MLB Player News

The White Sox optioned Nastrini to Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.

Though Nastrini has pitched reasonably well this spring (3.52 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 6:2 K:BB in 7.2 innings), his poor body of work at the big-league level last season likely played a significant part in the White Sox's decision to remove him from the competition for the Opening Day rotation. The 25-year-old righty turned in an ugly 7.07 ERA and 36:26 K:BB while allowing seven home runs over his 35.2 innings with the White Sox in 2024. He'll need to make stark improvement with his walk rate at Charlotte this season before he gets another look in the big-league rotation.

Smith will play five innings in right field in a game on the back fields Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Astros manager Joe Espada said earlier Tuesday that Smith would play right field in a Grapefruit League game soon, and apparently he'll be eased into things in the outfield in a lower-profile contest right away. Whether Smith is being truly considered as an option to open the season in right field for the Astros is very much up in the air, but the third-base prospect adding to his versatility would give him an additional path to playing time with the big club.

The Red Sox scratched Story from the lineup for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies due to mild upper-back tightness, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Marcelo Mayer will start at shortstop in place of Story, whose removal from the lineup has been described as precautionary. Story -- who has gone 11-for-24 with a pair of home runs so far this spring -- can be viewed as day-to-day. He'll have plenty of time to move past the back issue before the Red Sox open their season March 27 in Texas.

Garcia (oblique) will get at-bats on a back field Tuesday, and if all goes well, will serve as the designated hitter Thursday versus the Giants, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Garcia received good news on his injured left oblique last week, as an MRI revealed a strain mild enough that it fell shy of being deemed Grade 1. Setbacks with oblique issues are always possible, but assuming Garcia can avoid one, he is on track to be ready to go for Opening Day.

Henderson (intercostal) hit in the batting cage Tuesday and is slated to take grounders Wednesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

It's the start of Henderson's progression as he returns to baseball activities following a mild right intercostal muscle strain. The 23-year-old does not have much runway to get ramped up in time for Opening Day, but the Orioles are not ruling out his availability for March 27 in Toronto. If Henderson needs a little time on the injured list, Baltimore could shift Jackson Holliday to shortstop temporarily and install Ramon Urias or Jordan Westburg at second base, with the other occupying third base.

Anthony (illness) is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Worcester, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

The Red Sox are expected to have an opening in right field with Wilyer Abreu slated to miss at least the first week or so of the season with a gastrointestinal issue. However, Anthony is coming back from an illness of his own, one which resulted in him losing about 10 pounds. The top prospect has resumed workouts, but it's not clear when he'll be ready to return to game action. Anthony has a good chance to become a regular for the Red Sox at some point this season, but it appears highly likely that will come down the line during the 2025 campaign.

Yoshida (shoulder) is likely to begin the season on the 10-day injured list, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Yoshida has seen action in five games this spring at designated hitter, but his throwing progression has been built up to just 60 feet as he comes back from right shoulder surgery and it appears the Red Sox would like him to be available to play the outfield before he's included on the roster. Rafael Devers (shoulders) currently appears likely to open the season as Boston's DH, so it's not clear what kind of role Yoshida will have once he joins the active roster.

Devers (shoulders) is "increasingly likely" to open the season as Boston's designated hitter, with Alex Bregman playing third base, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Devers hasn't made his Grapefruit League debut yet and all of Bregman's action this spring has come at third base. So, while manager Alex Cora has declined to address the situation, it's pretty clear where this is headed. Devers is currently slated to make his spring debut Saturday, although his debut has already been pushed back multiple times as he works on his swing mechanics that were thrown off by last year's shoulder problems.

Uceta threw 1.2 scoreless innings against the Blue Jays on Sunday and now has a 2.08 ERA and 0.92 WHIP through four Grapefruit League appearances.

The right-hander struck out the side in his spring debut back on Feb. 25. Overall, he has held opponents to a .143 BAA during this year's exhibition slate. Uceta had one of the highest strikeout rates in baseball in the second half last year at nearly 40 percent, and he looks like the top candidate for saves in Tampa Bay behind primary closer Pete Fairbanks entering the 2025 regular season.

Bregman is "increasingly likely" to open the season as the Red Sox's starting third baseman, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Bregman has yet to play an inning at second base this spring and Rafael Devers (shoulders) has yet to play an inning anywhere, so Bregman handling third base and Devers being used at designated hitter on Opening Day looks to be a safe bet at this point. It would leave Vaughn Grissom, David Hamilton and Kristian Campbell fighting for reps at second base.