MLB Player News

The Giants Opening Day lineup will go left fielder Norichika Aoki, second baseman Joe Panik, center fielder Angel Pagan, catcher Buster Posey, first baseman Brandon Belt, third baseman Casey McGehee, shortstop Brandon Crawford, right fielder Gregor Blanco and pitcher Madison Bumgarner.

It was uncertain where Aoki would be slotted in the lineup with manager Bruce Bochy experimenting with him leading off during spring training.

Diamondbacks rookie shortstop Nick Ahmed was able to start in Monday's season opener against the Giants after leaving Saturday's spring game with an arm injury. Ahmed, who hit eighth Monday, was hit by a pitch Saturday.

Ahmed, who won the starting shortstop job this spring, hit .311 with no home runs, five RBI, six doubles and 12 runs in 21 games. He also had three stolen bases this spring.

The Indians set their Opening Day roster by sending four players to the disabled list. 

RHP Gavin Floyd was sent to the 60-day disabled list. Floyd was coming back from a stress fracture of his elbow and reinjured himself in spring training.

Infielder Zach Walters (oblique), outfielder Nick Swisher (knees) and RHP Josh Tomlin (shoulder) were all placed on the 15-day disabled list. 

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.

Angels first baseman Efren Navarro, infielder Taylor Featherston and pitcher Drew Rucinski have made the team's initial 25-man roster, MLB.com reports.

Featherston, a Rule 5 pick from Colorado, will serve as the team's utility infielder; he has yet to play above the Double-A level.

"Taylor has shown extraordinary athleticism at three positions," manager Mike Scioscia said Saturday. "That's special. His defense plays at any level. He's an exciting player. We'll see where it leads to."

Navarro, who can also play in the outfield, won the final bench spot over outfielder Daniel Robertson.

Rucinski is set to pitch out of the bullpen, Scioscia said, adding that he also could be tabbed to start April 14, the first time the team's needs a fifth starter.

Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed left Saturday's game after he was hit in the left arm by a pitch, manager Chip Hale said after the game per MLB.com.

Ahmed said after the game he was fine, but he will be re-evaluated Sunday. He has hit .311 with six doubles and five RBI in 61 plate appearances this spring.

Braves infielder Pedro Ciriaco is expected to earn the final bench spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster, according to MLB.com. He has slashed .368/.373/.491 with two doubles, one triple, one home run and 14 RBI over 57 at-bats this spring.

The Mets are expected to go with an eight-man bullpen and a four-man bench, snubbing Eric Campbell from an Opening Day roster spot, according to ESPN.

Campbell hit .255 (14 for 55) with six doubles, one triple, two home runs and nine RBI in 24 Grapefruit League games. The four-man bench will include Ruben Tejada, John Mayberry Jr., Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Anthony Recker.

Meanwhile, the eight-man bullpen will include Rafael Montero, Jeurys Familia, Jerry Blevins, Jenrry Mejia, Alex Torres, Carlos Torres, Sean Gilmartin, and Buddy Carlyle .

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale announced Nick Ahmed will start at shortstop and Chris Owings will start at second base to begin the season, according to MLB.com. As a result, Aaron Hill will come off of the bench. 

Hale said this decision was based on the performance of the three infielders during the spring. 

This spring, and prior to Friday night's game against the Cubs, Ahmed has hit .328 with six doubles and five RBI. Owings has hit .244 with seven RBI. Hill has hit just .189 with three RBI. 

Among the Indians roster moves Thursday, they demoted first baseman Jesus Aguilar to Triple-A Columbus. 

They also announced reliever Austin Adams has made the team, while infielder Michael Martinez has not. 

Lastly, the team announced infielder Zach Walters will start the year on the disabled list due to an oblique injury.