MLB Player News

Helsley struck out all three batters he faced in a Grapefruit League appearance Wednesday against the Mets.

Helsley did the same in his previous Grapefruit League outing Sunday versus the Nationals. The hard-throwing 28-year-old carries top-tier fantasy closer upside into the 2023 campaign after dominating to the tune of a 1.25 ERA with 94 strikeouts over 64.2 regular-season innings for the Cardinals in 2022. He jammed his right middle finger just before the playoffs and aggravated it in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Phillies, but there has been no apparent carryover this spring.

Thompson has pitched six scoreless innings through six Grapefruit League appearances.

He's struck out six while allowing four hits and two walks. Thompson's strong pitching is solidifying his place in the Cardinals' bullpen, though his history as a starter in the minors makes it possible he ends up as a long-relief option. At this point, there's a wide range of outcomes for Thompson, who could ultimately end up as the Cardinals' top left-handed reliever. That could earn him some high-leverage looks thanks to manager Oliver Marmol's matchup-based approach when the Cardinals are protecting a lead.

Rogers has allowed two earned runs on four hits and four walks with two strikeouts over 3.2 innings across four Cactus League games.

Rogers doesn't strike out many batters with his sidearm delivery, so that's not a concern, but the increase in walks is a bit troublesome. He posted a 5.8 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 across 75.2 innings in a setup role last season, which also saw him earn 15 holds but no saves. The right-hander will compete with his twin brother, Taylor Rogers, for high-leverage spots, though Camilo Doval is locked in as the Giants' closer to begin the season.

Rogers has allowed one earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out eight over 4.1 innings across five Cactus League appearances.

Rogers had an elevated 2.7 BB/9 over 64.1 innings between the Brewers and the Padres last year, and walks appear to still be an issue for him. Everything else is in order though, and the southpaw should be ready to take on a setup role in his first year with the Giants. Manager Gabe Kapler is likely to roll with Camilo Doval as the closer, but Rogers has reached 30 saves twice in his career, so he will be a solid secondary option for games where Doval isn't available.

The Marlins placed Bender (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Bender underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery in late September and will miss the entire 2023 season. Garrett Hampson has been added to Miami's 40-man roster in a corresponding move.

The Mets announced Wednesday that Coonrod has been diagnosed with a high-grade right lat strain, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

The team hasn't provided a timetable, but the injury is one that could conceivably keep Coonrod sidelined for months. The right-hander had been pitching well this spring and seemed to have a good shot to win a spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen, but his expected extended absence creates an opening for another arm.

Ferrer could open the season in the Nationals' bullpen, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The 23-year-old left-hander has yet to pitch above Double-A, but Ferrer was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 draft and has a 3:1 K:BB through 3.2 spring innings while seeing work early in Grapefruit League games in order to face big-league hitters. The Nationals don't have many healthy lefty relief options left in camp -- Ferrer's current competition is down to journeyman Anthony Banda and fellow relief prospect Matt Cronin -- and while Sean Doolittle (elbow) should be in the mix at some point, Ferrer seems as though he's done enough in camp to win a spot. He offers a fastball that's touched 97 mph along with a changeup and slider, and with Kyle Finnegan potentially headed for a high-leverage fireman role rather than being locked into the ninth inning as a traditional closer, whoever Washington's top bullpen lefty is could see some matchup-dependent save opportunities.

Edwards could see save chances if Kyle Finnegan gets shifted into a fireman role rather than being used as a traditional closer, Bobby Blanco of MASN reports.

Finnegan still seems likely to see the majority of save chances for the Nationals this season, but there could be saves up for grabs if the right-hander gets the call earlier in games in tight situations. Edwards would be just one of many candidates who could benefit, with Hunter Harvey, Alex Colome, Sean Doolittle (elbow) and Mason Thompson also in the mix depending on matchups and performance. Edwards' reduced velocity was a concern early in camp, but he hasn't allowed an earned run in his last two Grapefruit League appearances while posting a 3:0 K:BB. The 31-year-old had a solid 2022 campaign in a setup role for the Nats, recording double-digit holds for the first time since 2018.

Colome could see save chances if Kyle Finnegan gets shifted into a fireman role rather than being used as a traditional closer, Bobby Blanco of MASN reports.

Finnegan still seems likely to see the majority of save chances for the Nationals this season, but there could be saves up for grabs if the right-hander gets the call earlier in games in tight situations. Colome would be just one of many candidates who could benefit, with Hunter Harvey, Sean Doolittle (elbow), Carl Edwards and Mason Thompson also in the mix depending on matchups and performance. Colome has 159 career saves and has the most ninth-inning experience of anyone in the Nats' bullpen, and while his numbers in 2022 with the Rockies weren't pretty, the 34-year-old right-hander did record 17 saves for the Twins in 2021, albeit with a 4.15 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and weak 20.0 percent strikeout rate.

Harvey remains behind Kyle Finnegan in the Nationals' bullpen pecking order for now, but he could see save chances if Finnegan gets shifted into a fireman role rather than being used as a traditional closer, Bobby Blanco of MASN reports.

Finnegan still seems likely to see the majority of save chances for the Nationals this season, but there could be saves up for grabs if the right-hander gets the call earlier in games in tight situations. Harvey would be just one of many candidates who could benefit, with Alex Colome, Sean Doolittle (elbow), Carl Edwards and Mason Thompson also in the mix depending on matchups and performance. Harvey's arm talent has never been in question, only his ability to stay healthy enough to show it, but after posting a career-high 39.1 innings in 2022 with a 2.52 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 28.7 percent strikeout rate, he's looked good this spring and seems ready for a consistent high-leverage role.