MLB Player News

Pena (finger) is not in the lineup for Thursday's opener against the Angels.

Per Chandler Rome of The Athletic, Pena has progressed enough in his recovery from a fractured right ring finger to avoid the 10-day injured list, but he's not quite ready to play in major-league games. Pena is at the Astros' nearby Triple-A Sugar Land affiliate Thursday morning getting in some live at-bats, and it's unclear whether he will be available off the bench Thursday or if Houston will play a man short. Consider him day-to-day for the time being. With Pena out, Carlos Correa will slide over to shortstop and Isaac Paredes will start at third base.

Nance has claimed a spot in the Blue Jays' Opening Day bullpen, Gregor Chisholm and Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star report.

The 35-year-old grabbed one of the last spots in the bullpen despite a 6.75 ERA, 2.06 WHIP and 6:3 K:BB in 5.1 spring innings, but his lack of minor-league options likely tipped the scales in his favor. Nance was more impressive in 2025, delivering a 1.99 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 32:7 K:BB over 31.2 innings for Toronto with two wins and five holds in 30 appearances.

Bummer will begin the season as part of Atlanta's bullpen, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The 32-year-old southpaw will likely slot in behind Dylan Lee in the pecking order for high-leverage work. Bummer has been a fairly reliable middle-relief option for Atlanta over the last two seasons, posting a 3.69 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 120:35 K:BB in 109.2 innings, but in 98 appearances he has just seven wins, four holds and zero saves.

The Mets signed Pham to a minor-league contract Thursday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Pham will be paid $2.25 million if he gets onto the major-league roster and has an April 25 opt-out date. The 38-year-old outfielder presumably will report to Triple-A Syracuse soon and is a good bet to be called up in the coming weeks if the Mets like what they see. Pham slashed .245/.330/.370 with 10 home runs and five stolen bases over 120 games with the Pirates in 2025.

Hamilton is starting at third base and batting seventh Opening Day against the White Sox on Thursday.

The lefty-hitting Hamilton will end up getting the Opening Day nod at the hot corner over switch-hitting veteran Luis Rengifo, who inked a one-year $3.5 million deal with Milwaukee in February. Hamilton played in 91 regular-season games with Boston last year and finished the campaign with six homers, 22 steals and a .198/.257/.333 slash line in 177 plate appearances.

Lee has won a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day bullpen, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The 31-year-old figures to be the top left-hander in the bullpen, although he could face competition from Aaron Bummer for that assignment. Lee is coming off a career-best 2025 season in which he recorded 19 holds, more than doubling his previous best, along with a 3.29 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 76:14 K:BB over 68.1 innings for Atlanta.

Heim has secured a spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

It will likely be a temporary assignment while Sean Murphy (hip) is on the IL, but Heim will back up Drake Baldwin to begin the season. Heim hasn't been able to match his career-best 2023 campaign with the Rangers, and over the last two seasons the 30-year-old switch hitter managed just a .217/.269/.334 slash line.

Mateo claimed a spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The veteran utility player will provide some extra depth at shortstop behind Mauricio Dubon while Ha-Seong Kim (finger) is on the IL. Mateo has stolen double-digit bases in each of the last five seasons despite inconsistent playing time -- he went 15-for-17 on the basepaths in 2025 despite seeing just 83 plate appearances for the Orioles.

House will start at third base and bat third in Thursday's opener versus the Cubs.

The righty-swinging House will likely hit toward the bottom of the batting order against right-handed pitching, but he'll occupy a prime spot in the lineup versus lefty Matthew Boyd. House stung the ball in spring training, slashing .429/.444/.786 with three home runs, though his usual plate-discipline issues (1:11 BB:K) remained.

Kinley will begin the season as part of Atlanta's bullpen, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

No surprise here after Kinley posted a 0.72 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB over 25 innings for Atlanta last season following his trade from the Rockies, and then re-signed with the NL East squad on a one-year, $4.5 million deal this offseason. Raisel Iglesias and Robert Suarez will be the top right-handed high-leverage arms for Atlanta, but Kinley could still post strong a strong holds total as one of the primary options for the seventh inning -- his career high in holds is 15, set in 2024 for Colorado.