MLB Player News

Nardi walked one in a scoreless inning of relief during Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The 25-year-old lefty emerged as a reliable bullpen option for the Marlins last year, posting a 2.67 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 73:21 K:BB through 57.1 innings with eight wins, 17 holds and three saves, but Nardi has had trouble finding the plate in camp. He does sport a 0.00 ERA through 4.2 spring innings, but it comes with a 1:5 K:BB, and he threw just seven strikes among his 16 pitches Friday. Nardi's being counted on as the top setup man from the port side for Miami behind southpaw closer Tanner Scott, but both pitchers have dealt with control issues this spring, creating some uncertainty in the team's relief corps ahead of Opening Day.

Bender gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief during Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The 29-year-old right-hander didn't pitch at all in 2023 due to Tommy John surgery, but Bender has been healthy in camp and looks ready to resume a high-leverage role in the Marlins' bullpen. Through six spring innings, he's allowed only one run while posting an 8:2 K:BB. Tanner Scott is expected to begin the season as Miami's closer, but if he falters, Bender could work his way back into the ninth-inning mix -- he recorded six saves, plus three holds and a win, over 22 appearances in 2022 prior to undergoing elbow surgery.

Martinez (ribs) will throw live batting practice Saturday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Martinez's scheduled outing Thursday was pushed back to Saturday due to a rib injury, but it appears the 33-year-old right-hander will work on the practice field instead. Martinez has previously said that he doesn't feel any discomfort while on the mound, and the Reds are confident he will be ready to go by Opening Day.

Lawrence has allowed three earned runs while maintaining a 9:1 K:BB across six innings in Cactus League action.

Lawrence's ERA isn't particularly impressive, but he's held opponents scoreless in four of his six outings. He's also struck out at least one batter in each appearance. Lawrence is in competition for the closer role in Colorado with Tyler Kinley, and both pitchers have performed well this spring. That leaves things murky for the ninth-inning job to begin the season, though last season's usage -- 27 of Lawrence's 69 appearances began with runners on base, and he pitched multiple innings on 21 occasions -- suggests that the Rockies may prefer to utilize Lawrence in the highest-leverage situations rather than reserve him for the ninth inning.

Kinley has thrown five scoreless innings while maintaining a 7:2 K:BB during Cactus League action.

Kinley is in competition for the closer role with Justin Lawrence, and both pitchers have performed well this spring. Kinley has allowed only one base hit across his five innings of work and has at least one strikeout in all five of his appearances. That doesn't guarantee he'll be first in line for save chances, but he's certainly made a strong case for the role.

Manager Oli Marmol said Saturday that Middleton will be shut down for 10 days due to a right forearm strain, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

It's unclear when Middleton picked up the injury, but he won't be in action for the next 10 days and will start the regular season on the injured list. Middleton joined the Cardinals on a one-year, $6 million contract in February after splitting last season between the White Sox and Yankees. The right-hander posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 64:23 K:BB over 50.2 innings in 2023.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell doesn't plan to enter the season with defined bullpen roles for Leiter or any other reliever, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Leiter has notched seven saves over the last two seasons with the Cubs, collecting a 3.75 ERA and 150:49 K:BB over 132 innings along the way. The reverse-splits reliever could potentially work his way into the saves mix again in 2024, although he's probably at least behind Adbert Alzolay and Hector Neris, and possibly also Julian Merryweather, in the pecking order.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell doesn't plan to designate specific roles for Merryweather or any other reliever before the season, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Merryweather got off to a poor start for the Cubs last season but posted a 2.69 ERA and 84:33 K:BB over 60.1 innings from May on. He'll likely be behind Adbert Alzolay and Hector Neris in the bullpen hierarchy initially, but Merryweather has a chance to work his way into saves consideration.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell doesn't plan to have defined roles for Neris or any other member of the bullpen heading into the season, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Adbert Alzolay is probably first in line to close for the Cubs, with Neris closely behind. However, Counsell wants his usage of the bullpen to evolve organically rather than pigeon-holing guys before the season starts. Neris inked a one-year, $9 million contract with the Cubs in January after posting a 1.71 ERA with 77 strikeouts and a career-high 31 holds in 68.1 frames for Houston last year.

The Mets optioned Garrett to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.

Garrett had a solid spring, allowing two runs with a 7:2 K:BB over five innings. The right-handed reliever will head to Syracuse for now and wait for a call to rejoin the big-league bullpen.