MLB Player News

Lopez's velocity returned in a bullpen session Tuesday following a mechanical adjustment, Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Lopez pointed to mechanical problems as the reason he averaged just 89.2 mph with his four-seamer in his final Grapefruit League start against the Twins. It appears he's fixed the issue and regained some pep on the fastball, though it's unclear just how much harder Lopez was throwing in Tuesday's bullpen session. The righty averaged 95.5 mph with his four-seamer during his last full season in 2024, and it would be a big ask for him to get back to that level after shoulder surgery. Lopez is scheduled to make his season debut Saturday against the Royals, and fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his radar-gun readings in that outing.

Payamps gave up a hit over two scoreless innings of relief in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. He struck out two without walking a batter.

The right-hander has had a strong spring, posting a 0.00 ERA and 7:1 K:BB over 6.2 innings. Payamps fell apart in 2025 for the Brewers before getting waived late in the season and winding up in Atlanta, but over the two prior seasons he'd recorded a 2.78 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 9.4 K/9 in 129.2 innings. He'll try to regain that form while beginning the 2026 campaign in a middle-relief role for Atlanta.

Vodnik struck out the only batter he faced to notch a save in Monday's exhibition game against the Tigers.

Vodnik struggled in Cactus League action, coughing up eight runs on 11 hits with a 5:5 K:BB over 4.2 innings. However, Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer indicated Monday that Vodnik could be first in line to serve as closer, noting of the 26-year-old's save that "we're gonna see a lot of that this year late in the game," per Steve Stockmar of MLB.com. Juan Mejia also looms as a late-inning option for Colorado, but 2025 saves leader Seth Halvorsen is not expected to make the Opening Day roster. Vodnik notched 10 saves for the Rockies last season, posting a 3.02 ERA and 49:26 K:BB over 50.2 frames along the way. While Vodnik looks like the favorite to close games in Colorado, it's a bullpen situation fantasy managers should probably avoid.

Martinez's season debut will be pushed back to March 30 in Milwaukee due to a minor hamstring injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

He had been slated to start Saturday in St. Louis but instead till get a couple extra days of rest. It's unclear how long Martinez's hamstring has been bothering him, but it could partly explain why he was lit up for 18 runs over 7.2 innings in his final two Grapefruit League starts.

The Rays placed Pepiot on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right hip inflammation, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

It's an injury that seemingly came out of nowhere and will cost Pepiot at least his first couple turns in the rotation. Joe Boyle will be recalled from Triple-A Durham to slide into Pepiot's rotation slot. Manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that he does not anticipate Pepiot being sidelined long, so it could be a minimum stay on the IL for the right-hander.

Ginkel will be one of two right-handed relievers that will be counted on to get lefty hitters out, Michael Reynolds of MLB.com reports. Juan Morillo is the other.

As it stands a few days before Opening Day, the Diamondbacks bullpen is made up of all right-handers. As such, Ginkel and Morillo are charged with getting tough lefties out. Ginkel's career splits are neutral (.312 OBP vs. RHH, .311 vs. LHH), but he fared better against lefties than righties in 2025, when he had a 90 OPS+ against them compared to 137 OPS+ when facing righties. Being designated to such a role, in which he could be needed for a high-leverage situation in the seventh or eighth innings, could impact his save opportunities. Arizona doesn't have a set closer, and Ginkel is expected to be part of a committee that also includes Paul Sewald and Ryan Thompson.

The Rangers informed Baumler on Monday that he's made the Opening Day roster, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Baumler was told that he'd made the Opening Day roster when manager Skip Schumaker trotted out for a mound visit during Monday's exhibition against the Royals. The right-hander is expected to be deployed out of the bullpen to handle low-leverage situations after failing to surrender a run in eight spring appearances (9.1 innings).

De Jesus, who was recently added to Detroit's 40-man roster, seems likely to secure an Opening Day bullpen role, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

De Jesus looked good for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, and Detroit was impressed enough to add the non-roster invitee to its 40-man roster. That move seems to suggest that the 29-year-old lefty will ultimately make the Opening Day roster, though nothing has been made official yet. De Jesus pitched briefly in the majors back in 2023 and has spent the past few seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization.

Arizona optioned Garcia to Triple-A Reno on Monday.

With the move now official, the Diamondbacks will begin the 2026 campaign without a lefty in their bullpen. Garcia struggled to find the strike zone during his spring training appearances, as shown by seven walks in 6.1 innings. He'll need to shift his focus to pounding the zone at Triple-A if he wants to earn a place on the big-league roster.

Curvelo was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.

Curvelo struggled to a 5.68 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 19.0 innings a season ago in the big leagues, and he wasn't able to show enough during spring training to secure a place in the Rangers' bullpen. He fared better at Triple-A in 2025, posting a 3.76 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with a 41:19 K:BB over 40.2 frames.