.

Pederson had a great spring offensively, batting .338 with five doubles, six home runs, 13 RBI and 14 runs in 26 games.

Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta is batting cleanup for Sunday's season opener against the Cubs.

Peralta took just 74 of his 560 at-bats from the fourth spot in the lineup last season but will fill the role in the team's regular-season debut.

The full Cardinals lineup: 3B Matt Carpenter, RF Jason Heyward, LF Matt Holliday, SS Peralta, 1B Matt Adams, C Yadier Molina, 2B Kolten Wong, CF Jon Jay, SP Adam Wainwright.

The Cubs announced the starting lineup for Sunday's season opener against the Cardinals, with right fielder Jorge Soler slotted into the second spot of the lineup.

Soler spent most of his brief action in 2014 batting fourth or fifth, but he'll slot in between center fielder Dexter Fowler and first baseman Anthony Rizzo Sunday.

The full Cubs lineup Sunday: CF Fowler, RF Soler, 1B Rizzo, SS Starlin Castro, LF Chris Coghlan, 3B Mike Olt, C David Ross, SP Jon Lester, 2B Tommy La Stella.

Ross draws the start at catcher with former Red Sox teammate Lester on the mound. Manager Joe Maddon will bat the pitcher eighth, Olt and La Stella join Rizzo and Castro in the infield for the team's first game, with Arismendy Alcantara set to come off the bench.

Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez will bat second against the Brewers on Opening Day Monday.

Gonzalez saw most of his at-bats in 2014 in the third and fourth slots. Just 99 of his 2,817 career at-bats have come in the second slot of the lineup.

The full Rockies lineup for Opening Day: CF Charlie Blackmon, RF Gonzalez, SS Troy Tulowitzki, 1B Justin Morneau, 3B Nolan Arenado, LF Corey Dickerson, C Nick Hundley, 2B DJ LeMahieu, SP Kyle Kendrick.

The Marlins have announced their starting lineup for Monday's Opening Day matchup against the Braves in Miami, with offseason acquisition Michael Morse slotted into the cleanup spot.

Morse is coming off a hot spring in which he hit .347/.429/.673 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 29 at-bats. He'll hit behind No. 3 hitter Giancarlo Stanton and ahead of third baseman Martin Prado.

The full Marlins lineup: 2B Dee Gordon, LF Christian Yelich, RF Stanton, 1B Morse, 3B Prado, CF Marcell Ozuna, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, SS Adeiny Hechavarria, SP Henderson Alvarez.

Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson is believed to have the center field position about locked up, but manager Don Mattingly still hasn't made his official decision, reports MLB.com.

"You can read between the lines," Mattingly said Saturday. 

Pederson started in center during the final week of spring training and hit .349 with six home runs and 13 RBI in 63 plate appearances.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen collected three hits in the team's 7-5 loss to the Phillies on Friday. McCutchen also drove in one run. He recently returned to the lineup after dealing with a lower-body injury.

McCutchen, 28, had a .314 batting average with 25 home runs and 83 RBI last season.