MLB Player News

Gott is competing with Blake Treinen and Sean Burnett for one or possibly two spots in the Nationals' Opening Day bullpen, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.

Acquired from the Angels in the offseason, it was assumed that Gott would be a lock for a middle relief or setup role with the Nats, but the club's decision to add non-roster invitee Matt Belisle to the 25-man roster could put Gott's spot in jeopardy. Gott and Treinen both have minor league options remaining, which may become a factor if Burnett, another non-roster invitee, also gets a job. Gott's 3.86 ERA and 5:1 K:BB in seven spring innings are solid, though, and he at least hasn't done anything in camp to cost himself a roster spot.

Stephenson walked five Brewers in his three innings of work Monday, also giving up two hits to lead to five runs (four earned).

That notion that Stephenson might get a last-ditch call to the Opening Day rotation has to be scuttled after this outing. "I think the situation just got the best of me," Stephenson said. "I let the game speed up on me. I was rushing and couldn't slow myself down. That led to me just missing arm-side up and away over and over."

Iglesias was named the Reds' Opening Day starter Monday, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Iglesias was one of the top candidates to get the Opening Day nod, and the team made it official Monday afternoon. The 25-year-old will square off against the Phillies on April 4, which will mark just his 19th start in a Reds uniform. He'll be followed in the rotation by Brandon Finnegan, but the Reds have not yet announced a No. 3 starter for the opening series. It was revealed, however, that Alfredo Simon will begin the season fourth in the rotation. The team also hopes to have Anthony DeSclafani, who's struggled this spring, ready to start by April 10.

Hoover hasn't allowed an earned run in five major league innings in spring training so far, striking out five while walking two. He remains the Reds' closer heading into the final week of spring training.

Hoover keeps getting mentioned as the one stable option in the Reds' bullpen this month, as chaos has reigned supreme in most of their camp. His track record during the regular season isn't so great, however, so he's among the bottom five or so closers in baseball heading into the season.

Nelson (illness) pitched in a minor league game Saturday, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Nelson was scratched from his scheduled spring start Friday due to an illness, but he was only pushed back one day. Nelson is set to take the ball in the Brewers' second regular season game, next Tuesday against the Giants.

Garcia (knee) allowed a run and a hit over two-thirds of an inning Sunday.

He missed nearly a week with left knee soreness, but that he pitched in a big league spring training game Sunday bodes well for his chances of being ready to work as part of the bridge to Kenley Jansen on Opening Day. Garcia also recorded a pair of strikeouts in the abbreviated outing.

Stephenson, who has already been optioned to Triple-A Louisville, will start Monday's spring training game against the Brewers, with Jon Moscot pitching in a minor league game.

Moscot isn't expected to be ready for the start of the season. Tim Melville had been expected to fill in until Moscot is ready, but he hasn't been great this spring. Moreover, almost all of the other projected Reds starters have struggled. Stephenson probably still won't make the Reds' Opening Day roster, and this might just be for convenience sake to give Moscot time, but it might also be a sign that the team is still considering all options for their rotation.

Belisle will open the season in the Nationals' bullpen, MLB.com's William Ladson reports.

Belisle entered camp as a non-roster invitee, but he will exit it as a member of the Nationals' bullpen. Expect Belisle, who posted a 2.67 ERA but a 1.46 WHIP in 34 games with the Cardinals last season, to work as a middle reliever with his new club.

Gearrin survived the final wave of spring training demotions Sunday, securing a middle relief role on the Opening Day roster, CSN Bay Area reports.

While many were wondering whether Jarrett Parker or Mac Williamson would earn the last spot on the 25-man roster, the Giants opted to go with neither and carry a 13-man bullpen to start the year, opening up a spot for Gearrin. The 29-year-old had a strong season with Triple-A Sacramento in 2015, posting a 2.72 ERA with a 9.6 K/9. His heavy sinker produces a lot of ground balls, and his sweeping slider is used to garner strikeouts. Gearrin will be low on the pecking order in terms of being used in high-pressure situations, so he won't see very many save or hold situations out of the gate.

Garcia was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Garcia had a 5.87 ERA and an 11:4 K:BB ratio in 7.2 innings this spring. He will likely see time with the Phillies later this season.