MLB Player News

Arcia will undergo an MRI this week after X-rays on his left hand came back negative, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Arcia's left hand feels much better Monday, one day after he exited a Grapefruit League game following a hit-by-pitch. He's set for additional imaging just to be safe, but he seems to have avoided any fractures and should be considered day-to-day.

Harper (back) hopes to return to action Friday in either a Grapefruit League game or minor-league game, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The Phillies have held Harper out for a few days with soreness in his lower back, but he insists he's not worried about the injury and is just exercising caution. The 31-year-old is slated to be the Phillies' full-time first baseman this season after serving primarily as a designated hitter in 2023 following his return from his November 2022 Tommy John surgery.

Muncy (illness) went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI on Monday in the Dodgers' 5-2 exhibition win over the South Korean national team in Seoul, South Korea.

In the Dodgers' final tuneup before their regular-season opener Wednesday versus the Padres in Seoul, Muncy played nine innings at third base while slotting in as the No. 5 hitter in what appeared to be manager Dave Roberts' preferred lineup configuration versus right-handed pitching. Muncy had missed some workouts last week in Arizona while battling an illness, but his ability to join the Dodgers for the trip to South Korea and play nine innings Monday sets the stage for him to be included in the lineup for both contests of the season-opening series against the Padres this week.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts informed Stone on Monday that he'll open the season as the team's No. 5 starter, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Stone was told he officially won the job after he struck out eight of the 11 batters he faced during an exhibition appearance versus the Korean national team Monday in Seoul. The young right-hander also impressed during Cactus League action, allowing just one run with a 9:1 K:BB over 9.2 innings of work. Stone struggled mightily during his time with the big club last season, but a 32.6 percent strikeout rate in the minors points to his upside. He'll be available out of the bullpen for Los Angeles' two-game, season-opening set with the Padres in Seoul on Wednesday and Thursday, but his first start will likely come at home versus the Giants in the Dodgers' first series of April.

Tellez (back) will start at first base and bat sixth for the Pirates in Monday's spring contest versus the Phillies, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Tellez was scratched from the Grapefruit League lineup over the weekend with a minor back issue, but he's fine. The 29-year-old is slated to be the Pirates' primary first baseman against right-handed pitching this season.

Lopez will open the season as Atlanta's fifth starter after the team optioned Bryce Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Lopez had appeared to be the frontrunner for the final rotation spot throughout the spring, but Atlanta didn't make it official until Elder was removed from the competition Monday. In his transition from the bullpen to a starting role this spring, Lopez was impressive over his 16.2 innings, allowing four runs with a 13:6 K:BB. History suggests that Lopez's best role is as a reliever, and the expectation is that he could see usage in both the rotation and the bullpen this season. He'll at least make for a viable deep-league fantasy target while he's starting and has the backing of an elite Atlanta offense.

Ynoa was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett by Atlanta on Monday.

Ynoa needs to rebuild his stamina after missing all of last season following Tommy John surgery. The right-hander flashed promise prior to getting hurt, but he looks to be fairly far down the organizational depth chart.

Atlanta optioned Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.

Elder wound up being the odd man out for a spot in Atlanta's five-man rotation, with offseason pickup Reynaldo Lopez seemingly getting the first crack at serving as the team's No. 5 starter. If Lopez struggles in his transition from the bullpen to the rotation and is eventually moved back to a relief role, Elder could be an option for spot starts, but AJ Smith-Shawver is the more appealing fantasy stash due to his superior stuff and upside. Elder had an 8.25 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 13 strikeouts in 12 innings during Grapefruit League play.

Smith (back) started at catcher and went 1-for-2 with a two-run double against Team Korea on Monday.

He had recently been scratched from a Cactus League game as a precaution due to back tightness, but since he was able to start this exhibition in South Korea, it seems like it was a minor issue. Smith should play in the Seoul Series against the Padres later this week.

Jones allowed two hits and one walk while striking out four across four scoreless innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.

Jones entered the conversation for a rotation spot by flashing elite velocity early in the spring, and he's turned his stuff into results more effectively in his past two outings. The latest came while facing the vast majority of Atlanta's regular lineup, and he's now combined to post a 7:1 K:BB across his last 6.2 frames. Two spots in the Pittsburgh rotation remain unclaimed, and Jones could be in line to grab one.