MLB Player News

Ashcraft (0-1) took the loss versus the Phillies on Tuesday after allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk in six innings. He struck out five.

Ashcraft was a victim of the long ball in the first and fourth innings, both off the bat of Bryce Harper. He otherwise held the Phillies' bats in check and threw an efficient 85 pitches over six innings but was unable to get much run support. The 25-year-old had a later start to spring training than most after taking extended time to recover from offseason toe surgery, but he looked sharp overall outside of two mistake pitches. Ashcraft will look to have better fortune his next start, which tentatively lines up against the Brewers to open next week.

Houser and the Mets will not play the Tigers on Tuesday after the contest was postponed due to poor weather, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Houser will likely now draw the start Wednesday, while Tuesday's game has been rescheduled for Thursday afternoon. The right-hander was initially expected to have a two-start week, which now appears to be unlikely.

Mize and the Tigers will not face the Mets on Tuesday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Tuesday's game will be made up Thursday afternoon, which was originally a scheduled off day for both teams. Mize's first start of the season will likely be pushed back to Wednesday, moving Tarik Skubal's next outing to Thursday.

Waldichuk (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Wednesday will be Waldichuk's first time throwing off a mound since undergoing surgery in October to address a sprained UCL and damaged flexor tendon in his left elbow. He's slated to throw 25 pitches during his first bullpen session and will certainly require more sessions in order to build up to a typical starter's workload.

Gray (hamstring) will no longer make a rehab start Wednesday, instead opting to throw a simulated game, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Gray was set to make a rehab start with Triple-A Memphis, but he'll now head to Missouri to throw a simulated game in Springfield on Wednesday. The right-hander will be in St. Louis for the team's home opener against the Marlins, but he is expected to make another rehab start with Memphis next week. The earliest that Gray will be able to pitch for the Cardinals is their upcoming series with the Diamondbacks beginning April 12.

Varland (0-1) took the loss Tuesday in Milwaukee after he allowed three runs on six hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four.

Varland generated 11 swinging strikes on 89 pitches but was unable to find much consistency in his season debut. The right-hander pitched well down the stretch as a reliever last season and earn a rotation spot during spring training, partially thanks to Anthony DeSclafani requiring season-ending elbow surgery. Varland lines up for a tough matchup his next time out, as he's tentatively projected to face the Dodgers early next week.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Verlander (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Thursday before pitching in a minor-league game a few days later, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The veteran right-hander threw 52 pitches during a three-inning simulated game Monday, and it appears the next step in his rehab program will be pitching in a minor-league game. Verlander previously said he wants to build his pitch count to around 85 before joining the Astros, and he'll likely require at least two rehab starts before being activated.

The Pirates traded Wolf to the Padres on Tuesday in exchange for Kervin Pichardo.

Wolf was DFA'd by the Pirates on Thursday, and he'll now head back to San Diego after being shipped to Pittsburgh at last season's trade deadline. Wolf made a spot start in the majors last season with the Padres, but the 24-year-old southpaw will likely spend most of his time at Triple-A El Paso in 2024.

Gipson-Long (groin) completed a three-inning simulated game Tuesday in Lakeland, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Gipson-Long was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to a groin injury he had been battling since the first week of spring training. The right-hander went 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 20 innings for the Tigers across four starts last season.

The Astros placed France on the paternity list Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

France will be allowed to miss up to three days as he welcomes a new addition to his family. Dylan Coleman was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move.