MLB Player News

Merrill went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's Cactus League victory versus the Diamondbacks.

Merrill opened the scoring in the contest with a 411-foot, two-run shot to right field in the first inning. The 21-year-old has slashed .244/.244/.556 this spring with four home runs and 10 RBI over 45 plate appearances. He hasn't yet taken a walk, but Merrill posted just a 5.0 percent walk rate as a rookie last year and still finished with an .826 OPS and a second-place finish in National League Rookie of the Year voting, so his aggressiveness at the plate shouldn't be a cause for concern.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Mlodzinski will begin the season as the team's fifth starter, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

All 75 of Mlodzinski's appearances in the majors to this point have either been in relief or opener assignments, but he was being stretched out during spring training and was used mostly as a starting pitcher in the minors prior to 2023. The 26-year-old's workload figures to be relatively limited, at least initially, and the Pirates also have top prospects Bubba Chandler and Thomas Harrington looming at Triple-A Indianapolis if Mlodzinski falters.

Nunez is eligible to be called up from Triple-A Syracuse on April 11 after being optioned Sunday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander was brought along slowly in camp after missing almost the entire second half of last season due to forearm trouble, and while he's healthy now, Nunez simply ran out of time to get fully built up. He's still expected to be a big part of the Mets' high-leverage crew in 2025, and should re-join the big-league bullpen once the team is confident he can handle a normal usage pattern.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Monday that he is hopeful Suarez (back) "would pitch sometime in April," Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Suarez is dealing with a back injury and will begin the season on the 15-day injured list. He is throwing on flat ground but will need time to get built back up, which Dombrowski believes will take "three weeks or something at least." Philadelphia will use Taijuan Walker as its fifth starter until Suarez is ready.

Cabrera (blister) will throw a bullpen session Monday ahead of a simulated game Wednesday, Justin Morris of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander last pitched in a Grapefruit League game March 13 before being shut down due to a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. Cabrera is aiming for a mid-April return to the rotation, and he likely won't need too many outings to build back up for the regular season -- he threw 51 pitches, albeit only 24 of them for strikes, on March 7 in the spring start prior to developing the blister.

Boyd allowed three runs on six hits across 5.2 innings in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Athletics. He walked one and struck out three.

It was an uneven start for Boyd, who served up a pair of Oakland home runs. However, the veteran southpaw also had his longest outing of the spring, which is a positive step for a player who has dealt with numerous injuries the past few years. Boyd is in line to serve as the Cubs' No. 4 starter this season and projects to make his debut next Sunday against the Diamondbacks on the road. If healthy, he could be a sneaky fantasy option, though Chicago will likely monitor the 34-year-old's workload closely.

Harrington is not expected to be included on the Pirates' Opening Day roster and is set to begin the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

After Jared Jones went down with an elbow injury last week that could result in an extended absence, Harrington appeared to be the leading contender to fill his spot in the rotation. Harrington, who will make his final spring start Monday versus the Twins, has posted a 2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 5:3 K:BB in 6.2 innings through his first three Grapefruit League outings, but the Pirates seemingly aren't keen on starting up his MLB service clock just yet. Instead, with Carmen Mlodzinski getting stretched out to three innings in his most recent spring outing, the Pirates could elect to use him as a bulk reliever or starter when the fifth spot in the rotation comes up.

The Phillies will attempt to trade Kennedy before Opening Day, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Kennedy did not make the Opening Day roster, but the club has received trade interest in the 26-year-old and will attempt to swing a deal. If a trade doesn't come to fruition, Kennedy will be designated for assignment, as he is out of minor-league options.

The Phillies informed Clemens on Monday that he has made the Opening Day roster, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Clemens nabbed the final bench spot over Buddy Kennedy after posting an .857 OPS with two home runs this spring. He will be used mostly in a pinch-hitting role while providing backup at multiple positions.

Smith-Shawver is expected to begin the season in the Atlanta rotation, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

With Ian Anderson traded to the Angels on Sunday and Bryce Elder optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett, Smith-Shawver is the last man standing in camp for the fifth starter job. The 22-year-old right-hander earned the assignment by posting a 20:5 K:BB through 16 Grapefruit League innings, and that strikeout potential gives him significant fantasy upside with a potent Atlanta offense at his back. Smith-Shawver will need to out-perform Grant Holmes to stay in the rotation once Spencer Strider (elbow) is cleared for his 2025 debut, however.