MLB Player News

Rasmussen earned the win in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Sunday, allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts and one walk over seven innings.

It was another strong showing from Rasmussen, who has surrendered just three earned runs over 21 frames in three playoffs starts and has given up two runs or fewer in each of his past nine outings dating back to Aug. 24. The right-hander has blossomed into an ace, and Sunday's performance puts Tampa Bay one victory away from making the World Series.

Peralta will start Game 6 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Peralta will take the mound for his second start of the series after he pitched six scoreless innings while striking out six batters on his way to a win in Game 2. He also pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing a walk without surrendering a run in an appearance out of the bullpen in the team's 7-3 victory in Game 4. The right-hander has posted a 0.79 ERA over three postseason appearances this year, and he'll have a chance to help punch the Rays' ticket to the World Series with a win Monday.

Griffin didn't factor in the decision after giving up one run on four hits and no walks over 3.2 innings during Game 4 of the ALCS against the Rays on Saturday. He struck out five.

The left-hander allowed two runs over four innings while starting Game 1 of the series, but manager Stephen Vogt elected to have him follow opener Shawn Armstrong on Saturday. Griffin gave up a run on a double and a single during the third inning but was otherwise able to keep Tampa Bay in check. He shouldn't pitch Sunday in Game 5 after throwing 44 pitches but seems likely to be available for Game 6 and a possible Game 7.

Martinez earned the win in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Saturday, allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks across 5.1 innings.

The right-hander surrendered a run on two hits and a wild pitch during the opening frame but otherwise was able to keep Cleveland off the board to help even the series at 2-2. It was an improved effort from Martinez compared to his first playoff start during the ALDS, when he gave up two runs on five hits in 3.2 innings. He doesn't line up for another start versus the Guardians but could be available out of the bullpen for the final games of the series.

Martinez and the Rays won't face the Guardians on Friday in Game 4 of the ALCS, as the game was postponed due to rain.

Game 4 will now be played Saturday, and Game 5 will be pushed back to Sunday. Martinez will presumably remain in place as Tampa Bay's Game 4 starter and will be looking to bounce back after giving up two earned runs in just 3.2 innings during his last outing against the Yankees in the ALDS.

The Rays list Martinez as their probable pitcher for Friday's ALCS Game 4 in Cleveland.

Martinez will be pitching on eight days' rest after yielding two runs over 3.2 innings in the Rays' ALDS Game 3 win over the Yankees. The right-hander logged a 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB over 180 regular-season innings for the Rays. The Guardians will counter with opener Shawn Armstrong as an opener, with Tanner Bibee and/or Joey Cantillo likely to handle bulk relief.

Woodruff (shoulder) said Thursday that "it's gonna be hard to keep me off that [World Series] roster," Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Woodruff has not pitched in more than three months due to right shoulder inflammation, but he's been throwing off a mound for the past week and hopes to gain clearance to face hitters soon. If the Brewers do decide to carry Woodruff on their World Series roster, it would be in a relief role.

Glasnow didn't factor in the decision in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Brewers on Thursday, giving up four runs on three hits with six strikeouts and two walks over 4.1 innings.

The right-hander opened the contest in dominant fashion by retiring the first 10 batters he faced with six punchouts, but Milwaukee's bats came alive across the next two frames to quickly flip the script. After issuing five walks during his NLDS start in Atlanta, Glasnow again struggled with free passes Thursday, as the rally in both of those frames began with a walk. The 33-year-old surrendered five runs with an 11:7 K:BB across nine frames in his two playoff appearances. Glasnow was limited to 13 starts during the regular season due to a back issue, though he was effective when available with a 3.53 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 98:25 K:BB over 74 innings.

Jax was charged with the loss in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Thursday, allowing three runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks over four-plus innings.

Jax entered the fifth inning with a 2-1 lead, but he surrendered an infield single and a two-run homer to begin that frame before getting the hook. It was the first start of the playoffs for the right-hander, who made one relief appearance during the ALDS and gave up a run over two innings. Jax will likely be in the mix to start a possible Game 7 for Tampa Bay.

Williams earned the win Thursday in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Rays, giving up two runs on two hits and one walk with nine strikeouts over five innings.

The right-hander ran into trouble during the fourth inning when Tampa Bay scored twice on a walk, double and a triple, but he was perfect in each of his other four frames. Williams has been Cleveland's best starter in the playoffs with a 2.30 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 23:5 K:BB across 15.2 innings, and he also fired a scoreless frame out of the bullpen in the ALDS. The 27-year-old tentatively lines up to start Game 7 of the championship series, should it be necessary.