MLB Player News

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Monday that Lopez is "fine" and has been cleared to make his next Grapefruit League start Saturday versus the Tigers, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

After Lopez's average fastball velocity sat at around 93 miles per hour -- 2.5 ticks below his season average from 2024 -- in his last Grapefruit League outing back on March 7 against the Twins, Atlanta opted to have the right-hander make his most recent spring appearance on the back fields of camp this past week. Lopez apparently made it though that outing without incident, perhaps suggesting that the diminished velocity he displayed March 7 was simply a bout of arm fatigue. Lopez's investors will still want to keep close tabs on his start Saturday, which will likely be the final time he takes the hill this spring before making his season debut next week in Atlanta's four-game opening series in San Diego.

Tinoco gave up a hit and struck out one in 1.1 scoreless innings during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The 29-year-old right-hander fired 16 of 25 pitches for strikes as he gets ready to handle a high-leverage role in the Marlins' bullpen. Calvin Faucher appears to be first in line for save chances, but Tinoco could see ninth-inning work as well after posting a 3.32 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 42:12 K:BB through 40.2 big-league innings last season and converting three of four save chances in September as Miami's closer.

Holmes tossed 93 pitches (63 strikes) in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.

The right-hander seems ready for Opening Day as he prepares to begin the season in Atlanta's rotation. Holmes posted a 3.56 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 70:15 K:BB over 68.1 big-league innings last year while working primarily in relief, but the organization had plenty of success in 2024 with Reynaldo Lopez's conversion to the rotation.

The Cardinals reassigned Anderson to minor-league camp Monday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Anderson struggled this spring in his bid to win an Opening Day bullpen spot, allowing eight runs over 5.1 innings. He has an upward mobility clause in his contract, allowing other teams the opportunity to add him to its 40-man roster. If that doesn't happen, Anderson will report to Triple-A Memphis.

Through six Cactus League appearances, Adam has allowed five runs on four hits over five innings while posting a 4:1 K:BB.

Adam's spring stats don't look great on paper, though three of the five runs he's allowed came on one swing -- a Joey Wiemer homer March 13. Adam was outstanding last season, posting a 1.95 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 31 holds, four saves and an 81:23 K:BB over 72.3 regular-season innings between Tampa Bay and San Diego. Adam is slated to set up closer Robert Suarez again this season, so he should get plenty of opportunities for holds. Suarez has had a rough spring, allowing eight runs over 3.2 frames, but he likely has a long enough leash to be in no danger of yielding the ninth-inning role come Opening Day. However, should Suarez's struggles carry over into the regular season, Adam and Jeremiah Estrada would be the top options to take over in save situations.

Estrada has pitched 4.2 innings during the Cactus League slate, allowing one run on two hits while posting a 6:1 K:BB.

Estrada broke through last season with a 2.95 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 16 holds and a 37.3 percent strikeout rate over 61 regular-season innings during his first season in San Diego. He's primed for a high-leverage role during the coming campaign and will likely open the season helping to set up closer Robert Suarez. Though Suarez has had a rough spring, allowing eight runs over 3.2 frames, he's probably earned a long enough leash to keep hold of the ninth-inning role come Opening Day. However, should Suarez's struggles carry over into the regular season, Estrada would be among the top options to take over in save situations.

The Cardinals reassigned Gomez to minor-league camp Sunday.

Gomez signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals in November and is likely to spend most of the 2025 season at Triple-A Memphis. The 28-year-old righty was a member of the Rays organization in 2024 and turned in a 5.01 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 55.2 innings at Triple-A Durham.

Bednar is presumed to begin the season the Pirates' closer, but manager Derek Shelton elected not to officially name the team's closer Sunday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

It's the second time during spring training that Shelton has made clear a decision at closer has yet to be made, though the skipper also indicated Sunday that he's happy with how Bednar has look during spring training, despite a 14.40 ERA and 6:3 K:BB over five innings. After two consecutive All-Star seasons in 2022 and 2023, the right-hander struggled to a 5.77 ERA in 62 appearances last year and was removed from the closer role down the stretch.

The Reds assigned Young to minor-league camp Sunday.

Young signed a minor-league contract with the Reds in January after being non-tendered by the Mets in late November. He gave up six runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five across three innings in spring training, and the 31-year-old southpaw will look to regain his form in the minors, likely with Triple-A Louisville.

Atlanta reassigned Farmer to minor-league camp Sunday.

The right-hander joined the club as a non-roster invitee in February and appeared to have a good chance of making the Opening Day roster, but his four runs allowed and 8:4 K:BB over 5.2 spring innings apparently weren't good enough. Assuming Farmer doesn't receive big-league interest from another organization, he'll likely begin the campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett.