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Week 27 Waiver Targets and Stashes
Player News
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto LAD SP
Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Starting Game 5
10h agoYamamoto has been named the starter for Game 5 of the NLDS against the Padres on Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Manager Dave Roberts had previously said that Yamamoto would pitch in some capacity, though it was unclear whether that would be as a starter or in a shorter stint. It appears that the Dodgers intend for him to work as a traditional starter in Friday's contest, though he's yet to pitch more than five innings in any of his five starts since returning from the injured list.
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Jake Rogers DET C
Tigers' Jake Rogers: Dealing with injuries
12h agoRogers had his wrist and forearm wrapped following Thursday's loss to the Guardians, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Rogers was pinch-hit for in the ninth inning, though that appeared to be for an offensive upgrade rather than due to injury. He's set to undergo X-rays, which could dictate his availability for a decisive Game 5 in the ALDS on Saturday.
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Kerry Carpenter DET RF
Tigers' Kerry Carpenter: Exits Thursday's game
14h agoCarpenter exited Thursday's game against the Guardians due to a left hamstring injury, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Carpenter reached base on a single in the sixth inning and came around to score, but he was spotted hobbling around third base. He was replaced by a pinch hitter for his next at-bat, though the severity of the injury is unclear.
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Miguel Rojas LAD SS
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Won't start in Game 5
16h agoRojas (thigh) will not be in the lineup for Game 5 of the NLDS against the Padres on Friday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Rojas left Game 3 of the series after he aggravated an adductor injury and was held out of Game 4. Tommy Edman will shift to shortstop in his absence, leaving several potential options to cover center field.
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Freddie Freeman LAD 1B
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Expected back for Game 5
16h agoFreeman (ankle) is expected to be back in the lineup for Game 5 of the NLDS against the Padres on Friday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Freeman was scratched from the Dodgers' Game 4 lineup with a lingering ankle issue, which he aggravated after leaping to make a defensive play in Game 3. He almost certainly won't be playing at full strength but should still provide an upgrade to the Dodgers' lineup.
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Nestor Cortes NYY SP
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Ramps up intensity
17h agoCortes (elbow) has continued to throw and was able to increase the intensity in Thursday's session, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Cortes maintains hope to pitch in the ALCS as the Yankees are a win away from advancing Thursday. The left-hander continues to make strides in his recovery from the flexor strain, but his availability for the rest of the playoffs remains up in the air.
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Jake Rogers DET C
Tigers' Jake Rogers: Dealing with injuries
12h agoRogers had his wrist and forearm wrapped following Thursday's loss to the Guardians, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Rogers was pinch-hit for in the ninth inning, though that appeared to be for an offensive upgrade rather than due to injury. He's set to undergo X-rays, which could dictate his availability for a decisive Game 5 in the ALDS on Saturday.
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William Contreras MIL C
Brewers' William Contreras: Dealt with knee sprain in playoffs
23h agoBrewers general manager Matt Arnold revealed Thursday that Contreras playing through a minor knee sprain during the team's wild-card series loss to the Mets, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.
Contreras didn't have to miss any time because of the injury, but it did force a move from catcher to the designated hitter spot in Game 3 of the series. He will not require surgery on the knee and is expected to be fine by the time spring training rolls around with an offseason of rest.
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Bo Naylor CLE C
Guardians' Bo Naylor: Out of Game 2 lineup
4d agoNaylor is absent from the lineup Monday for Game 2 of the ALDS versus the Tigers, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
He went hitless but caught a shutout in Game 1. With left-hander Tarik Skubal on the hill for the Tigers, Naylor will yield to Austin Hedges at catcher.
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Rob Brantly TB C
Rob Brantly: Chooses to become free agent
6d agoBrantly elected free agency Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Brantly had a brief stint in the majors last season, playing in three games and going 1-for-9 with the Rays in late August. That MLB action was his first since the 2022 campaign, and he's played in just 12 contests in the big leagues overall since 2017 while spending time with six different organizations. Brantly would likely need to accept a minor-league deal in order to latch on with a new squad.
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Travis d'Arnaud ATL C
Braves' Travis d'Arnaud: Option will be picked up
7d agoAtlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Friday that the team plans to exercise d'Arnaud's $8 million club option for 2025, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game Atlanta reports.
Between that and Sean Murphy's $15 million salary, Atlanta will be paying a healthy $23 million to its catching duo in 2025. D'Arnaud usurped Murphy as the club's preferred starter down the stretch this season and finished with a .238/.302/.436 batting line and 15 home runs in 2024. He and Murphy could share the catching duties pretty evenly in 2025, but the latter might also reclaim the starting job if he rebounds from a career-worst .636 OPS.
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Travis d'Arnaud ATL C
Braves' Travis d'Arnaud: Sitting for Game 2
9d agoD'Arnaud isn't in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against San Diego.
After starting Game 1 of the series and going 1-for-4 with a double, d'Arnaud will now take a seat on the bench while Sean Murphy catches for Max Fried, batting eighth.
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Freddie Freeman LAD 1B
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Expected back for Game 5
16h agoFreeman (ankle) is expected to be back in the lineup for Game 5 of the NLDS against the Padres on Friday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Freeman was scratched from the Dodgers' Game 4 lineup with a lingering ankle issue, which he aggravated after leaping to make a defensive play in Game 3. He almost certainly won't be playing at full strength but should still provide an upgrade to the Dodgers' lineup.
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Freddie Freeman LAD 1B
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Scratched from lineup
2d agoFreeman (ankle) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup for Game 4 of the NLDS versus San Diego.
Freeman has been attempting to play through a right ankle sprain all postseason, and he seemed to be visibly bothered by his ankle after jumping and landing awkwardly to finish a double play in the fourth inning of Game 3. He'll get a day to recover Wednesday, which moves Max Muncy to first base while Enrique Hernandez covers the hot corner and Chris Taylor enters to start in center field.
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Freddie Freeman LAD 1B
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Returns to lineup
3d agoFreeman (ankle) will start at first base and bat third Tuesday in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres, Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.
Freeman missed the final few games of the regular season due to a sprained ankle and had to make an early exit from Sunday's Game 2 because of further discomfort, but he'll attempt to play through the pain Tuesday. Despite his bad ankle, the 35-year-old first baseman has gone 2-for-7 through the Dodgers' first two postseason games.
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Freddie Freeman LAD 1B
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Status unknown for Game 3
4d agoFreeman (ankle) is receiving treatment Monday, and his availability for Tuesday's Game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres is uncertain at this time, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Freeman tried to play through a sprained ankle the first two games of the series, but he had to leave Game 2 early due to the issue. The team is hopeful that he'll be able to take the field for Game 3 after getting treatment, but his status will likely remain unknown until closer to first pitch.
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Freddie Freeman LAD 1B
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Dealing with ankle soreness
5d agoFreeman (ankle) left Sunday's contest against the Padres early with right ankle discomfort, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Freeman made his return to the lineup in Saturday's victory over San Diego in Game 1 of the NLDS after missing the final three games of the regular season with a right ankle sprain, but it appears to still be bothering the first baseman. Freeman's injury typically takes a month or more to heal completely, so it's not surprising that he's still working through it. The 35-year-old's status for Tuesday's Game 3 in San Diego is something to monitor moving forward.
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Freddie Freeman LAD 1B
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Exits early Sunday
5d agoFreeman (undisclosed) exited Sunday's game against the Padres in the sixth inning, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
Freeman was able to return to the lineup Saturday after missing the final three games of the regular season with a right ankle injury. It's unclear if that is why he left Sunday's matchup early, but his night came to a close after he went 0-for-2 with a strikeout at the plate. Enrique Hernandez entered the lineup at third base, batting fourth, while Max Muncy shifted over to first base.
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Jorge Polanco SEA 2B
Mariners' Jorge Polanco: Undergoes knee surgery
17h agoPolanco underwent surgery Thursday to repair the patellar tendon in his left knee, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Polanco had a career-worst .651 OPS in 2024 while playing through the knee issue, and he's now getting the injury addressed. The second baseman is expected to be ready for spring training, but it remains to be seen which uniform he will be donning in 2025 as the Mariners weigh a $12 million club option or $750,000 buyout.
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Jeff McNeil NYM 2B
Mets' Jeff McNeil: Tracking to be on NLCS roster
1d agoMets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday that there's a "really good chance" McNeil (wrist) is on the NLCS roster as long as he comes out of his two rehab games in the Arizona Fall League with no concerns, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
McNeil will play full games with the Scottsdale Scorpions in the AFL on Friday and Saturday -- seeing reps at both second base and in right field -- and it would appear he's virtually a lock to be added to the Mets' NLCS roster as long as he doesn't experience a setback with his fractured right wrist. He would likely take Luisangel Acuna's spot on the active roster, but how much McNeil might play is a question mark. Current second baseman Jose Iglesias is hitting .207/.233/.207 during the postseason, while current right fielder Starling Marte is batting .200/.333/.200.
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Jonathan India CIN 2B
Reds' Jonathan India: Gets cleanup surgery on ankle
1d agoReds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said Tuesday that India had surgery to "clean up" his ankle after the season ended, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
India's procedure is considered a minor one that will allow him to have a normal offseason and be ready for spring training. Nonetheless, the Reds have a number of underlying issues in the infield heading into 2025, including where to deploy India upon the return of Matt McLain, who missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing shoulder surgery and then suffering a stress reaction to his rib cage.
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Jeff McNeil NYM 2B
Mets' Jeff McNeil: Playing in AFL this weekend
2d agoMcNeil (wrist) will play for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League on Friday and Saturday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The Mets want to see how McNeil handles playing back-to-back, nine-inning games before deciding whether to include him on their potential NLCS roster. He's been sidelined since early September with a fractured right wrist but resumed full workouts earlier this week.
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Xander Bogaerts SD 2B
Padres' Xander Bogaerts: In Game 3 lineup Tuesday
3d agoBogaerts (hamstring) will start at shortstop and bat sixth Tuesday in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers.
Bogaerts was removed from Game 2 on Sunday with a hamstring cramp, but he's ready to roll as the series shift to San Diego. The veteran infielder is 3-for-8 with one home run and three RBI in the first two games of the series.
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Jeff McNeil NYM 2B
Mets' Jeff McNeil: Hoping for AFL rehab at-bats
3d agoThe Mets have petitioned Major League Baseball to allow McNeil (wrist) to play some rehab games in the Arizona Fall League, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Facing live pitching is the final hurdle McNeil needs to clear before he's ready to return to action, and sending him to the AFL is the best opportunity for that. McNeil appears to be tracking toward a return for the NLCS, should the Mets advance. He's been shelved since early September with a fractured right wrist.
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Oswaldo Cabrera NYY 3B
Yankees' Oswaldo Cabrera: Sitting out Game 4
18h agoCabrera is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the ALDS against the Royals.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone has alternated starts at first base in the ALDS, with Cabrera starting Games 1 and 3 and Jon Berti handling the position in Games 2 and 4. Cabrera is 1-for-5 with a double and three walks in the series.
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Jon Berti NYY 3B
Yankees' Jon Berti: Back at first base for Game 4
19h agoBerti is starting at first base and batting ninth Thursday in Game 4 of the ALDS in Kansas City, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.
Berti received his first professional start at first base in Game 2 and will be back there in Game 4 as the Yankees try to close out the series. Oswaldo Cabrera -- who started Games 1 and 3 at first base -- will begin this contest on the bench.
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Donovan Solano SD 3B
Padres' Donovan Solano: Sitting out Game 4
2d agoSolano isn't in the Padres' lineup Wednesday for Game 4 of the NLDS against the Dodgers.
Wednesday marks the third straight game San Diego has decided to keep Solano on the bench after a 1-for-13 start to the postseason. Luis Arraez will get the starting nod at first base instead while David Peralta serves as the DH.
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Oswaldo Cabrera NYY 3B
Yankees' Oswaldo Cabrera: Back at first base for Game 3
2d agoCabrera will start at first base and bat eighth Wednesday in Game 3 of the ALDS in Kansas City.
Cabrera started Game 1 before yielding to Jon Berti in Game 2, but he will be back at first base for Game 3. The switch hitter went 1-for-4 with a double and three strikeouts in the first game of the series.
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Donovan Solano SD 3B
Padres' Donovan Solano: Out of Game 3 lineup
3d agoSolano is absent from the lineup Tuesday in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers.
The Padres used Luis Arraez at first base and David Peralta in the designated-hitter slot in Game 2 and will go with that setup again after Peralta went deep in the contest. Solano did get two plate appearances off the bench in Game 2 and is a good bet to enter mid-game again when/if the Dodgers turn to a lefty reliever.
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Alec Bohm PHI 3B
Phillies' Alec Bohm: Will return to lineup for Game 3
3d agoPhillies manager Rob Thomson said Monday that Bohm will be back in the lineup for Game 3 of the NLDS versus the Mets on Tuesday, Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Edmundo Sosa got the start at third base in Game 2, although Bohm pinch hit for him in the seventh inning and wound up with two plate appearances. Bohm is just 2-for-33 over his last nine contests dating back to the tail end of the regular season.
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Miguel Rojas LAD SS
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Won't start in Game 5
16h agoRojas (thigh) will not be in the lineup for Game 5 of the NLDS against the Padres on Friday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Rojas left Game 3 of the series after he aggravated an adductor injury and was held out of Game 4. Tommy Edman will shift to shortstop in his absence, leaving several potential options to cover center field.
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Miguel Rojas LAD SS
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Not in lineup for Game 4
2d agoRojas (thigh) isn't in the lineup Wednesday for Game 4 of the NLDS against the Padres.
Rojas left Game 3 early after aggravating an adductor injury that has plagued him for several weeks, and it will officially cause him to miss Wednesday's contest as well. In his place, Tommy Edman will start at shortstop while Enrique Hernandez fills the void in center field.
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Edmundo Sosa PHI SS
Phillies' Edmundo Sosa: Taking seat in Game 4
2d agoSosa is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 4 of the NLDS against the Mets, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Sosa often starts against left-handed pitching, as he did in Game 3 versus southpaw Sean Manaea. However, the Phillies are going with Bryson Stott at second base Wednesday versus lefty Jose Quintana.
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Miguel Rojas LAD SS
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Exits with injury
3d agoRojas was removed from Tuesday's Game 3 of the NLDS due to a leg injury, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
Rojas has been playing through an adductor injury since September, and he seemed to aggravate it while running the bases in the third inning Tuesday. If the 35-year-old infielder is forced to miss any additional games, Tommy Edman would likely move to shortstop while Andy Pages fills the gap in center field.
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Ha-seong Kim SD SS
Padres' Ha-Seong Kim: Changes agents
5d agoKim (shoulder) changed his agents to be represented by the Boras Corporation, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. He has an $8 million mutual option with the Padres this offseason.
Even with his shoulder operation, Kim is a good candidate to fetch more than $8 million on the open market. As Acee points out, the agent change is a clear sign that he's going to test that open market.
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Edmundo Sosa PHI SS
Phillies' Edmundo Sosa: Gets opportunity to start in Game 2
5d agoSosa is batting eighth and starting at third base against the Mets in Game 2 of the NLDS on Sunday.
Sosa didn't play in Game 1 of the series Saturday, but he'll move into the lineup for Game 2 while Alec Bohm begins on the bench. Per Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Phillies manager Rob Thomson referred to Sosa's energy in explaining the decision to make the switch. During the regular season, Sosa slashed .257/.313/.422 with seven home runs, 31 RBI, 39 runs and seven stolen bases over 272 plate appearances.
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Kerry Carpenter DET RF
Tigers' Kerry Carpenter: Exits Thursday's game
14h agoCarpenter exited Thursday's game against the Guardians due to a left hamstring injury, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Carpenter reached base on a single in the sixth inning and came around to score, but he was spotted hobbling around third base. He was replaced by a pinch hitter for his next at-bat, though the severity of the injury is unclear.
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Sal Frelick MIL RF
Brewers' Sal Frelick: Will get another shot at third base
20h agoBrewers manager Pat Murphy said Thursday that the team plans to give Frelick another look at third base next season, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Frelick played third base often during spring training but moved back to the outfield when Garrett Mitchell fractured his hand shortly before Opening Day and played just four innings at third during the season. However, the club was pleased with how Frelick looked at the hot corner and like the option of using him there, even if it might not be on a regular basis.
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Wenceel Perez DET RF
Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Idle for Game 4
21h agoPerez isn't in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the ALDS against Cleveland.
Perez has gone 1-for-5 while appearing in two games this series, and he'll move to the bench Thursday as the Tigers look to clinch a spot in the ALCS. Matt Vierling will take over in right field while Zach McKinstry covers the hot corner.
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Jasson Dominguez NYY CF
Yankees' Jasson Dominguez: Out of lineup again for Game 3
2d agoDominguez is absent from the lineup Wednesday for Game 3 of the ALDS versus the Royals.
Dominguez started in left field in each of the last five games of the regular season, but he has yet to see any action in the ALDS. The Yankees are again going with Alex Verdugo in left field for Game 3.
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Austin Hays PHI LF
Phillies' Austin Hays: Not starting Game 4
2d agoHays is absent from the lineup Wednesday in Game 4 of the NLDS versus the Mets, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
It's lefty Jose Quintana on the bump for the Mets, but it will be Weston Wilson and not Hays getting the call in left field for the Phillies. Hays started Game 3 and went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts.
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Tommy Pham KC LF
Royals' Tommy Pham: Sitting out ALDS Game 3
2d agoPham is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 3 of the ALDS versus the Yankees.
Pham was in the lineup for the first two games of the series, picking up two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. He will begin Game 3 on the bench as Adam Frazier starts in right field and bats eighth.
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto LAD SP
Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Starting Game 5
10h agoYamamoto has been named the starter for Game 5 of the NLDS against the Padres on Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Manager Dave Roberts had previously said that Yamamoto would pitch in some capacity, though it was unclear whether that would be as a starter or in a shorter stint. It appears that the Dodgers intend for him to work as a traditional starter in Friday's contest, though he's yet to pitch more than five innings in any of his five starts since returning from the injured list.
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Nestor Cortes NYY SP
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Ramps up intensity
17h agoCortes (elbow) has continued to throw and was able to increase the intensity in Thursday's session, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Cortes maintains hope to pitch in the ALCS as the Yankees are a win away from advancing Thursday. The left-hander continues to make strides in his recovery from the flexor strain, but his availability for the rest of the playoffs remains up in the air.
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Reese Olson DET SP
Tigers' Reese Olson: Drawing ALDS Game 4 start
21h agoOlson will start Thursday in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Guardians.
The Tigers used an opener ahead of Olson in Game 1 of the series, but he will be given a traditional start Thursday as Detroit looks to close out the series. Olson struck out four while allowing just one run over five innings in Game 1.
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Cristopher Sanchez PHI SP
Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez: Could pitch in relief in Game 4
2d agoSanchez is available in relief Wednesday in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Mets, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Sanchez has had just two days to rest after throwing 88 pitches in Game 2, but he will be available for at least a couple innings out of the bullpen in Game 4, if needed. The left-hander took a no-decision in Game 2, permitting two runs over five frames.
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Zack Wheeler PHI SP
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Not available in relief for Game 4
2d agoWheeler is not available in relief Wednesday for Game 4 of the NLDS against the Mets, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The Phillies are facing elimination and Wheeler would be on three days' rest. He would pitch Wednesday only in an emergency situation after throwing 111 pitches in Game 1. Wheeler would take the ball Friday if the Phillies are able to force a Game 5.
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Tanner Bibee CLE SP
Guardians' Tanner Bibee: Confirmed for Game 4
2d agoBibee will start Thursday in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Tigers, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.
Bibee will be on regular rest after tossing 4.2 shutout frames in Game 1, so he was the obvious call for the Guardians in Game 4. The Tigers used an opener in Game 1 and have not yet announced their Game 4 starter.
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Abner Uribe MIL RP
Brewers' Abner Uribe: Expected to be ready for spring
23h agoBrewers general manager Matt Arnold said Thursday that Uribe (knee) is expected to be 100 percent for the start of spring training, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Uribe underwent surgery in July to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee, an injury he suffered while at Triple-A Nashville. The hard-throwing righty had a brief turn as the Brewers' closer at the beginning of the season but finished with a 6.91 ERA and 1.88 WHIP across 14.1 innings in the majors. Uribe has the stuff to be a high-leverage reliever if he can throw enough strikes.
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Nick Martinez CIN RP
Reds' Nick Martinez: Expected to opt out
1d agoMartinez is expected to exercise his option to opt out of his $12 million contract for 2025, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Martinez finished the season on a high note and did well overall in a hybrid starter/reliever role with Cincinnati. The Reds still can make a one-year qualifying offer for $21 million, but it's a good bet that Martinez will try to test the market and land a multi-year deal.
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Ryan Brasier LAD RP
Dodgers' Ryan Brasier: Opening Game 4
2d agoBrasier will serve as the Dodgers' opening pitcher for Wednesday's matchup with the Padres in Game 4 of the NLDS, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Brasier drew four opening assignments in the regular season, during which he allowed one run over four total innings. He'll likely be entrusted with just one or two innings before the Dodgers turn the game over to the bullpen.
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Grant Taylor CHW RP
White Sox's Grant Taylor: Cleared for AFL
2d agoTaylor (lat) is slated to pitch in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs.
Taylor missed LSU's 2023 national championship season following Tommy John surgery and missed most of this season with a lat strain, so this is a chance for him to make up for lost time. It's a weak crop of pitching prospects in the AFL, and Taylor has the stuff to stand out, headlined by a mid-90s fastball, low-90s cutter and a pair of breaking balls. He posted a 1.13 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 25:1 K:BB in 16 innings over four starts for Single-A Kannapolis earlier this year.
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Michael Grove LAD RP
Dodgers' Michael Grove: Removed from NLDS roster
3d agoGrove was removed from the Dodgers' NLDS roster Tuesday due to a shoulder injury, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
The details of Grove's injury remain unknown, though the issue is apparently severe enough to warrant holding him out for the remainder of the series. The 27-year-old righty would also be ineligible to pitch in the NLCS if Los Angeles advances past the Padres, meaning he will have to wait until the World Series before potentially making another appearance. In the meantime, Ben Casparius will act as Grove's roster replacement.
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Joe Kelly LAD RP
Dodgers' Joe Kelly: Likely out until World Series
6d agoKelly (shoulder) isn't expected to be able to pitch again this season unless the Dodgers reach the World Series, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Kelly tweaked his shoulder in a simulated game this week. The issue explains why the right-handed reliever was left off Los Angeles' NLDS roster. Though Kelly posted an unimpressive 4.78 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over 32 innings during the regular season, he recorded a 9.8 K/9 and tied for third on the team with 13 holds.
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Kyle Manzardo CLE DH
Guardians' Kyle Manzardo: Sitting against left-hander
4d agoManzardo is not in the lineup Monday for Game 2 of the ALDS against the Tigers, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
It's lefty ace Tarik Skubal on the bump for the Tigers, so the left-handed hitting Manzardo will grab a seat. David Fry is in the designated hitter spot and batting second for the Guardians.
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J.D. Martinez NYM DH
Mets' J.D. Martinez: Starting in Game 2
5d agoMartinez is starting at DH and batting sixth in Sunday's Game 2 of the NLDS versus Philadelphia.
Martinez began Game 1 on the bench but came on as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and delivered an RBI single. Jesse Winker was the starter at DH in that contest, and he'll move to the bench to begin the second game of the series. Sunday will mark Martinez's second start at DH for the Mets in the postseason, while Winker has started in that role three times.
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Brent Rooker OAK DH
Athletics' Brent Rooker: Undergoes forearm surgery
7d agoAthletics general manager David Forst revealed Friday that Rooker underwent right forearm extensor surgery Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Rooker evidently dealt with discomfort in his elbow/forearm for the bulk of the season. It certainly didn't affect his performance at the plate, as he posted a .927 OPS with 39 home runs, but it could be at least part of the reason he didn't start a game in the outfield after May. Rooker is expected to be 100 percent healthy for the start of spring training.
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Marcell Ozuna ATL DH
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Option will be exercised
7d agoAtlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Friday that the team plans to exercise Ozuna's $16 million club option for 2025, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game Atlanta reports.
The decision was a gimme after Ozuna slashed .302/.378/.546 with 39 home runs and 104 RBI in 2024. The veteran slugger didn't play a single inning in the outfield this season, so Jorge Soler will have to play the outfield in 2025 if Atlanta intends on him being a regular next season. It's not ideal from a defensive standpoint, but Atlanta wasn't going to let Ozuna walk after he was the team's best offensive player in 2024.
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J.D. Martinez NYM DH
Mets' J.D. Martinez: Starting at DH
9d agoMartinez will start at designated hitter and bat sixth Wednesday in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Brewers, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Martinez yielded to Jesse Winker at designated hitter in Game 1, although he came off the bench to deliver a two-run single. The 37-year-old put up just a .368 OPS in September for the Mets.
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J.D. Martinez NYM DH
Mets' J.D. Martinez: Absent from Game 1 lineup
10d agoMartinez is not in the lineup Tuesday for Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Brewers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Martinez saw his playing time cut down the stretch of the regular season as he struggled to a .368 OPS in September. Jesse Winker had similar struggles in the final month but will get a shot at designated hitter in Game 1 versus righty Freddy Peralta.