MLB Player News
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Luke Jackson RP | SEA
Giants' Luke Jackson: Placed on injured list
The Giants placed Jackson on the 15-day injured list Friday with a lower-back strain, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Jackson had to leave Thursday's game against San Diego after straining his back, and the injury is apparently severe enough to sideline him for a couple of weeks. Kai-Wei Teng was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to fill Jackson's spot in the bullpen.
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Abner Uribe RP | MIL
Brewers' Abner Uribe: Secures save in season opener
Uribe retired all three batters he faced in the ninth inning to earn the save in Friday's 3-1 win over the Mets. He did not record a strikeout.
The 23-year-old threw eight of his 11 pitches for strikes as he received Milwaukee's first save chance in the absence of Devin Williams (back). Trevor Megill and Joel Payamps worked the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. Uribe appears to have the leg up for closing duties to begin the season, but Megill and Payamps could still be a factor if manager Pat Murphy elects to utilize a committee approach.
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Josh Simpson RP | SEA
Marlins' Josh Simpson: Slated for bullpen session
Simpson (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Simpson has dealt with a left elbow issue since late February and began the season on the injured list. He looks to be making nice progress, though, and could be ready for a rehab assignment soon.
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Thyago Vieira RP | ARI
Brewers' Thyago Vieira: Secures bullpen spot
Vieira is included on the Brewers' 26-man active roster for Friday's season opener versus the Mets.
Vieira finished the 2023 season on the injured list due to a right calf strain, but he was fully healthy for spring training and posted a 3.52 ERA and 13:5 K:BB in 7.2 innings during Cactus League play to secure his spot on the Opening Day roster. Though closer Devin Williams (back) is expected to be sidelined for the first two-plus months of the season, Vieira is unlikely to factor into the mix for saves given his limited body of work in the majors and the control issues that he's exhibited at every stop of his professional career. That being said, Vieira brings premium velocity to the table and should be a strong source of strikeouts on a per-inning basis even if he's relegated to a middle-relief role for Milwaukee.
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Daniel Bard RP | COL
Rockies' Daniel Bard: Opens season on IL
The Rockies placed Bard (knee) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Bard missed the entirety of spring training after undergoing a cleanup procedure on his left knee in mid-February. According to MLB.com, the right-hander also received platelet-rich plasma injections in his forearm this offseason, but working his way back from the knee procedure seems to be the veteran reliever's chief concern. Bard had been scheduled to resume throwing bullpen sessions this week, and he could be ready to face hitters at some point in the first or second week of April before heading out on a rehab assignment. Heading into spring training, he was expected to factor into the Rockies' unsettled closer picture, but Justin Lawrence and Tyler Kinley now look to be the top candidates for saves.
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Sam Moll RP | CIN
Reds' Sam Moll: Begins rehab assignment
Moll (shoulder) was sent to Triple-A Louisville on Friday to begin a rehab assignment, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Moll was sidelined for most of spring training due to a shoulder impingement and has opened the season on the 15-day injured list. The early assignment to Triple-A suggests he should be able to join the Reds by the middle of April.
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Yohan Ramirez RP | PIT
Mets' Yohan Ramirez: Secures spot on 26-man roster
Ramirez will begin the season in the Mets' bullpen, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
After a strong spring, the 28-year-old claimed the last spot in the bullpen when Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder) was placed on the IL to begin the season. The Mets will be Ramirez's fifth big-league team in five seasons, and his 4.40 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 67:37 K:BB over 75.2 innings since 2022 don't suggest he's a candidate for high-leverage work.
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Michael Tonkin RP | MIN
Mets' Michael Tonkin: Makes Opening day bullpen
Tonkin will begin the season on the Mets' 26-man roster, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
With Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder) landing on the injured list, the Mets were able to find room for both Tonkin and Yohan Ramirez in the bullpen. Tonkin saw his first big-league action since 2017 last season with Atlanta, posting a 4.28 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 75:23 K:BB over 80 innings and winning seven games. The 34-year-old righty is expected to fill a long-relief role in New York.
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Tanner Scott RP | LAD
Marlins' Tanner Scott: Shaky control to begin season
Scott struck out two and walked two in a scoreless ninth inning Thursday, as the Marlins fell 6-5 to the Pirates in 12 innings on Opening Day.
The 29-year-old left-hander had trouble finding the plate for most of the spring and those issues carried forward into the regular season, as Scott threw only 11 of 26 pitches for strikes in his first appearance of 2024. He remains Miami's closer for now, and potential replacement Andrew Nardi gave up two runs including a homer in the seventh inning Thursday, but Scott will need to sharpen his control if he's going to hang onto the job.
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Robert Suarez RP | ATL
Padres' Robert Suarez: Lands second save
Suarez earned a save during Thursday's win over the Giants, allowing one run on one hit across one inning. He struck out one.
With two outs in the ninth inning, Suarez gave up a solo homer to Michael Conforto but still was able to snare his second save in as many appearances. It appears Suarez has a comfortable hold on the Padres' closer role, but with arms like Yuki Matsui and Wandy Peralta also earning high-leverage work, the right-hander could be on a short leash.