MLB Player News

Ottavino has allowed one run this spring over four appearances with a 4:4 K:BB.

The 38-year-old right-hander re-signed with the Mets in January and should be one of the team's top setup men in front of closer Edwin Diaz. Ottavino helped cover for Diaz's absence last year and recorded a career-high 12 saves along with 12 holds, but he has six career seasons with 20-plus holds and should return to that level in 2024.

Smith has a 0.00 ERA and 5:1 K:BB through 4.2 Grapefruit League innings and will be part of the Mets' Opening Day bullpen, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

The 30-year-old right-hander has been a dependable arm for New York the last two seasons, posting a 3.78 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 113:44 K:BB over 102.1 innings with seven wins and 26 holds. Smith should be part of the middle-innings bridge to closer Edwin Diaz.

Ramirez's impressive spring has him in the running for the final spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Picked up from the White Sox in December, Ramirez has posted a 0.00 ERA over eight Grapefruit League innings with an 8:1 K:BB, and his power sinker has caught the attention of scouts. The 28-year-old right-hander's main competition for the last spot in the bullpen appears to be Michael Tonkin, but both pitchers could survive final cuts if Sean Red-Foley (arm) needs an IL stint to begin the season. Phil Bickford and Shintaro Fujinami are also in the mix for those relief jobs, but the latter has minor-league options remaining and the former hasn't been as sharp in camp as either Ramirez or Tonkin.

Tonkin has a 0.00 ERA through 5.1 Grapefruit League innings with a 6:2 K:BB, but he isn't guaranteed a spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

The 34-year-old right-hander revived his career with Atlanta in 2023 as a long reliever, and he signed a $1 million split contract with New York in December. Tonkin's primary competition for the final spot in the Mets' bullpen is Yohan Ramirez, but both pitchers could make the initial roster if Sean Reid-Foley (arm) has to begin the year on IL. Phil Bickford and Shintaro Fujinami are also in the mix for the final two spots, but the latter has minor-league options remaining and the former hasn't been as impressive in camp.

Scott didn't allow a run over two-thirds of an inning during Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets without recording a walk or a strikeout.

The southpaw had a terrible start to his spring, issuing seven free passes over his first four Grapefruit League appearances and lasting just 1.2 innings, but Scott seems to have turned a corner with his control. Over his last three games, he has a 1:0 K:BB in 2.2 innings while throwing 17 of 23 pitches for strikes. After posting career-best ratios in 2023 (2.31 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) and converting 10 of 12 save chances after taking over the closer role in late August, Scott is still the favorite to handle ninth-inning duties for Miami this season.

Suarez recorded the final four outs of Thursday's 15-11 win over the Dodgers in South Korea to earn his first save of the season. He allowed one hit and struck out two batters.

Suarez's wild pitch and subsequent single allowed to Mookie Betts in the eighth inning brought the Dodgers to within one run, but San Diego gave the right-hander some extra cushion the next half inning, and Suarez bounced back with a 1-2-3 frame in the bottom of the ninth. Padres manager Mike Shildt had declined to name a closer in spring training, but the team's beat writers pointed to Suarez being the most likely candidate to close. Yuki Matsui pitched in the sixth inning Wednesday in his major-league debut.

Diaz (personal) has struck out one while allowing one earned run on zero hits and two walks over 1.2 innings in two Grapefruit League appearances for the Mets since leaving camp last week to attend to a personal matter.

Diaz was away from the team last week to witness the birth of his child, but he returned to action Sunday and then made another appearance Wednesday. With Diaz's surgically repaired left knee having thus far provided no complications for him this spring, he's in line to reclaim his role as the Mets' closer in 2024.

Bednar (lat) said Thursday he is tracking toward being available for Opening Day, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Bednar has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game after developing some early-camp right lat tightness, but he threw a live batting practice session Monday and is slated for a game appearance next. Even if the closer is indeed ready for Opening Day, it's possible the Pirates will avoid using him on back-to-back days initially. That could allow for some early-season save chances for Aroldis Chapman, as well.

Minter (finger) retired two of the five batters he faced Wednesday in Atlanta's 10-9 Grapefruit League win over the Blue Jays, striking out one while giving up an unearned run on one hit and one walk.

Minter made his first appearance since March 8 after he spent nearly two weeks recovering from a cut on his left index finger. Though he wasn't at his sharpest Wednesday, Minter should be locked into a key setup role in front of closer Raisel Iglesias once the regular season gets underway next week.

Matsui pitched two-thirds of an inning in Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Dodgers in South Korea, allowing one walk and striking out one batter without allowing any runs.

Matsui worked as a closer during most of his 10-year career in Japan, but he came into Wednesday's contest in the sixth frame in his first big-league appearance. The southpaw began his outing by walking James Outman but followed that by fooling Enrique Hernandez badly for a three-pitch swinging strikeout and then retiring Gavin Lux on a flyout. Matsui could eventually ascend to higher-leverage work, but he missed much of spring training due to a back injury, so he may be still in the process of fully ramping up. For now, it looks like Robert Suarez will get the first shot to stake a claim as San Diego's closer.