MLB Player News

Palacios (illness) is starting as Pittsburgh's designated hitter in Saturday's spring training game versus Atlanta, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Palacios will get his first game action in over a week after being sidelined due to an illness. The 28-year-old outfielder is 0-for-4 with an RBI this spring.

McCutchen (illness) is starting as Pittsburgh's designated hitter Saturday against the Tigers, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

McCutchen was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup because of his illness, but he appears to have recovered in time for Saturday's game. McCutchen has played in just two games this spring, recording two hits in five at-bats, including a home run.

Barnes struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief during Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

The veteran right-hander entered the game for the sixth inning and fanned Francisco Alvarez and Ji-Man Choi, needing only 12 pitches (seven strikes) to breeze through the frame. Barnes signed a minor-league deal with the Nationals in late February, but he's making a good case for a bullpen spot and has retired all six batters he's faced in his two spring appearances. With Dylan Floro (shoulder) running out of time to get ready for Opening Day, Barnes might be the backup plan.

Garcia went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

The second baseman slapped an Adrian Houser offering the other way in the first inning and watched it carry over the fence in the left-field corner. Garcia has picked up the pace at the plate after a slow start to his spring, and over the last eight games he's batting .370 (10-for-27) with three doubles and two homers. Still only 23 years old, the Nationals are hoping he can take a step forward as a hitter in 2024 despite an unimpressive .265/.295/.395 slash line through his first four MLB seasons.

Williams gave up two runs on seven hits over five innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets. He struck out five.

Only one of the hits off Williams went for extra bases, an opposite-field solo shot for DJ Stewart in the first inning, and the veteran right-hander built up to 68 pitches (48 strikes). Williams has been hittable this spring, but his 6.30 ERA in 10 innings is backed by a sharp 11:0 K:BB. He seems on track for a spot at the back of the Nationals' rotation to begin the season.

Fujinami gave up three runs on three walks, a hit by pitch and three wild pitches without recording an out in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.

There's no sugar-coating this one. Fujinami threw only eight of 22 pitches for strikes to begin the eighth inning, and his wild display came mainly against prospects and fringe major leaguers, with Victor Robles being the biggest name he faced. The 29-year-old right-hander carries a 13.50 ERA and 3:4 K:BB through 2.2 spring innings, and while his big fastball keeps earning him chances in MLB, he's on his third organization in two seasons and a spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen is by no means assured.

Raley struck out the side in a perfect inning of relief during Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.

The journeyman southpaw played for five different MLB teams over the prior five seasons, but Raley may have found a home in the Mets' bullpen. After racking up a career-high 25 holds and 66 appearances in 2023 with a 2.80 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 61:25 K:BB over 54.2 innings, he's come into camp and fired three scoreless outings with a 5:0 K:BB. He'll compete for high-leverage work from the left side with Jake Diekman, as setup men in front of closer Edwin Diaz (personal).

Stewart went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.

Getting the start in left field and batting leadoff, Stewart took Trevor Williams deep in the first inning for his first long ball of the spring. The 30-year-old outfielder revived his career with the Mets last season, but he slumped in September and hasn't looked any better at the plate in camp, batting .200 (5-for-25) with Friday's homer being his only extra-base hit. He's still penciled into a spot on the Mets' Opening Day bench.

Houser allowed four runs on four hits over five innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The ball was carrying to left field at Clover Park, and Luis Garcia was able to slice a solo shot over the fence in the first inning before Lane Thomas clubbed a three-run blast in the fifth. Otherwise Houser had little trouble with the Washington lineup, firing 44 of 64 pitches for strikes. The former Brewer has been sharp this spring, posting a 14:1 K:BB through 12 innings, and he's on track to open the season in the Mets' rotation after producing a 4.12 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 96:34 K:BB over 111.1 innings last year and earning a one-year, $5 million contract with New York in January.

Nardi walked one in a scoreless inning of relief during Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The 25-year-old lefty emerged as a reliable bullpen option for the Marlins last year, posting a 2.67 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 73:21 K:BB through 57.1 innings with eight wins, 17 holds and three saves, but Nardi has had trouble finding the plate in camp. He does sport a 0.00 ERA through 4.2 spring innings, but it comes with a 1:5 K:BB, and he threw just seven strikes among his 16 pitches Friday. Nardi's being counted on as the top setup man from the port side for Miami behind southpaw closer Tanner Scott, but both pitchers have dealt with control issues this spring, creating some uncertainty in the team's relief corps ahead of Opening Day.