MLB Player News

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez connected for just one hit in four at-bats during Monday's season opener against the Twins, but he at least made it count.

Martinez gave Detroit a 1-0 lead with a solo home run off Phil Hughes leading off a three-run second inning. 

Martinez, who hit a career-high 23 home runs in 2014, connected for five home runs this spring. He also hit .313 with four doubles, 11 RBI and 14 runs in 24 games.

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.

After some initial concerns Miguel Cabrera (ankle) and Victor Martinez (knee) might not be ready for the start of the season after both players underwent surgery in the offseason, they were able to make it into the Tigers' Opening Day lineup against the Twins. Cabrera is batting third and playing at first base, while Martinez is the DH and batting cleanup.

On the mound for Minnesota is right-hander Phil Hughes. Martinez is batting .259 (7 for 27) with no home runs, two doubles and two RBI in his career against Hughes, while Cabrera is batting .471 (16 for 34) with four doubles, five home runs and 12 RBI against Hughes.

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.

Twins manager Paul Molitor posted the team's starting lineup for Monday's Opening Day game against the Tigers.

The Twins will face LHP David Price with the following lineup: 

Danny Santana SS, Brian Dozier 2B, Joe Mauer 1B, Torii Hunter RF, Kennys Vargas DH, Trevor Plouffe 3B, Oswaldo Arcia LF, Kurt Suzuki C, Jordan Schafer CF. Phil Hughes will be the starting pitcher.

Athletics first baseman Mark Canha was informed Saturday he will be on the team's Opening Day Roster, reports the Bay Area News Group.

"Having the guys come up like that really meant a lot to me," Canha said. "When you work so hard for so long, to have it validated like it was today is real special."

Canha will be a part of a platoon at first with Ike Davis. He hit .297 with six home runs and 13 RBI in 74 plate appearances this spring.

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.