MLB Player News

Matzek has been excused from camp for personal reasons, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Matzek has struggled in camp and is dealing with the same performance anxiety issues that plagued him last summer. It's unclear how long the left-hander will be away from the team, but his chances of cracking the Opening Day roster would seem to be reduced at this point.

The Brewers optioned Magnifico to minor-league camp Monday.

Magnifico impressed in three spring outings with the big club, allowing just one runner to reach base over three innings, but he has never pitched above the Double-A level and has options remaining, which made it easy for the Brewers to send him to the minors to open the season. Magnifico throws gas and posted a 1.17 ERA in 42 games with Double-A Biloxi last season, so he could be an option for the big club at some point this season.

Underwood was assigned to minor league camp Monday, Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago reports.

The 2012 second-rounder received an invite to major league camp but was never considered a serious contender to make the Opening Day roster. Underwood will likely begin the year at Double-A after splitting the 2015 campaign between Rookie ball and High-A. In 14 appearances for High-A Myrtle Beach, Underwood posted a 2.58 ERA across 73.1 innings.

The Brewers optioned Lopez to minor-league camp Monday.

Lopez allowed just two earned runs in three appearances this spring and even picked up the save in his final outing with the big club Sunday, but he was always likely to begin 2016 in the minors, and the Brewers confirmed that Monday. Lopez is arguably the Brewers' top pitching prospect coming off a dominant 2015 campaign in which he made his big league debut, so chances are he will be back with the major league club at some point this season. His campaign will likely begin with Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Strop made his first appearance of the spring Sunday and pitched a perfect eighth inning. He struck out two.

Meanwhile, closer Hector Rondon struggled for the second appearance in a row, blowing the three-run lead Strop handed him. Rondon still has a strong hold on the job, but if his struggled carry over into the regular season, Strop appears to be the first choice to take over in the ninth inning.

Rodney (hamstring) threw a perfect frame against the White Sox on Friday in his spring debut.

The 38-year-old avoided his typical theatrics in his first Cactus League appearance, retiring the side on just six pitches. Rodney should be able to focus exclusively on preparing to open the year as the Padres' closer with the hamstring injury, which he suffered during the Caribbean Series, seemingly in the rearview mirror.

Infante was reassigned to minor league camp on Saturday.

Infante agreed to a minor league deal with the Phillies in December after spending a majority of 2015 on the Blue Jays' Triple-A club, the Buffalo Bison. The 28-year-old is not expected to make much of an impact for the Phillies this season and has only pitched in five major league games (all in 2010 with the White Sox) during his career.

Biddle was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Friday.

The move is to make room for David Freese on the 40-man roster and leaves Biddle's future in doubt for the second time this offseason. Biddle landed with the Pirates after getting designated for assignment by the Phillies. Whichever team he lands with will have to be patient if it thinks he can still be a major league pitcher, as he's out for the entirety of 2016 due to Tommy John surgery and had control issues before the injury.

Manager Pete Mackanin said Friday that Hernandez (triceps) is improving, but suggested he will not pitch in a game this weekend, Ryan Lawrence of the Philly Voice reports.

Right triceps tendinitis has kept Hernandez out of action since the Phillies' Grapefruit League opener, but it sounds like he's moving in the right direction. Hernandez, the favorite to close for Philadelphia this season, will likely need to throw both a standard bullpen session and a live session before getting the green light to return to games.

Bracho (groin) will make his spring debut Saturday, the Arizona Republic reports.

A groin injury has delayed Bracho to this point, but he should do away with any concern with a successful outing Saturday. Working primarily with a fastball-slider combo, Bracho fanned batters at a 34 percent clip in 13 appearances with the big club last season, with a swinging-strike rate north of 15 percent. His role to begin the year is to be determined.