MLB Player News

The Diamondbacks optioned Elbis to Double-A Amarillo on Friday.

The 22-year-old was in big-league camp after being added to the 40-man roster in November, but he was never a likely bet to actually make the Opening Day roster. Elbis had a 2.69 ERA in 16 starts at High-A Hillsboro last year before being promoted to Amarillo, where he had a 4.57 ERA across 45.1 innings.

Steele (illness) is feeling better and will get some throwing in at the Cubs' spring training complex Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Steele had been scheduled to start Thursday's Cactus League game against the Royals but had to stay home while battling the flu. The lefty is expected to get in one more appearance, likely in a simulated game, before making his first start of the regular season March 19 against the Dodgers in Tokyo.

Soroka gave up one run on four hits over four innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The right-hander built up to 61 pitches (37 strikes) as he faced a number of St. Louis regulars, including Nolan Arenado, Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn. Injuries looked like they had completely derailed Soroka's career, but he found some success last season in the bullpen for the White Sox, and he's now in camp with the Nats looking to prove he still has something to offer as a starter. So far so good for Soroka, who's delivered a 9:1 K:BB through his first seven spring innings.

Ashby (oblique) will be shut down for about two weeks before resuming a throwing program, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Ashby said Friday that the second opinion on his right oblique strain was more favorable than the first, but he will still need some down time and will not be ready for Opening Day. The left-hander anticipates being stretched back out as a starting pitcher, but it's unclear what his role will be with the Brewers once he's healthy.

Woodruff (shoulder) is tentatively scheduled to pitch in a minor-league game Tuesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Woodruff has been throwing live batting practice sessions and is nearly ready to test things out in a game setting. The Brewers have the veteran right-hander on a schedule of pitching every six days as he works his way back from right shoulder surgery. Woodruff has already been ruled out for Opening Day and it's not clear when he might be ready for his season debut, but reports on him this spring have been positive.

Weathers walked three and struck out three over 2.1 scoreless, no-hit innings during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.

In his second outing of the spring, Weathers faced a potential Opening Day lineup for the Marlins' NL East rivals and overcame a very bumpy start to his day. Three free passes and a wild pitch loaded the bases before the left-hander could record an out, but none of the runners made it home and Weathers regained his focus before coming back out for the second inning. Inconsistent control was a hallmark of his minor-league career, and through 4.1 spring frames he's posted a 7:4 K:BB, but he also has yet to allow a hit or a run. If Weathers can stay healthy in 2025 -- a finger injury limited him to 16 starts last season -- he has the talent to break out after posting a 3.63 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 80:24 K:BB over 86.2 regular-season innings last season.

The Reds named Greene as their starting pitcher for an Opening Day matchup against the Giants on March 27, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Green broke out last season with a 2.75 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 169:57 K:BB across 150.1 innings, and it's hardly a surprise manager Terry Francona will turn to him for the season opener. The right-hander is still working out the kinks in spring training and has given up seven earned runs with 11 strikeouts and four walks across eight innings (three starts).

Graceffo is in a good position to land a spot in the Cardinals' Opening Day bullpen, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

It's not clear whether the Cardinals have committed to making Graceffo a full-time reliever yet, but that's the role he's competing for this spring and he's impressed with nine strikeouts over 5.2 frames. Slated to turn 25 later this month, Graceffo's stock has taken a hit the last two years with middling results in the Triple-A Memphis rotation, but his stuff is playing up in shorter bursts.

The Cardinals might consider putting McGreevy in their Opening Day bullpen, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

McGreevy has allowed only one hit over five scoreless innings this spring and is still in the mix to break camp as part of the rotation. However, if Andre Pallante and Steven Matz nab the team's final two rotation spots, it's possible McGreevy will be carried on the roster as a reliever, at least initially. The other option would be to keep him stretched out as a starter at Triple-A Memphis.

The Cardinals are leaning toward putting Matz in their Opening Day rotation, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Matz has yielded just one run with a 3:3 K:BB over five innings in his first two starts this spring. Michael McGreevy would seem to be Matz's biggest competition, but the signs for now point to the veteran lefty getting another chance to start. Injuries have limited Matz to fewer than 50 innings in two of his three seasons with St. Louis.