MLB Player News
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Brayan Bello SP | BOS
Red Sox's Brayan Bello: Roughed up in first start of 2026
Bello (0-1) took the loss against the Astros on Tuesday, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and three walks while striking out two across 4.2 innings.
Bello pitched to a 5.65 ERA during spring training, and things didn't get any better in his first regular-season start. Yordan Alvarez took Bello deep in the fifth inning, and four of the next five Astros reached base to bounce Bello from the game. Bello turned in a career-best 3.35 ERA across 29 starts last regular season, but his 4.19 FIP suggested it was a bit of a fluke. Bello will need to pitch better to hold off other starting candidates including Payton Tolle, Johan Oviedo, Kutter Crawford (wrist) and Patrick Sandoval (elbow) once everyone is healthy. Bello's next start is scheduled for Monday against the Brewers.
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Hunter Brown SP | HOU
Astros' Hunter Brown: Strikes out eight in win Tuesday
Brown (1-0) earned the win against the Red Sox on Tuesday, allowing one run on one hit and two walks while striking out eight across six innings.
After throwing 102 pitches across 4.2 innings Thursday against the Angels, Brown made quick work of the Boston lineup Tuesday and was pulled after 78 pitches with a 6-1 lead. Brown looks like he's ready to take another step forward in his fourth full season at the big-league level. Through two starts and 10.2 innings, Brown has 17 strikeouts and a 0.84 ERA. Brown is next scheduled to take the mound Monday against the Rockies at Coors Field.
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Max Scherzer SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Quality start in 2026 debut
Scherzer (1-0) earned the win against the Rockies on Tuesday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out four across six innings.
This is the 19th major-league season of Scherzer's storied career, but the 41-year-old demonstrated that he still has plenty in the tank. He kept the Rockies off the board through the first five frames before yielding a solo homer to Hunter Goodman in the sixth. After building his pitch count to 75 in spring training, Scherzer tossed 83 pitches (56 strikes) against Colorado on Tuesday, and the Blue Jays will need to rely heavily on the veteran right-hander due to the absences of Shane Bieber (forearm), Trey Yesavage (shoulder) Jose Berrios (elbow) and Cody Ponce (knee). Scherzer is tentatively slated to start next week at home against the Dodgers in a World Series rematch.
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Aaron Civale SP | ATH
Athletics' Aaron Civale: Earns win against Atlanta
Civale (1-0) picked up the win against Atlanta on Tuesday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out three across five innings.
Civale put the Athletics on the back foot after yielding a solo home run to Drake Baldwin in the first inning. However, Civale then kept Atlanta off the board until a Ronald Acuna sacrifice fly in the fifth, and Civale came away with the victory thanks to the A's bats. The 30-year-old right-hander has played for five different organizations over the past two seasons but is looking to stick around with the Athletics after a strong spring training and a win to start the regular season. Civale is slated to start next week on the road against the Yankees.
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Zach Eflin SP | BAL
Orioles' Zach Eflin: Expected to land on IL
Manager Craig Albernaz said after Tuesday's loss to the Rangers that he expects Eflin (elbow) to be placed on the injured list, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Eflin made an early exit from Tuesday's contest after 3.2 innings of one-run ball due to elbow discomfort. He's scheduled to receive an MRI on his elbow Wednesday, but the Orioles don't seem to be very optimistic about what the results will show. A clearer timeline for the right-hander's return will emerge once the team knows the extent of the damage done.
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Carlos Rodon SP | NYY
Yankees' Carlos Rodon: Dealing with hamstring tightness
Rodon (elbow) reported tightness in his right hamstring Tuesday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Rodon has been working his way back from a procedure he underwent in the offseason to remove a bone spur from his left elbow. However, he now appears to be battling a hamstring injury he suffered while running. Manager Aaron Boone said the left-hander still threw Tuesday despite his new injury, and it remains unknown whether his season debut -- tentatively scheduled for late April -- will be delayed.
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Zach Eflin SP | BAL
Orioles' Zach Eflin: Exits with trainer
Eflin was removed from Tuesday's game against the Rangers due to right elbow discomfort, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Eflin had allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven batters before one of the Orioles' trainers made the call to pull him with two outs in the fourth inning. It's unclear whether the 31-year-old righty is dealing with any structural damage, but the team should provide an update on his status in the near future.
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Ryan Sloan SP | SEA
Mariners' Ryan Sloan: Opening age-20 season at Double-A
Sloan is opening the season with Double-A Arkansas, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Few prospects generated more rave reviews this spring than Sloan, whose already plus fastball jumped a couple ticks and now sits around 97 mph. Sloan, who could be the game's top pitching prospect in a couple months, only made three starts at High-A last year, so this is a big vote of confidence. Per the report, the initial plan was to assign Sloan to High-A Everett, but the calculus changed after he made such a strong impression this spring. The less volatile weather conditions in Arkansas compared to the Pacific Northwest in April also factored into the decision. What makes the assignment even more notable is that the Mariners have a track record of jumping their best pitching prospects from Double-A to the majors, bypassing the Pacific Coast League. Kade Anderson, the Mariners' other premium pitching prospect, is also opening the year at Double-A.
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Kade Anderson SP | SEA
Mariners' Kade Anderson: Gets aggressive assignment
Anderson is opening the season with Double-A Arkansas, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Most of the top college arms get assigned to High-A for their first full season, so while this assignment may not be a big surprise, it is notable. Per the report, the initial plan was to assign Anderson to High-A Everett, but the calculus changed after Anderson made such a strong impression this spring. The less volatile weather conditions in Arkansas compared to the Pacific Northwest in April also factored into the decision. What makes the assignment even more notable is that the Mariners have a track record of jumping their best pitching prospects from Double-A to the majors, bypassing the Pacific Coast League. Ryan Sloan, the Mariners other premium pitching prospect, is also opening the year at Double-A.
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Louie Varland SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Stuck with loss Monday
Varland (0-1) took the loss Monday as the Blue Jays fell 14-5 to the Rockies, allowing an unearned run on two hits over 1.1 innings of relief. He struck out three without walking a batter.
The right-hander pitched well in a tough spot, as Varland was called in when Cody Ponce (knee) was removed from the game in the third inning, but the unearned run he gave up in the fourth wound up being the one that put Colorado in the lead for good. Varland's seen a heavy workload early, appearing in three of the Jays' first four games and posting a 0.00 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 5:2 K:BB over 3.1 innings with a hold.