MLB Player News

Hernandez may be re-emerging as the top candidate to close for the Phillies, Ryan Lawrence of the Philly Voice reports.

Manager Pete Mackanin said Monday that he is still trying to figure out "the best way to go" with his closing situation. He also said he won't name a closer until he is 100 percent sure about putting someone in that role. That could lead to the Phillies opening the year with a committee. Hernandez and Dalier Hinojosa look like the top two choices to close at the moment. Andrew Bailey, who was once considered the front-runner for the job, might now be looking at a trip to Triple-A at the start of the season.

Nolin (elbow) will undergo an MRI to look for structural damage, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The club had already reported that Nolin will begin the season on the disabled list, but his injured elbow has apparently not shown any improvement yet. The exact extent of the ailment remains unclear, but the results of the MRI should provide a more precise timetable for the lefty's return.

Smith will not undergo surgery on his injured knee at this time, but he will be reevaluated in six weeks, MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports.

The Brewers are hoping that Smith will be able to recover via the rest and rehab route, as going under the knife would guarantee he misses the majority of the season anyway. Smith is not out of the woods yet, but he will rest for three weeks and then play catch for three more, at which point the Brewers' medical staff will again decide whether or not he needs surgery. Either way, Smith is not likely to appear in a big league game before June, and he could still miss the entire season if it's decided down the road that a procedure is needed. With Smith sidelined, Jeremy Jeffress looks like the best bet to open the season as the Brewers' closer.

Melancon has tossed six scoreless innings in six Grapefruit League games, striking out five without permitting a walk.

The closer was rumored to be on the offseason trading block, but the team decided to allocate its funds to the lock-down pitcher. The 31-year-old will be a free agent following the 2016 season. Melancon could be traded in the event the Pirates fall out of contention by the trade deadline. In that case, Tony Watson would take over closer duties.

Treinen is competing with Trevor Gott and Sean Burnett for one or possibly two spots in the Nationals' Opening Day bullpen, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.

His power sinker allowed him to post a 3.86 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 65:32 K:BB in 67.2 innings last season and he was assumed to have a bullpen role locked up coming into spring training, but the club's decision to add non-roster invitee Matt Belisle to the 25-man roster could put Treinen's spot in jeopardy. Treinen and Gott both have minor league options remaining, which may become a factor if Burnett, another non-roster invitee, also gets a job. Treinen's enjoyed an excellent spring, posting a 0.00 ERA and 8:1 K:BB in eight innings, so if it comes down to performance he should be safe.

Gott is competing with Blake Treinen and Sean Burnett for one or possibly two spots in the Nationals' Opening Day bullpen, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.

Acquired from the Angels in the offseason, it was assumed that Gott would be a lock for a middle relief or setup role with the Nats, but the club's decision to add non-roster invitee Matt Belisle to the 25-man roster could put Gott's spot in jeopardy. Gott and Treinen both have minor league options remaining, which may become a factor if Burnett, another non-roster invitee, also gets a job. Gott's 3.86 ERA and 5:1 K:BB in seven spring innings are solid, though, and he at least hasn't done anything in camp to cost himself a roster spot.

Stephenson walked five Brewers in his three innings of work Monday, also giving up two hits to lead to five runs (four earned).

That notion that Stephenson might get a last-ditch call to the Opening Day rotation has to be scuttled after this outing. "I think the situation just got the best of me," Stephenson said. "I let the game speed up on me. I was rushing and couldn't slow myself down. That led to me just missing arm-side up and away over and over."

Iglesias was named the Reds' Opening Day starter Monday, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Iglesias was one of the top candidates to get the Opening Day nod, and the team made it official Monday afternoon. The 25-year-old will square off against the Phillies on April 4, which will mark just his 19th start in a Reds uniform. He'll be followed in the rotation by Brandon Finnegan, but the Reds have not yet announced a No. 3 starter for the opening series. It was revealed, however, that Alfredo Simon will begin the season fourth in the rotation. The team also hopes to have Anthony DeSclafani, who's struggled this spring, ready to start by April 10.

Hoover hasn't allowed an earned run in five major league innings in spring training so far, striking out five while walking two. He remains the Reds' closer heading into the final week of spring training.

Hoover keeps getting mentioned as the one stable option in the Reds' bullpen this month, as chaos has reigned supreme in most of their camp. His track record during the regular season isn't so great, however, so he's among the bottom five or so closers in baseball heading into the season.

Nelson (illness) pitched in a minor league game Saturday, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Nelson was scratched from his scheduled spring start Friday due to an illness, but he was only pushed back one day. Nelson is set to take the ball in the Brewers' second regular season game, next Tuesday against the Giants.