MLB Player News

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.

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.

Mize and the Tigers won't face the Mets on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather at Citi Field.

The interleague matchup has now been postponed for consecutive days and will be made up as part of a doubleheader Thursday. Expect Mize to start at least one of the two contests.

Castillo (0-2) took the loss Tuesday against Cleveland, allowing four runs on 10 hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out seven.

Castillo's strikeout total was the only positive from Tuesday's loss as he surrendered double-digit hits for just the third time in his career. He was tagged by Bo Naylor for a two-run homer in the fourth frame. Castillo will look to find the elusive first win of 2024 next time out, tentatively lined up for Monday against the Blue Jays.

Bieber (2-0) picked up the win Tuesday against the Mariners, allowing six hits over six scoreless inning. He struck out nine and did not issue a walk.

Bieber kept a clean sheet once again Tuesday, holding the Mariners scoreless to keep his season ERA at a perfect 0.00 through two starts. After regressing to a 3.80 ERA last season -- his worst since his rookie year -- Bieber could be recapturing his 2020 Cy Young form. He leads MLB in strikeouts (20) through 12 innings of work. The Guardians' ace will look to continue his dominance in his next start, likely Monday against the White Sox.

Heaney (0-1) took the loss Tuesday against the Rays after allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out seven in 4.2 innings. He did not issue a walk.

Heaney started the game on fire, striking out four of the first seven batters he faced. He endured some tough luck in the third after the Rays scored on a base hit that likely would've been a ground out had the ball not deflected off Heaney's glove. The southpaw opened up the fifth with back-to-back punchouts but couldn't finish the frame after a Jared Walsh error kept the inning alive and led to four more runs, none of which were charged to Heaney. He's set to take the mound again next week versus the Astros and will hope for some better fortune against the Rangers' division rivals.

Eflin (1-1) picked up the win over the Rangers on Tuesday after allowing one run on five hits and a walk while striking out five over 6.1 innings.

Eflin needed just 69 pitches to get through six innings before running into some trouble in the seventh. He allowed two hits to the first three batters he faced that inning before a Jonah Heim single drove in the Rangers' first run of the day and led to Eflin being pulled from the game. It was a major bounce-back performance against one of the league's most dangerous lineups after Eflin struggled a bit in his first start of the year. He's lined up to take the mound on the road against the Angels early next week.

Anderson (1-0) earned the win over the Marlins on Tuesday after scattering four hits and two walks over seven scoreless innings. He struck out five.

Anderson had arguably his best start in an Angels uniform and was the first Angels' starter this year to reach six innings. It was also the first time he's gone seven scoreless since Sept. 12, 2022. Anderson had his changeup working, as he threw it 41 percent of the time and recorded all five punchouts with that pitch. The 34-year-old southpaw tentatively lines up for a two-start week next week beginning with the Rays at home.

Irvin (0-1) took the loss Tuesday versus Kansas City, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three batters over five innings.

Irvin accumulated a 6.23 ERA and 1.85 WHIP across 17.1 innings during spring training, and his camp woes seem to have followed him into the regular season. Nick Loftin and Maikel Garcia combined to drive in three runs against the left-hander in the second inning Tuesday, and Garcia capped off the scoring with an RBI triple in the fourth. Irvin is lined up to start again versus Boston next week, though his time in Baltimore's rotation will likely come to an end once Kyle Bradish (elbow) or John Means (forearm) return from their respective injuries.