The Marlins optioned Mack to Triple-A Jacksonville on Sunday.

The 23-year-old is one of Miami's top prospects, but he struggled to a .472 OPS across nine spring games and will open the campaign at Triple-A. Mack spent most of 2025 with Jacksonville and totaled 18 home runs and seven steals with a .786 OPS in 98 contests.

Fermin went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run, two additional runs scored and a walk in a Cactus League win over Cleveland on Saturday.

Fermin gave the Padres an 8-4 lead with his two-run blast in the fifth inning. The former Royal is locked into the starting catcher role for the Padres this season after spending several years backing up Salvador Perez in Kanas City. Fermin has been swinging a hot bat this spring, posting a .458/.480/.833 slash line with two homers, 10 RBI and nine runs through nine games.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that Herrera (knee) was in a "much better spot" Saturday and the team remains "confident" Herrera will be ready Opening Day, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Herrera has been held out of game action for more than a week due to knee inflammation that occurred as a result of the 25-year-old getting reintroduced to the workload of catching. He was also eased into Grapefruit League games initially following offseason elbow surgery, which has led to Herrera receiving only seven plate appearances thus far. The Cardinals want Herrera to see more starts at catcher this spring but don't want to rush him back until the knee is 100 percent, so they're proceeding cautiously. Herrera is slated to be the team's Opening Day designated hitter but will be worked in at catcher, as well.

Diamondbacks Torey Lovullo told reporters Saturday that an MRI on Moreno's right elbow showed inflammation and no structural damage, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Moreno was scratched from Friday's Cactus League game against the Royals after experiencing forearm tightness. The good news for the 26-year-old backstop is that imaging did not reveal a serious injury, and Lovullo relayed that Moreno should be available for Opening Day, per Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic.

Wells went 1-for-1 with a three-run home run in Team Dominican Republic's 10-0, seven-inning victory over Korea in the quarterfinal of the World Baseball Classic on Friday.

Wells entered the game as a defensive replacement at catcher in the top of the seventh inning. Team Dominican Republic led 7-0 going into the bottom of that frame, and Wells ended the contest via the mercy rule with his three-run blast to make the score 10-0. The long ball was the second of the tournament for Wells, who is slated to be the Yankees' primary catcher this season.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters that Moreno was scratched from the lineup for Friday's Cactus League game against the Royals due to forearm tightness, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.

Moreno will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, so the Diamondbacks should provide an update for the 26-year-old catcher in the coming days. Adrian Del Castillo is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day while rehabbing from a calf strain, so James McCann would get the bulk of the work behind home plate if Moreno were to be sidelined for an extended amount of time.

Walker went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's Grapefruit League matchup against the Cardinals.

It's a positive sign for Walker, who was ice cold to start the spring, going just 1-for-16 in his first eight Grapefruit League contests. While his name came up in trade rumors this offseason, the 34-year-old Walker is poised to open the year as Houston's starting first baseman again. He slashed .238/.297/.421 with 27 homers and 88 RBI across 640 plate appearances last season.

Clemens doesn't appear to have a set regular role in the lineup with the Twins signing Josh Bell and with several left-handed outfielders on the roster, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Clemens began the offseason looking like the team's starter at first base or at least the left-handed part of a platoon at the position. However, the Twins may not want to use Trevor Larnach in the outfield rather than DH against lefties, which would move Bell to first base, and Luke Keaschall looks set to play second base. Clemens hit .216/.284/.442 with 19 home runs last season in a breakout season and made significant strides in his batted-ball metrics with a 48.3 percent hard-hit rate and 12 percent barrel rate. His ability to play second base and first base should help find ways to get him into the lineup eventually, but he may find few at-bats early in the season unless the Twins trade a left-handed-hitting outfielder.

Polanco went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The 32-year-old took Michael McGreevy deep in the first inning for the Mets' only run of the afternoon. Polanco is adjusting to a new defensive position at first base, but so far it hasn't impacted him at the plate, and through five spring appearances he's gone 4-for-12 with two homers and a 2:4 BB:K.

Diaz (hand) will start at designated hitter and bat leadoff in Friday's Grapefruit League tilt versus the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Diaz missed more than a week of action while nursing a sore left hand, but he upped his workouts in recent days to clear the way for his return to action. The 34-year-old is slated to serve as the Rays' primary DH this season and will also see some playing time at first base.

Mountcastle said Friday that his right hand is "all good" and that he should return to the Grapefruit League lineup Saturday against the Pirates, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

The veteran first baseman departed Wednesday's contest after being hit by a pitch on the hand, but X-rays came back negative and seems set to rejoin the lineup after a couple days off. Mountcastle was limited to 89 games last season due to a hamstring strain and struggled to a .653 OPS when available. He's looking like the odd man out of Baltimore's lineup in 2026 after the club signed Pete Alonso to take over at first base.

Loftin (thumb) is starting in left field and batting third in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Padres.

Loftin has been sidelined the past couple days due to a jammed thumb, but he's ready to rejoin the lineup Thursday. The 27-year-old is expected to open 2026 in a reserve role for Kansas City after posting a .635 OPS in 67 regular-season games last year.

India (groin) will receive a few days off as a precautionary measure, MLB.com reports.

India left Friday's Cactus League game due to right groin tightness but reportedly felt fine Saturday. He's been cleared for activity, though the Royals will err on the side of caution and hold the second baseman out of Sunday's contest before an off day Monday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. This development helps ease concerns about India's availability for Opening Day, as the 29-year-old will look to carry a strong spring at the plate into a bounce-back 2026 campaign after a lackluster 2025 in which he slashed .233/.323/.346 with 29 doubles, nine homers and 45 RBI across 136 games.

Kim (hand) went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts Friday in Team Korea's 10-0 loss to Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

Kim hurt his hand while stealing a base last Sunday versus Team Chinese Taipei and sat out Monday against Team Australia. However, the injury was always considered minor, and Kim's return to the lineup Saturday indicates that the Dodgers' utility man isn't at risk of missing more time. In fact, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Kim will be in Los Angeles' lineup Sunday versus the Cubs, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Team Korea was eliminated from the WBC with the loss Friday, and Kim went 1-for-12 with three RBI, six strikeouts and two walks during the tournament.

Gorman went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Marlins.

Gorman led off the top of the fourth inning with a blast off of Ryan Gusto. It's the third home run this spring for Gorman, who has reached base five times in his last two contests. Perhaps most encouragingly, he's also sporting a 4:5 BB:K. Gorman is set to be the Cardinals' primary third baseman this season and offers big power potential, albeit with lots of batting average risk.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Saturday that he expects Kim (hand) to be back in the lineup for Sunday's Cactus League game against the Cubs, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kim injured his left hand against Team Australia on March 8 while playing for Team Korea during the World Baseball Classic. The good news for Kim is that the injury isn't considered a long-term issue, and if he is able to return to the lineup Sunday, then there would be no concern of him being sidelined for the start of the 2026 season. Kim appeared in 71 regular-season games for the Dodgers in 2025, finishing with a .699 OPS with 13 steals (on 14 attempts), three home runs and 17 RBI over 170 plate appearances. Kim is projected to make the Dodgers' Opening Day roster as a utility man.

Schneemann (ankle) is expected to be back in the Guardians' lineup in the next couple of days, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Schneeman was scratched from Friday's Cactus League game against the Angels due to a right ankle sprain. The injury doesn't appear to be a long-term concern and shouldn't impact Schneeman's availability for the start of the 2026 campaign. He appeared in 131 regular-season games for the Guardians in 2025 and finished with a .206/.283/.354 slash line with nine steals (on 12 attempts), 12 home runs and 41 RBI in 422 plate appearances. Schneeman is projected to make the Opening Day roster as a utility man.

The Angels optioned Moore to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.

Moore entered spring training competing against Adam Frazier for the starting job at second base. The former didn't make much of a case for the Opening Day roster, going 7-for-40 (.175) with one home run, three RBI, one stolen base and 11 strikeouts across 14 Cactus League games. Frazier will be on the Angels' Opening Day roster while Moore starts the season in the minors, where he'll look to improve his approach at the plate and earn a major-league call-up from the Halos in 2026.

The Angels reassigned Madrigal to minor-league camp Saturday.

Madrigal inked a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training back in January, but he appears set to open the season in Triple-A Salt Lake despite slashing .333/.391/.429 with a pair of doubles and three RBI across 23 plate appearances during Cactus League action.

Harber was removed during the seventh inning of Saturday's Cactus League game against Arizona due to a right hamstring strain, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Harber injured his right hamstring while running from first to third base, and he'll undergo more tests to determine the severity of the strain and a timeline for his return. He was expected to start the season in Double-A Corpus Christi, but this hamstring injury puts Harber in jeopardy of being sidelined for the start of the 2026 season.

Harber left in the seventh inning of Saturday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks due to an apparent leg injury, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Harber appeared to tweak his leg while running the bases from first to third. He was taken to the clubhouse to undergo further tests from medical staff, and the Astros should have an update on Harber's status over the coming days. Across three levels in the minors last year, Harber slashed .323/.413/.528 with 10 steals (on 12 attempts), 14 home runs and 83 RBI in 343 plate appearances.

Karros remains the favorite to make the Rockies' Opening Day roster as the starting third baseman, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Karros ascended through the minor-league ranks quickly following his selection by the Rockies in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB draft. He made his major-league debut in early August and spent the rest of the 2025 season with Colorado, finishing with a .226/.308/.277 slash line with one home run and nine RBI over 156 plate appearances. Karros hasn't displayed much power at the plate, but his defensive prowess should keep him in the lineup so long as he can make good contact and reduce his chase rate.

The Nationals reassigned Morales to minor-league camp Saturday.

Morales struggled to make an impression during spring training, going 1-for-17 with seven strikeouts across 11 games with the Nationals. He spent the majority of the 2025 season at Triple-A Rochester and will likely do the same this year, though he could make his major-league debut in 2026 if the Nationals require depth at first base. Morales slashed .249/.330/.401 with five steals, 11 home runs and 49 RBI over 433 plate appearances in Triple-A last year.

Riley could be surprisingly active as a base stealer this season under the tutelage of new Atlanta baserunning coach Antoan Richardson, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Richardson was the man most responsible for Juan Soto's stunning 38-steal campaign last season, and while Riley has only seven career stolen bases in seven MLB seasons, he's not actually slow of foot -- his sprint speed in 2025 ranked in the 73rd percentile. "He's going to get 20," center fielder Michael Harris said Friday. Riley was successful on his only steal attempt of the spring so far, but until he actually shows more willingness to use his legs, any contribution he makes in steals should be viewed as a bonus by fantasy GMs.

Lindor (hand) will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays.

Lindor's availability for Opening Day looked to be in flux after he required surgery Feb. 11 to address a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, but the five-time All-Star has made excellent progress in his recovery over the past month. After he was able to resume playing shortstop in a minor-league game on the back fields of camp earlier in the week, Lindor cleared the final hurdle in his recovery program when he took live batting practice Friday. Assuming he's able to stockpile at-bats over the final week of Grapefruit League play without any setbacks, Lindor looks like he'll be available on a full-time basis when the Mets begin their season March 26 versus the Pirates.

Neto injured his left hand during Saturday's Cactus League game against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Neto sustained the injury while sliding into home plate, and manager Kurt Suzuki told reporters after Saturday's game the the former will undergo more tests to determine the severity of the injury. Neto landed on the 10-day injured list toward the tail end of the 2025 season due to a left hand strain, so this most recent injury puts the 25-year-old shortstop in jeopardy of missing extended time. If that were to be the case, then the Angels would likely turn to Oswald Peraza or Vaughn Grissom (calf) to fill in at shortstop for as long as Neto is out of action.

The Angels optioned Paris to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.

Paris made the Angels' Opening Day roster for the 2025 season and got off to a roaring start with a 1.263 OPS, five steals, five home runs and eight RBI in his first 15 games. However, his production at the plate fell off a cliff after that opening stretch, as he slashed .106/.165/.176 over his next 28 outings before being optioned to Triple-A in late May. Paris will start the 2026 season in the minors, though he could see some major-league action early on if Vaughn Grissom (hand) misses time.

Mayer started at second base and went 2-for-2 with two walks, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's spring game against Tampa Bay.

Mayer followed up one of his worst games of the Grapefruit League on Thursday (0-for-4, two strikeouts) with his best Friday. Red Sox manager Alex Cora has made it clear that Mayer is not guaranteed a spot on the 26-man roster yet, but the expectation is that he'll open the season with Boston on March 26 in Cincinnati, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. If Mayer is on the Opening Day roster, then he'll likely be the primary starter at second base.

Across 11 Grapefruit League games, Perez has gone 4-for-24 with seven strikeouts.

Perez had a promising sophomore campaign in 2025, as he increased his production from 2024 across the board to finish with a career-best 13 home runs, 43 RBI and a .738 OPS across 100 regular-season contests. He's off to a sluggish start this spring but should still have the inside track to the starting role in right field. Utility man Matt Vierling could see more time in right if Perez's slump lasts into the regular season, and Kerry Carpenter is also an option there on days when he's not serving as the DH.

Arroyo was scratched from the Mariners' lineup for Friday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers due to neck spasms, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Arroyo was slated to start at second base and bat seventh in Friday's game before his injury flared up, and the Mariners should provide an update over the next couple of days once the 21-year-old undergoes further tests. Arroyo ended the 2025 season with Double-A Arkansas, where he slashed .255/.376/.341 with nine steals (on 12 attempts), two home runs and 15 RBI in 250 plate appearances.

Grisham is slashing .143/.226/.179 with no homers, three RBI, one stolen base and a 3:8 BB:K through 11 Grapefruit League games.

When Grisham accepted the Yankees' $22.025 million qualifying offer in November, it signaled that he'd be part of the team's starting outfield for 2026. While that remains the likely scenario, Grisham's poor spring highlights the fact that 23-year-old phenom Jasson Dominguez has exploded with a .371/.395/.686 slash line in exhibition play (along with three homers and three thefts) but doesn't have a path to everyday playing time. Given his contract, Grisham will probably get the opportunity to prove that last year's career-best campaign wasn't a fluke, but if he starts the season slowly, he could have Dominguez breathing down his neck.

Chisholm went 0-for-1 with two walks and a stolen base Saturday in a Grapefruit League game against Philadelphia.

Chisholm's theft was his first this spring. Overall, he's slashing .286/.474/.500 with one home run, three RBI and a 5:2 BB:K over seven games. Chisholm also played with Team Great Britain during the World Baseball Classic, going 4-for-18 with four RBI and a stolen base across four contests.

Crawford went 1-for-4 with an RBI, two runs scored and one stolen base in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

After being invited to Phillies camp for spring training, the 22-year-old outfielder has responded by batting .250 (9-for-36) with two RBI, two doubles, seven runs scored and two steals over 12 Grapefruit League outings. Crawford, one of Philadelphia's top prospects, appears poised for an Opening Day roster spot and is likely to see plenty of action in center field in 2026, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. It's also worth noting that Johan Rojas is facing a potential 80-game suspension at the onset of the regular season due to a positive drug test. Last year for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Crawford hit .334 with 34 extra-base hits, 47 RBI, 88 runs scored and 46 stolen bases across 440 at-bats.

Suzuki was removed from Saturday night's World Baseball Classic game versus Venezuela with right knee discomfort and will continue to be evaluated, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Suzuki attempted to steal second base in the bottom of the first inning and went headfirst into second base but came up limping afterward. He was shaking his right leg as he walked off the field with the trainer. Shota Morishita replaced Suzuki in center field. The Cubs will surely want to get Suzuki back to Arizona and get a complete diagnosis on their right fielder.

Cowser went 2-for-5 with an RBI double in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

Cowser is heating up this spring, hitting safely in five straight Grapefruit League contests and seven of his last eight outings. The 25-year-old is set to begin the new year as Baltimore's primary center fielder, per Jake Rill of MLB.com, and he could see enough playing time in the corners to maintain near-everyday reps. Cowser is looking to bounce back in 2026 following an injury-ruined 2025 campaign, when he was limited to 92 regular-season games (327 at-bats) and slashed just .196/.269/.385 with 16 home runs, 40 RBI and 14 stolen bases.

Suzuki exited Saturday night's World Baseball Classic quarterfinals game against Venezuela in the bottom of the first inning with an undisclosed injury, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Suzuki was thrown out trying to steal second base and was injured on an awkward slide into second base. He limped off the field with assistance from the training staff and was unable to take the field in the top of the second inning. Shota Morishita replaced Suzuki in center field. Suzuki's injury will be something to monitor in the coming days.

Burnes (elbow) tossed 15 pitches during Friday's bullpen session, Nick Piecoro and Jose Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.

It was an encouraging sign for Barnes, with Friday's bullpen session being his first since undergoing Tommy John surgery in June. All 15 of his pitches were fastballs or sinkers, and he reached a top velocity of 91 mph. Barnes' current plan is to toss two bullpen sessions a week, and the 31-year-old right-hander is aiming to make his 2026 debut around the All-Star break in July.

Wheeler (shoulder) told reporters that he felt "more in sync" during his live batting practice session Saturday, Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Saturday was Wheeler's first time facing batters since undergoing thoracic outlet surgery in September to remove a blood clot in his right shoulder. He threw 20 pitches during Saturday's session and noted that his fastball reached 93 mph, which was higher than it had been during his bullpen sessions but still lower than his 95.9 mph average last season. Wheeler will continue to build up his velocity and will likely have another bullpen session in the coming days, but it's not clear as to whether he will pitch in a Grapefruit League game before the conclusion of spring training.

Ryan will no longer pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Ryan was in the pitcher pool for the WBC, but Team USA elected to add Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman to the roster instead. Ryan made his spring debut Tuesday after recovering from a back injury that flared up in mid-February. The 29-year-old right-hander is projected to serve as the Twins' starter for Opening Day against the Orioles on March 26. He tossed a career-high 171 innings across 31 regular-season games in 2025 and finished with a 3.42 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 194:39 K:BB.

The Mets placed Hagenman on the 60-day injured list Saturday due to a rib fracture.

Per Max Goodman of NJ.com, Hagenman started feeling soreness in his ribs after his last outing against the Nationals on March 5 and underwent imaging after the injury got worse. Hagenman's placement on the 60-day IL means he won't be available to make his 2026 regular-season until late May, but manager Carlos Mendoza relayed Saturday that the 28-year-old right-hander doesn't have an exact timeline for a return. In a corresponding move to bolster the bullpen, the Mets claimed southpaw Richard Lovelady off waivers from the Nationals.

Littell allowed one run on three hits over three innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets. He struck out two without walking a batter.

Facing a split-squad lineup headlined by younger players like Brett Baty and top prospect Carson Benge, Littell tossed 28 of 39 pitches for strikes in his first spring start since signing a one-year deal with the Nationals on March 8. The veteran right-hander should be able to make two more starts prior to Opening Day, which likely won't be enough time to get fully built up, but Littell would likely be stretched out enough to factor into Washington's first turn through the rotation. If he needs to be held back, Brad Lord appears to be the most likely candidate to make a spot start in Littell's place. Over a career-high 186.1 regular-season innings in 2025 between the Rays and Reds, Littell posted a 3.81 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 130:32 K:BB.

Senga struck out five over three perfect innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

The right-hander made short work of a mix of Miami Opening Day starters and minor leaguers, with Senga sitting 96-97 mph with his four-seam fastball and popping 98.6 mph in the second inning to top prospect Joe Mack. Senga was so efficient, firing 28 of 38 pitches for strikes, that he needed to toss an additional 30 pitches in the bullpen after his start, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, in order to stay on track with his buildup. Through 5.2 spring frames, Senga sports a 3.18 ERA and 7:0 K:BB, and he seems locked into a rotation spot as long as he can stay healthy.

The Marlins reassigned Brzykcy to minor-league camp Sunday.

A non-roster invitee for spring training after the Marlins claimed him off waivers from the Nationals in the offseason and later outrighted him, Brzykcy made a strong impression in the Grapefruit League, tossing five scoreless innings while striking out five and allowing four hits and no walks. The right-hander has been less than stellar over parts of two seasons in the majors with Washington, however, with elevated home-run and walk rates playing big parts in his demise. If he can carry over his performance from the spring and find success early on at Triple-A, Brzykcy may not have to wait long for a promotion to a Miami.

Diaz walked one batter and struck out two over a scoreless inning for Team Puerto Rico in an elimination loss to Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic on Saturday.

Though Diaz and Puerto Rico won't advance, the tournament went well for the All-Star closer, as he pitched three scoreless frames and posted a 7:1 K:BB. Of course, the last time Diaz pitched in the WBC (in 2023), he tore his right patellar tendon and missed the subsequent MLB campaign, so the Dodgers have to be pleased that their offseason acquisition is returning to the club in good health. Diaz should see plenty of save chances this season for a team that is once again expected to be among the best in baseball.

Pallante permitted one run on three hits and three walks over five innings in Grapefruit League play Saturday versus the Marlins. He struck out four.

Pallante struck out the first two batters in the bottom of the third inning but then issued a walk and gave up two straight hits to push in a run. It was another positive outing overall, though, and he got his pitch count up to 72. Through 14 frames this spring, Pallante holds a 2.57 ERA and 13:5 K:BB. He's put himself in good standing as he competes for a spot in the St. Louis rotation.

The Mariners optioned Ortiz to Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday.

Ortiz spent the entire 2025 season in the minors before he was traded by the Dodgers to the Mariners in mid-November. The 26-year-old southpaw will not be on Seattle's Opening Day roster, but he could make his major-league debut in 2026 if the Mariners need additional depth out of the bullpen. In the minors last season, Ortiz posted a 2.73 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 72:33 K:BB across 59.1 innings.

White Sox manager Will Venable told reporters Saturday that Newcomb will work out of the bullpen for the 2026 season, Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Newcomb has operated as a starter for most of his major-league career, but he found success out of the bullpen with the Red Sox and Athletics in 2025, posting a 2.73 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 91:31 K:BB across 92.1 innings. He inked a one-year deal with the White Sox in December and was competing for a rotation spot for the 2026 season. Although he won't open the season as a starter, Newcomb could see some spot starts to help give the White Sox's rotation extra rest.

Miller (back) allowed one hit while striking out three across one scoreless inning in Friday's 6-1 Cactus League loss to the Reds.

Miller made his spring debut after missing the first three weeks of Cactus League play due to lower-back tightness. The left-hander surrendered a single to the first batter he faced but went on to strike out the next three, throwing 12 of his 20 pitches for strikes. The 28-year-old's 2025 season was cut short due to a left elbow injury. He posted a 1.50 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 22:20 K:BB across 30 innings in 36 relief appearances last season.

Ohtani threw a four-inning, 59-pitch live batting-practice session against Team Japan during the team's workout Thursday, David Adler of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani isn't expected to pitch during the World Baseball Classic, but he continues to get in work on the mound while with Japan for the tournament. Per Adler, Ohtani faced 18 hitters Thursday and struck out seven of them over his four simulated innings. Though Ohtani's time away from the Dodgers -- and concurrent break from pitching in games -- may impact his pitch counts to a small degree in the early stages of the regular season, the two-way star is fully expected to open the campaign in the Dodgers' rotation.

Stanton went 2-for-3 with a solo home run Monday in a Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates.

Stanton opened the scoring with a 424-foot cannon to left-center field in the second inning. The veteran slugger didn't make his spring debut until March 3, as the Yankees decided to ease him into action. Stanton has gone 2-for-8 with three strikeouts so far during the exhibition slate. He's probably going to spend most of his time at DH this year, but by playing 20 games in the outfield in 2025, he's eligible at that position in most fantasy leagues.

McCutchen started at designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in Monday's spring game against San Diego.

McCutchen stepped on the field for the first time since signing a minor-league deal with the Rangers last week. The 39-year-old has a little more than two weeks to show decision-makers that he can still make an impact. The early results were hopeful, as McCutchen's two batted-ball events clocked in at more than 100 mph. Designated hitter would appear to be his best shot at hooking on with the club, as the right-handed complement to Joc Pederson.

Buxton (elbow) will start in center field and bat eighth in Monday's World Baseball Classic game versus Team Mexico.

Buxton was pulled from Friday's contest versus Team Brazil after being hit on the right elbow by a pitch. He did not play Saturday against Team Great Britain, but Buxton is fine and ready to roll for Monday's tilt.

Pederson, who will start at first base and bat second in Monday's game against the Padres, has gone 4-for-17 with one walk and four strikeouts through his first eight Cactus League contests.

Coming off a rough first season with Texas in which he posted a career-low .614 OPS over 305 plate appearances, Pederson decided against becoming a free agent over the winter and picked up his $18.5 million player option to remain with the Rangers for 2026, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. While Pederson is likely to maintain a regular spot in the lineup as the Rangers' primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching, he hasn't shown many early signs of reclaiming the power production that eluded him in 2025. All four of his hits so far in spring training have been singles.

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said Friday following his team's 15-5 win over Team Brazil in the World Baseball Classic that Buxton (elbow) is "feeling fine" after being hit by a pitch in the top of the fifth inning, Ryan Kelapire of MLB.com reports.

Buxton was replaced by Pete Crow-Armstrong after the former took a pitch to his right forearm, but DeRosa relayed that Buxton's removal was precautionary. X-rays on Buxton's forearm came back negative, and while he isn't in Team USA's starting lineup for Saturday's game against Great Britain, the 32-year-old center fielder isn't expected to miss significant time.