MLB Player News

Lee gave up two runs on two hits over two innings of relief in Sunday's split-squad game against the Orioles. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The southpaw got taken deep by minor leaguer John Rhodes in the sixth inning for a two-run shot, but Lee was otherwise dominant Sunday. He has a stellar 13:0 K:BB through eight innings this spring, but keeping the ball in the park has been a problem as he's served up five homers. He's expected to break camp in a lower-leverage role for Atlanta as the fourth lefty in the bullpen behind A.J. Minter (finger), Aaron Bummer and Tyler Matzek, but if he keeps getting hit hard, the organization has plenty of pitching depth and Lee has minor-league options remaining.

Arcia is day-to-day after an MRI on Monday confirmed that he did not sustain any fractures to his left hand, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Arcia exited Sunday's Grapefruit League game after being hit on the left hand by a pitch, but X-rays and now an MRI have both come back clean. He reported improvement with the hand Monday and should be ready to play in a day or two.

Strider struck out seven over 4.2 scoreless innings while allowing two hits and three walks in Sunday's split-squad game against the Orioles.

The 25-year-old right-hander leads all pitchers with 29 strikeouts this spring, to go along with a pristine 0.00 ERA over 18.2 innings, and the players he fanned Sunday included Gunnar Henderson (twice) and Cedric Mullins. Strider is on schedule to take the mound for Atlanta on Opening Day against the Phillies, which would line him up for one more spring appearance Friday, but that could come on a back field rather than in Grapefruit League action.

The Marlins reassigned Gray to minor-league camp Monday.

The 27-year-old Gray got the chance to make his big-league debut with the Rays in 2023, logging just five plate appearances for the club before he was outrighted off the 40-man roster following the season. Gray caught on with the Marlins on a minor-league deal after electing free agency, but he doesn't look to be in a much better position to see meaningful action in the majors in 2024. He'll serve as organizational depth at first base at Triple-A Jacksonville.

The Marlins reassigned Smeltzer on Monday.

Unless he negotiates a release from his minor-league deal with Miami, Smeltzer is likely to open the season as a swingman for the pitching staff at Triple-A Jacksonville. Smeltzer is heading into his second season with the Miami organization after he compiled a 6.45 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB across 22.1 innings at the big-league level in 2023.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Peguero hasn't been featured in the Grapefruit League lineup since last Wednesday while he recovers from a virus, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

A bug seems to be making its way around the Pirates' spring facility in Bradenton, Fla., as Shelton also noted that reliever Colin Holderman hasn't been available since last Tuesday due to an illness. Peguero had already compiled 24 at-bats in Grapefruit League action before his recent absence, so assuming he's able to get back in action before the Pirates' spring schedule comes to a close March 25, his availability for Opening Day shouldn't be in question. The 23-year-old is likely to begin the season as the Pirates' everyday second baseman.

Wall may be ticketed for Triple-A Gwinnett to begin the season following the addition of Adam Duvall, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The 28-year-old appeared to have played his way onto Atlanta's Opening Day roster in a bench role with an impressive spring that has seen him bat .333 (10-for-30) with three homers and three steals. However, with Duvall now on the roster as a platoon partner for Jarred Kelenic in left field, Wall likely misses out as the team isn't expected to carry five outfielders. If his spring success carries over to Triple-A, Wall could be the first player called up should injuries hit the Atlanta outfield.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Holderman hasn't made a Grapefruit League appearance since last Tuesday while he recovers from a virus, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

A bug seems to be making its way around the Pirates' spring facility in Bradenton, Fla., as Shelton also noted that infielder Liover Peguero hasn't been available since last Wednesday due to an illness. Assuming Holderman is able to make a full recovery by the end of the week, he should still be in good shape to travel north with the Pirates for the start of the regular season.

Ohtani (elbow) is set to begin a throwing progression when the Dodgers return to Los Angeles this weekend following their two-game, season-opening series in South Korea versus the Padres on Wednesday and Thursday, and manager Dave Roberts hasn't ruled out the possibility of Ohtani (elbow) playing the field later in the 2024 campaign, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Roberts reiterated Monday that Ohtani's sole focus for now is serving as the Dodgers' full-time designated hitter, and whether the 29-year-old could be used in the outfield or at first base at some point later in the season will depend on how his throwing program comes along. Ohtani hasn't seen playing time in the outfield with any regularity since 2014 while he was still in Japan, so the idea that he could be used in left field or right field less than a year removed from Tommy John surgery seems far-fetched, at best. Still, it's interesting that the possibility hasn't been totally nixed.

Winn (elbow) yielded one run over 1.2 innings Sunday in his Cactus League debut versus the Rockies.

Winn permitted two hits and a walk and also plunked a batter but did record three strikeouts. The right-hander got in additional work in the bullpen after the appearance in order to get more stretched out, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. While an elbow issue delayed Winn's spring debut, he remains on track to begin the year in the Giants' rotation, perhaps making his first start against the Dodgers in the second series of the season.