MLB Player News

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Monday that Mlodzinski (forearm) is slated for a live batting practice session in the coming days, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

While he will begin the season on the injured list, Mlodzinski looks to be tracking toward a short absence as long as he continues moving in the right direction. He's been sidelined by right forearm tightness since mid-March.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Monday that Holderman (illness) will throw a live batting practice session within the next few days, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Holderman is ramping things back up after battling a nasty virus. He will begin the season on the injured list but could be activated when first eligible or shortly after. Holderman is in line for high-leverage relief innings ahead of closer David Bednar.

Perkins has made the Brewers' Opening Day roster, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Perkins should see quite a bit of playing time in right field against lefties and could get some starts versus righties, too, if Garrett Mitchell (hand) isn't ready. The 27-year-old put up a .675 OPS over 168 plate appearances with the Brewers last season.

Mitchell underwent an X-ray Monday after suffering a hand injury during Sunday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Mitchell's hand swelled up a bit when he was jammed on a swing and the discomfort hadn't dissipated by Monday, necessitating him being sent for imaging. The Brewers are holding off on any final roster decisions until the get the results of Mitchell's X-ray. If healthy, Mitchell is projected for regular starts in right field and also looks to be in line to bat leadoff.

Happ (hamstring) will start in left field and bat leadoff in Monday's Cactus League game against the Cardinals.

Happ will be making his fourth start in eight days but just his third in left field since he was shut down for a little over two weeks earlier this month due to a left hamstring strain. Following Happ's most recent start this past Thursday, manager Craig Counsell said that the outfielder had plateaued in his recovery from the hamstring strain, but Happ's presence in the lineup four days later suggests he's still on track to be ready to go for Thursday's season opener versus the Rangers. The Cubs could continue to exercise some caution with Happ early in the season by giving him more starts as a designated hitter rather than a left fielder, and the hamstring issue may naturally result in him being less active as a base stealer after he pilfered a career-high 14 bags in 2023.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Monday that Reynolds is dealing with mid-back discomfort but is expected to be in the lineup for Thursday's season opener versus the Marlins, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Reynolds is missing a third straight Grapefruit League contest Monday, but the Pirates seem to be holding him out as a matter of caution. The 29-year-old outfielder has popped four home runs in 15 games this spring. Reynolds is slated to be Pittsburgh's everyday left fielder in 2024.

The Cubs optioned Canario to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Canario made a push for an Opening Day roster spot but ultimately came up short. The 23-year-old missed much of the 2023 season while recovering from multiple surgeries but did get a cup of coffee with the big club in September. He could be used at all three outfield spots at Iowa.

The Brewers informed Hudson on Monday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Hudson has two minor-league options remaining, but he did enough in spring training to solidify his spot in the Brewers' Opening Day bullpen. After being acquired from the Dodgers in January, Hudson looked like one of Milwaukee's more dominant arms in the Cactus League, as he racked up 19 strikeouts against five walks over 12.2 innings while sporting a 3.55 ERA that was inflated by a .438 BABIP. With Devin Williams (back) likely to open the season on the 60-day injured list, the Brewers' closing situation is wide open, but Abner Uribe, Joel Payamps and Trevor Megill look to be the early frontrunners to enter the mix for saves. However, Hudson could eventually work his way into the late-inning picture if he's able to carry over his spring success to the regular season.

General manager Ben Cherington said that Jones will start the Pirates' third game of the regular season Saturday in Miami, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cherington confirmed that Jones will be part of the Pirates' Opening Day roster, though Pittsburgh still has yet to officially select the 22-year-old right-hander to the 40-man roster. Heading into spring training, Jones looked to be on the outside looking in for a rotation spot with the big club, but he made it impossible for the Pirates to leave him off the roster after he allowed just three unearned runs to go along with a 15:8 K:BB in 16.1 innings during the Grapefruit League. Like most young pitchers, control will likely be a concern for Jones in his first taste of the big leagues, but the strikeout upside he displayed in the spring as well as in every stop of the minors make him a worthy late-round target in fantasy drafts.

Ortiz has been informed that he's made the Brewers' Opening Day roster, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

It was expected but is nonetheless a thrill for Ortiz, who will be on a major-league Opening Day roster for the first time. The 25-year-old might not have a set starting position heading into the season but should play quite a bit all over the infield, with much of those starts likely to come at third base.