MLB Player News

Baty may begin the season platooning at second base with Luisangel Acuna, Tim Britton of the Athletic reports.

With Jeff McNeil (oblique) sidelined to begin the year, the decision to keep youngsters Baty and Acuna on the Opening Day roster gets easier, as regular playing time could be available for both. Baty would handle the strong side of any platoon at the keystone, and he could be taking a lot of momentum into the regular season -- through 14 Grapefruit League appearances, he's batting .343 (12-for-35) with three doubles, two homers and a 4:5 BB:K.

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Monday that Lopez is "fine" and has been cleared to make his next Grapefruit League start Saturday versus the Tigers, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

After Lopez's average fastball velocity sat at around 93 miles per hour -- 2.5 ticks below his season average from 2024 -- in his last Grapefruit League outing back on March 7 against the Twins, Atlanta opted to have the right-hander make his most recent spring appearance on the back fields of camp this past week. Lopez apparently made it though that outing without incident, perhaps suggesting that the diminished velocity he displayed March 7 was simply a bout of arm fatigue. Lopez's investors will still want to keep close tabs on his start Saturday, which will likely be the final time he takes the hill this spring before making his season debut next week in Atlanta's four-game opening series in San Diego.

Senga is expected to make his first start of the season April 1 in Miami, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

That would be the Mets' fifth game of the year, after the team opens the season with a three-game set in Houston. The decision to hold Senga back is a strong sign New York will continue to monitor his workload in 2025, but the 32-year-old says he's felt good this spring and hasn't had trouble bouncing back from any of his outings. "I have a growing understanding of where my body is and what I can do and can't do at this point," Senga said after Friday's start. The Mets need him to regain his 2023 form, when he produced a 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 202:77 K:BB over 166.1 innings in his North America debut.

Canning is expected to start the third game of the Mets' season-opening series in Houston, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

That would line the right-hander up to face the Astros on March 29 after Clay Holmes and Tylor Megill work the first two games of the series, with David Peterson and Kodai Senga rounding out the initial rotation. Canning has yet to give up an earned run this spring with a 7:1 K:BB over 5.1 innings, and the Mets have adjusted his pitch mix to emphasize his slider and sinker over his mediocre four-seam fastball -- a pitch that generated a 14.8 percent whiff rate and 44.1 percent hard-hit rate last year along with a minus-12 run value. Canning could have a small window in which to establish himself with Sean Manaea (oblique) potentially returning in mid-April.

Lee will undergo an MRI on his injured back Monday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Lee was scratched from the Giants' Cactus League lineup Saturday against the Mariners due to the back injury, which has lingered longer than expected. The MRI should reveal the extent of the injury, and more should be known about Lee's availability for Opening Day availability once the results are in.

Megill is expected to start the second game of the Mets' season-opening series in Houston, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

That would line the right-hander up to face the Astros on March 28 after Clay Holmes gets the nod Opening Day, with Griffin Canning, David Peterson and Kodai Senga following in the rotation. Megill has looked good this spring, posting a 13:2 K:BB over 11.2 innings, and he should get a few turns through the rotation to establish himself as a reliable option with Sean Manaea (oblique) not set to return until at least mid-April, and Frankie Montas (lat) on the shelf into May.

The Nationals optioned Baker to Triple-A Rochester on Monday.

Baker received his first taste of the big leagues as a September call-up in 2024, seeing action with Washington in nine games while going 7-for-14 with two doubles and one run. The 26-year-old likely projects as a utility player at the big-league level, but he'll be given the chance to play on an everyday basis in Rochester to begin the upcoming season.

Conine went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

Getting the start in right field and batting third, the 27-year-old reached base off Sonny Gray to lead off the third and fourth innings and came around to score each time. Conine is pushing for a starting spot in an outfield corner, and his path got a little clearer when Jesus Sanchez injured his side Thursday and could be ticketed for the IL to begin the year. Through 40 plate appearances this spring, Conine is slashing .286/.375/.371 with one home run and a 4:8 BB:K.

Tinoco gave up a hit and struck out one in 1.1 scoreless innings during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The 29-year-old right-hander fired 16 of 25 pitches for strikes as he gets ready to handle a high-leverage role in the Marlins' bullpen. Calvin Faucher appears to be first in line for save chances, but Tinoco could see ninth-inning work as well after posting a 3.32 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 42:12 K:BB through 40.2 big-league innings last season and converting three of four save chances in September as Miami's closer.

Bride went 2-for-4 with a walk, a two-run home run and two additional runs scored in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The 29-year-old took Sonny Gray deep in the third inning for his first long ball of the spring. Bride hasn't made much of a splash in camp, batting .182 (6-for-33) through 12 appearances, but his seven walks against only four strikeouts indicate he's been seeing the ball well. He should see regular at-bats this season while splitting time between first base and DH as he looks to build on last year's big second half.