MLB Player News

The Padres optioned Reyes to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday.

Reyes was one of nine players assigned to the minors or placed on the injured list as the Padres trimmed down their active roster to 25 men ahead of Opening Day. The 25-year-old will move up a level to begin 2019 after tallying 49 strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA in 39 innings at Double-A San Antonio last season.

Jackson will be included on the Braves' Opening Day roster, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The Braves made no late additions to their roster leading up to Thursday's season opener against the Phillies, allowing Jackson to snag one of the last two available bullpen jobs. The right-hander owns a career 5.19 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in the majors, making it unlikely he sees much usage in key late-inning spots initially.

Manager Bruce Bochy stated Thursday that Smith is his closer heading into the season, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

There was not much debate in fantasy drafts regarding who the top option in the Giants' bullpen would be, but it's still nice to get the skipper's confirmation heading into the season. If something should happen to Smith, Mark Melancon is the veteran fill-in option while Reyes Moronta is the young, high-upside arm waiting in the wings.

Rusin (back) was placed on the 10-day IL.

He hasn't pitched in a game since March 1 due to back pain, and remains without a timetable to return.

Stewart made the Opening Day roster as the Dodgers' eighth reliever.

This is good news for Stewart, but it also means that Stewart won't be getting stretched out at Triple-A in case the Dodgers need an emergency starter. Look for him to operate as a long reliever.

Kennedy (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day IL.

He is dealing with a lat strain and has been shut down until mid-April. It's possible he will be able to return this summer, but it will likely be a fairly long process of rehab and building back up before he can return to the majors.

Minter (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day IL, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

He pitched an inning in a minor-league game Monday and did not experience any unexpected pain, so it's possible Minter could be back as early as next week. Once fully healthy, he could start to figure into the ninth-inning mix with Arodys Vizcaino.

Smith (elbow) was officially placed on the 10-day IL, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.

He underwent Tommy John surgery this spring, so he will miss all of 2019 and some of 2020. Smith will likely eventually be transferred to the 60-day IL once the Mets need a 40-man spot.

Pomeranz is scheduled to make his first start of the regular season Monday in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Pomeranz's placement in the Giants' pitching schedule essentially confirms he's the No. 5 starter, an unsurprising development after he was forced to settle for a meager one-year, $1.5 million contract in free agency over the winter. The lefty boasts a decent resume with four consecutive seasons of sub-4.00 ERAs and FIPs from 2013 through 2017, but his troubling injury history finally caught up with him in 2018. Pomeranz at least looked sharp over a sample of 16 innings this spring, holding opposing hitters to a .164 average while punching out 15.

Rodriguez is slated to make his first start of the regular season Saturday in San Diego, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Rodriguez posted some spectacular surface numbers (2.81 ERA, 1.13 WHIP in 118.1 innings) as a 26-year-old rookie, but a pedestrian 10.9 K-BB% and unsustainable 0.68 HR/9 temper some of the enthusiasm about his prospects heading into 2019. The right-hander did at least display improved velocity this spring, but it didn't translate to a bump in strikeouts (12 in 17 innings) over a small sample.