MLB Player News

O'Neill will start in right field and bat sixth in Thursday's opener versus the Twins.

It's righty Joe Ryan on the bump for the Twins, but the right-handed-hitting O'Neill will nonetheless get the call in right field as he attempts to extend his major-league record Opening Day home run streak to seven. Dylan Beavers has been battling a knee/quad injury recently, which also could have played into Orioles manager Craig Albernaz's decision to start O'Neill. The two players are expected to share the right-field job this season.

Ward will start in left field and bat leadoff in Thursday's opener against the Twins.

Jackson Holliday (hand) is likely to bat leadoff when he returns to action, but it will be Ward at the top of the batting order on Opening Day as the Twins send righty Joe Ryan to the hill. Ward sported a .425 on-base percentage for the Orioles during spring training, logging more walks (eight) than strikeouts (seven).

The Nationals released Bernabel on Saturday.

Bernabel reached the big leagues with the Rockies in 2025 and produced a .698 OPS in 146 plate appearances, but after being non-tendered following the season, he landed with the Nationals on a minor-league deal. Though he looked to be a serious candidate for Washington's wide-open first-base job heading into spring training, Bernabel was cut early in camp and will now be in search of a new organization after getting released.

Beavers is not in the lineup for Thursday's opener against the Twins.

Beavers managed to avoid the injured list after being sidelined for the past week with tightness in his right knee and quadriceps. However, the left-handed batter is not in the lineup Opening Day versus righty Joe Ryan, as Orioles manager Craig Albernaz is going with righty bat Tyler O'Neill. It's not a surprise, as Beavers could be a bit rusty and O'Neill also has a major-league record six-game Opening Day home run streak on the line. Beavers and O'Neill are expected to share right field for Baltimore this season rather than operate in a strict platoon.

The Nationals released Martinez on Saturday.

Martinez signed a two-year, minor-league deal with Washington last September, but he'll exit the organization without having made an appearance, aside from the eight Grapefruit League games he played in this spring. The 24-year-old was once a touted prospect in the Blue Jays system, but his arrow has been trending downward since he was handed an 80-game suspension in June 2024 -- just two days after making his MLB debut -- for violating baseball's performance-enhancing drugs policy.

The Nationals released Alcantara on Tuesday.

Alcantara was unable to win a utility job with the Nationals coming out of spring training, and rather than sticking around in the organization at Triple-A Rochester, he'll hit the open market in pursuit of an opportunity elsewhere. The 29-year-old switch-hitter saw action in one game at the big-league level with the Giants in 2025, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Conforto is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals.

The veteran outfielder was expected to open the season as Chicago's primary right fielder versus right-handed pitching with Seiya Suzuki (knee) on the injured list, but Matt Shaw will instead receive the Opening Day nod. Conforto could still get semi-regular opportunities, but between Shaw and Dylan Carlson, there's strong competition for playing time.

Sheets will start at first base and bat sixth in Thursday's opener versus the Tigers.

Padres manager Craig Stammen said prior to spring training that the left-handed-hitting Sheets would play a lot against left-handed pitching. San Diego added righties Nick Castellanos and Ty France to the roster after that declaration, but Stammen is sticking to his guns with Sheets on Opening Day even as the Tigers send ace southpaw Tarik Skubal to the hill. Sheets -- who had a .669 OPS against lefties in 2025 and a .557 OPS versus them in his career -- will likely need to get off to a good start against left-handers to avoid falling into a platoon role.

The Red Sox released Nittoli (elbow) on Tuesday.

Nittoli attended spring training as a non-roster invitee but saw his bid for a spot in the Red Sox's Opening Day bullpen come to an end when he suffered an elbow injury earlier this month that he ultimately addressed with an internal brace procedure. The 35-year-old righty will miss the entire 2026 season, and his rehab program will likely bleed into the early part of the 2027 campaign.

The Red Sox released Rodgers (shoulder) on Tuesday.

Rodgers was scheduled to become a free agent over the winter and will miss the entire season after undergoing right shoulder labral revision surgery earlier this month, so the Red Sox's decision to cut him loose wasn't unexpected. Set to turn 30 years old in August and now in line to miss a full season with a major injury after mustering a lowly .544 OPS over 128 plate appearances with the Astros in 2025, Rodgers will likely face an uphill battle to make it back to the big leagues once he's healthy.