MLB Player News

The Padres optioned Castillo to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.

Castillo will move up a rung on the minor-league ladder after spending time with High-A Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio a season ago, producing a 2.88 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 59:26 K:BB in 56.1 innings across the two levels. He'll have a good chance of making his Padres debut at some point later in the season after San Diego added the lefty to its 40-man roster in November.

Stewart was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Stewart was battling for an Opening Day roster spot this spring, but the Dodgers ultimately opted to send him to Triple-A due to his "lack of consistency," Gurnick reports. The 26-year-old -- who posted a 3.41 ERA in 34.1 big-league innings last season -- shouldn't have to wait too long before receiving his return call to the majors, either as a spot starter or bullpen reinforcement.

Hernandez tossed three scoreless innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, allowing only one hit while striking out two.

The Rule 5 pick hasn't pitched above High-A yet in his career, but Hernandez is looking like a solid veteran in camp, posting a 9:0 K:BB in 10 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander might not be a viable rotation candidate in 2018 after pitching only 73.1 innings in the minors last year, but the Marlins still have plenty of openings and with Hernandez all but guaranteed a spot on the 25-man roster, they may elect to give him a look in the role before transitioning him to the bullpen to limit his workload later in the season.

Peters remains in the running for one of the Marlins' three open rotation spots despite control issues this spring, Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald reports.

The 25-year-old left-hander has a 9:8 K:BB through 5.2 spring innings, and Peters is only still part of the rotation battle because no one else has really stepped up. With the organization already indicating plans to monitor Peters' workload this season, it's starting to seem likely that he'll begin the season with Triple-A New Orleans.

Law gave up a run off a hit and a walk in his lone inning of work Saturday against the Angels.

Law fell apart in the second half of last season after serving as a part-time closer at one point. The 27-year-old finished with a 5.06 ERA after posting a sparkling 2.13 ERA in his rookie year. He maintained his solid strikeout rate (8.4 K/9), but his walks (3.4 BB/9) and homers (1.2 HR/9) were the main culprits for his stark regression. How Law performs this spring will largely determine whether he will get another shot in the Giants' bullpen this season. Even if he makes it, the righty won't provide the holds or saves fantasy owners will be searching for in drafts.

Hoffman (shoulder) is not expected to be ready to go by the start of the regular season, Nick Groke of The Denver Post reports.

The issue that forced the right-hander out of action last Sunday was dubbed as shoulder soreness, but it seems like the injury is a bit worse than initially expected. Reports say that Hoffman's health is improving, however. "We're just taking it really slow," Hoffman stated. "I'd rather be healthy down the stretch than push it too hard right now." This likely takes him out of contention for the Rockies' final rotation spot to begin the season, seemingly leaving Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela as the final two arms duking it out for the fifth starter role. Hoffman could pitch his way into a more prominent role later on if his shoulder problems subside.

Underwood was assigned to Double-A Tennessee on Friday.

The Cubs were reportedly impressed by how Underwood looked physically this spring. He's been largely injured or ineffective in his professional career, but perhaps the 23-year-old can turn the corner this year if he maintains his shape.

The Cubs assigned Alzolay to Double-A Tennessee on Friday.

Alzolay is one of the Cubs' top prospects, but he's only 23 and has just 32.2 Double-A innings under his belt. The team will want to see him a bit more at that level, but a strong performance could earn him a promotion to Triple-A Iowa at some point this season.

Strop (calf) was sent home due to an illness, Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune reports.

Strop has been working his way back from a sore calf, but that will have to be put on hold while he recovers from flu-like symptoms. Expect the right-hander back in camp by early next week.

Lopez will pitch out of the bullpen for Triple-A Colorado Springs this season, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Lopez transitioned from the rotation to the bullpen for Double-A Biloxi in the middle of the 2017 season, but reportedly entered spring camp with the opportunity to work as a starter. That decision was under discussion throughout the first couple weeks of camp and now it's become apparent that he will remain a reliever for the foreseeable future. During 39 appearances with Biloxi last year, he posted a 4.30 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 104.2 innings.