MLB Player News

Baez (thumb) might not be ready for the Cubs' home opener on Monday due to a hit by pitch he took to the helmet, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

There's no word Baez sustained a significant head injury, nor has there been any indication that the hit by pitch affected his thumb, so this is a momentary setback at worst. If he has to miss the home opener, he'll get an extra day of rest before Chicago's Wednesday game against the Reds.

Gordon logged his second-straight three-hit effort Wednesday in a loss to the Tigers.

The speedy shortstop has six hits over the Marlins' first two games including two doubles and one triple to go along with one RBI and a pair of runs scored. He has yet to successfully swipe a base, and was caught once on Wednesday, but Gordon is certainly swinging a hot stick out of the gates.

Story went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and two strikeouts in Wednesday's win over Arizona.

With the homer off Patrick Corbin in the first inning, Story became the first player since 1900 to hit home runs in each of his first three major league games. He's the talk of the baseball world right now, and deservedly so. It's just three games, but Story went 20/20 with an .863 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A last year and plays at a premium position, so there is plenty to dream on. Jose Reyes' status remains uncertain, but commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday that an announcement will be made in a matter of "days not weeks."

Diaz is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Jedd Gyorko will take over at shortstop Wednesday with Kolten Wong drawing back into the lineup against Juan Nicasio and the Pirates. Diaz got the start Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with a run and a strikeout. Perhaps more concerning for Diaz's playing time in the short term was that he committed an error, and given the Cardinals patchwork corps of shortstop options, competence in the field could carry a lot of weight with manager Mike Matheny.

Crawford went 2-for-4 with a double and his first home run of the season in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Milwaukee.

Crawford provided all the thump for the Giants, collecting their only extra-base hits against Jimmy Nelson. Coming off a year where he exploded for 21 homers, fantasy owners will be pleased to see him knock one out of the park in just the second game of the season. Crawford will be on a mission to prove that least year's power outbreak was no fluke.

Owings is starting in center field and hitting second Wednesday against the Rockies.

This will be his second start in center field, with Socrates Brito getting his first start Tuesday. It is unclear exactly how the Diamondbacks intend to handle the rotation in center field this season, but Owings has the early upper hand on playing time. He is 2-for-6 with a RBI, two runs and two strikeouts so far this season.

Owings is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Rockies.

Owings received the Opening Day start with lefty Jorge De La Rosa on the bump for Colorado, but the utility man will head to the bench with right-hander Chad Bettis pitching Tuesday. Socrates Brito will take his place in center field.

Diaz will get the start at shortstop for Tuesday's game against the Pirates, Jim Hayes of Fox Sports Midwest reports.

With the Cardinals facing a left-hander in Pittsburgh's Jon Niese on Tuesday, manager Mike Matheny will play the platoon advantage and plug Diaz in at shortstop. Diaz will be starting over Greg Garcia at short while Jedd Gyorko will start at second. If Diaz is able to perform ably in the field and at the dish, he could push for regular playing time given the Cardinals' current lack of depth at short. Diaz will bat eighth in the order Tuesday.

Story mashed a pair of home runs in Monday's win over the Diamondbacks as he finished 2-for-6 with four RBI.

Both home runs came off new Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke as Story became the first player in history to hit two home runs in his MLB debut on Opening Day. At just 23 years old, Story's addition to the roster at shortstop was something of a surprise even considering Jose Reyes's suspension. After a monster spring training (.378, six home runs) and now this debut, it's easy to see why some peg Story as Colorado's shortstop of the future.

Owings is starting in center field in Monday's season opener versus the Rockies.

After A.J. Pollock (elbow) went down, Owings was tested out in center field and apparently put together a good enough showing to get the start in center on Opening Day. It's unclear how often he'll appear there, but it could increase how frequently he gets into the lineup over the season and potentially expand his position eligibility.