MLB Player News

Vientos is not in the lineup for Thursday's opener versus the Pirates.

With right-hander Paul Skenes on the bump for the Pirates, the Mets will go with Jorge Polanco at first base and the left-handed-hitting Brett Baty at designated hitter. The right-handed-hitting Vientos is unlikely to be a strict short-side platoon bat, but he could sit regularly against tougher righties.

Lindor (hand) is starting at shortstop and batting leadoff in Thursday's opener against the Pirates.

Lindor is just six weeks removed from hamate bone surgery but is ready to roll for Opening Day after playing five Grapefruit League games. Power can sometimes be slow to come back after this type of procedure, but fantasy managers will nonetheless want to have Lindor locked and loaded into their lineups.

Webb (0-1) took the loss versus the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and a walk while striking out seven over five innings.

Webb was roughed up for five runs in the second inning and gave up two more in the fifth before exiting the game. He threw 58 of 86 pitches for strikes, which was right in line with his workload in his last Cactus League start Thursday. The right-hander is a true workhorse for the Giants, having topped 200 innings in three straight years and 30 starts in each of the last four campaigns. He pitched to a 3.22 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 224:46 K:BB over 207 innings in 2025 and should continue to eat innings with strong ratios again this season. Webb is tentatively projected to make his second start of the year on the road at San Diego next week.

Rea will make Chicago's Opening Day roster as a long reliever, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

With Cade Horton staking his claim to a rotation spot after an impressive rookie season and Edward Cabrera joining the Cubs via trade, Rea ultimately got pushed to the bullpen. The veteran righty made 27 starts for Chicago during the 2025 regular season, but he'll now slot in as a long reliever capable of supplying multiple innings out of the bullpen. Rea's fantasy value takes a hit in this role, though he certainly could still make some spot starts throughout the year.

The Marlins placed Ruiz (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Ruiz sustained a high-grade left oblique strain in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals and is facing a projected recovery timeline of 6-to-8 weeks. With Ruiz and Kyle Stowers (oblique) both shelved to start the season, the Marlins bolstered their outfield by signing Austin Slater to a one-year contract Tuesday.

The Padres placed Matsui (groin) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Since straining his left groin in late February, Matsui has begun throwing off a mound and is slated to face hitters soon, but he'll still likely to remain on the shelf until at least around mid-April. Because he missed the entire Cactus League slate, he'll need to complete a rehab assignment in the minors before making his season debut with the Padres.

San Diego placed Musgrove (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2024, Musgrove missed the entire 2025 season but received full clearance ahead of spring training. However, after Musgrove experienced inflammation in his surgically repaired elbow following an exhibition versus Team Great Britain on March 4, the Padres have elected to tread carefully with the veteran righty. Musgrove has remained shut down from throwing for just over two weeks, but the San Diego brass has continued to downplay concern about his elbow issue, noting that some speed bumps were expected coming off the major surgery. While Musgrove is on the shelf, the Padres will turn to Walker Buehler to fill out their rotation.

The Padres placed Hoeing (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Hoeing is set to miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right elbow. He'll officially begin the season on the 15-day IL but will likely be transferred to the 60-day IL if/when the Padres need to clear a 40-man roster spot.

The Padres placed Adam (quadriceps) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

The 2025 All-Star underwent surgery in September to repair a ruptured left quadriceps tendon, and though he was able to strike out a batter in a perfect inning in his lone Cactus League appearance this past Friday, the Padres will give him more time to build up before adding him to the 26-man active roster. The 34-year-old right-hander will likely report to an affiliate later this weekend once the minor-league begins so that he can kick off a rehab assignment, and he could be ready for activation when first eligible April 6.

The Padres placed Canning (Achilles) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Canning is still on the mend from the season-ending Achilles surgery he underwent last summer, but he was cleared to face hitters in a simulated game March 20 and struck out three over a scoreless inning. A clearer timeline for his return will emerge while he builds his workload, though he could return to San Diego's rotation before the end of April.