MLB Player News

Lyles left Tuesday's game against the Twins due to cramping in his right side, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Lyles said the removal was precautionary, so it doesn't appear as though his status for Opening Day will be threatened. If the issue turns out to be worse than expected, Lyles would be forced to drop out of the competition with Steven Brault and Nick Kingham for the fifth starter role.

Lorenzen struck out two in a perfect fifth inning and struck out in his lone at-bat in Monday's 5-5 exhibition tie with the Indians.

The Reds had teased the idea of making Lorenzen a two-way player earlier in the spring and committed to it for the first time Monday. After pitching a spotless frame, Lorenzen checked into center field in the sixth inning and looked like a natural on the defensive end while fielding the two balls that came his way, though he did miss a cut-off man on a throw to third base. According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, manager David Bell said after the game that he plans to get Lorenzen a few more reps in center during camp, but the 27-year-old remains likely to see the overwhelming share of his action in 2019 as a reliever and occasional pinch hitter.

The Braves optioned Allard to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

Allard doesn't have much more to prove in the minors after posting a 2.72 ERA across 19 starts at Gwinnett in 2018, but the young southpaw might not get a look in the big leagues anytime soon with fellow pitching prospects Kyle Wright, Touki Toussaint and Bryse Wilson seemingly passing him up in the organizational pecking order. The 21-year-old's road back to Atlanta will become even more difficult once Mike Foltynewicz (elbow) and Mike Soroka (shoulder) are reinstated from the injured list.

Gomber is out of the running for the final spot in the Cardinals' rotation, Mark Saxon of The Athletic reports.

Either John Gant or Dakota Hudson will win the fifth starter's spot, while Carlos Martinez (shoulder) could join the rotation in May or June. Considering Gomber has minor-league options remaining, this likely means he is ticketed for the Triple-A rotation to start the season.

Martinez (shoulder) could join the big-league rotation in May or June, Mark Saxon of The Athletic reports.

This is fairly vague, but at least we know we can rule Martinez out for all of April. He is reportedly close to resuming a throwing program, and Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports the right-hander recently received a platelet-rich plasma injection to alleviate inflammation. In the meantime, John Gant and Dakota Hudson are the finalists for the fifth spot in the rotation.

Wright allowed two runs on four hits and a walk over three innings while striking out five in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

The Braves' No. 7 fantasy prospect continues to keep himself in the running for the fifth starter job to begin the regular season. Monday's walk was Wright's first of the spring in eight innings, and he's paired that control with a whopping 11 strikeouts. If the 23-year-old doesn't break camp on the 25-man roster, he'll head back to Triple-A Gwinnett -- where he posted a 2.51 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB in 28 innings in 2018 -- and wait for his next big-league opportunity.

The Marlins assigned Graves to their minor-league camp Tuesday, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports.

Graves stuck on the Marlins' roster all of last season as a Rule 5 pick, making 21 relief appearances and posting a 5.40 ERA and 21:12 K:BB in 33.1 innings. After being outrighted off the roster in December, Graves never had much of a chance at breaking camp with the big club for the second season in a row. He'll function as bullpen depth at Triple-A New Orleans.

Nuno faces a clearer path to winning a spot in the Nationals' bullpen following the release of Sammy Solis, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The Nats already have two lefties ticketed for the bullpen in Sean Doolittle and Matt Grace, but Doolittle's spot as the closer creates an opening for a third. Nuno has been fairly sharp this spring in his limited reps, posting a 6:1 K:BB and 4.50 ERA in four innings without allowing a homer, and the 31-year-old is coming off a strong campaign with the Rays in 2018 in which he delivered a 1.64 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB over 33 innings while being used in a variety of roles. Nuno has an opt-out clause in his minor-league deal if he's not on the 25-man roster by March 27, but if he keeps performing in camp he should have little difficulty securing a big-league job by Opening Day, whether in Washington or elsewhere.

Garrett (elbow) was spotted playing catch, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports.

Garrett underwent Tommy John surgery in June of 2017, so it's good to see that he's progressing through his rehab. There's been no word on a timetable for his return, but it doesn't appear as though he's ready to start throwing off a mound just yet.

Suarez was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

Suarez allowed 14 runs (nine earned) in 15 innings in his first taste of the big leagues last season. He'll wait at the Triple-A level for an injury to open up another opportunity.