MLB Player News

The Reds announced Sunday that Abbott will start Opening Day against the Red Sox on March 26.

The left-hander had a breakout 2025 campaign during which he posted a 2.87 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 149:43 K:BB across 166.1 innings in the regular season. He was always in the mix to start Opening Day, but Hunter Greene's elbow issues left Abbott as the obvious answer to take the ball first for Cincinnati in 2026.

Herrera was scratched from Saturday's Grapefruit League lineup versus the Mets due to knee inflammation, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Herrera had been slated to start at designated hitter Saturday, though his previous few starts had come at catcher, where he's being reintroduced after offseason elbow surgery. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that Herrera will be given 24-48 hours to rest before his status is reevaluated.

Nardi (finger) is slated to make his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday against the Nationals, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Nardi didn't pitch at all in 2025 due to a lingering back problem, but it's a blood blister on his pitching hand that's been holding him back this spring. The southpaw has been deemed ready for game action after throwing multiple live batting practice sessions over the last few weeks. Though Nardi looks to be healthy again, the Marlins could still elect to option him to Triple-A Jacksonville to provide him with extra time to shake off any rust. Over 49.2 innings in 2024, Nardi posted a 5.07 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 70:18 K:BB while picking up 15 holds and three wins.

Bender (shin) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday versus the Nationals, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The Marlins have been easing Bender along slowly this spring due to a shin injury, but after throwing multiple live batting practice sessions, he's been given the green light for game action. Despite being behind the Marlins' other healthy bullpen candidates, the right-hander should still have enough time to secure a spot in Miami's high-leverage crew, setting up new closer Pete Fairbanks. Bender collected 19 holds, three wins and four saves over 51 appearances in 2025 while pitching to a 2.16 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 42:21 K:BB across 50 innings.

Junk (ankle) struck out two batters and allowed one hit and no walks over a scoreless inning of relief in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Astros in Grapefruit League play.

Junk went down with a Grade 1 right ankle sprain early in camp, but after advancing through his throwing program over the last few weeks, he was finally cleared to make his spring debut Saturday. The 30-year-old right-hander made 16 of his 21 appearances with the Marlins last season as a starter, but the ankle issue may have cost him whatever small chance he had at a spot in Miami's Opening Day rotation. Junk should still be in good shape to break camp with the big club as a long man out of the bullpen.

Littell agreed to a one-year contract with the Nationals on Sunday, Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The right-hander produced a 3.81 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 130:32 K:BB across 186.2 regular-season innings between the Rays and Reds last season, but he was unable to secure a contract for 2026 until well after the start of spring training. There's now less than three weeks until Opening Day, so Littell doesn't have a ton of time to get built up for the start of the season. Once ready to go, the 30-year-old Littell should step in at the top of Washington's staff alongside Cade Cavalli and Josiah Gray.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Waddell is dealing with shoulder discomfort and won't pitch in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins as planned, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.

The severity of the shoulder issue isn't fully known, but Waddell will likely be shut down for at least a few days. The southpaw resurfaced in the majors last season for the first time since 2021, appearing in 11 games and posting a 3.45 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 22:11 K:BB over 31.1 innings with the Mets. Waddell no longer occupies a spot on the 40-man roster and is expected to open the season as a swingman at Triple-A Syracuse.

Steer started in left field and went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Saturday's spring game against Kansas City.

Steer is expected to be the team's primary left fielder, but Saturday's start was his first at the position. He played first base in his first six Cactus League games. Sal Stewart started at first base Saturday.

Lodolo allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out four over three innings in Saturday's spring start against the Royals.

Lodolo faced adversity from jump street when former teammate Jonathan India led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run. More traffic followed in the next two innings, but the left-hander managed to work out of jams in his second Cactus League outing. Pitchers like to avoid that type of stress when the games count in the standings, but in the spring it can be helpful, and Lodolo worked his pitch count up to 58 (32 strikes).

Tucker (personal) will serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter and No. 2 batter in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Athletics.

As expected, Tucker has rejoined the Dodgers after he was away from camp the past five days to observe the birth of his first child. The Dodgers will ease Tucker back into the mix by deploying him at DH, but he'll likely return to his usual spot in right field for his next spring start.