MLB Player News

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday that Graveman has experienced more back tightness following Tuesday's live batting practice session, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Graveman appeared to have turned a corner in his recovery from the back issue, but now he's encountered a setback. The veteran reliever has not yet appeared in a Cactus League game after missing the entirety of the 2024 season following shoulder surgery. Graveman's availability for Opening Day is very much in question.

Gore is on schedule to pitch the first game of the season for the Nationals against the Phillies on March 27, although manager Dave Martinez has yet to officially name the left-hander his Opening Day starter, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Gore dominated the Astros on Tuesday afternoon in only his second Grapefruit League start of the spring, allowing two hits and three walks over 5.1 scoreless innings while striking out six, although he was facing a Houston lineup that featured top prospect Cam Smith as its biggest name. Gore produced career bests with a 3.90 ERA, 10 wins, 181 strikeouts and 166.1 innings last season, and the third overall pick in the 2017 Draft could be poised to take another big step forward in 2025.

Megill gave up two hits and a walk over four scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He struck out five.

The 29-year-old right-hander was essentially gifted a rotation spot to begin the season when Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) went down with injuries, but Megill has earned the assignment so far this spring with a 1.35 ERA and 7:2 K:BB over 6.2 innings. He's always had intriguing stuff, highlighted by a 27.0 percent strikeout rate over 78 regular-season innings in the majors last year, but to this point in his career a true breakout has eluded him.

Tidwell topped out at 99 mph with his fastball in big-league camp this spring, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old right-hander saw his control desert him at Triple-A last season as he issued an ugly 53 walks in 85 innings, but Tidwell reported to spring training in better shape and made a strong impression with both improved command and improved velocity. If those results hold up at Triple-A Syracuse to begin the 2025 campaign, Tidwell could be among the first pitchers called up when the Mets' rotation is in need of reinforcements.

Lopez went 2-for-3 with two home runs and three RBI in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The second baseman touched up Erick Fedde for a two-run homer in the fourth inning before taking Roddery Munoz deep for a solo shot in the sixth. The blasts were Lopez's first extra-base hits this spring, and the 26-year-old didn't display much power in the minors, so it's unlikely this performance was a sign of things to come. His primary fantasy appeal will come on the basepaths -- Lopez swiped 20 bags in 24 attempts over 117 regular-season games in 2024 while slashing .270/.313/.377.

Stowers appears to be in a dead heat with Griffin Conine for the Marlins' starting job in left field, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Stowers came into camp as the favorite for the job after being acquired from the Orioles last season, but he has just three singles in 17 at-bats this spring with nine strikeouts. The 27-year-old has drawn seven walks and stolen a couple bases as well, but contact issues were a big factor in his poor .186/.262/.295 slash line for Miami in 2024. He has a minor-league option remaining, so it's possible the Marlins will decide Stowers needs to build up his confidence at Triple-A Jacksonville before taking another crack at solving big-league pitching.

Conine went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The 27-year-old took Erick Fedde deep in the second inning for a two-run shot as he continues to make a push for the Marlins' starting job in left field. The homer was Conine's first of the spring and he has just a .259 batting average (7-for-27), but his main competition, Kyle Stowers, is hitting just .176 (3-for-17) with nine strikeouts, although he's also drawn seven walks. The Marlins arguably have more invested in Stowers after picking him up from the Orioles last season, but per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the team would like to take a longer look at both players to determine if either can be a big part of the future. This job battle could come down to the wire, and might extend into the regular season if both Conine and Stowers are included on the 26-man roster.

Myers appears to be behind Derek Hill in the competition for the Marlins' starting job in center field, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Hill has the more reliable glove in center, so Myers needed to be the clearly better hitter in camp to seize the job. That hasn't happened, and while the 29-year-old does boast a .300 batting average with a 7:7 BB:K through 27 plate appearances, all six of his hits have been singles. It's possible neither player emerges as the full-time starter, as Jesus Sanchez has been getting reps in center field as well and manager Clayton McCullough has said the club will look for opportunities to get Kyle Stowers and Griffin Conine into the lineup. If Myers isn't the primary option in center, there should be a role for him on the bench given his ability to back up all three outfield spots.

Hill appears to be ahead of Dane Myers in the battle for the Marlins' starting center field job, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Neither player has been lighting it up at the plate, but Hill is the more reliable defender and has shown a bit more power this spring, managing a .259/.375/.481 slash line and two homers through 32 plate appearances. Jesus Sanchez has also been getting some work in center, so there may be more than two horses in the race, but the Marlins are more comfortable with his glove in right field. Even if Hill wins the Opening Day assignment, he may not see a full-time workload, as the team tries to find ways to get both Kyle Stowers and Griffin Conine into the lineup as well. Miami's outfield remains a muddle, and Hill's career .629 OPS over 476 big-league plate appearances will make him an unappealing fantasy option even if he gets significant playing time.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Monday that he envisions using Brito in a long-relief role this season, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Shildt's comments effectively remove Brito from the competition for the No. 5 starter role, leaving Kyle Hart, Matt Waldron, Randy Vasquez and Stephen Kolek as the remaining candidates for the final spot in the rotation. Brito previously made 13 big-league starts for the Yankees in 2023, but he worked exclusively in relief over his 26 regular-season appearances for the Padres last season, logging a 4.12 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB in 43.2 innings.