MLB Player News

Kelly received a cortisone injection in his back last week, and he’s able to throw from (almost) the distance of the mound to the plate. The 37-year-old is still likely to oepn the year on the injured list, but it sounds like the potential for a short stay.

There had never been a walkoff homer in WBC history until today. Now there’s been two, after Ozzie Albies hit one earlier for The Netherlands. Panama led this one 2-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, but Alberto Baldonado couldn’t finish off the game, walking in the tying run with Willi Castro up. Panama took back the lead by plating the automatic runner in the top of the 10th, but the club botched a sac bunt to open the bottom of the inning, leading to runners on the corners with none out. After a game-tying double play seemed to wipe the slate clean, Hernaiz ended the game with a 374-foot shot to right. Puerto Rico is now 2-0 in pool play and seems well on its way to advancing to the quarterfinals.

Murray was hit in his finger in the win over Seattle. The good news is that X-rays came back negative, so the 26-year-old infielder should be able to return to the lineup in the coming days.

Knack has struggled in both of his spring starts as seen in ERA of 9.64. He’s being stretched out as depth for Los Angeles, but it’s very hard to imagine that he’ll be an option for the Dodgers or fantasy managers in 2026.

Rada, 20, is coming off a season where he stole 54 bases with a .292/.398/.360 slash while reaching Triple-A. He’ll likely make his debut with the Angels in 2026, and the speed makes him a little intriguing even if he won’t hit for much power.

Wood has not had a successful spring training, but he showed off his ability to put the ball into the gap and his underrated wheels with the two-run triple. The contact issues for Wood are significant and likely will make hitting for a high average — even with so much hard contact — a challenge, but there’s still enormous fantasy upside in his left-handed bat.

Warren’s only run allowed came on a sac fly by the Nats that occurred shortly after an error by George Lombard Jr. The 26-year-old has been excellent this spring; allowing just oen earned run in his three outings. Warren appears to have a spot in the starting rotation to begin the year, but his spot will be tenuous with arms like Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón set to join the staff this summer.

Gray surrendered a hit and a walk with two strikeouts. It’s his second spring start of the season for the 28-year-old, and was in the low 90s with his four-seam heater. Gray seems like to be a part of the rotation for the Nationals to open 2026, but there’s not enough upside to suggest he’s worthy of rostering to start the campaign.

There’s no do or die on March 7, but Encarnacion needed this after entering the day 4-for-23 with no extra-base hits or walks. Both Encarnacion and Luis Matos are out of options, and it doesn’t seem like the Giants necessarily need both, as Bryce Eldridge is the only lefty they’re likely to platoon. Encarnacion is probably the more useful player now, but he’s had a hard time staying healthy, and Matos, at age 24, still has the potential to grow into a regular. Encarnacion would be the more likely of the two to clear waivers if the team tries to send him down.

All five strikeouts came on his changeup. Whisenhunt’s velocity was very good once again; his 94.8 mph average on his fastball was up 2.2 mph from last year. He has a 14.29 ERA in three outings this spring and probably won’t earn a spot on the Giants, but that extra velocity still makes him more of a midseason sleeper than he was coming into the spring.

Even though his velocity is down a bit, Walker has yet to allow a run in three innings. The Giants did surprisingly little to address their pen in the offseason, so Walker seems like the obvious favorite to remain their closer.