MLB Player News

Garcia (knee) allowed a run and a hit over two-thirds of an inning Sunday.

He missed nearly a week with left knee soreness, but that he pitched in a big league spring training game Sunday bodes well for his chances of being ready to work as part of the bridge to Kenley Jansen on Opening Day. Garcia also recorded a pair of strikeouts in the abbreviated outing.

Stephenson, who has already been optioned to Triple-A Louisville, will start Monday's spring training game against the Brewers, with Jon Moscot pitching in a minor league game.

Moscot isn't expected to be ready for the start of the season. Tim Melville had been expected to fill in until Moscot is ready, but he hasn't been great this spring. Moreover, almost all of the other projected Reds starters have struggled. Stephenson probably still won't make the Reds' Opening Day roster, and this might just be for convenience sake to give Moscot time, but it might also be a sign that the team is still considering all options for their rotation.

Belisle will open the season in the Nationals' bullpen, MLB.com's William Ladson reports.

Belisle entered camp as a non-roster invitee, but he will exit it as a member of the Nationals' bullpen. Expect Belisle, who posted a 2.67 ERA but a 1.46 WHIP in 34 games with the Cardinals last season, to work as a middle reliever with his new club.

Gearrin survived the final wave of spring training demotions Sunday, securing a middle relief role on the Opening Day roster, CSN Bay Area reports.

While many were wondering whether Jarrett Parker or Mac Williamson would earn the last spot on the 25-man roster, the Giants opted to go with neither and carry a 13-man bullpen to start the year, opening up a spot for Gearrin. The 29-year-old had a strong season with Triple-A Sacramento in 2015, posting a 2.72 ERA with a 9.6 K/9. His heavy sinker produces a lot of ground balls, and his sweeping slider is used to garner strikeouts. Gearrin will be low on the pecking order in terms of being used in high-pressure situations, so he won't see very many save or hold situations out of the gate.

Garcia was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Garcia had a 5.87 ERA and an 11:4 K:BB ratio in 7.2 innings this spring. He will likely see time with the Phillies later this season.

Garcia (knee) is scheduled to pitch Sunday, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.

Garcia was awarded a few days of rest due to a sore left knee, but he'll be back in action out of the bullpen on Sunday afternoon. The right-handed reliever was able to throw a bullpen session Saturday without issues, and appears ready to throw himself back in the mix for the final available roster spot on the Dodgers.

Rusin (finger) made his spring debut Saturday, striking out one batter and allowing a run over 1.2 innings.

The left-hander still isn't expected to be ready for the beginning of the season, but it is encouraging to see him in a game situation again. This was the first game appearance for Rusin this spring after incurring finger inflammation earlier this month, and it appears that he came out of it healthy. He's slated to pitch three innings Tuesday, so we should get another look at how his finger is holding up then, as well as a look at how good of a chance he has at making the 25-man roster out of spring training.

Nolin (elbow) will open the season on the disabled list, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Nolin hasn't pitched in a Cactus League game since the middle of March, and with his elbow injury likely to result in a shutdown through the end of spring training, the left-hander won't be ready for Opening Day. Once he returns to full health, Nolin could have an opportunity to snag a spot in the Brewers' bullpen.

Iglesias lasted just three innings in Friday's spring training start, one of a string of bad starts this spring by Reds pitchers.

So far, the Reds aren't ready to name an Opening Day starter or season-opening rotation, though it's assumed that Iglesias will be in it early. But he got a late start this spring and hasn't yet pitched deep in a game. He might have short starts in his first couple of regular season outings.

Garcia has not pitched since Monday due to a sore left knee, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. He's expected to return to action in the next few days.

Garcia is already on the roster bubble, so sitting out a week of game action so close to Opening Day is not helping his case. He could start the year on the DL.