MLB Player News

Eflin threw 63 pitches across four innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays.

Eflin was hit hard, surrendering eight hits and eight runs (four earned). However, he spoke after the outing and said that he was working on specific pitches and throwing them in unusual situations, which was the cause of the poor results, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Eflin specifically noted that he got a good feel for his curveball, a pitch he used very effectively in 2023. The Rays haven't officially named their Opening Day starter for a matchup against the Blue Jays, but he would be the most logical candidate.

Wicks allowed one run on two hits across 4.1 innings of work in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Rangers. He struck out seven.

Drew Smyly drew the start but Wicks logged the most work, and the young lefty looked sharp. He now has a 1.46 ERA this spring to go along with a 1.05 WHIP and 10 strikeouts across 12.1 innings. Wicks seems to be closing in on a rotation spot to begin the year, and his grip on a role is likely a bit stronger in the short term with Jameson Taillon (back) possibly set to miss some time to start the regular season.

Smyly tossed 3.1 scoreless innings in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Rangers. He allowed four hits and a walk, while striking out four.

Smyly still has a rough 6.14 ERA in Cactus League play due to some rough outings earlier this spring, but this was a step in the right direction. The veteran lefty is likely headed for a bullpen role at some point, though a short-term opportunity to start may open up with Jameson Taillon (back) in jeopardy of missing time to start the regular season. Righties Javier Assad and Hayden Wesneski are also options for spot starting duties.

Skubal skipped a potential Grapefruit League matchup against the Mets on Sunday and instead tossed 60 pitches in a simulated game, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

This was done for strategic reasons rather than any type of injury, as Detroit will face the Mets in the second series of the regular season and the team didn't want their opponent to get a look at Skubal. The talented lefty has already been named Detroit's Opening Day starter, and he should be poised for a big year if he can stay healthy.

Stoudt was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma following Monday's exhibition against the Padres, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Stoudt's time in big-league camp will end on a sour note, as he surrendered two runs on three hits over one inning during Monday's 13-3 loss. He'll head to the minors following Monday's transaction, but the 26-year-old could eventually contribute for the Mariners later on in 2024.

Weaver has been scratched from Tuesday's scheduled start versus the Blue Jays due to a stiff neck, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

Dennis Santana will take the ball instead. Weaver -- who is slated for a long-relief role in 2024 -- should be considered day-to-day.

The Rays optioned Curet to minor-league camp Monday.

Curet caught onto the Rays' 40-man roster in November after posting a 2.94 ERA and 144:73 K:BB over 104 innings across Single-A Charleston and High-A Bowling Green. The right-hander will begin the 2024 season in the minors and could see a promotion to Double-A or Triple-A should he make strides. Curet appeared in two games in spring training and allowed two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out three over two innings.

White Sox pitching coordinator Matt Zaleski said Schultz (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch in his first game this spring Saturday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Schultz will presumably pitch in a minor-league game rather than in the Cactus League, given that he has yet to make his debut in full-season ball. The White Sox have been proceeding cautiously with the 2022 first-round draft pick in spring training after he finished the 2023 season on the injured list at Single-A Kannapolis due to a left shoulder impingement. He also missed extensive time earlier last season due to a forearm strain, resulting in him logging just 27 total innings for Kannapolis. Zaleski noted that Schultz has been throwing in live batting practices up to this point in the spring and has sported a fastball that checks in at around 96-to-98 miles per hour, per Merkin. Though all seems well for Schultz on the health front and the expectation is that he'll open the season with Kannapolis or High-A Winston-Salem rather than sticking around at extended spring training, the White Sox plan to limit him to around 65 to 80 innings in 2024, according to Zaleski.

The Pirates reassigned Plassmeyer to minor-league camp Sunday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Plassmeyer joined Pittsburgh on a minor-league deal in December after he had seen big-league action with the Phillies in both of the prior two seasons, accruing a 9.82 ERA and 1.64 WHIP over 11 innings. He was sharp in Grapefruit League play with four strikeouts over 3.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, but he'll need to impress over a larger sample at Triple-A Indianapolis before he gets another look in the majors with Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh optioned Ashcraft to minor-league camp Monday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Ashcraft, 24, allowed two unearned runs with a 3:2 K:BB over 3.2 frames this spring. The right-hander pitched well after making it back from Tommy John surgery last season, holding a 2.39 ERA and 63:11 K:BB over 52.2 innings across three levels. He'll likely open the 2024 campaign at either Double-A Altoona or Triple-A indianapolis.