MLB Player News

Lopez's velocity returned in a bullpen session Tuesday following a mechanical adjustment, Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Lopez pointed to mechanical problems as the reason he averaged just 89.2 mph with his four-seamer in his final Grapefruit League start against the Twins. It appears he's fixed the issue and regained some pep on the fastball, though it's unclear just how much harder Lopez was throwing in Tuesday's bullpen session. The righty averaged 95.5 mph with his four-seamer during his last full season in 2024, and it would be a big ask for him to get back to that level after shoulder surgery. Lopez is scheduled to make his season debut Saturday against the Royals, and fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his radar-gun readings in that outing.

Dubon went 1-for-3 in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

Getting the start at shortstop and batting ninth, Dubon slapped a single to right field to lead off the third inning. The veteran utility player has looked comfortable during his first spring in an Atlanta uniform, slashing .302/.348/.465 over 16 Grapefruit League games with four doubles, a homer and a steal, and he'll begin the year as the starting shortstop while Ha-Seong Kim completes his recovery from January surgery to repair a torn tendon in his finger.

Payamps gave up a hit over two scoreless innings of relief in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. He struck out two without walking a batter.

The right-hander has had a strong spring, posting a 0.00 ERA and 7:1 K:BB over 6.2 innings. Payamps fell apart in 2025 for the Brewers before getting waived late in the season and winding up in Atlanta, but over the two prior seasons he'd recorded a 2.78 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 9.4 K/9 in 129.2 innings. He'll try to regain that form while beginning the 2026 campaign in a middle-relief role for Atlanta.

Olson went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

The slugging first baseman took Carson Fulmer deep in the first inning before clobbering a Mike Clevinger fastball in the sixth. Olson appears more than ready for Opening Day, slashing .333/.373/.750 in 16 spring games with six homers.

Seymour will begin the season as a member of the Rays' bullpen, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Seymour pitched well during spring training with four runs allowed and a 15:4 K:BB across 13.1 innings, and he'll open the campaign as a reliever for the Rays. The 27-year-old righty made his MLB debut last season, starting in five of 19 appearances and posting a 3.63 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 64:19 K:BB over 57 frames.

Del Castillo (calf) will begin the season on the injured list, MLB.com reports.

Del Castillo reported to Diamondbacks camp with a left calf injury and didn't play in any Cactus League games, so it's not a surprise he's destined for the IL. It's unclear how far along he is in his rehab or how much time he might miss. Once healthy, Del Castillo could be assigned to Triple-A Reno.

Morales allowed three runs on a hit and four walks across 2.2 innings in Monday's Cactus League win over the White Sox. He struck out two.

Morales struggled with his control out of the gate, loading the bases via free passes before being burned by a bases-clearing double from Lenyn Sosa that gave the White Sox an early lead in the first inning and led to Morales being lifted with one out remaining. Upon re-entering to open the second inning, the right-hander settled in and didn't allow a run over his next two frames. Despite an uneven spring in which he compiled a 7.58 ERA and 1.84 WHIP across 19 innings, Morales will slot into the Athletics' starting rotation and make his first regular-season start Sunday against the Blue Jays.

Vodnik struck out the only batter he faced to notch a save in Monday's exhibition game against the Tigers.

Vodnik struggled in Cactus League action, coughing up eight runs on 11 hits with a 5:5 K:BB over 4.2 innings. However, Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer indicated Monday that Vodnik could be first in line to serve as closer, noting of the 26-year-old's save that "we're gonna see a lot of that this year late in the game," per Steve Stockmar of MLB.com. Juan Mejia also looms as a late-inning option for Colorado, but 2025 saves leader Seth Halvorsen is not expected to make the Opening Day roster. Vodnik notched 10 saves for the Rockies last season, posting a 3.02 ERA and 49:26 K:BB over 50.2 frames along the way. While Vodnik looks like the favorite to close games in Colorado, it's a bullpen situation fantasy managers should probably avoid.

Halvorsen is not expected to make the Rockies' Opening Day roster, Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette reports.

There's no official move yet, but Halvorsen does not have a locker in the team's clubhouse. The hard-throwing righty entered spring training as a candidate to serve as the Rockies' closer, but he struggled mightily in Cactus League play, allowing 12 runs with an ugly 4:12 K:BB over five innings of work. Halvorsen could still play an important role in Colorado's bullpen this season, but he'll work on honing his craft at Triple-A Albuquerque for a while. Victor Vodnik is the favorite to open the season as the Rockies' closer, but it's a bullpen situation fantasy managers would be best off avoiding.

The Rays optioned Bigge to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The right-hander allowed just one run with a 10:3 K:BB across 6.1 innings during spring training, but he won't crack Tampa Bay's Opening Day roster. Bigge had a 2.40 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB over 15 big-league innings last year, and it should only be a matter of time before the Rays give him a look in 2026.