MLB Player News

Patino has won a spot in Tampa Bay's starting rotation and will make his first regular season start April 11 against Oakland, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Patino had a sore shoulder early in spring training, but is apparently back to full strength as the regular season begins. However, he may see a limited workload early in the season and could form a tandem with Josh Fleming. Patino has thrown just two innings in major-league spring training, giving up one hit, no walk and no strikeouts.

Hernandez was diagnosed with a bruised right forearm after he exited Tuesday's Grapefruit League start against the Cardinals, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Hernandez was fortunate to avoid a more serious injury after his throwing arm was on the receiving end of a line drive off the bat of Tyler O'Neill that had an exit velocity of more than 105 miles per hour. Assuming Hernandez isn't dealing with too much soreness from the bruised arm during a scheduled bullpen session later in the week, he should still be part of the Marlins' season-opening rotation. Hernandez was tentatively lined up to start the Marlins' third game of the season Sunday in San Francisco, but he could be pushed to the back of the rotation order if manager Don Mattingly wants to give the right-hander more time to heal up.

Borucki (hamstring) is slated to pitch in a simulated game Tuesday, Laura Armstrong of the Toronto Star reports.

The Blue Jays will wait and see how Borucki's sore right hamstring responds to the sim game before determining whether he'll be part of the Opening Day bullpen. Even if Borucki is forced to begin the season on the 10-day injured list, he'll likely be in store for a minimum stint, given that he's already been cleared to face hitters.

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said Tuesday that Pearson (illness) has been diagnosed with mononucleosis and will be out "a while," Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Pearson was already on track to miss out on a spot in the Blue Jays' Opening Day bullpen after an unspecified ailment had kept him from working out with the team for the past few days, and he looks like he'll be sidelined for the first few weeks of the season now that he's received a diagnosis for his illness. The Blue Jays are expected to formally place Pearson on the injured list at some point before the weekend. Since Toronto had planned to have Pearson stretch out for starting duty in the spring, he could prepare for a rotation role with Triple-A Buffalo once he's cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. Before he even resumes throwing, however, Pearson will turn his focus on resting up and attempting to shake off an illness that can often carry a volatile recovery timeline.

Tapia was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Tapia struggled with his control this spring, surrendering five runs on eight hits and six walks while striking out one batter over 5.1 innings in seven appearances. The reliever was an effective bullpen option for the Mariners and Royals last season, posting a 2.67 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. He'll look to recapture his control from 2021 while in the minors and return to the big leagues at some point in the coming weeks.

Cimber hasn't given up a run over 4.1 innings this spring with a 5:0 K:BB.

The groundball specialist (53.8 percent GB% in 2021) isn't typically a strikeout pitcher, but he's been dominant nonetheless in Grapefruit League play. Cimber figures to be a key member of the Blue Jays' bullpen this season, but that role didn't result in much fantasy value last year -- he managed two wins, one save and five holds in 39 appearances for Toronto despite a 1.69 ERA and 0.96 WHIP.

Merryweather has given up three home runs over five innings this spring, leading to a 10.80 ERA, but he's also posted a 6:1 K:BB.

His inability to keep the ball in the park is a little worrying after Merryweather served up four homers in 13 innings last year, but the strikeout numbers are encouraging and he was reported to be touching 98 mph with his fastball earlier in camp. If the right-hander can stay healthy, something he hasn't been able to do in his pro career, he should be a valuable setup man in front of Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano.

Hernandez exited Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals after being struck on the right arm by a line drive off the bat of Tyler O'Neill, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Facing his third batter of the day, O'Neill scorched a ball up the middle at 105.4 mph that caromed off Hernandez to third baseman Brian Anderson. The pitcher was immediately evaluated by a trainer and removed from the game. Hernandez is projected for a spot at the back of the Marlins' rotation to begin the season and was having a good spring, but as yet there's no word on the severity this injury.

May walked one and struck out one in a scoreless inning during Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

The veteran right-hander has a spotless 0.00 ERA this spring to go along with a 5:1 K:BB, albeit in only three appearances, and he appears ready to handle a setup role for the Mets once again. Over 62.2 innings in 2021, May collected seven wins, four saves and 16 holds with a 31.2 percent strikeout rate.

Machado gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless inning of relief during Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The 28-year-old right-hander has looked good in camp, as he hasn't given up a run in three Grapefruit League appearances with a 5:1 K:BB. Machado picked up 10 holds over 40 appearances out of the Nationals' bullpen last year, and he figures to fill a similar middle-relief role in 2022.