MLB Player News

Hartlieb recorded a scoreless inning Saturday against the Yankees, striking out a pair without permitting a hit or walk.

The righty, who hasn't allowed a run in three outings covering three spring innings, is likely a favorite to earn a bullpen spot. Hartlieb compiled a 3.63 ERA working relief in 2020, though he allowed 19 walks in 22.1 innings. He has yet to issue a free pass in Grapefruit League action. Most likely, he'll continue to work the middle innings in 2021.

Alvarado has looked good to start camp, retiring all nine batters he's faced thus far while striking out three.

The Phillies acquired Alvarado fairly cheaply from the Rays back in December, as he's posted a 5.08 ERA over the last two seasons while battling injuries. He's been in vintage form so far this spring, however, with his fastball touching triple digits and his conditioning looking much improved. His recent struggles mean he probably begins the year behind Archie Bradley and Hector Neris on the closer depth chart, but he could certainly add to his 15 career saves if he carries his spring success into the regular season. If the Phillies adopt a committee approach at any point this year, he should have a strong chance of picking up saves when opposing lefties are due up in the ninth inning, as both Bradley and Neris throw right-handed.

Hicks, who has been impressive in live batting practices and a "B" game appearance, will next progress to making his Grapefruit League debut at a yet-to-be-determined date, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Manager Mike Shildt confirmed the right-hander's imminent spring debut Friday, and Silver notes it could unfold this weekend against either the Mets or Marlins. The eventual appearance will mark Hicks' first in official game action since June 22, 2019 following Tommy John surgery that summer and a subsequent 2020 opt-out.

Pagan should have a high-leverage role with the Padres this season, but the team has yet to determine how closing duties will be handled, Bill Center of FriarWire reports.

Pagan has experience closing -- he saved 20 games for Tampa Bay in 2019 -- but he was used primarily as a setup man in his first campaign with San Diego last season. With veteran closer Mark Melancon brought over in the offseason and Drew Pomeranz fresh off a dominant 2020 campaign that included a temporary ninth-inning role, Pagan does not appear to be the early favorite for save opportunities heading into 2021, though the Padres have not yet determined how the back end of the bullpen will shake out. Manager Jayce Tingler suggested earlier in the week that plans have yet to be finalized, stating, "Are we open to a committee? Open to matchups? We are. We'd love to come out of here saying this is our ninth-inning guy and move forward. This early, I'm not interested in giving anyone that title. Sometimes, the key outs are in the seventh or eighth."

Melancon is among the candidates to close for the Padres this season, but manager Jayce Tingler has not yet settled on how the back end of the bullpen will shape up, Bill Center of FriarWire reports.

Melancon brings plenty of closing experience with him to San Diego -- he has saved 205 games in his MLB career and tied for seventh in the league with 11 saves last season. That said, the Padres have other intriguing ninth-inning options, including former big-league closers Emilio Pagan and Keone Kela in addition to Drew Pomeranz, who briefly and effectively filled in as the team's closer last year. It remains to be seen how the mix of arms will shake out in terms of roles, and manager Jayce Tingler has not yet decided whether any single pitcher will be handed exclusive ninth-inning duties, stating, "Are we open to a committee? Open to matchups? We are. We'd love to come out of here saying this is our ninth-inning guy and move forward. This early, I'm not interested in giving anyone that title. Sometimes, the key outs are in the seventh or eighth."

Pomeranz is a candidate to fill the Padres' closer role, but he is open to working in any function, Bryce Miller of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Pomeranz certainly earned consideration for the closer role with his dominant performance last season, when he posted a 1.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 39.7 strikeout percentage. He also racked up nine holds and spent some time as the team's ninth-inning option, registering four saves before Trevor Rosenthal was brought over to close. Rosenthal is now in Oakland, but San Diego's offseason acquisition of Mark Melancon and the continued presence of former Tampa Bay closer Emilio Pagan provide an array of intriguing ninth-inning options for San Diego to choose from. To his credit, Pomeranz's focus is on winning, and he indicated recently that he is open to whatever the team asks of him, stating, "If they want me to close, that's fine. If they want me to pitch the sixth, seventh, eighth, that's fine, too. I don't care." It stands to reason that the left-hander will function in a high-leverage role again this year, but whether he will get a chance to close remains to be seen.

Smith has tossed two perfect innings while striking out three batters in his first two appearances this spring.

The 31-year-old is expected to begin the season as Atlanta's primary closer following the departure of Mark Melancon, despite the fact that Smith didn't record a save in 2020. Top southpaws often have a hard time holding down closer jobs as they're needed earlier in the game in high-leverage spots, but Smith's handedness is less of an issue in a bullpen that features two other tough lefties in A.J. Minter and Tyler Matzek. Chris Martin could also factor into the ninth-inning mix, but Smith has the pedigree after racking up 48 saves for the Giants in 2018-19. His 114:25 K:BB in 81.1 innings over the last two seasons is impressive, but he'll need to keep the ball in the park after serving up 17 homers over that stretch.

Martin does not have a timetable to make his Grapefruit League debut this spring, but he's healthy and getting regular work on the back fields for Atlanta, Gabriel Burns of The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports. "A guy like that, he's going to be a one-inning guy, so you can just monitor things with him (throwing simulated innings)," manager Brian Snitker said earlier this week. "He's not a tough one to put on the back fields and see. But he'll have plenty enough appearances by the time this thing's over."

Martin heads into 2021 as the top right-handed option in a bullpen that features three tough lefties in Will Smith, A.J. Minter and Tyler Matzek. Smith is widely expected to open the season as the primary closer, but Martin's high-leverage role could see him pick up the occasional save along with his holds depending on who's coming to the plate for the opposition in the ninth inning. Since joining Atlanta at the trade deadline in 2019, the 34-year-old has 12 holds and one save in 39 appearances while posting a dazzling 42:4 K:BB over 35.2 innings.

Kimbrel allowed four runs on two hits and two walks while retiring just two batters in Friday's Cactus League game against the Brewers.

It's been an awful start to the spring for Kimbrel, who has a 30.38 ERA across three appearances (2.2 innings). The veteran reliever is reportedly working through some mechanical issues in camp, so perhaps he can figure things out and right the ship soon, but he's not inspiring any confidence at the moment. If the struggles continue, the Cubs could turn to Rowan Wick (ribs) or Brandon Workman to close out games.

Suter (hand) will play catch Saturday and plans to stay on schedule in his preparations for Opening Day, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Suter was hit on the left hand by a comebacker during Friday's intrasquad scrimmage, but the injury is believed to be minor. Barring any setbacks, the injury shouldn't affect Suter's preparations for Opening Day, and the left-hander is expected to serve as a swingman for Milwaukee to begin the year.