MLB Player News

Betts was a late scratch from Sunday's lineup against the Angels due to his ongoing battle with an illness, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Betts has been dealing with an unknown illness for multiple weeks. The 32-year-old is reportedly down to 157 pounds after entering spring training at 175 pounds, and he's still struggling to hold down food. The Dodgers may have to start considering other options at shortstop for Thursday's home opener versus the Tigers.

Iglesias will be a part of the Padres' Opening Day roster, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Iglesias will officially make the team's initial 26-man roster after signing a minor-league deal with San Diego on March 5. The 35-year-old went 5-for-25 with a double, two RBI, a run scored and four strikeouts over 11 games with the Padres this spring. Iglesias will likely operate in a utility role with San Diego to open the season, serving as a backup option to Jake Cronenworth, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts in the infield.

Betts has been scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

The reason for Betts' removal from the lineup was not immediately available, but this is presumably related to the illness that forced an early return home from the Japan trip and caused him to lose roughly 15 pounds. Betts' status for the Dodgers' final two exhibition games is uncertain.

Betts (illness) is starting at shortstop and batting second in Sunday's exhibition game against the Angels, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

The 32-year-old flew back early from the season-opening series versus the Cubs in Tokyo while recovering from an illness, but he'll return to action for the final exhibition games of the spring. Betts should be ready to go at shortstop for Thursday's home opener against Detroit.

The Diamondbacks selected Hampson to the major-league roster Sunday.

The 30-year-old exercised the opt-out clause of his minor-league contract with Arizona on Friday, and the organization elected to fully bring him aboard rather than let him hit free agency. Hampson has a .300/.396/.375 slash line through 17 spring games, though he posted a career-worst .575 OPS in 113 regular-season contests for Kansas City last year. He likely won't have fantasy relevance while filling a utility role.

Brujan may get bumped off of Chicago's roster once Nico Hoerner (forearm) is able to return, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Brujan or Gage Workman are the two players most likely to lose their spot to Hoerner, but Workman would have to be returned to Detroit as a Rule 5 pick if he gets pushed off the MLB roster. Brujan is out of minor-league options himself, so he would need to be designated for assignment in that scenario. Hoerner could be ready for the domestic season opener or soon after, so neither player will have much time to make a positive impression.

The Padres selected McCoy's contract Saturday.

McCoy entered spring training in competition for a utility role, and he has seemingly earned a roster spot after slashing .273/.368/.515 across 33 at-bats in Cactus League action. He isn't likely to be a regular in the lineup but should be a primary backup at most infield positions.

Wade went 2-for-3 with a home run, three total RBI and a walk in Friday's Cactus League victory against the Cubs.

Wade plated three of San Diego's five runs, laying down an RBI bunt single in the fourth inning and slugging a two-run shot to right field in the sixth. The first of the two hits was more in line with Wade's skill set, as he ranked in the 85th percentile in sprint speed last year and has just seven home runs over eight big-league regular seasons. Wade has a .205/.279/.333 slash line this spring as he competes for a roster spot as a utility man for the Padres.

Lux started at third base and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's spring game against Seattle.

Lux poked his first Cactus League homer in the second inning and has an .858 OPS through 16 spring games. He's played a lot of third base (11 starts) and figures to see ample time there in the regular season along with starts at second base and in left field. However, it may take a while to determine a pattern of who plays and when. Jeimer Candelario is expected to share third base with Lux and first base with Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Corner infield will get muddier once Spencer Steer (shoulder) is ready to play the field.

The Nationals optioned Nunez to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

Nunez turned heads in Nationals camp with a .419/.486/.484 slash line through 35 plate appearances and seemed to be making a real push for the Opening Day roster. He'll instead begin the season in Triple-A, which will allow the 24-year-old infielder to continue developing while playing every day -- something he wouldn't have been able to do in Washington.