MLB Player News

Mets infielder Daniel Murphy took batting practice Friday, but is still not expected to return to the lineup for a few days as he continues to deal with an intercostal strain. Murphy will not be in the lineup Saturday. Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters that if Murphy is to be ready for opening day, he will have to get into a game by this weekend. If Murphy is not ready for opening day, Justin Murphy is expected to get the call at second base to open the season. 

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf went 2 for 4 and clubbed a game-winning, solo homer in the ninth inning to lift Philadelphia to a 7-6 win over Atlanta in Grapefruit League play Friday. Ruf, who also drew a walk and scored three times, recorded his second homer of the spring off Daniel Rodriguez.

Following his late heroics, the Phillies optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, essentially providing Domonic Brown the starting job in left field for the upcoming season. "He's gonna be a big-time hitter," manager Charlie Manuel said of Ruf. "I think he's got a bright career."

The growing buzz surrounding Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter this spring reached another level Friday as he was slotted as the leadoff hitter during the team's Grapefruit League game against Houston. Carpenter is considered the leading candidate to serve as the starting second baseman on opening day after entering play Friday with a .396 batting average and seven doubles.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny cited Carpenter's strong ability to reach base as an impetus for putting him atop the lineup -- he ranks third in the Grapefruit League with a sterling .491 on-base percentage.

"I think that is something that could potentially crop up during the season with Matt's ability to get on base," Matheny told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "We're never going to ignore that at the top of our lineup."

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley collected two hits in three at-bats against the Diamondbacks Thursday, including his first home run of the spring, a three-run shot off Ian Kennedy in the first inning.

Brantley hasn't topped seven home runs in a season in his career, so fantasy owners know not to count on power numbers, but he's also hitting .429 after the two-hit performance.

Mets manager Terry Collins didn't have an update Wednesday on the status of third baseman David Wright, who is battling an intercostal strain, but said he was more confident about Wright being ready for opening day than Daniel Murphy, who is dealing with the same injury, The Star-Ledger reported.

Collins added if Wright is ready and Murphy is not, then he's leaning toward playing Justin Turner over Jordany Valdespin at second base.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper had another big day at the plate during Wednesday's spring game against the Marlins. Harper accounted for four of the team's RBI during a 7-5 win. Harper finished 2 for 3 with his fourth spring double. He's now batting .400 (20 for 50) with one triple, three homers and 12 RBI in 18 spring games.

Mets infielder Justin Turner said Wednesday his sprained right ankle is virtually healed, but he will not make the trip to Kissimmee on Wednesday night to face the Astros. "Full activity -- except for going on the trip," Turner said, per ESPN.

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports the Marlins' opening day roster is beginning to take shape. Heyman said the defensive alignment will be Rob Brantly at catcher, Casey Kotchman at first base, Donovan Solano at second base, Adeiny Hechavarria at shortstop, Placido Polanco at third base, Juan Pierre in left field, Justin Ruggiano in center field and Giancarlo Stanton in right field.

The rotation isn't settled yet, but Ricky Nolasco, Henderson Alvarez and Nate Eovaldi have secured spots. The final two spots remain up for grabs.

The Cleveland Indians are continuing to discuss contract extensions with outfielder Michael Brantley and infielder Jason Kipnis as of Monday, reports FOX Sports. 

Cleveland has been working with Brantley on an extension since before they signed Michael Bourn. Brantley, who turns 26 in May, is moving from center to left field with Bourn in tow. That means he's likely to make less money than he would have made had the team not picked up Bourn. 

Either way, both Brantley and Kipnis are starters as the infielder projects to open the season as the team's second baseman. Brantley is batting .368 this spring with two RBI and four doubles over 19 at-bats. Meanwhile, Kipnis is hitting just .162 with a homer and three RBI over 37 at-bats, but drove in 76 runs for the Tribe last season. 

With two key regulars of the Mets' infield -- third baseman David Wright and second baseman Daniel Murphy -- nursing injuries, manager Terry Collins devised a contingency plan Sunday in case the two are unavailable for opening day.

Justin Turner, who has the ability to play several positions in the infield, would assume Wright's spot at third base, while Jordany Valdespin could take over second base, which would place a short-term hold on his development as an outfielder.

After cracking the majors for the first time last season, Valdespin has improved immensely on offense this spring. He slugged his fourth homer in Grapefruit League play Sunday against Atlanta and is now carrying a .378 batting average through 13 games.