MLB Player News

The Nationals optioned Rutledge to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.

Rutledge allowed just three runs and struck out seven over seven frames in three Grapefruit League appearances, but he walked five batters. The 24-year-old made his MLB debut with four starts last season but struggled to a 6.75 ERA over 20 innings. He's likely to be one of the first options to start if the Nationals deal with rotation injuries.

Manager Rob Thomson announced Sunday that Wheeler will be Philadelphia's starter for Opening Day against Atlanta on March 28, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The right-hander inked a three-year, $126 million extension with the Phillies in early March and will be their first pitcher to officially take the mound in 2024. Wheeler had a 3.61 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 212:39 K:BB across 192 innings last season, and he's looked like himself through three spring starts with two runs allowed and a 9:3 K:BB in nine frames.

Manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Harper has been held out the past few days with back stiffness and won't play Monday, but the slugger is expected to rejoin the lineup later in the week, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

It doesn't appear to be a serious injury, as Thomson said there is "zero" concern for Harper's Opening Day availability. Still, with less than two weeks before the March 28 opener, it's worth keeping an eye on the 31-year-old's status over the next few days.

Arcia was hit by a pitch on the left hand during Sunday's Grapefruit League game and had X-rays come back negative, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Atlanta will see how Arcia is feeling Monday before determining next steps, but he appears to have avoided a serious injury. The 29-year-old should be considered day-to-day until the team updates his status.

Tellez was scratched from Saturday's Grapefruit League lineup due to a minor back injury, Greg Brown of SportsNet Pittsburgh reports.

The 29-year-old was pulled from the lineup due to an "abundance of caution," so he could return to game action within the next couple days. Assuming Tellez has no additional issues, he should begin the season as the Pirates' primary first baseman.

The Cubs optioned Thompson to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.

Thompson was one of five players cut Sunday as the Cubs reduced their group at big-league camp to 42 men with Opening Day about a week and a half away. The right-hander had a decent showing in spring training, but his underwhelming results over a larger sample of work in the big leagues in 2023 (4.71 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 26:19 K:BB in 28.2 innings) likely played a greater part in the Cubs' decision to send him to Triple-A to begin the 2024 campaign.

The Cubs optioned Mervis to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.

Despite posting a strong slash line of .300/.432/.400 in 19 Cactus League games, Mervis fell well shy of making the season-opening 26-man roster, as he was cut with 42 players still remaining in big-league camp. After a rough showing in his first taste of the big leagues in 2023, Mervis will likely need to mash at Iowa and/or wait for an injury to hit the Cubs' first-base/designated-hitter ranks before he gets another extended opportunity in Chicago.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Sunday that Wisdom, who hasn't seen game action since Wednesday, is dealing with a back injury, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

It's not believed to be a serious injury, however, with Wisdom expected to rejoin the Cactus League lineup Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. The 32-year-old also missed time early in camp due to quadriceps tightness, but he's hit well when available, going 6-for-16 with two homers in six spring games.

Winn (elbow) is scheduled to pitch in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Rockies, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Though Winn was able to get stretched out while pitching Wednesday in a minor-league spring training game, he'll be making his Cactus League debut Sunday after he moved through his throwing progression slowly earlier in camp due to a sore right elbow. Winn can't afford any setbacks in his recovery at this stage of spring training, but if he makes it through his appearance Sunday and another during the upcoming week unscathed, he should be ready to fill a spot in the Giants' Opening Day rotation.

Davis (concussion) went 1-for-2 with a double, a run and an RBI while playing seven innings in right field in Friday's 3-2 loss to the White Sox in Cactus League play.

Davis was placed in concussion protocol after taking a pitch to his helmet Feb. 27. He was reassigned to minor-league camp March 8 and will miss out on the Cubs' Opening Day roster, but his inclusion in the lineup Friday at least confirms that he's cleared the protocol. The outfield prospect is likely to report to Triple-A Iowa to begin the campaign.