MLB Player News

Matthews was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.

Matthews had a strong showing in spring training with 9.1 scoreless innings and a 12:1 K:BB. He could be the first starter called up when a spot opens in the rotation. Matthews could still find success in the majors this season with his minuscule walk rate (1.0 BB/9 career in minors), strong strikeout rate (10.2 K/9 career in minors) and velocity.

Festa was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.

Festa was a candidate to win a rotation spot, but struggled with an 11.94 ERA and 11: 3 K:BB in 11.1 innings this spring. Festa showed promise last season with a 10.8 K/9 and 12.7 percent swinging strike rate, but he recorded a 4.40 ERA (though a 3.75 FIP) in 14 games with the Twins. He could join the rotation early in the season if there's an opening.

Schmidt won't start Monday's spring game as scheduled due to shoulder soreness, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander has been having some issues in his recovery between outings, with manager Aaron Boone saying that Schmidt has not been "getting all the way back to how he normally would." According to Erik Boland of Newsday, Schmidt isn't headed for medical testing and is still expected to throw a bullpen session Monday, so it's possible he's ready to go for the start of the season.

Darvish had Sunday's bullpen session and Tuesday's scheduled spring start pushed back due to fatigue, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The severity of the issue is being downplayed, but it's a concerning development late in camp for the 38-year-old. Darvish will be evaluated daily to determine when he'll have his next bullpen session, and his outlook for the start of the season could change significantly if he's unable to throw for more than a few days.

Falter (general soreness) is scheduled to start Monday's split-squad game against the Tigers, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Falter was scratched from his spring start Thursday as a precautionary measure due to general soreness, but he'll be ready to take the mound a few days later. The left-hander will begin the season at the back end of Pittsburgh's rotation after finishing 2024 with a 4.43 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 97:45 K:BB over 142.1 innings.

Manager Bud Black announced Sunday that Freeland will start Opening Day against the Rays on March 28, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

The left-hander is one of Colorado's longest-tenured players and will take the mound in the season opener after posting a 5.24 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 85:26 K:BB across 113.1 innings last year. Freeland has pitched well in spring training with three earned runs allowed and an 11:1 K:BB over 9.2 frames.

Spiers appears to be behind Andrew Abbott for the Reds' fifth starter's job, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Abbott started the spring a little bit behind because of a left shoulder issue, and he still hasn't pitched in a big-league spring training game. He did toss two innings in a minor-league game however, and with the Reds not immediately needing a fifth starter to begin the season, the team seems willing to wait for him to get stretched out. To his credit, Spiers hasn't pitched poorly in camp, posting an 8:2 K:BB over five Cactus League innings without giving up a homer -- something that was an issue for the right-hander in 2024, when he served up 20 long balls in only 90.2 MLB innings.

Adams was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right elbow Sunday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old is without an official return timeline but is likely to be sidelined for multiple weeks, if not months. Adams received a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte late last season and had a 4.95 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 10:9 K:BB across 20 innings.

Abbott appears to be the favorite to win the Reds' fifth starter job, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

The southpaw has yet to in a major-league spring training game this season, but the Reds won't need a fifth starter right away so Abbott's incumbency advantage still weighs heavily. That said, his edge is pretty precarious. "If there's a hiccup -- even not just him but weather-wise -- it could derail that first day," manager Terry Francona said. Graham Ashcraft and Carson Spiers are also still vying for the job.

The Rangers named Eovaldi as their starter against the Red Sox for Opening Day on March 27.

It'll be the fifth Opening Day start of Eovaldi's career and his second straight for Texas. The veteran right-hander is still getting on track in spring training with seven runs allowed over nine frames, but he's coming off a 2024 campaign that saw him finish with a 3.80 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 166:42 K:BB across 170.2 innings.