MLB Player News

Scott didn't allow a run over two-thirds of an inning during Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets without recording a walk or a strikeout.

The southpaw had a terrible start to his spring, issuing seven free passes over his first four Grapefruit League appearances and lasting just 1.2 innings, but Scott seems to have turned a corner with his control. Over his last three games, he has a 1:0 K:BB in 2.2 innings while throwing 17 of 23 pitches for strikes. After posting career-best ratios in 2023 (2.31 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) and converting 10 of 12 save chances after taking over the closer role in late August, Scott is still the favorite to handle ninth-inning duties for Miami this season.

Suarez recorded the final four outs of Thursday's 15-11 win over the Dodgers in South Korea to earn his first save of the season. He allowed one hit and struck out two batters.

Suarez's wild pitch and subsequent single allowed to Mookie Betts in the eighth inning brought the Dodgers to within one run, but San Diego gave the right-hander some extra cushion the next half inning, and Suarez bounced back with a 1-2-3 frame in the bottom of the ninth. Padres manager Mike Shildt had declined to name a closer in spring training, but the team's beat writers pointed to Suarez being the most likely candidate to close. Yuki Matsui pitched in the sixth inning Wednesday in his major-league debut.

Diaz (personal) has struck out one while allowing one earned run on zero hits and two walks over 1.2 innings in two Grapefruit League appearances for the Mets since leaving camp last week to attend to a personal matter.

Diaz was away from the team last week to witness the birth of his child, but he returned to action Sunday and then made another appearance Wednesday. With Diaz's surgically repaired left knee having thus far provided no complications for him this spring, he's in line to reclaim his role as the Mets' closer in 2024.

Bednar (lat) said Thursday he is tracking toward being available for Opening Day, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Bednar has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game after developing some early-camp right lat tightness, but he threw a live batting practice session Monday and is slated for a game appearance next. Even if the closer is indeed ready for Opening Day, it's possible the Pirates will avoid using him on back-to-back days initially. That could allow for some early-season save chances for Aroldis Chapman, as well.

Berroa (shoulder) is scheduled to make a relief appearance Thursday against the Guardians in a "B" game on the backfields of spring training, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Berroa already has five Cactus League appearances to his name, but he hasn't pitched since March 11 due to a minor shoulder injury. Assuming he gets through Thursday's outing unscathed, Berroa should still have a good chance at winning a spot in the White Sox's Opening Day bullpen. The hard-throwing right-hander could find himself in a prominent role, as the White Sox lack an obvious solution at closer.

Minter (finger) retired two of the five batters he faced Wednesday in Atlanta's 10-9 Grapefruit League win over the Blue Jays, striking out one while giving up an unearned run on one hit and one walk.

Minter made his first appearance since March 8 after he spent nearly two weeks recovering from a cut on his left index finger. Though he wasn't at his sharpest Wednesday, Minter should be locked into a key setup role in front of closer Raisel Iglesias once the regular season gets underway next week.

The Tigers reassigned Vasquez to minor-league camp Thursday.

The big southpaw didn't allow a run in seven appearances this spring but will nonetheless find himself back at Toledo to begin the season. Vasquez will provide left-handed relief depth in the minors.

The Tigers reassigned Wingenter to minor-league camp Thursday.

Wingenter allowed one run with a 6:4 K:BB over 5.1 innings this spring, but that wasn't enough to break camp with the Tigers' bullpen. He'll head to Toledo for now and wait for a call from the big club.

Sborz (knee) struck out one over a scoreless inning in Wednesday's spring game against the Reds.

Wednesday marked the first time in two weeks that Sborz pitched in a game environment. His 4.50 spring ERA is clouded by his first outing -- two runs in one inning -- but he's been unscored upon in three straight appearances, including 1-2-3 efforts the last two times out. Sborz will fill a high-leverage role in 2024.

Matsui pitched two-thirds of an inning in Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Dodgers in South Korea, allowing one walk and striking out one batter without allowing any runs.

Matsui worked as a closer during most of his 10-year career in Japan, but he came into Wednesday's contest in the sixth frame in his first big-league appearance. The southpaw began his outing by walking James Outman but followed that by fooling Enrique Hernandez badly for a three-pitch swinging strikeout and then retiring Gavin Lux on a flyout. Matsui could eventually ascend to higher-leverage work, but he missed much of spring training due to a back injury, so he may be still in the process of fully ramping up. For now, it looks like Robert Suarez will get the first shot to stake a claim as San Diego's closer.