MLB Player News

Eovaldi (1-0) earned the win Wednesday, allowing four hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings against Tampa Bay. He struck out eight.

Eovaldi was stellar Wednesday, punching out eight Rays while allowing just two runners to reach second base across seven scoreless frames. The 34-year-old Eovaldi's picked up where he left off last season, allowing two runs in 13 innings while striking out 11 through his first two starts of 2024. He's tentatively lined up for an enticing home matchup with the Athletics in his next outing.

Taillon (back) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Tennessee on Sunday, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

Taillon didn't pitch at all during spring training due a strained back, but he was able to face hitters near the end of camp and has now been cleared to test his back in a game environment. It's unclear exactly how many starts the Cubs want Taillon to make before he returns to Chicago, but it will likely take him multiple outings to build up to a starter's workload.

Puk (0-2) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks over four innings against the Angels. He struck out five.

Puk's transition to a starting pitcher hasn't gone according to plan thus far -- the 28-year-old left-hander has allowed eight runs (six earned) through just six innings in his first two starts. While Puk has had success out of the bullpen in the majors, the Marlins seem set on having him remain in the rotation, at least while Braxton Garrett (shoulder), Edward Cabrera (shoulder) and Eury Perez (elbow) are sidelined. Puk's currently lined up for a tough road matchup versus the Yankees in his next outing.

Verlander (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Verlander will throw one more bullpen session at Minute Maid Park on Thursday before heading out on his rehab assignment. He's expected to throw around 70-to-75 pitches Sunday for Sugar Land. Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that the team is confident Verlander will need just two rehab starts, which could put him on track to rejoin the rotation as soon as April 17 against Atlanta. Verlander has been working his way back from right shoulder inflammation.

Sandoval (1-1) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings in a 10-2 victory over Miami. He struck out seven.

It was an encouraging outing from Sandoval after the left-hander was tagged for five runs (three earned) in just 1.2 innings in an Opening Day loss. Sandoval held the Marlins to just a pair of third-inning runs while the Angels' offense provided plenty of support in a comfortable win. Sandoval's ERA now sits at 6.14 through two starts after he went 7-13 with a 4.11 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 128:74 K:BB across 28 outings last season.

Nastrini, who is scheduled to make his first start of the season for Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, could be called up to start for the White Sox next Monday in Cleveland, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The White Sox headed into Opening Day with a four-man rotation, but had the team included a fifth starter on the 26-man roster, Nastrini might have been in line for the spot. Chicago has since addressed its need for rotation depth with the re-signing of Mike Clevinger earlier this week, but because he missed all of spring training, the veteran right-hander could need a week or more to get fully stretched out before he's ready to make his season debut. After a postponement Wednesday, the White Sox will need a fifth starter for the first time this season Monday against the Guardians, and Nastrini would seem to be the most logical choice to fill the opening if manager Pedro Grifol doesn't opt for a bullpen day instead. Even if he gets the nod Monday in what would be his MLB debut, Nastrini may not be in store for additional starts beyond that if Clevinger is ready to pitch by mid-April.

Prosecky is on the minor-league injured list with elbow inflammation, Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline reports.

Per Mayo, Prosecky's elbow inflammation is mild and he is in the process of building back up in extended spring training, but it's obviously still a concerning injury as things stand. Prosecky, who had a 2.72 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 125 strikeouts in 109 innings for Single-A Fresno last year, will likely head to High-A Spokane once healthy.

Buehler (elbow) will make his second minor-league rehab appearance Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Buehler had his first rehab outing with OKC on Sunday, tossing 54 pitches over 3.1 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out two batters. Though he was far from sharp in the appearance and was clocked at about 1.0 mph below his norm, the right-hander appears to have come out of the start without any setbacks. Buehler is expected to make four minor-league rehab outings in total before potentially joining the Dodgers' big-league rotation in mid-to-late April.

The Tigers plan to call up Manning from Triple-A Toledo to start the second game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Mets, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Manning wasn't able to secure a spot in the Tigers' Opening Day rotation, but he won't have to wait long to make his first start of the season with the big club. As a result of weather-related postponements on consecutive days, the Tigers and Mets will play a twin bill Thursday in Citi Field, creating a stretch of seven games in six days for Detroit. Manning will be designated as the 27th man for the twin bill and will serve as a temporary sixth starter before likely being optioned back to Toledo immediately following the start against the Mets. Manning looked sharp in his lone outing for Toledo last Friday, striking out seven while pitching five innings of one-run ball.

Spence (0-1) was charged with the loss in extra innings against the Red Sox on Tuesday, allowing one unearned run on one hit over one inning.

Spence got the call in the 11th inning after closer Mason Miller had already thrown 29 pitches over the prior pair of frames. Spence's loss was primarily of the tough-luck variety, as the one run he surrendered came on a Tyler O'Neill double play groundout that scored inning-opening runner Reese McGuire. Spence was effective in his first appearance of the season on Friday against the Guardians, and Tuesday's nearly clean outing shouldn't blemish the perception he could be a reliable multi-inning relief option for manager Mark Kotsay.