MLB Player News

Hernandez appears to have a secure spot in the Atlanta bullpen following Monday's trade of Angel Perdomo to the Angels, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The 28-year-old righty hasn't dominated this spring, but his 8:3 K:BB through 7.1 Grapefruit League innings offers a glimpse at his potential. Hernandez will likely begin the season in middle relief, with Pierce Johnson, Aaron Bummer and Dylan Lee as the primary setup men to closer Raisel Iglesias.

Bummer has a 0.00 ERA and 4:1 K:BB through five Grapefruit League innings.

The southpaw will be part of Atlanta's setup crew this season, along with right-hander Pierce Johnson and fellow lefty Dylan Lee. Bummer recorded a career-high 27 holds back in 2019 with the White Sox, and he could approach that number in 2025 given his impressive stuff -- he generated a 43.9 percent whiff rate with his sweeper last season, and no pitcher in baseball had a lower barrel rate allowed than his 1.3 percent.

Lee will begin the season as one of the primary setup men ahead of closer Raisel Iglesias in the Atlanta bullpen, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Pierce Johnson will be the team's main right-handed setup option, while Lee and Aaron Bummer will handle high-leverage innings from the left side. Lee has cruised through camp, posting a 7:1 K:BB through five Grapefruit League innings, and he could be poised to shatter his previous career high of nine holds, set in 2022 and tied in 2024.

Kepler (back) will start in left field and bat third in Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Pirates, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Kepler suffered a back injury Sunday, when he collided with the outfield wall while tracking a flyball. Though an immediate timeline for Kepler's return wasn't known after he suffered the injury, he apparently needed just one day of rest to move past the back issue. Kepler is in line to serve as the Phillies' primary left fielder in 2025.

Pilar could be squeezed out of a bullpen spot with Atlanta, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Atlanta dealt Angel Perdomo to the Angels on Monday, but that still may not leave a spot open for Pilar. The Rule 5 pick hasn't looked ready for the majors in spring training despite flashing his upside -- while he's struck out 12 batters in 5.2 Grapefruit League innings, he's also issued six walks and given up nine earned runs. If the team elects to keep AJ Smith-Shawver as a sixth starter or long reliever, it could come at Pilar's expense. The 27-year-old right-hander would need to be offered back to the Marlins if he isn't on the 26-man roster.

Gillispie appears to have an inside track to head into Opening Day as the Marlins' No. 5 starter with Edward Cabrera (finger) likely to begin the season on the injured list, Stephen Strom of Marlins Radio Network reports.

Sandy Alcantara, Ryan Weathers, Cal Quantrill and Max Meyer are locked into spots in the Opening Day rotation, and with Cabrera dealing with a blister and Valente Bellozo and Adam Mazur having already been optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville, Gillispie appears to be the only starting candidate on the 40-man roster still left in big-league camp. The 27-year-old right-hander made his MLB debut in 2024 as a reliever with Cleveland, but he started in 15 of his 27 appearances at Triple-A Columbus last season, logging a 4.05 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 119:48 K:BB in 113.1 innings. He's fared well over his first four outings of the spring with Miami, having yet to allow a hit while issuing one walk and striking out four over eight scoreless innings. Gillispie is scheduled to start Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, and another strong showing could be enough to solidify his spot in the rotation.

Cabrera will begin the season on the 15-day injured list with a blister on his right middle finger, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Cabrera exited in his last Grapefruit League outing Thursday due to the injury. He played catch Monday, but the throwing session apparently didn't go as well as the Marlins had hoped. Connor Gillispie has tossed eight scoreless innings this spring without allowing a hit and looks to be first in line to fill the rotation vacancy created by Cabrera's absence.

Freeman (rib) estimated after Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Cubs that he has a "75 percent chance" of being ready to play in Wednesday's series finale in Tokyo, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Freeman was a late scratch from Tuesday's lineup after feeling discomfort in his left ribcage during batting practice. The first baseman noted that the soreness is in the same spot where he tore rib cartilage during the postseason last fall, although he added that the current issue is less severe. While Freeman seems fairly optimistic about his chances of playing Wednesday, it would not be a surprise if the Dodgers exercised caution and elected to hold him out until next week's domestic opener.

Shaw went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts during Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Dodgers in Tokyo.

The 23-year-old, who is the Cubs' top prospect, batted fifth in his MLB debut Tuesday but failed to make an impact at the plate. Shaw earned the Opening Day nod at third base after a strong showing in spring training, as he went 5-for-16 with a double while missing some time due to an oblique issue. His big-league debut may have fallen flat, but Shaw still has plenty of upside after he totaled 21 homers and 31 steals with an .867 OPS in 121 games across the Double-A and Triple-A levels last year.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and a strikeout in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Cubs in Tokyo.

The Japanese superstar was unable to deliver a home run in the first official game back in his home country, but he still produced as a leadoff man in the season opener. Ohtani recently slowed his pitching progression in order to ramp up his preparations as a hitter for Opening Day, but he's still expected to join the starting rotation sometime in May. For now, the 30-year-old will continue to serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter as he works his way back from November shoulder surgery.