MLB Player News

Garcia was removed from Saturday's Cactus League game against the Angels with an apparent injury, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Garcia struggled with his command during his appearance Saturday, as he hit two batters and walked another before getting a visit from the training staff and exiting the game. It's unclear what exactly is bothering the 25-year-old lefty, but the team will take a closer look at him and likely offer an update after the game.

Williams is focused on adding a cutter and slider to his repertoire this season, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The reliever known as the Airbender has been almost exclusively a fastball-changeup artist during his career, but a tough 2025 season with the Yankees in which he posted a career-worst 4.79 ERA, albeit with a much more palatable 2.68 FIP and 3.05 xERA, has Williams looking for an extra edge. The early results in spring training on the new pitches haven't exactly been encouraging -- Cardinals prospect JJ Wetherholt homered on a first-pitch cutter Friday -- but Williams isn't concerned. "That one specifically, I was just trying to throw a strike and he jumped on it," Williams said. "I kind of babied it, trying to just throw it over the plate. He wasn't giving me strike one." The 31-year-old right-hander is still going to lean heavily on his changeup to generate strikeouts, but having other options could help the Mets' new closer to rebound.

Lower-back tightness will limit Miller to throwing solely off flat ground for the next few days, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Miller's back has prevented him from pitching in the Cactus League, and he has yet to begin throwing off a mound. Assuming he doesn't encounter any setbacks, he's slated to begin throwing bullpen sessions sometime next week, but it's still unknown how far away he is from getting into a game.

Kerkering (hamstring) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.

It will be his first time throwing off a mound since he suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain. If things go well Saturday, Kerkering would likely then progress to facing hitters before appearing in a game. The right-handed reliever has plenty of time to ramp up for Opening Day, barring setbacks.

The Dodgers signed Middleton to a minor-league contract Feb. 16.

Middleton made just five rehab appearances in 2024 before having flexor tendon surgery and then appeared in four games in 2025 with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. The 32-year-old pitched well in his last healthy season in 2023, posting a 3.38 ERA and 64:23 K:BB over 50.2 regular-season frames between the White Sox and Yankees. Middleton will give the Dodgers some experienced relief depth at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that he's been encouraged by how Stewart (shoulder) has looked in bullpen sessions and believes the pitcher's absence to begin the season could be brief, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Stewart has been brought along slowly this spring following a right shoulder debridement procedure he underwent last September. The reliever has already been ruled out for Opening Day, but it sounds like he could be back sometime in April. Stewart made only four appearances for the Dodgers last season before getting hurt, but he was superb for the Twins prior to being traded, posting a 2.38 ERA and 41:11 K:BB over 34 innings.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Graterol (shoulder) is in a "holding pattern," Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Though Roberts has refrained from referring to Graterol's ongoing shoulder issues as a setback, it's difficult to categorize them as anything else. The reliever missed the entire 2025 season following a November 2024 procedure, and he hasn't been able to regain his pre-surgery velocity. Graterol has already been ruled out for Opening Day and he could be looking at a lengthy absence.

Bivens allowed two hits in one scoreless inning during Thursday's 11-3 Cactus League loss to the Rockies.

Bivens escaped the third inning without allowing a run after surrendering a pair of singles. He tossed 10 of his 11 pitches for strikes and primarily relied on his sinker, which he threw five times. The 31-year-old is likely to make the Opening Day roster in a relief role after spending all of last season in the majors with San Francisco. Over 54 relief appearances in 2025, the right-hander posted a 4.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 61:25 K:BB across 81 innings.

Pivetta completed two innings in a Cactus League game against the Reds on Thursday, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one batter.

Pivetta gave up a triple in the first inning but held Cincinnati scoreless. However, he was touched up for three runs in the second frame as a result of issuing two walks and giving up two hits. Pivetta threw just 22 of 38 pitches for strikes, but a rough outing near the start of spring for a veteran pitcher shouldn't cause fantasy managers to be concerned. The right-hander is coming off arguably his best MLB campaign and is locked in near the top of San Diego's rotation for 2026.

Matsui (groin) is limited to flat-ground throwing and is questionable for Opening Day, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Matsui has been limited after tweaking his left groin last week. The reliever has already had to pull out of pitching for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic and might not be ready for Opening Day, either. Matsui holds a 3.86 ERA and 130:60 K:BB over 126 regular-season innings in his two years with the Padres.