MLB Player News

Manager David Ross confirmed Monday that Assad will be included on the Cubs' Opening Day roster but will fill a bullpen role, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

As expected, Assad will most likely be ticketed for a lower-leverage, multi-inning role out of Chicago's bullpen after he was unable to beat out Hayden Wesneski for the fifth and final spot in the team's Opening Day rotation. After turning in a 3.11 ERA in 37.2 innings as a rookie with Chicago last season and then continuing to impress in Cactus League play and while pitching for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, Assad may be the first man up for a look in the rotation if the Cubs should require a spot starter at any point.

Raley (hamstring) is scheduled to pitch in an intrasquad game Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Raley concluded the Mets' Grapefruit League without having made an appearance since March 5, but he was able to throw in a minor-league game over the weekend and appears to have experienced no setbacks in his recovery from a strained left hamstring. Assuming he checks out fine after Monday's outing, Raley will be included on the Mets' Opening Day roster and should be in position to work in a key late-innings role.

Varland secured a spot Monday on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The Rule 5 pick has impressed this spring, posting a 4.15 ERA but a 17:1 K:BB over 8.2 innings. Varland seems likely to be used in a multi-inning relief role and will need to remain on the roster all season or be offered back to the Dodgers.

Hernandez is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Syracuse and remained stretched out as a starter, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

"I think he's probably a little more [comfortable] from the starting standpoint, but with the ability to go into the bullpen," Mets manager Buck Showalter said Sunday. This was always the likely plan for Hernandez, and even after injuries hit the New York rotation in camp, David Peterson and Tylor Megill were viewed as the next men up. Hernandez didn't do much to force the issue this spring, posting a 7.45 ERA and 6:5 K:BB through 9.2 Grapefruit League innings.

The Phillies optioned Uelmen to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

With Philadelphia sending out Uelman, Luis Ortiz and Michael Plassmeyer to the minors, Andrew Vasquez appears to have claimed the final opening in the team's Opening Day bullpen. Uelman, 26, made 25 relief appearances at the big-league level for the Cubs in 2022, logging a 4.67 ERA and 1.37 WHIP over 27 frames.

The Phillies optioned Ortiz to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

A waiver pickup from the Giants earlier in the offseason, Ortiz wasn't able to earn a spot in the Phillies' Opening Day bullpen despite logging a 2.53 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 10.2 innings in Grapefruit League play. Since he possesses a spot on the 40-man roster and has three prior years of MLB experience, Ortiz will likely get the opportunity to join the big-league bullpen at some point in 2023 if he continues to fare well at Lehigh Valley.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Strahm will start the Phillies' fifth game of the regular season April 4 versus the Yankees in New York, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

As anticipated, Strahm will get the opportunity to open the season as a member of the Philadelphia rotation while Ranger Suarez (forearm) is on the shelf. Considering that Suarez has yet to resume throwing bullpen sessions, he could spend more than the 15-day minimum on the injured list, setting Strahm up for multiple turns through the rotation. Strahm hasn't been a regular starter in the big leagues since 2019, but he prepared for the appointment to the rotation by covering two-plus innings in each of his most recent three spring outings. Thomson said he expects Strahm to cover around 65-to-70 pitches in his first start of the regular season before upping his pitch count in his subsequent starts.

Chargois (neck) struck out two over a scoreless inning of relief in Friday's 3-2 win over the Astros in Grapefruit League play.

A stiff neck kept Chargois out of commission for a few days, but the injury doesn't look as though it'll derail his bid for a spot in Miami's Opening Day bullpen. Chargois has covered 6.1 innings across seven appearances this spring, yielding two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out nine.

Jameson will begin the 2023 campaign working out of the bullpen after Ryne Nelson was named Arizona's No. 5 starter Sunday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Neither pitcher performed particularly well during spring training with ERAs above 7.00, but it'll be Nelson that receives the first crack at the rotation in 2023. Jameson was lights out in his first taste of the majors last year with a 1.48 ERA and 24:7 K:BB across 24.1 innings (four starts).

The Brewers optioned Miller to Triple-A Nashville on Sunday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Miller will retain a spot on the 40-man roster heading into Opening Day, but he'll fall short on winning a spot in Milwaukee's season-opening bullpen. The 28-year-old covered 10.2 innings at the big-league level with the Rangers in 2022, giving up 13 earned runs on 16 hits and eight walks.