MLB Player News

Eovaldi (1-0) earned the win Wednesday, allowing four hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings against Tampa Bay. He struck out eight.

Eovaldi was stellar Wednesday, punching out eight Rays while allowing just two runners to reach second base across seven scoreless frames. The 34-year-old Eovaldi's picked up where he left off last season, allowing two runs in 13 innings while striking out 11 through his first two starts of 2024. He's tentatively lined up for an enticing home matchup with the Athletics in his next outing.

Ward went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, two total RBI and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 10-2 victory over Miami.

Ward wound up a triple shy of the cycle Wednesday -- he put the Angels ahead 1-0 with an RBI single in the first inning before smacking a solo homer off Kent Emanuel to cap the scoring in the eighth. The 30-year-old Ward now has hits in his last five games, going 8-for-21 (.381) with three homers and eight RBI in that span. Ward should continue to bat cleanup behind Mike Trout in Anaheim after he slashed .253/.335/.421 with 14 homers and 47 RBI in 97 games last year.

Zuniga picked up the save Wednesday against the Marlins, recording a strikeout over three perfect innings.

After struggling in his last appearance, allowing three runs in one inning versus the Orioles, Zuniga turned in an impressive bounce-back performance in Miami, throwing three perfect innings to close out a 10-2 victory and earn the first save of his MLB career. Zuniga's made just five appearances in the big leagues over the past two seasons with Anaheim and St. Louis -- he struggled to a 7.63 ERA across 30.2 innings in Triple-A last year. The 25-year-old right-hander will likely remain a low-leverage option for the Angels going forward.

Verlander (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Verlander will throw one more bullpen session at Minute Maid Park on Thursday before heading out on his rehab assignment. He's expected to throw around 70-to-75 pitches Sunday for Sugar Land. Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that the team is confident Verlander will need just two rehab starts, which could put him on track to rejoin the rotation as soon as April 17 against Atlanta. Verlander has been working his way back from right shoulder inflammation.

Sandoval (1-1) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings in a 10-2 victory over Miami. He struck out seven.

It was an encouraging outing from Sandoval after the left-hander was tagged for five runs (three earned) in just 1.2 innings in an Opening Day loss. Sandoval held the Marlins to just a pair of third-inning runs while the Angels' offense provided plenty of support in a comfortable win. Sandoval's ERA now sits at 6.14 through two starts after he went 7-13 with a 4.11 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 128:74 K:BB across 28 outings last season.

Nastrini, who is scheduled to make his first start of the season for Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, could be called up to start for the White Sox next Monday in Cleveland, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The White Sox headed into Opening Day with a four-man rotation, but had the team included a fifth starter on the 26-man roster, Nastrini might have been in line for the spot. Chicago has since addressed its need for rotation depth with the re-signing of Mike Clevinger earlier this week, but because he missed all of spring training, the veteran right-hander could need a week or more to get fully stretched out before he's ready to make his season debut. After a postponement Wednesday, the White Sox will need a fifth starter for the first time this season Monday against the Guardians, and Nastrini would seem to be the most logical choice to fill the opening if manager Pedro Grifol doesn't opt for a bullpen day instead. Even if he gets the nod Monday in what would be his MLB debut, Nastrini may not be in store for additional starts beyond that if Clevinger is ready to pitch by mid-April.

Kessinger (hamstring) grounded out in his lone plate appearance in Monday's 10-0 loss to the Blue Jays.

Kessinger didn't see make any Grapefruit League or exhibition appearances after March 18 while he recovered from a right hamstring strain, but he showcased enough improvement last week to be included on the Astros' Opening Day roster as a reserve infielder. With the Astros building a 10-run lead after seven innings, Kessinger got the chance to make his season debut in the bottom of the eighth as a pinch hitter for designated hitter Yordan Alvarez. He's still waiting to make his debut in the field, but Kessinger at least looks to be healthy now.

Meyers is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Despite having now been out of the lineup for two straight days and three times through the Astros' first seven games, Meyers still looks to be the team's preferred option in center field. Manager Joe Espada may just want to ensure that backup center fielder/utility man Mauricio Dubon stays fresh after having logged just six plate appearances so far this season.

Singleton will start at first base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Despite posting a lowly .500 OPS in spring training, Singleton was able to secure a spot on Houston's Opening Day roster as a bench bat. Singleton will pick up his second start of the season Wednesday, spelling a resting Jose Abreu at first base.

Abreu is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Abreu was on the bench for Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Yankees due to a sore hand, but he returned to the starting nine for both of the Astros' first two games against the Blue Jays, going 2-for-8 with a run scored. The Astros haven't indicated that Abreu suffered a setback with his hand in either contest, so his absence from the lineup Wednesday may be little more than a maintenance day. Jon Singleton will spell Abreu at first base and bat sixth.