MLB Player News

Floro (shoulder) gave up one earned run on two hits over one inning of relief Saturday in the Nationals' 8-5 loss to the Cardinals in Grapefruit League play.

Floro was finally cleared to make his spring debut Saturday after he was shut down in late February shortly after reporting to camp when he experienced shoulder tightness. He was able to resume throwing a few days later, and after checking out fine during a recent live batting practice session, Floro received the green light to pitch in games. Floro will likely need only a few more Grapefruit League appearances to get himself ready for Opening Day, when he's expected to fill a middle-innings role out of the Washington bullpen.

Wood (wrist) is expected to make an appearance off the bench in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Wood was scheduled to play in Saturday's game against the Cardinals, but he ended up being scratched as a precaution after he tweaked his right wrist on a check swing Friday. The 21-year-old is apparently good to go for the Nationals' final contest of the weekend and will look to continue what's been an impressive spring training. Though Wood remains likely to report to Double-A Harrisburg or Triple-A Rochester to begin the upcoming campaign, he's turned heads in Nationals camp with a .324/.457/.649 slash line over 17 Grapefruit League games.

Lile (back) remained a spectator Friday in the Nationals' Spring Breakout game against the Mets, but he's been cleared for all baseball activities and should be ready to play in games as soon as this upcoming week, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.

Lile has been out of action since he was taken off the field in a stretcher during a March 2 game against the Red Sox after flipping over an outfield wall trying to snag a home run. The outfield prospect was fortunate to avoid a significant injury, as he was diagnosed with a lower-back contusion following an MRI. If Lile is able to resume playing in Grapefruit League or minor-league games on the backfields of camp this week, he should be ready to go for the start of the minor-league season in early April.

Manager Oliver Marmol announced Sunday that Mikolas will be the Cardinals' starter for Opening Day against the Dodgers on March 28, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Presumed Opening Day starter Sonny Gray (hamstring) won't be ready to pitch, so Mikolas will instead receive the nod. The 35-year-old retooled his slider during the offseason after a disappointing 2023 that saw him post a 4.78 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 137:39 K:BB across 201.1 innings.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Sunday that Gray (hamstring) won't be an option to start Opening Day but may not require a stay on the injured list to begin the season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

The veteran right-hander quickly resumed throwing after he suffered a right hamstring strain March 4, and he's scheduled to face hitters in a simulated session Sunday. Miles Mikolas was named St. Louis' Opening Day starter, but Gray could still be an option to pitch later in the first week of the season if he continues to progress with no setbacks.

Matzek (side) struck out two over a scoreless inning Thursday in Atlanta's 3-1 loss to the Rays in Grapefruit League play.

Matzek's appearance was his first since March 5 after he was briefly shut down after experiencing soreness along the left side of his rib cage. The southpaw checked out fine in his return to the hill and remains in the mix for a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day bullpen. After missing the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Matzek has fared well this spring with five strikeouts over 3.2 scoreless innings across four appearances.

Ynoa (elbow) struck out one and worked around one hit and one walk over one inning of relief Saturday in Atlanta's 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh in Grapefruit League play.

Ynoa made his first appearance in a game since August 2022, as he spent the entire 2023 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander contended with some soreness earlier in camp, but after getting back on the mound Saturday, he looks like he'll enter the 2024 campaign with his health intact. Because of the time he missed, Ynoa could be placed on the injured list to begin the season, though he has a minor-league option remaining and could alternatively be sent to Triple-A Gwinnett if Atlanta doesn't have a spot for him in its Opening Day bullpen and wants to keep him to get stretched out as a starter in the minors.

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said Sunday that Meyer could still be a rotation option to open the season for the Marlins, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

The 25-year-old's dismissal to minor-league camp Tuesday appeared to be the end of his bid for the rotation, but injuries for Eury Perez (elbow), Braxton Garrett (shoulder) and Edward Cabrera (shoulder) leave Miami without most of its presumed starting unit. Meyer pitched seven scoreless frames during Grapefruit League action and is the organization's top prospect, but he didn't pitch at all last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Andrus started at shortstop and went 1-for-3 in Saturday's spring game against the Rangers.

With Geraldo Perdomo (knee) still day-to-day, Andrus was given the starting nod Saturday. Perdomo's been out since Tuesday, but manager Torey Lovullo does not feel the injury will impact his availability for Opening Day. Given that, the Diamondbacks are trying to settle on a backup at shortstop, and the non-rostered Andrus has the most experience at the position. Arizona is also giving the currently rostered Jace Peterson and Emmanuel Rivera innings there, and the club may want prospects Blaze Alexander and Jordan Lawlar to get regular at-bats in the minors. This was Andrus' third Cactus League appearance and second at short -- he's also played third base.

Nelson allowed one run on four hits and three walks while striking out three over 3.2 innings in Saturday's spring start against the Rangers.

Nelson may have sewn up the fifth starter job with this effort. The three walks were the most he's allowed in five Cactus League starts, but he managed to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning. He was pulled from the game in the fourth inning only to come back and start the fifth, giving him five up-and-downs and a pitch count of 78, per Michael McDermott of SI.com. Both Nelson and Tommy Henry will get one more spring start before a decision is made as to which one will fill out the rotation.