MLB Player News

Bender has a spot secure on the Marlins' Opening Day roster but will likely begin the season in a setup role, with Calvin Faucher and Jesus Tinoco getting the first closing opportunities.

Neither Faucher nor Tinoco are proven commodities in the ninth inning, so if they both struggle, Bender could get a look as the closer later in the year. The right-hander has posted an 8:2 K:BB through 7.2 Grapefruit League innings this spring as he looks to build on a 2024 campaign that saw his record a career-high 15 holds along with a 4.08 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 59:18 K:BB through 53 innings.

Lopez hasn't pitched since March 10 due to a left hip issue but will throw a light bullpen session Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The hope is that Lopez will be ready to pitch in games in a few days, and if that happens, he should have time to get ready for Opening Day. If healthy, Lopez will serve in a setup role ahead of closer Kyle Finnegan.

Strahm (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Strahm's last Grapefruit League appearance was back on March 5, as he's been working his way back from a left shoulder impingement. The southpaw could still have time to get ready for Opening Day if things break right, but it's not a guarantee.

Vesia struck out one and allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Cubs in Tokyo.

Tanner Scott secured the save in Tuesday's season opener, and it was Vesia that received the call Wednesday after Kirby Yates worked the eighth inning. Vesia was one of the best relievers in baseball last season with a 1.76 ERA and 0.99 WHIP across 67 appearances while recording five saves and 14 holds, but he's unlikely to be a consistent source of saves in 2025 given the offseason additions of Scott and Yates.

The Phillies optioned Sweet to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Sweet -- who was acquired via trade over the offseason -- yielded three runs with a 5:3 K:BB in six innings this spring. The 28-year-old will provide bullpen depth at Lehigh Valley.

Romero is away from the Giants due to personal reasons, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Romero was a non-roster invitee to spring training, but he hasn't made an appearance since March 9. The 34-year-old southpaw hasn't pitched in the big leagues since the 2018 campaign, during which he posted a 12.60 ERA, 2.90 WHIP and 10 strikeouts across 10 innings with three different teams. Romero is competing for a spot in the bullpen, though he appears to be a long shot to make the Giants' Opening Day roster.

Mears (illness) said Tuesday that he will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Mears missed time last week due to an apparently severe stomach illness that resulted in him losing nearly 10 pounds. He seems to be feeling healthy again and was able to complete a side session Monday, but Mears doesn't look as though he'll have enough time to get reconditioned before the Brewers open their season March 27 versus the Yankees. Mears will continue to build up with a series of bullpen sessions and simulated games and could be ready to return from the IL around when he's first eligible April 11.

Hernandez appears to have a secure spot in the Atlanta bullpen following Monday's trade of Angel Perdomo to the Angels, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The 28-year-old righty hasn't dominated this spring, but his 8:3 K:BB through 7.1 Grapefruit League innings offers a glimpse at his potential. Hernandez will likely begin the season in middle relief, with Pierce Johnson, Aaron Bummer and Dylan Lee as the primary setup men to closer Raisel Iglesias.

Bummer has a 0.00 ERA and 4:1 K:BB through five Grapefruit League innings.

The southpaw will be part of Atlanta's setup crew this season, along with right-hander Pierce Johnson and fellow lefty Dylan Lee. Bummer recorded a career-high 27 holds back in 2019 with the White Sox, and he could approach that number in 2025 given his impressive stuff -- he generated a 43.9 percent whiff rate with his sweeper last season, and no pitcher in baseball had a lower barrel rate allowed than his 1.3 percent.

Lee will begin the season as one of the primary setup men ahead of closer Raisel Iglesias in the Atlanta bullpen, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Pierce Johnson will be the team's main right-handed setup option, while Lee and Aaron Bummer will handle high-leverage innings from the left side. Lee has cruised through camp, posting a 7:1 K:BB through five Grapefruit League innings, and he could be poised to shatter his previous career high of nine holds, set in 2022 and tied in 2024.