MLB Player News

Herrera (knee) will catch a bullpen session Tuesday and is expected to be in the Cardinals' Grapefruit League lineup Wednesday against the Astros, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The 25-year-old is expected to catch three frames in Wednesday's contest, as he's scheduled to get his first at-bats in a Grapefruit League game in nearly two weeks. Herrera was built up slowly at the start of spring training following offseason elbow surgery but has more recently been battling knee inflammation. He's expected to open the campaign as St. Louis' primary designated hitter but should also see some opportunities behind the plate.

The Mets optioned Melendez to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old joined the Mets on a one-year, $1.5 million contract in February after being non-tendered by the Royals at the start of the offseason. Melendez went 4-for-11 with two homers in his four spring games with the Mets but struggled for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, going 0-for-4 with two walks and two strikeouts. He could be up with the Mets at some point this season.

The Mets optioned Scott to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.

Scott got stretched out to 56 pitches over three-plus innings in his most recent Grapefruit League start Monday, allowing three runs and striking out four Nationals batters. He generated seven whiffs with his splitter and four more with his fastball in Monday's outing. It's no surprise to see him ticketed for Triple-A to start his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, but Scott could be the first name called when the big-league rotation needs reinforcements. All told, Scott logged a 4.50 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB in six innings during Grapefruit League play. He threw 89.2 innings in 2024 and missed all of 2025 while recovering from a hybrid Tommy John and internal brace surgery.

The Pirates optioned Sisk to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Sisk walked six but allowed just two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts over six innings during spring training, but it wasn't enough to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. The left-hander had a 3.57 ERA and 25:10 K:BB across 17.2 frames in the majors last year and should receive a look with the Pirates at some point this season.

Benge went 2-for-2 with two walks, a double and a run scored in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.

Getting the start in right field and batting leadoff, Benge put together another impressive performance. The 23-year-old has done everything he's needed to do so far in camp to show he's ready to begin the season in the majors, slashing a sizzling .406/.472/.500 through 36 plate appearances with a 3:5 BB:K.

Miller (back) is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.

The same back issue kept Miller from playing during the Arizona Fall League and most of spring training, and he looks like he'll be on the shelf indefinitely at Triple-A to start the season. Assuming he can eventually get healthy, Miller will have some rust to knock off, but he doesn't need much more minor-league seasoning before he's ready to help the big club.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run scored and an RBI in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.

Alvarez has looked good this spring, batting .381 (8-for-21) with three doubles and a homer. The 24-year-old backstop is locked into the starting spot for the Mets, and given how he finished last season -- .276/.360/.561 over 41 games after the All-Star break with eight home runs -- a breakout could be in the cards if Alvarez can stay healthy in 2026.

Kimbrel is in the running the final spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen, Tim Britton and Will Sammon of The Athletic report.

Left-hander Bryan Hudson is also getting a long look, with Austin Warren and Richard Lovelady in the mix as well. Kimbrel is a shadow of the dominant closer he was a decade ago, but the 37-year-old righty has impressed Mets manager Carlos Mendoza with the late life on his fastball, which sits around 93 mph these days. "He's doing what he is supposed to be doing," Mendoza said Monday. Kimbrel does have a 2.25 ERA through four spring innings, but it comes with a 2:4 K:BB. If he does make the 26-man roster, he would have a base salary of $2.5 million.

Hudson may be the favorite to claim the final spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen, Tim Britton and Will Sammon of The Athletic report.

Craig Kimbrel appears to be his biggest competitor for the job, with Austin Warren and Richard Lovelady also in the mix. Hudson struggled in 2025 between the Brewers and White Sox, in both the majors and at Triple-A, but the 28-year-old southpaw blamed some tinkering with his mechanics and pitch mix that went awry. "I was working on some delivery stuff and changing some things I really shouldn't change," Hudson said Monday. "So we're getting back to the basics this year to get back after it." In 2024 with Milwaukee, when his cutter was a bigger part of his arsenal, he posted a 1.73 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 62:17 K:BB over 62.1 innings.

Realmuto (illness) is starting at catcher and batting second Tuesday against the Twins, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

He was under the weather for a couple days. Realmuto is batting .235 with one home run in seven games this spring.