MLB Player News

Mayer is out of the lineup for Thursday's Opening Day matchup with the Reds, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Manager Alex Cora indicated earlier this week that Mayer would begin the season in a platoon at second base, so it's no surprise he's on the bench in favor of Isiah Kiner-Falefa with lefty Andrew Abbott on the mound for Cincinnati. Mayer had a .674 OPS over 44 regular-season games in his first taste of the majors last year and batted just .154 versus southpaws.

Raley will begin the season as part of the Mets' bullpen, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The 37-year-old is expected to be New York's top left-handed relief option while A.J. Minter (lat) remains on the shelf. Raley looked good in the second half last season after completing his recovery from Tommy John surgery, posting a 2.45 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB over 25.2 innings with three wins and 10 holds in 30 appearances.

Crawford is starting in center field and batting ninth Opening Day against the Rangers on Thursday.

The 22-year-old is one of Philadelphia's top prospects and is making his MLB debut at home versus the Rangers. Crawford spent last season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he had a .334/.411/.452 slash line with seven homers and 46 stolen bases. He's beginning the campaign as the Phillies' primary center fielder.

Young has won a spot on the Mets' Opening Day roster, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The 30-year-old didn't do much in camp to earn the job, batting .150 (3-for-20) with a home run and a 4:5 BB:K, but a late-spring knee injury for Mike Tauchman might have given Young a reprieve. He'll provide a bit of left-handed power off the bench, but playing time could be hard to come by with Brett Baty apparently ahead of Young in the pecking order at DH and the corner infield and outfield spots.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Thursday that Hader (biceps) will begin facing hitters by "mid-April," Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Working his way back from left biceps tendinitis, Hader has been throwing off the mound since early March and is slated for another bullpen session Friday. He's still a couple weeks away from facing hitters, though, and will surely need a rehab assignment before being activated, making it unlikely he'll be back before late April. Houston will use Bryan Abreu at closer while Hader is sidelined.

Faucher is expected to share setup duties with Anthony Bender for the Marlins to begin the season, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Faucher recorded a career-high 15 saves in 2025, but the offseason addition of Pete Fairbanks bumps him down to an eighth-inning assignment. Faucher appears ready for Opening Day after delivering a 1.80 ERA and 5:2 K:BB in five spring innings, and he's a good bet to blow past the career-best 11 holds he produced in 2024.

King has won a spot in the Marlins' Opening Day bullpen, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

After signing a one-year deal with Miami in February, King lines up to be the top left-handed relief option for manager Clayton McCullough. King was sharp this spring, posting a 1.13 ERA and 9:4 K:BB over eight innings, and given his likely role, he could top the career-high 12 holds he recorded between the Rangers and Cardinals in 2023.

Phillips will begin the season as part of the Marlins' bullpen, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The 28-year-old righty produced a 1.13 ERA and 9:5 K:BB in eight innings this spring to secure his spot. Phillips figures to fill a middle-relief role after posting a 2.78 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 52:24 K:BB over 77.2 innings last season with two wins, four saves and eight holds in 54 appearances for Miami.

Sanoja is expected to be the Marlins primary utility player to begin the season, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Fresh off winning a Gold Glove as 2025's top defensive sub in the NL, Sanoja also produced a .243/.287/.396 slash line with six homers and six steals in 342 plate appearances while playing at least 10 games at second base, third base, shortstop, left field and center field. With Kyle Stowers (hamstring) opening the year on the IL, Sanoja could be part of the solution in left over the first weeks of the campaign.

Petersen has claimed a spot in the Marlins' Opening Day bullpen, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The 31-year-old right-hander did enough this spring to stick around the 26-man roster, producing a 3.12 ERA and 7:3 K:BB over 8.2 Grapefruit League innings. Petersen should handle a low-leverage role after contributing a 4.00 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB in 18 big-league innings last season split between Atlanta and Miami.