MLB Player News

Eflin (back) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and will start Sunday against the White Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 29-year-old has been sidelined the past couple weeks with lower-back tightness, but he'll end up requiring only a 15-day stint on the shelf. Eflin had a 3.27 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 12:1 K:BB in 11 frames across his first two starts prior to the injury. He could face some workload limitations in his return Sunday since he didn't make any rehab starts.

The Phillies optioned Sanchez to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday.

Due to a doubleheader earlier this week, the Phillies were in need of a temporary sixth starter, so Sanchez was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Saturday's game against the Rockies to fill the void. Though he didn't appear to be hindered in his return from a left triceps strain after making two minor-league rehab starts prior to being activated, Sanchez was capped at 73 pitches and gave up three runs while striking out five over 4.1 innings en route to taking a no-decision in the Phillies' 4-3 loss to Colorado. Sanchez will now head back to Triple-A to continue getting stretched out, but he looks like he'll be the Phillies' top option to make spot starts if the team should lose another rotation member to the IL at some point.

The Twins recalled Ober from Triple-A St. Paul ahead of his scheduled start Sunday against the Nationals at Target Field, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

For now, Ober's appointment to the big-league rotation looks to just be a spot start as manager Rocco Baldelli looks to provide each of his five starters with an extra day of rest, but Ober could end up sticking around with the big club if Kenta Maeda (ankle) doesn't feel 100 percent following a bullpen session Monday and requires a brief stint on the injured list. Though Ober is overqualified for Triple-A at this stage, the Twins' impressive starting depth left the 27-year-old right-hander without a rotation spot heading into Opening Day. Ober took the demotion in stride and was stellar through his four starts at Triple-A, turning in a 2.55 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB across 17.2 innings.

Gaddis, who was called up from Triple-A Columbus prior to Saturday's doubleheader with the Marlins, came on in relief in the Guardians' 6-1 loss in Game 1 and struck out one over two perfect innings.

The appearance was Gaddis' fifth of the season with the big club but his first out of the bullpen. He had been included in the Opening Day rotation before being sent out to Columbus after posting a 7.64 and 1.58 WHIP across 17.2 innings through his first four starts. He'll likely be sent back to Columbus to continue making regular starts, but Gaddis doesn't look like he'll be the top choice to rejoin the big-league rotation if Cal Quantrill (leg) is forced to miss his next start.

Maeda (ankle) is expected to throw a bullpen session Monday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

After working just two innings in his most recent start Thursday against the Red Sox before exiting after being struck on the left ankle by a comebacker and suffering a bruise, Maeda was able to do some light throwing Saturday. Though the Twins haven't indicated that Maeda felt any renewed discomfort while throwing again, the upcoming bullpen session will provide a better gauge of his health. Based on how Maeda checks out coming out of the side session, the Twins will decide whether he needs to go on the 15-day injured list or if he'll be able to make his next turn through the rotation. Minnesota is adding Bailey Ober to the rotation for Sunday's game against the Nationals to give each of the other five starters an extra day of rest.

Bieber (1-1) took the loss in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Marlins, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks over 5.2 innings as the Guardians fell 6-1. He struck out four.

The right-hander did come within one out of his fifth straight quality start to begin the season, but Bieber got lifted after 103 pitches (65 strikes) following a Bryan De La Cruz homer and a Jean Segura double. The four free passes were also a season worst for Bieber, and he'll take a 3.23 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 22:9 K:BB through 30.2 innings into his next outing, likely to come next weekend in Boston.

Garrett (1-0) picked up the win in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over 5.2 innings in a 3-2 victory over the Guardians. He struck out three.

For the second straight outing, the southpaw came one out short of a quality start, this time getting the hook after 82 pitches (60 strikes) when he gave up a two-out walk and a double with the Marlins clinging to a 3-1 lead. The bullpen kept the inherited runners from scoring, however, and Garrett notched his first win of 2023. The 25-year-old will take a 2.84 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB through 19 innings into his next outing, which could come next week in Atlanta.

Heaney (2-1) earned the win Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings against the Athletics. He struck out four.

Heaney has allowed just two earned runs over his last 16 innings pitched after giving up seven across 2.2 innings April 4 against Baltimore. The southpaw has been nearly unstoppable since that game, as he also tied the AL record with nine straight strikeouts against Kansas City on April 10. The 31-year-old is tentatively slated to face the Yankees at home in his next start.

Mikolas pitched 5.1 innings against Seattle on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four batters. He did not factor in the decision.

Mikolas gave up a solo homer to Jarred Kelenic in the second inning but settled in from there, at one point retiring 11 of a string of 12 batters. However, he lost a 3-1 lead when Teoscar Hernandez tagged him for a two-run homer in the sixth, which marked the end of Mikolas' outing. The right-hander has yet to get into the win column this season, but he's shown some improvement over his past two starts, giving up five earned runs over 11 frames. Prior to that, Mikolas had surrendered 16 earned runs over his first 14.1 innings of the campaign.

Castillo didn't factor in the decision against St. Louis on Saturday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight batters over five innings.

Castillo labored in the outing, needing 100 pitches to get through five frames and surrendering season highs with seven hits and three runs. Still, he racked up an impressive 19 swinging strikes and punched out eight batters. All of the damage against the hurler came in the first and third innings, and Castillo finished his outing by retiring the final five batters he faced -- three by strikeout. The right-hander is tentatively projected to take on the Blue Jays in Toronto his next time out.