Abreu is expected to open the season as the Astros' closer while Josh Hader (biceps) recuperates, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Hader is throwing off the mound again and might not miss much time, but manager Joe Espada ruled him out for Opening Day. Abreu has been one of the best relievers in baseball over the past four regular seasons, posting a 2.30 ERA and 34.3 percent strikeout rate. Hader will get his closer job back, if healthy, but he remains an injury risk, so it's not out of the question that Abreu's stint as closer lasts indefinitely.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Hader (biceps) will begin the season on the injured list, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Hader returned to the mound with a bullpen session Tuesday, which went well. However, he's simply going to run out of time when it comes to Opening Day. Espada did not offer a timetable for Hader's season debut, but it seems that the reliever's absence could be brief if he continues making strides in his recovery from left biceps inflammation. Bryan Abreu will open the season as Houston's closer.

Romero is expected to be among the relievers in the mix to close games for the Cardinals this season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Manager Oliver Marmol appears willing to let the team's closer situation "solve itself" rather than naming a go-to ninth-inning man before the season. Romero shared the closer job with Riley O'Brien down the stretch last season after Ryan Helsley was traded, and he finished with a 2.07 ERA and 55:29 K:BB over 61 innings. Goold writes of Romero that the Cardinals "still could trade the lefty for the right return," but the chances of a trade are significantly lower now than they were earlier in the offseason. In addition to Romero and O'Brien, Matt Svanson and Ryne Stanek are expected to receive consideration for closing duties.

The Cardinals could use Stanek as part of a closer-by-committee strategy, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Manager Oliver Marmol said of the Cardinals' closer job that "I don't think we need to name a guy," and he expects the situation to eventually "solve itself." Riley O'Brien, JoJo Romero and Matt Svanson are also in the mix for saves along with Stanek. The 34-year-old Stanek is the elder statesman of the group but is probably better suited for a setup role. Stanek collected a 5.30 ERA and 58:32 K:BB over 56 innings for the Mets in 2025.

Soriano allowed one hit and struck out four batters without issuing a walk over five scoreless innings in a Cactus League start against San Francisco on Monday.

Soriano had this start pushed back almost a week due to an illness, but he showed no signs of the ailment Monday. The right-hander breezed through a Giants lineup that included Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman and Willy Adames, yielding just one baserunner on a second-inning single. Soriano retired the final 11 batters he faced and got through his five frames on 60 pitches. Per Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, the hurler's fastball reached triple digits after he averaged 97.3 mph on the offering last season. This was a nice bounce-back for Soriano following a rough start to the spring slate during which he allowed seven runs over 3.2 innings across two starts.

The Tigers announced Tuesday that Effross has been shut down with a left oblique strain, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Effross felt his oblique tighten after his last Grapefruit League appearance Saturday. It's unclear how long he might be shelved, but Effross was already facing long odds to make the team, given that the non-roster invitee has yielded four runs on six hits and five walks over 2.2 innings this spring.

The Tigers purchased De Jesus' contract Tuesday, adding him to the 40-man roster, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The left-hander joined Detroit as a non-roster invitee in December, and he allowed three unearned runs with seven strikeouts and one walk across 6.1 innings during spring training. He also allowed just one run while striking out eight over five frames in his start for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. De Jesus made his MLB debut in 2023 with two appearances for Miami but spent the past two seasons pitching in the Korea Baseball Organization.

Hader (biceps) said that it was "all positives" during a 15-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Throwing from the mound for the first time since he developed left biceps inflammation prior to reporting to Astros camp, Hader was pleased with his velocity, the action on his pitches and his mechanics during the bullpen session. When asked about his potential availability for Opening Day, Hader didn't dismiss the possibility, saying only, "we'll see." The consensus is that a stint on the 15-day injured list to begin the season is likely, but it's possible Hader could change the Astros' minds if he looks good over the next couple weeks.

The Nationals designated Lovelady for assignment Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

The left-hander was claimed off waivers by the Nationals in January but will lose his place on the 40-man roster to make room for the signing of Zack Littell. Lovelady appeared in 10 regular-season games between the Blue Jays and Mets last season, allowing 11 earned runs with a 12:6 K:BB over 11.2 frames.

Mears allowed three runs on three hits over one inning in Monday's Cactus League loss to the Guardians.

Mears was done in by the long ball, surrendering back-to-back homers to Steven Kwan and Brayan Rocchio with two outs in the fifth inning. After being acquired by the Royals from the Brewers in December, the reliever has made four Cactus League appearances, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks across four innings, with Monday's outing accounting for much of that damage. Coming off a 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 56.2 regular-season innings last year with Milwaukee, Mears figures to slot in as a middle-relief option in the Kansas City bullpen for 2026.