MLB Player News

Robles allowed one hit and struck out one in two shutout innings of relief during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Braves.

His spring ERA with the Mets remains at 0.00 through 7.2 innings with a 9:1 K:BB, and Robles also had good numbers with the Dominican Republic team at the WBC (2.45 ERA, 4:0 K:BB in 3.2 innings). With Jeurys Familia expected to miss the first month of the season due to a domestic violence suspension, Robles should take on eighth-inning duties in April and be a strong source of holds all season.

Montero allowed four hits and a walk while striking out one over five shutout innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Braves.

He now has a 1.96 ERA and 21:8 K:BB in 18.1 innings this spring, and Montero has done everything possible to earn a spot on the big league staff. With Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo also pitching well this spring, though, Montero's probably be headed for a low-leverage long relief role, making him little more than an upside flier for fantasy purposes. Still, the 25-year-old's strikeout potential, and the checkered injury histories of much of the Mets' rotation, do give Montero a clear (if unlikely) path to value if he has rediscovered the form he showed at Triple-A back in 2013-14.

Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Saturday the team has decided on a closer, although he isn't yet willing to make that decision public, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports. Treinen is one of three candidates for the job, along with Shawn Kelley and Koda Glover.

The 28-year-old once again worked the ninth inning Saturday, recording the final two outs against the Astros. All three relievers have pitched well this spring, but Treinen's numbers (0.00 ERA, 0.21 WHIP, 8:0 K:BB in 4.2 innings) are a notch above Glover's (3.72 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 12:1 K:BB in 9.2 innings) and especially Kelley's (1.42 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 6:3 K:BB in 6.1 innings), and his recent usage suggests he might be the winner of one of the spring's most intriguing battles from a fantasy perspective. It seems the Nats' bullpen picture should become a lot clearer soon.

Miller will begin the season in the Arizona rotation with Archie Bradley moving to the bullpen, ArizonaSports.com reports.

Miller may have a 7.36 ERA this spring, but he also has an encouraging 18:4 K:BB in 11 innings. Miller's disastrous 2016 season (6.15 ERA) featured just a 6.2 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9.

Bowman will open the season in the Cardinals' bullpen, MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch reports.

He logged a 3.46 ERA in 67.2 innings out of the Cardinals' bullpen in 2016 and figures to occupy a similar low-leverage role this season.

Stewart (shoulder) received a cortisone shot this week and is unlikely to start pitching in games until May, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.

Stewart, one of the top pitching prospects in the Dodgers' organization, has been hindered by tendinitis in his throwing shoulder for the past two weeks. He has been going through strength and conditioning work, but has yet to resume throwing. He'll likely be shut down a few days following the injection, and it's unclear when the Dodgers will start him back up on a throwing program.

Carasiti was reassigned to minor league camp Saturday.

The Rockies trimmed their roster down with three moves Saturday. Carasiti inked a minor league contract with the organization this offseason and made five appearances in spring training, notching four strikeouts and four walks while allowing one run over 4.2 innings. He figures to slot into the bullpen at Triple-A Albuquerque when the season gets underway.

Rusin (oblique) is expected to return to game action before the end of March, Nick Groke of The Denver Post reports.

The left-hander appears to be on track in his recovery from a strained oblique after tossing his second bullpen session Friday. The next step of his rehab process will be to pitch to hitters Sunday, after which a firmer timetable for his return to the Cactus League likely will come forth. This development seems to have Rusin in line to be game-ready by Opening Day, although he likely won't be stretched out enough to garner one of the vacant positions in the rotation, leaving him in a bullpen role to start the season.

Milner, a Rule 5 pick, was returned to the Phillies on Friday after the Indians outrighted him.

He didn't have much of a shot to crack the big league bullpen after the Indians signed Boone Logan, so this doesn't come as much of a surprise. Milner held a 9.00 ERA and 1.71 WHIP through seven spring innings, though he was able to collect nine strikeouts as well. The 26-year-old will head back to the Phillies' organization, where he'll eventually compete for a bullpen spot.

Hernandez was released by the Giants on Friday, Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area Sports reports.

Hernandez had requested the move after being informed he would not make the Opening Day roster. The 31-year-old was attempting to earn a bullpen spot after appearing in 70 games for Philadelphia last season, but posted a 4.76 ERA over six Cactus League games this spring. He'll look to latch on to a roster elsewhere.