MLB Player News

The Orioles named Eflin their Opening Day starter on Friday.

With Grayson Rodriguez (elbow) injured, Eflin made for a pretty clear choice to take the ball March 27 in Toronto. The veteran right-hander was acquired at the trade deadline last year and held a 2.60 ERA and 47:11 K:BB over 55.1 regular-season innings for the Orioles before adding four frames of one-run ball in a postseason start.

Butto has been sitting out due to a minor groin injury but is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander made four appearances in spring training prior to the injury and gave up a run on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks over 3.2 innings. Assuming Butto is able to avoid a setback, it doesn't appear the injury will affect his availability for Opening Day.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that McCullers (forearm) will make his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday against the Nationals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The right-hander touched 94 mph during his most recent live batting practice session and felt fine physically, clearing the way for his spring debut. This will be the first time McCullers has pitched in a game since the 2022 World Series, as he's dealt with numerous arm issues since then. He will begin the year on the injured list but could be ready for a spot in the Astros' rotation relatively early on in the season.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Walston will undergo Tommy John surgery, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

It's not clear when Walston was injured, but he missed time last season while at Triple-A Reno with an elbow issue. Because he's a starter and it's a full UCL repair, the left-hander will probably be sidelined until around midseason of next year.

Ullola was removed from Friday's Spring Breakout game appearance versus the Nationals with an apparent injury, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Ullola was in his second inning of work when he was visited by a trainer following a strikeout, eventually walking off the mound. The Astros have yet to provide any concrete information about the right-hander's condition.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday that Holmes will start Opening Day in Houston, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

He might not have been the choice if the Mets' rotation was fully healthy, but Holmes has earned the nod with a dominant spring that's seen him post a 13:4 K:BB over 9.2 scoreless innings. Holmes is making the move from bullpen to rotation this season after being used exclusively as a reliever since 2019.

The Diamondbacks optioned Henry to Triple-A Reno on Friday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander entered camp with long odds of cracking Arizona's Opening Day rotation, and he'll head to Triple-A after giving up six earned runs over 7.1 frames in Cactus League action. Henry had a 7.04 ERA across 38.1 major-league innings last year and could serve as a spot starter or long reliever for the Diamondbacks at some point this season.

The White Sox optioned Shuster to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Shuster hasn't fared well this spring, getting touched up for nine runs on 15 hits and one walk over seven frames. The left-hander was used mostly as a reliever with the White Sox last season but could be stretched back out as a starter in Charlotte.

The Brewers reassigned Misiorowski to minor-league camp Friday.

Misiorowski showed the good and the bad parts of his profile in his 7.2 innings this spring, striking out nine but walking five. The hard-throwing right-hander will begin the 2025 season in the Triple-A Nashville rotation and could make some starts for the Brewers this season, but a permanent shift to the bullpen remains a possibility if he can't throw more strikes.

The Marlins optioned Bellozo to Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday.

Bellozo camp into camp with a shot to win a rotation spot, but he didn't make a great case for himself in yielding 10 runs in 8.1 innings of work. The 25-year-old remains likely to make some starts for the Marlins this season but will begin the year in the Jacksonville rotation.