MLB Player News
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David Bednar RP | NYY
Yankees' David Bednar: Tallies first postseason save
Bednar pitched a perfect ninth inning while striking out two batters to pick up the save during Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Red Sox.
After giving up two hits and a run over two-thirds of an inning in Game 1, Bednar was summoned to handle the ninth for the second time in as many days. He was much more effective this time around, striking out Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran before getting Ceddanne Rafaela to fly out to right field to end the game. Bednar posted a 2.19 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in the regular season after joining the Yankees at the trade deadline and figures to be manager Aaron Boone's go-to option in save situations for the remainder of New York's postseason run.
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Brayan Bello SP | BOS
Red Sox's Brayan Bello: Coughs up two in brief start
Bello didn't factor into the decision during Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Yankees, giving up two earned runs on four hits and a walk over 2.1 innings. He failed to record a strikeout.
Bello put himself in a hole early by giving up a two-run homer to Ben Rice in the first inning. The 26-year-old righty picked up the next four outs with relatively little trouble while Boston's offense tied the game, but after allowing two men to reach with one out in the third, he got the hook after only 28 pitches. Because his appearance was so short, Bello may be available to take the mound again early in the ALDS, though the Red Sox will first need to leave Yankee Stadium with a win in Game 3.
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Carlos Rodon SP | NYY
Yankees' Carlos Rodon: Takes no-decision in Game 2
Rodon didn't factor into the decision during Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Red Sox, giving up three earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six batters over six innings.
Rodon squandered an early 2-0 lead by giving up a two-run single to Trevor Story in the third inning. The Yankees' offense then gave the southpaw a 3-2 lead to work with entering the sixth, which was once again spoiled by Story -- this time via a 381-foot solo shot to left field. Rodon needed 91 pitches to make it through six frames Wednesday, so he likely won't be available to pitch again until Game 3 of the ALDS on Tuesday if the Pinstripes advance past Boston.
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Bo Naylor C | CLE
Guardians' Bo Naylor: Pops first career playoff homer
Naylor went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's victory over the Tigers.
Brayan Rocchio broke a tie with a solo shot with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning and Daniel Schneemann tacked on an additional run with an RBI double. Naylor then added some big insurance runs with a three-run blast off lefty reliever Brant Hurter. It was the first hit of the wild-card series and the first career postseason home run for Naylor, who hit a career-high 14 out of the yard during the regular season.
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Spencer Torkelson 1B | DET
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: X-rays on foot are negative
Torkelson underwent X-rays on his right foot which came back negative after Wednesday's loss to the Guardians in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Torkelson was hit in the hand by a Cade Smith pitch in the ninth inning, but it was his foot that was imaged after he fouled a ball off his leg earlier in the game. He is expected to be fine to play in Thursday's winner-take-all Game 3. Torkelson went 0-for-3 with a walk, in addition to the hit-by-pitch, in Wednesday's contest.
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Brayan Rocchio SS | CLE
Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Go-ahead homer as Guardians survive
Rocchio smashed a go-ahead, solo home run in the eighth inning of Wednesday's 6-1 victory over the Tigers in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series.
Rocchio was in a 0-2 hole against Troy Melton with one out and no one on, but he got a center-cut fastball and didn't miss it, putting the pitch over the right-field wall to send the crowd at Progressive Field into a frenzy. The Guardians tacked on an additional four runs in the frame and forced a winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday. It was the second career postseason homer for Rocchio, who slashed .306/.390/.444 during the 2024 playoffs.
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Tanner Bibee SP | CLE
Guardians' Tanner Bibee: Holds Tigers to one run in Game 2
Bibee yielded one run on five hits and three walks over 4.2 frames Wednesday, taking a no-decision in a win over the Tigers in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series. He struck out six.
Bibee had to pitch out of a jam right away, with the first two batters of the game reaching on a single and an error. He was up to the challenge, fanning the next three hitters. He permitted one run in the fourth on a Javier Baez RBI single and was spared from being charged with another when Zach McKinstry ran into an out on the bases. Bibee was unable to get through the fifth inning after issuing a two-out walk to put a second runner on, but the Guardians' bullpen then shut things down the rest of the way in a 6-1 win. The righty was trending in the right direction late in the regular season with a 1.30 ERA in September, and he kept it going in his first outing of the postseason.
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Casey Mize SP | DET
Tigers' Casey Mize: Short Game 2 outing
Mize took a no-decision in Wednesday's game versus the Guardians, allowing one run on one hit and two walks over three-plus innings.
The only hit and run Mize surrendered came courtesy of George Valera, who cranked a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. Mize struck out just one batter, though, and had thrown 62 pitches when he was lifted after issuing a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth inning. The right-hander should get another start if the Tigers advance to the ALDS, but manager A.J. Hinch would likely have a quick hook again.
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Bryan Woo SP | SEA
Mariners' Bryan Woo: Throwing bullpen session Thursday
Woo (pectoral) is slated to throw a bullpen session Thursday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
It will be the first time Woo has thrown off a mound since he suffered a right pectoral injury during his Sept. 19 start in Houston. If the Mariners want Woo to throw at least two bullpen sessions before clearing him to rejoin the rotation, he would not be available to start until Game 3 of the ALDS. More should be known about Woo's status following Thursday's throwing session.
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Bo Bichette SS | TOR
Blue Jays' Bo Bichette: Yet to resume running
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Bichette (knee) has yet to resume running but could be cleared to do so "hopefully soon," Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
General manager Ross Atkins noted earlier Wednesday that Bichette is making progress every day, but the GM was noncommittal on Bichette's return date. The Blue Jays have not ruled Bichette out for the ALDS, but until he's able to run without issue, it's difficult to project when he might rejoin the active roster. Bichette has been shelved for the last three-plus weeks with a PCL sprain in his left knee.