MLB Player News

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.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told reporters that he'll be using an eight-man bullpen to start the season. He awarded reliever Liam Hendriks the final spot on the roster and sent Ryan Goins to Triple-A Buffalo to start the season, according to Sportsnet.ca.

The right-hander Hendriks allowed four earned runs over 8 2/3 innings of work this spring. The team will go with Steve Tolleson as their emergency shortstop while Goins is in the minors. Goins batted .308 (16 for 52) with two homers and seven RBI in 26 spring games.

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. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera had a solid day at the plate in an 11-5 loss to the Rays on Friday, reports the NY Times.

Cabrera, who hit a home run and a double, drove in three runs. 

For this spring, Cabrera is hitting .280 with three home runs, eight RBI and eight strikeouts.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen returned to the starting lineup Friday night against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

McCutchen, who dealt with a lower-body injury earlier this spring, left Wednesday's Grapefruit League contest in the eighth after losing his footing on home plate. He is hitting .321 (9 for 24) this spring.