MLB Player News

Eovaldi and the Red Sox won't play the Orioles on Thursday after their Opening Day game was postponed due to rain, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The two teams are now scheduled to play their season opener Friday, which was initially set to be an off day for both sides. Eovaldi and the other members of the Red Sox's Opening Day rotation will presumably all be pushed back a day in the pitching schedule.

Sandoval was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake by the Angels on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old was competing for a bullpen spot but was unable to show enough during spring training to earn the role. Sandoval had a 5.65 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 33:12 K:BB over 36.2 innings last season for the Angels.

Mariners manager Scott Servais said that Paxton will make his first start of the season Tuesday against the White Sox, Lauren Smith of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Paxton was initially lined up to start the Mariners' second game of the season Friday against the Giants, but he'll instead switch spots in the rotation order with Yusei Kikuchi. The change isn't an ideal one for Paxton's fantasy managers, especially for those in leagues with two separate lineup periods for the first two weeks of the season. Not only will Paxton miss out on a Week 1 start, but he'll also get a downgrade in matchup in swapping out the Giants for the White Sox in his first start.

Manager Scott Servais said Kikuchi would start the Mariners' second game of the season Friday against the Giants, Lauren Smith of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

James Paxton was initially lined up to follow Opening Day starter Marco Gonzales in the pitching order, but Paxton will instead flip spots with Kikuchi, who had been slated to start the fifth game of the season Tuesday against the White Sox. The change is a welcome one for Kikuchi's fantasy managers, particularly in leagues with separate lineup periods for the first two weeks of the season. Not only will Kikuchi draw a more favorable matchup in swapping out the White Sox for the Giants, but he'll still line up for a Week 2 start. He tentatively lines up to make his second start of the season April 10 in Minnesota.

Bielak will serve as a reliever to begin the regular season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Bielak was in the mix to start the Astros' fifth game of the regular season Monday, but manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that Luis Garcia will serve as the team's fifth starter while Jake Odorizzi (conditioning) is unavailable. Bielak should take on a multi-inning role out of the bullpen this season. The right-hander made five appearances (two starts) this spring and posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 16 innings.

Astros manager Dusty Baker named Garcia the team's fifth starter Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Jake Odorizzi (conditioning) will join the Astros' starting rotation at some point, but he isn't expected to debut until at least mid-April as he continues to build up after a late start to camp. As a result, Garcia will serve as a starter to begin the regular season while Brandon Bielak takes on a bullpen role. Garcia made two appearances (one start) for Houston this spring and posted a 7.94 ERA and 1.94 WHIP in 5.2 innings. He should make his season debut against the Angels on Monday.

Odorizzi (conditioning) is unlikely to make his season and Astros debut until at least April 13 against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Since he didn't sign his two-year, $17 million deal with the Astros until two weeks into spring training, Odorizzi is still playing catchup with his throwing progression and won't be included in the Astros' Opening Day rotation. Odorizzi was able to build up to three innings and 54 pitches in his final Grapefruit League outing Monday against Washington, but the Astros want him to complete two more live outings before activating him. He's tentatively scheduled to face hitters in simulated games Saturday and April 8, making April 13 his earliest possible debut date if the Astros keep him on a normal four-day rest schedule.

Manager Charlie Montoyo confirmed Stripling would start the Blue Jays' second game of the season Saturday against the Yankees in New York, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Heading into the spring, Stripling looked to be on the outside looking in for a rotation spot, but injuries to Robbie Ray (elbow) and Nate Pearson (groin) allowed him to claim a starting role. In order to keep the Blue Jays' other starters on their normal throwing schedules, Stripling will be slotting into Ray's No. 2 spot in the rotation to begin the season. Though Stripling was effective this spring with a 3.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 11:1 K:BB in 14.1 innings, the matchup versus a potent Yankees offense makes it difficult to justify keeping him active this week in most fantasy leagues.

Ray (elbow) will begin the season on the 10-day injured list, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Ray was already expected to miss his first start of the season due to a bruised elbow. However, manager Charlie Montoyo announced Wednesday that the southpaw will be placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to March 29. T.J. Zeuch will likely start for the Blue Jays during Sunday's game against the Yankees, and it's not yet clear whether Ray will be cleared to make his season debut when he's first eligible to return from the injured list April 8.

Montas (finger) is tentatively lined up to make his first start of the season in Monday's series opener against the Dodgers, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Montas would have been on track to start in the Athletics' season-opening four-game series with the Astros this weekend, but those plans were foiled after he suffered a torn cuticle on his right middle finger during his final Cactus League start last week. The Athletics don't seem particularly concerned about the issue, but Montas will still need to complete a simulated game Wednesday without any setbacks before he's confirmed as a member of the Opening Day rotation. Since the Athletics want to give him his normal four days off following the simulated game, he won't be available to make his 2021 debut until Monday.