MLB Player News

Rainey was optioned to Triple-A Fresno on Monday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Rainey was acquired by the Nationals in exchange for Tanner Roark this offseason. Known as a hard-thrower who lacks control of his pitches, Rainey struggled this spring allowing seven earned runs and three walks in 4.2 innings of work.

Hudson allowed four hits and a walk while striking out eight across five innings Monday against the Phillies.

Hudson is locked in a battle for the final rotation spot in St. Louis and continued his strong spring showing Monday. He has now allowed only three runs in 15.2 innings of work this spring, backed up by a strong 17:4 K:BB.

Hoover was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Hoover was vying for a spot in Washington's bullpen as a non-roster invitee, but a middling spring prompted the Nationals to send him to the minors to open the season. The veteran will provide bullpen depth in 2019.

Cordero was optioned to Triple-A on Monday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Cordero will open the season back in the minors after struggling to a 9.00 ERA through five spring appearances. The 27-year-old, who struggled to a 5.68 ERA in his first taste of the majors last season, will provide bullpen depth for the Nationals.

Voth was optioned to Triple-A on Monday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Voth posted a 4.15 ERA and 12:5 K:BB through 8.2 innings this spring, but it wasn't enough to secure a spot on Washington's Opening Day roster. The right-hander figures to shuttle between the majors and minors again in 2019, as he did last season.

Neris has a 14:2 K:BB in eight spring innings but has also allowed five runs and given up three homers.

Strikeout rates stabilize faster than ERAs, so perhaps there's no reason to worry about Neris, but he hasn't done everything he could to reassure fantasy players after a shaky 2018 season. The arrival of David Robertson seems to push Neris one step further away from the save conversation, though he's still a quality pitcher when his stuff is working. The Phillies' unconventional reliever usage could see Neris wind up with at least a handful of saves even if he's not manager Gabe Kapler's preferred option.

Robertson has thrown just two innings so far in camp, allowing one solo homer and striking out three batters.

Robertson signed well before camp, so his light workload is probably just a case of a veteran knowing what he needs to do to get ready for the season. Robertson's role with his new team remains unclear. The Phillies have said he won't be a traditional closer, but manager Gabe Kapler did have a preferred man for the ninth inning for stretches of last season. The veteran would be an obvious candidate should the Phillies choose anyone for the job due to his 2.88 career ERA and 137 career saves.

Hauschild was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday.

Hauschild was always a long shot to break camp with the Cardinals, and the right-hander did himself no favors this spring, stumbling to a 6.75 ERA and 2:2 K:BB through 5.1 innings of work. The 29-year-old owns a career 7.71 ERA across 16.1 big-league frames, so he likely won't make much of an impact in the majors in 2019.

Howard was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.

This isn't all too surprising. Howard spent the 2018 season with the Rockies but was non-tendered following the season. The 26-year-old southpaw will provide bullpen depth for Colorado.

Richards struck out six over six scoreless, no-hit innings during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

Fielding errors accounted for the only baserunners to reach on Richards' watch, and his dazzling outing didn't come against minor-league scrubs, either -- Matt Carpenter (back) was the only name missing from the Cards' likely Opening Day lineup. The right-hander now has a 1.86 ERA and 20:4 K:BB through 19.1 spring innings, and it's hard to imagine the Marlins won't find room for him in their rotation to begin the season.