MLB Player News

Bae (1.168 OPS) and Jack Suwinski (1.025 OPS) are making things tough for a Pirates team that decided to promise spots to Andrew McCutchen, Tommy Pham and Adam Frazier, all of whom are long past their primes. Of course, it’s far from assured that either Bae or Suwinski will keep this up, but both truly might belong in the starting lineup against right-handers to begin the year. Alas, there only figures to be room for one on the roster unless someone gets hurt. Suwinski is probably the better choice for the Pirates, even if Bae is simply crushing it this spring. He has seven extra-base hits now. McCutchen, Pham and Frazier have combined for four.

Lucas is the countermove with Max Scherzer going on the injured list. Lucas appeared twice out of the bullpen for Toronto last year after the club claimed him off waivers from the Tigers. The 28-year-old left-hander figures to occupy a spot in the bullpen until the Blue Jays need another starting pitcher.

Lovelady made the team out of Spring Training after he was added to the 40-man roster in mid-March. Now, with the Jays needing a fresh arm after the bullpen was overworked Saturday, he’s been booted off the 40-man roster. Toronto has seven days to either trade Lovelady or place him on waivers.

Fluharty is coming up as bullpen depth while the Blue Jays designated Richard Lovelady in a corresponding move. Toronto could use a fresh arm in the bullpen after Max Scherzer could only get through two innings against the Orioles on Saturday.

Scherzer left Saturday’s season debut against the Orioles with what was deemed a lat strain, but told reporters the issue with his lat was “100 percent” related to thumb soreness he first experienced during spring training. The 40-year-old right-hander is no stranger to the injured list at this point in his career and unfortunately he’s on the shelf for at least the next couple weeks, at a bare minimum.

Realmuto left Saturday’s game early with a left foot contusion. While the Phillies said his removal was precautionary, he’s out of the lineup Sunday. Realmuto fouled a ball off his foot Saturday and X-rays were negative. It doesn’t appear that a stint on the injured list is imminent, but this is still a situation to monitor with the 34-year-old catcher.

Turner was a late scratch for Saturday’s game due to back spasms. The 31-year-old shortstop wasn’t even in the initial lineup for the Phillies on Sunday. Edmundo Sosa is batting sixth and playing shortstop against Washington left-hander Mitchell Parker.

The 21-year-old third baseman is 4-for-9 (.444) with a run scored in the Rays’ first two games of the year, but Caminero is on the bench to begin Sunday’s game with a routine day off. Jose Caballero is playing third base and batting seventh against Colorado.

de Geus was sent to the minors in spring training, but figured to be used as a depth arm at some point during the season. Instead, the 27-year-old right-hander was designated for assignment to make room for Xzavion Curry just a few days into the season. His time with the Miami organization could be short as he was just claimed off waivers from the Pirates in February.

Curry didn’t make the team out of spring training and wasn’t even on the 40-man roster, but that only lasted a few days into the regular season. With Valente Bellozo being optioned to the minors, Curry is likely to have a spot in Miami’s rotation, though he doesn’t offer much fantasy value. Brett de Geus was designated for assignment to make room for Curry on the 40-man roster.

Goldschmidt homered on the first pitch of the game from Nestor Cortes in Saturday’s 20-9 laugher, but even with the Yankees set to face the right-handed Aaron Civale, the 37-year-old first baseman is back in the leadoff spot. Austin Wells, who occupied the top spot against right-hander Freddy Peralta on Opening Day and hit leadoff for most of Spring Training, is batting sixth. Maybe the Yankees will continue to switch things up at the top of the lineup, but Goldschmidt would be in a prime run scoring spot if he remains the everyday leadoff hitter.