MLB Player News

Stowers will begin the season on the injured list and is expected to miss 3-to-4 weeks after being diagnosed Sunday with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Stowers sustained the injury during Friday's Grapefruit League contest, which occurred less than a week after he returned from a minor strain of the same hamstring suffered earlier in spring training. The 28-year-old will be sidelined for at least the first half of April, and a specific return date should come into focus as he moves through his rehab program.

The Cardinals have informed Pushard that he will be on the Opening Day roster, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

A Rule 5 pick, Pushard was slowed by illness early on in camp, but he's since rebounded and holds a 3.12 ERA and 9:2 K:BB over 8.2 frames during Grapefruit League play. In order for the Cardinals to maintain his rights, Pushard must remain on the major-league roster or injured list the entire season, with at least 90 days spent on the active roster and not the IL. The 28-year-old is expected to fill a low-leverage role in the bullpen.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Saturday that Rocker has issues he need to work on, as he considers which pitcher will win the final spot in the rotation, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Rocker's final two spring starts were very good in terms of results, but the manager specifically called out the right-hander's reluctance to incorporate a changeup this spring and his need to control the running game. Rocker has thrown just eight changeups among 185 pitches (4.3 percent) this spring and allowed five successful steals over 12.2 innings. His main competition for the rotation is lefty Jacob Latz, who has had his own struggles in camp, with non-roster veterans Austin Gomber and Cal Quantrill also in the mix.

Lux (shoulder) is starting at second base and batting third in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 28-year-old sat out Saturday due to right shoulder discomfort, but he's back in the lineup a day later. After posting a .269/.350/.374 slash line with five homers, 53 RBI and 49 runs in 140 regular-season games with the Reds last season, Lux is poised to operate as Tampa Bay's primary second baseman in 2026.

The Phillies optioned Shugart to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday.

Shugart was acquired from the Pirates in January but has missed out on the Opening Day roster after posting a 3.72 ERA and 7:7 K:BB over 9.2 Grapefruit League innings. The right-hander had a 3.40 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 35 appearances with Pittsburgh last year and should be up with Philadelphia at some point this season when bullpen depth is needed.

McCambley was returned to the Marlins on Sunday after being waived by the Phillies.

The right-hander was selected during the Rule 5 Draft in December but missed out on the Phillies' Opening Day roster after giving up one run with a 4:6 K:BB across 7.1 innings during spring training. McCambley finished last season at Triple-A Jacksonville, where he had a 3.67 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 53:16 K:BB across 42.1 innings.

Texas manager Skip Schumaker said Saturday that Latz's chances of earning a roster spot will not be affected by the results of his final spring start, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Latz allowed nine runs on eight hits and two walks over three innings in a Cactus League outing Thursday, inflating his spring ERA to 8.22. "You don't make or break a team or a position on the last day of spring, or last couple days of spring," Schumaker said of Latz. The Rangers' main concern is the southpaw's inability to maintain velocity deeper into games this spring, which could prevent him from providing at least five effective innings in a start. Latz's main competition for the final spot in the rotation is Kumar Rocker, who has excelled his last two times out but still has things the organization would like him to work on, such as his changeup usage. Non-roster veterans Austin Gomber and Cal Quantrill are also still in the mix.

Atlanta reassigned Azocar to minor-league camp Friday.

After he was unable to win a reserve outfield spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster, Azocar is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett. The 29-year-old previously logged 21 plate appearances in the majors between Atlanta and the Mets in 2025, slashing .263/.333/.263.

The Phillies released Mayza on Sunday and re-signed him to a major-league contract.

The 34-year-old lefty joined Philadelphia as a non-roster invitee in January and was able to earn a roster spot after giving up five earned runs with a 10:2 K:BB over 8.1 innings during spring training. Mayza made just 15 regular-season appearances last year due to a shoulder injury but was a reliable high-leverage arm as recently as 2023, when he recorded a save and 22 holds with a 1.52 ERA for the Blue Jays over 69 outings.

Atlanta reassigned Leon to minor-league camp Friday.

Leon saw action in five games with Atlanta in 2025 but had little chance of cracking the Opening Day roster after the club signed Jonah Heim to a one-year deal shortly before the start of spring training. Leon will likely need at least one of Drake Baldwin or Heim to break down while Sean Murphy (hip) is still sidelined to make his way back to the big leagues.