MLB Player News

McGough is projected for one of eight bullpen spots on Arizona's Opening Day roster, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

McGough was an important piece of the bullpen to start the 2023 season and was a regular at the end of games, but it all fell apart in the second half, when he posted an 8.63 ERA over 23 appearances. Once Paul Sewald was acquired at the trade deadline, McGough didn't sniff a ninth-inning save opportunity. After a scoreless inning Saturday, McGough has given up two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two over two Cactus League appearances.

Sewald allowed two hits over a scoreless inning in Saturday's spring game against the Angels.

Sewald made his Cactus League debut, entering to start the third inning, and came away unscathed with the help of a baserunner getting thrown out at third base. The reliever, who enters spring training as the Diamondbacks' closer, trotted out a new changeup Saturday, per Jesus Cano of MLB.com. The righty used it twice during the at-bat that closed out his one inning. "We're going to see how it goes," Sewald said. "If the results are good enough that we think it's a quality pitch, then I'll take it in the season, but just something to try to work on." The 33-year-old veteran understands pitchers need to evolve to be effective over long careers. Sewald recorded 34 combined saves between Seattle and Arizona in 2023.

Marte went 2-for-3 with two doubles in Saturday's spring game against the Angels.

Marte has hit safely in all five Cactus League games, going 8-for-13 with three extra-base hits. He will be Arizona's primary second baseman for a third consecutive season in 2024. Since moving to the keystone in 2022, Marte has played 137 and 150 games in successive seasons. Prior to moving full-time to second base, he was bedeviled by hamstring issues when the Diamondbacks made him a full-time center fielder from 2019 to 2021.

Contreras allowed one hit and walked three while striking out one across scoreless 2.1 innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

Contreras managed to work his way out of trouble, but he walked a batter in all three innings he pitched. Per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Contreras also averaged 94.3 mph on his fastball, down around two ticks from the top velocity he's shown in the majors. He's now walked four batters across 4.1 innings of work this spring, which won't help his chances of securing a rotation spot to begin the new campaign.

Groome was optioned to Triple-A El Paso by the Padres on Saturday.

Groome didn't make any Cactus League appearances for the Padres before being given the pink slip. The left-hander is coming off a dreadful 2023 season with El Paso, having posted an 8.55 ERA, 2.10 WHIP and 137:112 K:BB over 134.2 innings.

Reynolds was optioned to Triple-A El Paso by the Padres on Saturday.

Reynolds struck out four and didn't allow a hit over two scoreless Cactus League innings but is nonetheless an early cut. The 25-year-old really struggled at El Paso down the stretch last season after being acquired from the Marlins in the Garrett Cooper trade. A better start in 2024 will help him push for his first big-league appearance.

Reds manager David Bell said Saturday that McLain (oblique) took 70 swings Friday and is slated to take live at-bats around Wednesday of the upcoming week, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

McLain no longer feels soreness in his right oblique area after being slowed since the beginning of camp. If he can get through live batting practice mid-week, his Cactus League debut might not be far behind. McLain has time to ramp up for Opening Day, but he can't afford any more bumps in the road.

Lopez has yielded just one run with a 3:1 K:BB over his first five innings of Grapefruit League action as he bids for the fifth spot in Atlanta's rotation, including three scoreless frames Saturday against the Blue Jays.

The word from Mark Bowman of MLB.com heading into camp was that Lopez might have the edge on winning the No. 5 spot in the rotation, and he's done nothing to jeopardize that so far. His competition for the open rotation job hasn't fared as well to begin the spring -- Bryce Elder has permitted five runs on eight hits, a walk and a hit batter through his first 4.1 innings during Grapefruit League play, while AJ Smith-Shawver gave up three runs over two innings in his first start.

Abel was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday against Minnesota due to an illness, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Abel struck out two batters in a scoreless inning during his first appearance of the spring, but his second outing will have to wait until he recovers from his illness. Abel logged a 4.13 ERA and 1.26 across 113.1 minor-league innings last season and reached Triple-A for the first time at the very end of the year. The 22-year-old right-hander will likely return to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to begin the new season.

Covey reported tightness in his right shoulder Saturday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The news of Covey's injury comes a day after the 32-year-old reliever surrendered two earned runs and three walks without recording an out against the Marlins on Friday. The severity of Covey's injury is unclear, but the Phillies will likely give him at least a few days to recover before putting him back in a game.