MLB Player News

Manager Bruce Bochy announced Tuesday that Eovaldi will start the Rangers' March 28 season opener versus the Cubs in Arlington.

Eovaldi will be opposed by left-hander Justin Steele. Even before Bochy confirmed Eovaldi as the Opening Day starter, the 33-year-old right-hander looked like the clear choice for the defending World Series champs after going 5-0 in six postseason outings, collecting a 2.95 ERA and 41:10 K:BB over 36.2 innings along the way.

Manager John Schneider announced Tuesday that Berrios will start the Blue Jays' season opener March 28 versus the Rays in Tampa Bay, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

The assignment likely would have fallen to Kevin Gausman (shoulder), but he's still getting ramped back up and won't be ready for Opening Day. Berrios made 32 starts for Toronto last season, finishing with a 3.65 ERA and 184:52 K:BB over 189.2 innings.

Manoah (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

It will be his first time throwing off a mound since he developed soreness in his right shoulder at the beginning of the month. Manoah is set for a stint on the injured list at the beginning of the season and a timetable should become clearer as he ramps up.

Gausman (shoulder) will throw a two-inning simulated game Wednesday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Gausman is continuing his ramp-up progression as he works his way back from right shoulder fatigue. The veteran hurler will not be ready for Opening Day, an assignment that will now fall to Jose Berrios. Gausman could be ready for his season debut around mid-April.

Bello has been named the Red Sox' Opening Day starter.

He was the pick over Nick Pivetta, who will start the second game of the season. It's been an eventful month for Bello, who agreed to a six-year, $55 million contract extension earlier this month and who now garners the first Opening Day start of his career. The 24-year-old will take on the Mariners in Seattle on March 28.

Eflin will start for the Rays on Opening Day, March 28 at home against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

This had been widely assumed after Eflin turned in a career year in 2023, leading the team in innings pitched, wins and strikeouts. We now have confirmation that Eflin will start Opening Day, which lines him up for two starts on the season-opening homestand. The results this spring don't look good, but the right-hander has already built up to four innings and should be able to stretch out a bit more before he takes the hill in a game that counts.

Bielak is likely to make the big-league roster out of spring training due to a combination of injuries to the Astros' pitching staff and the fact that he is out of minor-league options, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Bielak hasn't pitched well this spring, allowing six earned runs across 7.1 innings while maintaining just a 5:4 K:BB. However, with both Justin Verlander (shoulder) and Jose Urquidy (forearm) destined for the injured list to begin the campaign, the Astros are in need of pitching depth. As things currently stand, Bielak is expected to serve in a relief role, with Ronel Blanco serving as the fifth starter.

Varland is expected to open the season in the Minnesota rotation after president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Monday that Anthony DeSclafani (forearm) will open the season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Varland has been a standout performer this spring with no runs allowed and 11 strikeouts against one walk through 11 innings in the Grapefruit League, but the fact that he has two minor-league options remaining was seemingly working against him in his competition with DeSclafani and Chris Paddack for the final two spots in the Opening Day rotation. However, with DeSclafani having been diagnosed with a forearm strain following a minor-league spring start over the weekend, Varland looks like he could have an extended runway in the Minnesota rotation. Expect Varland's average draft position to surge in the wake of the DeSclafani injury, given that the young right-hander had previously fared well in his initial starting opportunities in the big leagues last season with a 3.51 ERA through his first seven outings with Minnesota in 2023. He faded soon after and was eventually optioned to the minors, but he pitched well down the stretch upon rejoining Minnesota in a bullpen role last September. With Varland having now carried that late-season momentum into spring training, he may be in better position to enjoy sustained success as a starter in the big leagues over a longer period of time in 2024.

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said DeSclafani will open the season on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

According to Helfand, Falvey adds that DeSclafani will have his injury assessed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, after which the Twins should have a better idea on a treatment plan for the right-hander. DeSclafani had entered spring training as a frontrunner for a back-end spot in the Minnesota rotation, but he didn't make any Cactus League appearances while the Twins eased him back after his 2023 campaign was cut short by a right elbow flexor strain. DeSclafani was able to cover 1.2 innings in a minor-league spring training game over the weekend, but his forearm apparently didn't respond well. Though DeSclafani will be eligible to return from the IL around the middle of April, given the nature of his injury and his history of arm trouble, it wouldn't be surprising if he required a long-term absence, regardless of whether or not Meister recommends surgery. Louie Varland now looks to be the leading candidate to open the season as Minnesota's No. 5 starter.

Lynch has allowed four runs on nine hits and five walks with nine strikeouts over 13 innings across five Cactus League appearances (three starts).

Lynch's role is still to be determined, but he's stretched out enough to at least be a multi-inning option out of the bullpen. Alec Marsh, who is also in the rotation competition, has started just one of his five appearances, though he has covered 14 innings. Both Lynch and Marsh are pushing for the No. 5 starter spot, which could be available after Jordan Lyles has been slowed by back pain in spring training. Roster decisions are likely to come over the next week or so as manager Matt Quatraro trims down the spring roster ahead of Opening Day.