MLB Player News

Phillies pitchers Andy Oliver and Luis Garcia continue to make a case for spots in the bullpen this season. Oliver gave up one run on 1 2/3 innings pitched Sunday, but also added three more strikeouts. 

"Oliver's been impressive," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He wasn't quite getting ahead [in the count] like he had the last two outings but he still showed his good stuff."

Garcia pitched a perfect seventh inning, keeping his scoreless streak throughout spring training alive.

"Garcia continues to be pretty solid," Sandberg said. "Throwing strikes with his couple of pitches. Those guys for sure were bright spots, along with Slowey."

Braves pitcher Shelby Miller said that he added about 15 pounds over the offseason. 

Miller was at 215 pounds last season, when he went 10-9 with the Cardinals. Dealt to the Braves in the offseason for Jason Heyward, Miller has bulked up. 

"I feel stronger ... more poise," he told MLB.com's Kevin McAlpin.

Miller has a 6.14 ERA in three games this spring. 

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale made it seem as if pitcher Rubby De La Rosa is in line to win a rotation spot Sunday, the Arizona Republic reports.

De La Rosa was acquired in a trade with the Red Sox this offseason and pegged as a potential rotation candidate for Arizona after the deal. He's allowed five earned runs in 12 innings this spring while striking out 11 and walking 10.

Mets pitcher Vic Black plans to resume throwing on flat ground Monday, ESPNNewYork.com reports.

Black will complete his anti-inflammatory medication Sunday, leaving him clear to resume throwing. He had an MRI on the injured shoulder nine days ago and had to end a throwing session last Tuesday due to soreness.

The Rangers are talking to the Marlins about a trade involving a pitcher, two sources told The Dallas Morning News.

The Marlins have a pair of left-handed pitchers -- Mike Dunn and Brad Hand -- available in a trade, according to the report. The Rangers are looking for a left-handed reliever that can pitch multiple innings.

The Marlins had had multiple scouts in Rangers’ camp Friday.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said that the team's relief situation is still unsettled. 

J.P. Howell and Joel Peralta are the only locks for the bullpen at this point, Mattingly said per the Los Angeles Times' Bill Shaikin.

Mattingly also said that, with Kenley Jansen starting the season on the disabled list after foot surgery, the Dodgers may go with a closer-by-committee approach. Instead of having one pitcher fill the role, the team will mix and match, based on matchups.

Diamondbacks pitcher Rubby De La Rosa allowed two earned runs on two hits and four walks in four innings while striking out five in Thursday's spring start against the Cubs.

"Today I threw a lot of breaking balls, 10 to 12," De La Rosa said after the start, per MLB.com. "I didn't do that the last couple of outings, but today I feel good about having that ability and control to throw it in any count."

De La Rosa put together five scoreless innings in his first two appearances this spring but has surrendered five runs in six innings in his last two games, walking seven batters during that stretch. He's competing for a role in the starting rotation this spring after coming over from the Red Sox this offseason.

While Aroldis Chapman is locked in as the Reds' closer, the eighth-inning job remains up in the air for the club as spring training winds down, according to MLB.com. 

Sean Marshall is still recovering from shoulder surgery in 2014, leaving the set-up man spot as an open competition between a trio of players - Sam LeCure, Manny Parra and J.J. Hoover. 

"I think right now what we're doing is we're trying to figure out who our best options are," Reds manager Bryan Price said. 

"We're going to have to evolve as a bullpen. I think we know that Chapman's the closer and that we're going to have to evolve into roles to a certain degree," Price added. "Opening Day, I couldn't tell you who would be in the eighth inning. … There's a lot of balls in the air with the bullpen beyond the closer."

Though it appears as if Dillon Gee is destined to take Zack Wheeler's spot in the starting rotation, Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen told reporters the final spot is still up for grabs between Gee and Rafael Montero, according to NJ.com.

"I think it's still a competition between Montero and Gee," Warthen said. "They're both quality pitchers, I don't think we're going to hamstrung by either one of them."

Gee threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings in a split-squad game against the Astros. He has a 3.38 ERA through four spring outings (two starts). Montero allowed one run on two hits over 3 2/3 innings of work against Houston on Thursday. He has a 5.40 ERA through two outings (five innings) this spring.

The Nationals trimmed down their big-league roster on Thursday, optioning left-hander Matt Grace and catcher Dan Butler to Triple-A Syracuse and infielder Wilmer Difo to Class A Potomac, per the team's official website.