MLB Player News

Story went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored to help the Rockies to a 6-3 victory over the Marlins on Thursday.

The 26-year-old shortstop is coming off a fantastic 2018 campaign that saw him post a .915 OPS with 37 homers over 598 at-bats, and he picked up right where he left off in this Opening Day victory for Colorado, launching a fifth-inning solo blast off Miami starter Jose Urena. Story's power-hitting prowess and his speed on the basepaths (27 steals last season) figure to allow him to continue being one of the premier assets at the position in 2019.

Baez went 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI in Thursday's season-opening win over Texas.

Baez got the scoring started for the Cubs with a solo home run in the fourth inning, then helped break things open with a three-run shot an inning later. A year after finishing second in NL MVP voting, the 26-year-old wasted no time getting right back to elite-level production to begin 2019.

Herrera drew the start in left field and went 0-for-3 in Thursday's season opener against the Rockies.

Herrera made the team despite a sluggish spring at the dish and ended up drawing the start on Opening Day, although it appears his bat has yet to wake up. He should serve in a bench role for the Marlins in 2019, but it appears skipper Don Mattingly is willing to give Herrera opportunities at the plate early in the year. The 26-year-old slashed .234/.286/.317 with a home run and 20 RBI over 86 games a season ago during stops with Cincinnati and Kansas City.

Lindor (calf/ankle) is scheduled to visit a foot and ankle specialist in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

Lindor suffered an acute left ankle sprain in a minor-league game earlier in the week (while rehabbing from a right calf strain), resulting in his placement on the 10-day injured list to open the season. He remains without a timeline for his return, though one will hopefully come into focus following his visit to the doctor. Eric Stamets, who started at shortstop Thursday, should continue to fill in for Lindor.

Seager, who is starting at shortstop and hitting second Thursday, will likely get Sunday's game off, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

He will still start Thursday, Friday and Saturday, so it's not particularly actionable news unless you play in a very, very shallow league. This could be a bit of a trend, where he gets planned maintenance days all season.

Fletcher is not in the lineup for Thursday's season opener against the A's.

Fletcher dealt with a nagging hamstring issue last week, though it's unclear if that has anything to do with his absence from Thursday's lineup, as he appeared in the team's final two exhibition games against the Dodgers on Monday and Tuesday. Tommy La Stella is starting at second base in his absence, while Peter Bourjos is covering left field.

The Indians placed Lindor (calf/ankle) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Lindor looked to be in line for only a brief stint on the IL to open the season while he recovered from a right calf strain, but his timeline may have been pushed back after he sustained an acute left ankle sprain during a minor-league game Tuesday. The Indians are viewing Lindor as out indefinitely at this stage, with a clearer target date for his return unlikely to be available until he resumes playing in simulated or rehab games.

Correa (neck) is out of the lineup for Thursday's season opener against the Rays, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Correa experienced some neck stiffness prior to the Astros' exhibition finale Tuesday against the Pirates and is considered day-to-day. The Astros had held out hope that he would be ready to go for Opening Day, but Correa "still didn't feel right" after taking some swings Thursday, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, so the club will err on the side of caution and turn to Aledmys Diaz at shortstop. Correa is optimistic that he'll be able to play at some point during the team's four-game series with Tampa Bay.

Smith is slated to open the season at Double-A New Hampshire, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The 2017 fourth-round pick will move up a rung on the minor-league ladder after churning out a .302/.358/.528 slash line with 25 home runs and 29 steals in 523 plate appearances between Low-A Lansing and High-A Dunedin a season ago. Top prospects Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are viewed as future cornerstones for the Blue Jays on the left side of the infield, but Smith, who has primarily played shortstop during his career, could be an everyday option at second base as soon as 2020 if he continues to perform at a high level in the upper minors.

Urena was informed Tuesday that he would be included on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The 23-year-old switch hitter will serve as a utility infielder for Toronto, a role that will likely afford him only a couple starts per week. With a .257/.311/.341 slash line, two home runs and three steals over 183 career plate appearances in the majors, Urena won't carry much fantasy appeal if he finds himself in a full-time role at some point this season.