MLB Player News

Scott didn't allow a run over two-thirds of an inning during Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets without recording a walk or a strikeout.

The southpaw had a terrible start to his spring, issuing seven free passes over his first four Grapefruit League appearances and lasting just 1.2 innings, but Scott seems to have turned a corner with his control. Over his last three games, he has a 1:0 K:BB in 2.2 innings while throwing 17 of 23 pitches for strikes. After posting career-best ratios in 2023 (2.31 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) and converting 10 of 12 save chances after taking over the closer role in late August, Scott is still the favorite to handle ninth-inning duties for Miami this season.

Suarez recorded the final four outs of Thursday's 15-11 win over the Dodgers in South Korea to earn his first save of the season. He allowed one hit and struck out two batters.

Suarez's wild pitch and subsequent single allowed to Mookie Betts in the eighth inning brought the Dodgers to within one run, but San Diego gave the right-hander some extra cushion the next half inning, and Suarez bounced back with a 1-2-3 frame in the bottom of the ninth. Padres manager Mike Shildt had declined to name a closer in spring training, but the team's beat writers pointed to Suarez being the most likely candidate to close. Yuki Matsui pitched in the sixth inning Wednesday in his major-league debut.

Diaz (personal) has struck out one while allowing one earned run on zero hits and two walks over 1.2 innings in two Grapefruit League appearances for the Mets since leaving camp last week to attend to a personal matter.

Diaz was away from the team last week to witness the birth of his child, but he returned to action Sunday and then made another appearance Wednesday. With Diaz's surgically repaired left knee having thus far provided no complications for him this spring, he's in line to reclaim his role as the Mets' closer in 2024.

Bednar (lat) said Thursday he is tracking toward being available for Opening Day, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Bednar has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game after developing some early-camp right lat tightness, but he threw a live batting practice session Monday and is slated for a game appearance next. Even if the closer is indeed ready for Opening Day, it's possible the Pirates will avoid using him on back-to-back days initially. That could allow for some early-season save chances for Aroldis Chapman, as well.

Minter (finger) retired two of the five batters he faced Wednesday in Atlanta's 10-9 Grapefruit League win over the Blue Jays, striking out one while giving up an unearned run on one hit and one walk.

Minter made his first appearance since March 8 after he spent nearly two weeks recovering from a cut on his left index finger. Though he wasn't at his sharpest Wednesday, Minter should be locked into a key setup role in front of closer Raisel Iglesias once the regular season gets underway next week.

Matsui pitched two-thirds of an inning in Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Dodgers in South Korea, allowing one walk and striking out one batter without allowing any runs.

Matsui worked as a closer during most of his 10-year career in Japan, but he came into Wednesday's contest in the sixth frame in his first big-league appearance. The southpaw began his outing by walking James Outman but followed that by fooling Enrique Hernandez badly for a three-pitch swinging strikeout and then retiring Gavin Lux on a flyout. Matsui could eventually ascend to higher-leverage work, but he missed much of spring training due to a back injury, so he may be still in the process of fully ramping up. For now, it looks like Robert Suarez will get the first shot to stake a claim as San Diego's closer.

Alvarado has allowed one run in 5.2 innings this spring, striking out six and walking two while allowing two hits.

Alvarado is heading into the regular season in good form and will be looking to build on the 1.74 ERA and 1.16 WHIP he produced in 41.1 innings last season. Those numbers helped him record a career-high 10 saves, and he could blow past that total this season with Craig Kimbrel now in Baltimore, though there's no guarantee manager Rob Thomson ever names a proper closer.

Hoeing has given up two runs over 8.2 innings with a 10:3 K:BB and zero home runs allowed in Grapefruit League action this spring.

The 27-year-old right-hander spent his first full season in the majors last season, stumbling to a 5.48 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 53:25 K:BB through 70.2 innings in a low-leverage role for Miami. Hoeing should handle a similar assignment in 2024, but he does have minor-league options remaining and further struggles could get him bumped back to Triple-A Jacksonville, especially once the Marlins' staff gets healthier.

Stephens is expected to open the season in a long-relief role for Atlanta, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The 29-year-old will have the lowest-leverage role in a stacked Atlanta bullpen, but Stephens could see significant innings early if Reynaldo Lopez struggles with his conversion to the starting rotation. Stephens made only five appearances in the majors in 2023, posting a 3.00 ERA and 11:5 K:BB over 12 innings, but he's had an intriguing spring with a 10:4 K:BB and zero homers allowed through 5.1 frames.

Matzek touched 95 mph with his fastball during Sunday's Grapefruit League appearance, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The southpaw's velocity is nearly back to what it was prior to his October 2022 Tommy John surgery, and Matzek certainly looked healthy enough Sunday as he struck out four Red Sox over two perfect innings in a split-squad game. Considering he didn't pitch at all in 2023, Atlanta will likely ease him back into action with lower-leverage duties to begin the season, but a return to the form that saw him post a 2.57 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 29.2 percent strikeout rate and 24 holds over 63 innings in 2021 doesn't seem far off.