MLB Player News

Curtis was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Curtis had an impressive season at Triple-A last year with a 1.85 ERA and 12.3 K/9. He struggled in his first trip to the majors with a 8.31 ERA while allowing nine hits and two home runs in 8.2 innings. However, he had a 10.4 K/9 in the majors. He should be back in the majors at some point this summer due to his velocity (95.2 mph average fastball) and decent control.

Chavez retired all nine batters faced and struck out two over three innings in Monday's start against the Royals.

This was Chavez's second spring start and fourth overall appearance. The Rangers signed him Feb. 23 -- nine days after pitchers and catchers reported -- with the idea that Chavez could be a swing pitcher, capable of both starting and relieving. Texas' starting rotation is in flux after Cole Hamels, Doug Fister and Matt Moore. Martin Perez (elbow) is expected to join them when the team feels he's ready. That leaves a fifth starter job and possibly another should manager Jeff Banister stick with the plan to sometimes use a sixth starter. Chavez is in the mix for one of those final two spots along with Bartolo Colon and Mike Minor.

Machado was optioned to Triple-A Omaha by the Royals on Monday, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic Kansas City reports.

The 24-year-old right-hander appeared in four spring training games, tossing 5.2 innings and giving up four runs on seven hits and two walks. Although he was once thought to have a shot at the Opening Day roster, Machado is now on track to start the season with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate.

Barlow was sent down to the minors Monday night, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic Kansas City reports.

Barlow leaves big league camp after throwing 5.2 innings and giving up two runs on seven hits while striking out six. He figures to start the season with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate.

Colome, who fired a perfect third inning in which he recorded two strikeouts during Sunday's 6-5 Grapefruit League loss to the Twins, has only logged two appearances this spring.

Colome took it up another notch as a closer last season, converting 47-of-53 save chances over 65 appearances. He inked a one-year, $3 million deal this offseason to avoid arbitration and projects to once again see an abundance of ninth-inning work in 2018. Despite his fastball actually averaging out at a career-high 95.1 mph last season, Colome actually saw a notable drop in strikeout rate, going from 2016's 11.2 K/9 to a 7.8 figure.

Chapman has allowed one run on two hits and a hit batsman while striking out four in two innings (three appearances) thus far in spring training.

He topped out at 99 mph (on the stadium radar gun) in his first outing on March 4, according to Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. With an NFBC ADP of 64.6 since Feb. 1, he is the third closer off the board, behind Kenley Jansen (36.1 ADP) and Craig Kimbrel (44.6 ADP). Even though he briefly lost the closer's job in 2017, Chapman is still rightfully being treated like a top-tier fantasy target at the position.

White Sox manager Rick Renteria said Sunday that Gomez has been temporarily shut down with a sore shoulder, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. "A little sore. Nothing of concern," Renteria said, regarding Gomez's status.

Gomez is expected to play catch Monday and could be cleared to return to spring action later in the week if he endures no setbacks in his recovery. The veteran opened last season as the Phillies' closer before quickly surrendering that role, then was released by the team after failing to find his footing in middle relief. After inking a minor-league deal with the White Sox in January, Gomez has put himself in the mix for a bullpen gig by rattling off five scoreless appearances to kick off the spring.

The Indians optioned Merryweather (elbow) to Triple-A Columbus on Monday, Matt Kelly of MLB.com reports.

Merryweather underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this month, ending any sliver of hope the 26-year-old had of cracking the Tribe's Opening Day roster. With the right-hander out for the season, expect Cleveland to eventually move him to the 60-day disabled list in order to open up an extra spot on the 40-man roster.

Manaea (1-0) allowed two earned runs on four hits over four innings while striking out two in Sunday's 7-2 Cactus League win over the Cubs.

The pair of blemishes on his final line came in the form of home runs, as Kyle Schwarber and Chris Gimenez went deep in the second inning off a slider and first-pitch fastball, respectively, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. Otherwise, it was another sharp outing for the lefty, who's averaging a strikeout per inning over his first two spring outings. Manaea doubled his workload in terms of innings over that of his first appearance as well, lending credence to the notion that the back issues that delayed his spring training debut are squarely behind him.

Pomeranz (forearm) was not listed in manager Alex Cora's expected Opening Day rotation, Chad Jennings of the Boston Herald reports.

Cora listed Chris Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello, Brian Johnson and Hector Velazquez as his expected rotation to start the season, but noted that Pomeranz and Steven Wright had a chance to be ready by Opening Day. Pomeranz recently resumed his throwing program after suffering a flexor strain on March 2 and is reportedly making progress. He has stated that he believes he'll be ready by the start of the season, but the team appears to be expecting a slightly longer timetable for his recovery.