MLB Player News

Rusin (oblique) will pitch in a minor-league game Friday, Nick Groke and Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post report.

The left-hander is expected to log two innings (or roughly 30 pitches) in order to restart his progression toward being the Rockies' primary long-relief option. It seems like Rusin is nearing his return to the major-league bullpen, but in the meantime, whichever hurler of Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela and German Marquez who doesn't make the rotation is expected to pair with Jordan Lyles to fill the void left by Rusin's absence.

Treinen was named Nationals closer by manager Dusty Baker on Thursday, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.

The right-hander with plenty of sink on his mid-90s fastball struck out eight and walked none in 4.2 innings of spring work. One of baseball's most notable groundball arms, Treinen earned Baker's accolades because of his durability. Koda Glover and Shawn Kelley remain candidates to take over or at least steal the occasional opportunity should Treinen not get the job done, but in the recent vein of Zach Britton and Sam Dyson, Treinen's often suffocating stuff may allow him to keep the job for longer than many expect.

Montero is still competing for a bullpen spot with the major-league club, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

New York can only keep one arm between Montero and Seth Lugo because the team is carrying Josh Edgin, who's out of options. The loser between Lugo and Montero will remain stretched out as a starting pitcher at Triple-A Las Vegas as the likely first replacement when a need in the rotation arises. New York should make a decision in the coming days.

Gsellman was officially named the Mets' fifth starter Thursday, but won't start until the sixth game of the season on April 9, the New York Post's Mike Puma reports.

He will face the Marlins at home in the sixth game because the schedule allows Noah Syndergaard to start the first and fifth games of the season. Zack Wheeler was named the No. 4 starter in a somewhat surprising move that has more to do with seniority and pedigree than on-field results. Steven Matz (elbow) has been shut down for three weeks, and is unlikely to return until at least late April, at which time the Mets will need to decide which back-end starter to boot from the rotation. Given the injury histories in the rotation, Gsellman is still a solid bet to return value in most mixed leagues, even if he heads to Triple-A for a brief stint at some point.

Rodriguez has earned a bullpen spot on the Opening Day roster, Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal reports.

Rodriguez had been in competition for one of the final roster spots, and will ultimately make the team as a lefty specialist in middle relief.

Treinen's durability could give him an edge on Shawn Kelley and Koda Glover in the battle to be named the Nationals' closer, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.

Nats manager Dusty Baker has talked about "resiliency" in camp as a key quality for his closer, which would seem to decidedly favor Treinen over the oft-injured Kelley, while Glover ended last season dealing with a torn labrum in his hip. The team still hasn't made an official announcement regarding its ninth-inning plans, but fantasy owners who have yet to hold their draft or auction may want to bump Treinen ahead of the other two on cheat sheets.

Garcia was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal reports.

Garcia posted a 5.91 ERA and 1.50 WHIP this spring, which wasn't enough for him to crack the Opening Day roster over the likes of Adam Morgan and Joely Rodriguez.

Montero was mentioned by manager Terry Collins as a potential fill-in option for Steven Matz (elbow), who figures to start the season on the disabled list, the New York Post's Mike Puma reports.

Seth Lugo remains the favorite to land the fifth spot in the rotation out of camp, but Montero has been excellent this spring, and at the very least he will open the year in the bullpen. Montero has a 1.96 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 18.1 innings in Grapefruit League play, but his career 5.50 FIP in 59.2 innings as a big league starter is a bit more telling.

Gott was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, MLB.com's Jamal Collier reports.

Gott has yet to establish himself as a trusted bullpen arm at the major-league level, so he likely needed an impressive spring in order to secure a spot on the Opening Day roster. Alas, after the 24-year-old was blown up for four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks over 4.1 innings in Grapefruit League play, the Nationals determined he needed more seasoning in the minors.

Murray left Tuesday's spring training game with what appeared to be a lower-back injury, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

It was a tough day for Murray, who was also told he would not earn a roster spot with the Phillies. He will join the bullpen at Triple-A Lehigh Valley once healthy.