MLB Player News

Thielbar has won a spot on Minnesota's 26-man roster for Opening Day.

Thielbar was limited early in spring training due to a sore back, but looks healthy for Opening Day. He had a 4.15 ERA and six strikeouts and two walks in 4.1 innings this spring. Thielbar's unique curveball (he didn't allow a hit the 94 times he threw it last season) and prowess against left-handed batters (.376 OPS allowed), could see him used in a high-leverage role in the bullpen.

Law will not break camp in the big leagues, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Law threw eight scoreless innings this spring, striking out 13 batters while walking three and allowing three hits, but it wasn't enough earn him a roster spot. The fact that he's not on the 40-man roster certainly didn't help his case. He could be one of the team's top depth options this season, though the lack of a 40-man spot will hurt him there as well.

King will be a member of the Yankees' Opening Day roster, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

King is expected to begin in a bullpen role, but he could be one of the top options to slide into the rotation when a spot starter is needed. He hasn't shown much to suggest he'll be an interesting fantasy option should that happen, however, struggling to a 7.22 ERA in 28.2 innings at the major-league level.

Leclerc (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

It's the latest in a long string of bad news for Leclerc, who began his career as as very promising young reliever but has dealt with persistent injury problems in recent seasons. A typical recovery timeline will keep Leclerc sidelined until the middle of next season, at which point it will be anyone's guess how much of his previous potential still remains. In his absence, as well as the absence of several other top bullpen options, uninspiring veterans Ian Kennedy and Matt Bush look set to compete for whatever rare save opportunities the Rangers are able to manage.

Wilson (shoulder) will open the season on the injured list, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

An MRI last week confirmed that Wilson wasn't dealing with a serious shoulder injury, and he's since resumed throwing. He's in a fine place in his recovery, but the lost buildup time means he won't be quite ready to go by Opening Day. The Yankees can backdate his trip to the injured list, meaning he won't have to miss more than a week to start the season.

Ottavino won't have the clear path to serve as the Red Sox's Opening Day closer that it looked like he might have in recent days, as Matt Barnes' positive COVID-19 test was ruled a false positive Monday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

There's been very little to separate Ottavino and Barnes in recent seasons, and they've been similarly effective this spring, so it was tough to say either of them had much more than a 50 percent chance to win the job. Barnes' positive test seemingly opened an opportunity for Ottavino to open the year in the role, which could make it his until he pitched his way out of it. Now that Barnes is back in camp, however, the job looks like it's back to being a coin flip.

Barnes was determined to have a non-infectious positive test for COVID-19 on Monday and is now back in camp, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Barnes looked like he might have to miss the start of the regular season following his positive test Saturday, but the result was evidently a false positive. Missing the start of camp may have left Adam Ottavino as the team's closer to start the year by default, but Barnes is now back in the battle. The winner of the job remains undetermined.

The Diamondbacks informed Devenski on Monday that he would be included on the Opening Day roster, Jody Jackson of FOX Sports Arizona reports.

The non-roster invitee secured his spot in the Arizona bullpen after he allowed seven baserunners while striking out seven across seven scoreless innings this spring. Devenski isn't believed to be a factor in the Diamondbacks' unsettled closing situation, but he could gain traction in a setup role early on during the season.

Padres manager Jayce Tingler confirmed Monday that Guerra (elbow) would begin the season on the injured list, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Guerra is one of seven relievers set to open the season on the shelf for a banged-up Padres pitching staff. The 25-year-old righty didn't pitch during the Cactus League slate while recovering from a Grade 1 UCL sprain, so he'll likely be in line to spend more than the minimum 10 days on the IL.

Padres manager Jayce Tingler confirmed Monday that Strahm (knee) will begin the season on the injured list, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Considering that Strahm hasn't pitched at any point during the Padres' Cactus League schedule, his move to the IL was fully expected. The 29-year-old is still ramping up from the patellar tendon surgery he required last October, and at this point he remains without a clear timetable to make his 2021 debut.