MLB Player News

Fitzgerald started at shortstop and went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-4 Cactus League win over the Guardians, and he's competing for a utility role ahead of Opening Day, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

While Casey Schmitt and Christian Koss appear more likely to begin the 2026 campaign in utility roles, Fitzgerald remains an option for San Francisco. However, the 28-year-old hasn't made a strong case for himself at the plate this spring, slashing .154/.154/.385 with six RBI, three doubles and two runs scored across 26 plate appearances in 13 games. Fitzgerald opened the 2025 campaign as the club's starting second baseman but had a down season and spent significant time with Triple-A Sacramento, where he could begin this season.

Brash (mouth) could make his Cactus League debut as soon as Wednesday, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.

Brash is behind schedule following a tooth extraction, but his spring training debut is imminent. Barring something unexpected, the reliever should be fine for Opening Day. Brash is projected to serve as a setup man ahead of closer Andres Munoz this season.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Palacios (back) could return to the Grapefruit League lineup as soon as Friday against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Palacios has recently been managing back tightness, which has kept him from playing in spring games since March 3. He appears to have responded well to treatment and has seemingly resumed taking part in baseball activities, but Palacios may need to go through another workout Wednesday and/or Thursday before being cleared to play. Palacios is competing for a utility role on the Rays' Opening Day roster, with his ability to play multiple infield and outfield spots enhancing his chances of breaking camp with the big club.

Miller (back) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Reds, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Miller threw a live batting practice session Tuesday with no issues, clearing the way for him to make his first appearance of spring training. The left-hander has been battling a back problem but expects to be ready to roll in time for Opening Day.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said he expects Diaz (hand) to return to the Grapefruit League lineup Friday against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

A sore left hand has kept Diaz out of the lineup since March 3, but he had been scheduled to resume swinging a bat Tuesday, and Cash's comments suggest that the veteran first baseman responded well to the activity. Diaz could get in some more live at-bats Wednesday and/or Thursday before the Rays clear him to start Friday.

Dobbins (knee) will pitch in another minor-league game later this week, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Returning from last July's right ACL surgery, Dobbins threw four innings and around 65 pitches in a previous appearance on the back fields. He was pleased with how that outing went, saying "a lot of the movement profiles have increased" after "some of the tweaks we've been making." Dobbins will be permitted to field his position in the game later this week, but he will not be allowed to cover first base, as the Cardinals are still being protective of his surgically repaired knee. The 26-year-old is set to open the 2026 season either on the injured list or at Triple-A Memphis, but he's a candidate to see starts for St. Louis later this summer.

The Nationals announced Wednesday that Cavalli will start the team's March 26 season opener versus the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Injuries forced Cavalli to wait nearly three years in between major-league appearances, but he showed promise in his 10 starts with the Nationals in 2025 with a 4.25 ERA and 40:15 K:BB over 48.2 innings. The 27-year-old sported better velocity last season than he showed prior to Tommy John surgery and has some breakout potential in 2026.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Javier will be away from the club for the next few days while tending to a personal matter, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Citing privacy, Espada didn't provide any further information regarding Javier's upcoming absence, but the skipper noted that the right-hander will continue to throw while he remains away. Javier tossed 1.2 innings and 52 pitches in his Grapefruit League debut Monday, so as long as he's able to return to the team in time to make another start before spring training ends, he should be able to handle something close to a normal workload when his first turn in the rotation comes up during the regular season.

Abreu is expected to open the season as the Astros' closer while Josh Hader (biceps) recuperates, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Hader is throwing off the mound again and might not miss much time, but manager Joe Espada ruled him out for Opening Day. Abreu has been one of the best relievers in baseball over the past four regular seasons, posting a 2.30 ERA and 34.3 percent strikeout rate. Hader will get his closer job back, if healthy, but he remains an injury risk, so it's not out of the question that Abreu's stint as closer lasts indefinitely.

The Marlins announced that Mazur will undergo surgery Wednesday on his right elbow and will miss the entire 2026 season, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The report doesn't provide any specifics regarding Mazur's procedure, but the right-hander is presumably ticketed for Tommy John surgery or UCL repair with an internal brace. The latter procedure would give Mazur a chance at avoiding missed time to begin the 2027 campaign, while the right-hander would almost certainly open next season on the injured list if Tommy John surgery is deemed necessary. Even before experiencing discomfort in his elbow last week and getting shut down from throwing, Mazur was facing an uphill battle to make the Marlins' Opening Day rotation and was likely to begin the season at Triple-A Jacksonville. In any event, the loss of Mazur will thin the Marlins' organizational rotation depth.