MLB Player News

Medina was optioned to Double-A Reading on Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

The 22-year-old spent the start of spring with the big-league club but was never a candidate for a roster spot, as he's yet to pitch above High-A. He'll move up a level this season after posting a 4.12 ERA with strong peripherals (a 26.1 percent strikeout rate, 7.6 percent walk rate and 50.2 percent groundball rate) for High-A Clearwater last season.

The Braves are planning to have Vizcaino and A.J. Minter (shoulder) share closing duties based on matchups this season, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Minter has yet to resume mound work while tending to the injury, but the Braves are apparently still planning on having him as part of the ninth-inning mix once the lefty is healthy again. That isn't positive news for Vizcaino, whose right-handedness might preclude him to the smaller share of the save opportunities if manager Brian Snitker proceeds with his plan to play matchups. It's possible the Braves revisit their plans at closer and rely more heavily on Vizcaino in that capacity if Minter doesn't progress as quickly from the injury as the club anticipates.

The Cubs reassigned Ramirez to their minor-league camp Saturday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Ramirez logged 17 big-league appearances across the past two seasons, but that prior experience wasn't enough to put the non-roster invitee in the mix for an Opening Day bullpen job. He'll likely open the 2019 campaign as a reliever at Triple-A Iowa.

The Cubs optioned Alzolay (side) to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Alzolay failed to see any action in Cactus League play after entering camp behind the rest of the Cubs' pitchers due to an injury to his side. The right-hander has since resumed a throwing program, but it's unclear if he'll be ready to join the Iowa rotation once the regular season gets underway.

Pomeranz tossed four scoreless innings while giving up just one hit and one walk and striking out four in Friday's spring win over the Indians.

Pomeranz's ERA sits at 5.00 even after Friday's start, so the results have been mixed early on. The veteran southpaw does have nine strikeouts over nine innings, highlighting the value he brings in fantasy (8.71 career K/9). Pomeranz posted an ERA above 3.66 for the first time in four years last season (6.08 ERA over 74 innings with the Red Sox), but there is potential for a bounce-back campaign with his strikeout stuff moving to pitcher-friendly AT&T Park.

Underwood will start Saturday's Cactus League game against the Angels with Alec Mills scratched due to a back issue, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Underwood has thrown just a single inning in Cactus League action so far, but the 24-year-old will get a chance for some extended work Saturday. He made one start for the Cubs last season and will likely begin 2019 at Triple-A with a chance to move up if there are any injuries in the Cubs rotation.

The Pirates reassigned Escobar to their minor-league camp Saturday.

After beginning his professional career as an outfielder, Escobar experimented as a pitcher in 2018 and has made a full-time transition to the position this spring. The 24-year-old lefty made two appearances for the Pirates during the Grapefruit League slate, giving up two runs and striking out two in two innings.

Stephenson (shoulder) will be required to throw another live batting practice session Sunday before taking the next step of getting into a game, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Stephenson had a previous batting practice session Thursday, but he's definitely behind schedule in his attempt to be ready for Opening Day. Because Stephenson is out of options, it's likely that the Reds will begin the season by putting him on the IL and having him go on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville.

Bowman (lat strain) hasn't yet been scheduled to appear in a spring training game, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Bowman's batting practice session Thursday was deemed a success, yet he still has more hurdles to clear if he's going to be ready for Opening Day.

While Minter (shoulder) is no longer bothered by tightness in his pitching shoulder, he still hasn't been cleared for mound work, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

While the Braves are confident that Minter can ramp up in time for Opening Day, he and teammate Darren O'Day both have a few hurdles to clear to be ready with only three weeks of spring training remaining. Per Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves intend to have Minter share closing duties with Arodys Vizcaino this season, though those plans could change if Minter fails to progress as anticipated ahead of Opening Day.