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  • Austin Martin SS | MIN

    Twins' Austin Martin: Bats leadoff

    Martin went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Thursday's loss against the Orioles. He started in left field and batted leadoff.

    It looks like Martin will bat leadoff against left-handed starters as he platoons in left field with James Outman or Trevor Larnach. Martin did make a mental error by throwing to the wrong base which led to a run, so he could be in the manager's doghouse in the short term.

  • Marcelo Mayer SS | BOS

    Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Impacts win off bench

    Mayer entered Thursday's game as a pinch hitter and went 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored in a 3-0 win over Cincinnati. He finished the game at second base.

    Mayer was held out of the starting lineup against a lefty but got his chance after Reds starter Andrew Abbott was removed. Pinch hitting for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Mayer led off the seventh inning with a double and scored the game's first run. He later led off the ninth with a single that triggered a two-run frame. Red Sox manager Alex Cora plans a three-player platoon at second base with Mayer against righties, while Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio handle southpaws. Mayer should get his first start Saturday against Reds' right-hander Brady Singer.

  • Tigers' Kevin McGonigle: Tallies four hits in MLB debut

    McGonigle went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 8-2 win over the Padres.

    Making his MLB debut, McGonigle started at third base and batted sixth Opening Day, and he made quite the first impression on the heels of a strong spring training. The youngster became just the second Detroit player ever to record four hits in his first game in the majors. McGonigle is expected to see plenty of time at shortstop this year, though he covered the hot corner Thursday with Javier Baez starting at short. No matter where McGonigle plays in the field, he looks ready to make a fantasy impact right away.

  • Giants' Casey Schmitt: Draws start in Opening Day loss

    Schmitt started at first base and went 0-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch in Wednesday's 7-0 loss to the Yankees.

    The 27-year-old reached first in the second inning after being hit by Max Fried, accounting for Schmitt's lone time on base during the Opening Day rout. The San Diego State product is expected to play a utility role in 2026, though he drew the start at first base Wednesday while Rafael Devers served as the designated hitter. Schmitt appeared in a career-high 95 regular-season games in 2025, slashing .237/.305/.401 with 40 RBI, 34 runs scored and 12 long balls in 348 plate appearances.

  • Marcelo Mayer SS | BOS

    Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Sitting versus lefty

    Mayer is out of the lineup for Thursday's Opening Day matchup with the Reds, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

    Manager Alex Cora indicated earlier this week that Mayer would begin the season in a platoon at second base, so it's no surprise he's on the bench in favor of Isiah Kiner-Falefa with lefty Andrew Abbott on the mound for Cincinnati. Mayer had a .674 OPS over 44 regular-season games in his first taste of the majors last year and batted just .154 versus southpaws.

  • Javier Sanoja SS | MIA

    Marlins' Javier Sanoja: Set for key bench role

    Sanoja is expected to be the Marlins primary utility player to begin the season, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

    Fresh off winning a Gold Glove as 2025's top defensive sub in the NL, Sanoja also produced a .243/.287/.396 slash line with six homers and six steals in 342 plate appearances while playing at least 10 games at second base, third base, shortstop, left field and center field. With Kyle Stowers (hamstring) opening the year on the IL, Sanoja could be part of the solution in left over the first weeks of the campaign.

  • Tigers' Kevin McGonigle: Making MLB debut at 3B

    McGonigle is starting at third base and batting sixth in Thursday's Opening Day matchup against the Padres.

    The 21-year-old shortstop will end up making his MLB debut at the hot corner while Javier Baez picks up the start at shortstop. McGonigle, who is one of the top prospects in baseball, is expected to split his playing time between the two positions. He posted a .254/.369/.550 slash line with 12 homers and seven steals in 46 games at the Double-A level last year and had an .888 OPS during spring training.

  • Brice Matthews SS | HOU

    Astros' Brice Matthews: Claims Opening Day roster spot

    The Astros announced Wednesday that Matthews won a spot on the Opening Day roster.

    Matthews is set to begin the season as a utility player for the Astros after producing an .817 OPS while seeing time at second base, left field and center field during spring training. The 24-year-old is also capable of playing shortstop, though the Astros will go with Carlos Correa at that position in Thursday's season opener versus the Angels as a replacement for the banged-up Jeremy Pena (finger). Matthews, who slashed just .167/.222/.452 in 47 plate appearances during his first taste of the majors last season, is likely to see most of his starts against left-handed pitching in the early going.

  • Jeremy Pena SS | HOU

    Astros' Jeremy Pena: Not in lineup for opener

    Pena (finger) is not in the lineup for Thursday's opener against the Angels.

    Per Chandler Rome of The Athletic, Pena has progressed enough in his recovery from a fractured right ring finger to avoid the 10-day injured list, but he's not quite ready to play in major-league games. Pena is at the Astros' nearby Triple-A Sugar Land affiliate Thursday morning getting in some live at-bats, and it's unclear whether he will be available off the bench Thursday or if Houston will play a man short. Consider him day-to-day for the time being. With Pena out, Carlos Correa will slide over to shortstop and Isaac Paredes will start at third base.

  • David Hamilton SS | MIL

    Brewers' David Hamilton: Nabs start Opening Day

    Hamilton is starting at third base and batting seventh Opening Day against the White Sox on Thursday.

    The lefty-hitting Hamilton will end up getting the Opening Day nod at the hot corner over switch-hitting veteran Luis Rengifo, who inked a one-year $3.5 million deal with Milwaukee in February. Hamilton played in 91 regular-season games with Boston last year and finished the campaign with six homers, 22 steals and a .198/.257/.333 slash line in 177 plate appearances.

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