MLB Player News

Pinder looked like a strong candidate to make the Opening Day roster after signing with the Reds in January, but he hit just .103 (4-for-39) with nine strikeouts this spring. The 30-year-old has been a below-average hitter for the past four years, but still figures to find a gig elsewhere in the coming days.

Heading into this weekend’s series, Contreras was batting .102 with five hits and 22 strikeouts in his first 54 plate appearances. He had been working with Cardinals’ hitting coach Brant Brown to curtail “overthinking,” but also decided to try and use his torpedo bat after hitting in the cage with it for the first time during the week. He had four hits over the weekend, including a 110 mph double, a 97 mph home run, and a lineout at 103.9 mph. He had two of the five hardest-hit pitches in Sunday’s game, and three of his swings that led to hard contact were 75 mph or greater. Whether it’s the bat or just Contreras getting his confidence back, we may be seeing the veteran turn a corner.

Petersen was called up on Sunday to fill a bullpen spot with Aaron Bummer on the bereavement list. He threw two scoreless innings against the Rays but will now head back to Triple-A with Bummer returning to Atlanta. Petersen should get another shot in Atlanta this year.

Bummer missed this weekend’s series against the Rays and will now return to his regular role in the Braves bullpen. He has a 5.40 ERA through five appearances so far this season. RHP Michael Petersen was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett following yesterday’s game to clear room on the active roster.

The 30-year-old backstop was pulled from Sunday night’s tilt against the Dodgers after getting drilled in the wrist by a 94 mph sinker from Tyler Glasnow. Fractures don’t always show up in the initial X-ray due to swelling and inflammation, so he’s not completely out of the woods just yet, but this is at least an encouraging sign. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status over the next couple of days.

The dynamic 23-year-old outfielder tagged right-hander Tyler Glasnow for a 370-foot (103.3 mph EV) solo shot in the third inning that tied the game at one run apiece. He then snapped a 2-2 tie with a 412-foot (106.1 mph EV) blast off of Blake Treinen in the seventh. Crow-Armstrong also led off the ninth inning with a triple, finishing the evening 3-for-4. On the season, he’s now slashing .229/.289/.400 to go with two homers, seven RBI and six stolen bases.

Busch tagged right-hander Tyler Glasnow for a go-ahead 403-foot (107.8 mph EV) solo shot after a nine-pitch battle in the sixth inning. He also singled in the ballgame, finishing the night 2-for-4. On the season, the 27-year-old first baseman is now hitting a blistering .315/.393/.593 with three homers and 10 RBI.

The 36-year-old right-hander made quick work of baseball’s most dangerous lineup, getting Enrique Hernández on a swinging third strike, Freddie Freeman on a ground ball to short and Shohei Ohtani on a ground ball to first to end it. His job security in the ninth inning continues to grow despite his 3.38 ERA, cringe-inducing 2.13 WHIP and lackluster 3/6 K/BB ratio over his first eight innings on the season.

The right-hander piled up five strikeouts on the night while issuing only one base on balls. The only run that the Dodgers were able to muster against him in the game came on a two-out RBI single off the bat of Enrique Hernandez in the second inning. Rea got nine swings and misses on 68 pitches in the ballgame — six of those on his fastball — while posting a CSW of 31 percent. With Justin Steele shelved, he may have an opportunity to make another start for the Cubs until Javier Assad (oblique) is ready to take over that rotation spot. That start would come on Saturday against the Diamondbacks.

Conforto reached on a one-out single off of Colin Rea in the second inning and came around to score the game’s first run on a two-out RBI single off the bat of Enrique Hernández. He then punched a single into center to lead off the sixth inning and scored the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly by Max Muncy. The 32-year-old outfielder is off to a slow start in his first season with the Dodgers, slashing just .224/.345/.429 with two long balls and five RBI.

The 31-year-old right-hander racked up seven strikeouts on the evening while allowing only one free pass. All of the damage done against him came via the long ball, with Pete Crow-Armstrong socking a solo dinger in the third inning and Michael Busch blasting one of his own in the sixth. Unfortunately for Glasnow, that was enough to hang a loss on him in this one. He generated seven swings and misses on 98 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 22 percent. Still 1-0 on the season, he’ll carry a disappointing 4.85 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 17/9 K/BB ratio (13 innings) into Saturday’s showdown against the Rangers in Arlington.