MLB Player News

Stowers was removed from Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros due to right hamstring tightness, Kevin Barral of FishonFirst.com reports.

Stowers strained his right hamstring earlier this spring and had to sit out for two weeks because of it. It's unclear how serious his latest setback is, but there is now a chance that he opens the regular season on the injured list. If that happens, Griffin Conine and Heriberto Hernandez would be next in line to pick up starts in the outfield.

Atlanta reassigned Gamel to minor-league camp Friday.

Gamel hit four home runs during Grapefruit League play, but the veteran outfielder went just 7-for-34 (.206 average) with a 1:12 BB:K. He was unable to win a bench role with Atlanta and is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Yastrzemski is dealing with pink eye but is expected to be back in the lineup in the next couple of days, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Yastrzemski will be temporarily sidelined while he deals with pink eye. The issue is expected to be resolved in time for Opening Day. Yastrzemski is slated to serve on the strong side of a platoon in left field for Atlanta.

Bader is considered day-to-day after experiencing tightness in his left hamstring Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Bader dealt with a thumb injury earlier this spring, and now he's tending to what appears to be a minor hamstring injury. The Giants have just one more spring training game Saturday against Cleveland before beginning the regular season Wednesday against the Yankees. According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, manager Tony Vitello sounded optimistic in regards to Bader's chances of being ready for Opening Day.

Benge is likely to make the Mets' Opening Day roster, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

The Mets have already optioned MJ Melendez to the minors, but Mike Tauchman remains in camp as the club has yet to make anything official regarding the season-opening roster. It's possible both outfielders land on the 26-man roster if New York goes short on the infield. Benge has put his best foot forward during spring training with a .406/.472/.500 slash line through 11 Grapefruit League games, which gives him a chance not just to make the roster but begin the year with a regular role.

The Nationals assigned Crews to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

This is a disappointing outcome for fantasy managers who had taken a late-round swing on the talented 24-year-old or have shares of him in a dynasty league. Crews slashed .103/.206/.103 with 11 strikeouts and four walks during spring training. The move leaves Daylen Lile, Joey Wiemer and Christian Franklin as the Nationals' remaining right field options.

Wiemer seems ticketed for a spot on the Nationals' 26-man roster after Robert Hassell was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Thursday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.

The decision to send down Hassell may have been matchup-based, as he hits left-handed and doesn't offer a platoon partner for Daylen Lile. Wiemer swings from the right side and has experience playing all three outfield spots. The 27-year-old hasn't stood out in camp, however, batting .152 (5-for-33) with a 4:10 BB:K. Wiemer has flashed a bit of power and speed during his big-league career, but his contact issues and 29.7 percent strikeout rate have put a firm cap on his fantasy production.

Sheets went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs in a 13-6 Cactus League win over the White Sox on Thursday.

Sheets was a key contributor to a big offensive performance by San Diego, swatting a two-run homer in the first inning and coming around to score following a single in the fourth. He's swung the bat well this spring, slashing .270/.400/.568 with three long balls, eight RBI, six runs and an 8:4 BB:K. Manager Craig Stammen said in late January that Sheets would be the team's top option at first base to begin the campaign, and that still appears to be the case despite the mid-February signing of Nick Castellanos, who has been seeing plenty of first-base reps during exhibition play.

Smith started at first base and went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Thursday's spring game against the White Sox. He also stole a base.

Smith, who returned to action after missing a week of Cactus League play due to a forearm injury, immediately extended his spring hit streak to eight games. His first-inning single plated Arizona's first run, before he stole his first base of the spring later in the frame. Steals are not typically a feature of Smith's game; he's swiped seven bags (10 attempts) over six MLB seasons. The lefty-batter is slashing .303/.303/.606 with two doubles, one triple, two home runs and five RBI through 11 spring contests. That's likely enough to retain his projected role as the primary first baseman against right-handers.

The Rockies reassigned Condon to minor-league camp Thursday.

Condon has hit very well this spring, slashing .385/.457/.718 with three home runs, four doubles and nine RBI through 20 games. However, he's yet to play beyond Double-A in the minors, so Colorado has opted to give him more time to develop on the farm. With that said, the Rockies are far from loaded at first base, so Condon could be up with the big club in short order, especially if he has a hot start to the campaign.