MLB Player News

Martinez will start Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Martinez will make his 2026 postseason debut in what figures to be a hostile environment in New York. The crafty right-hander posted arguably the best regular season of his big-league career with the Rays, accruing a 3.10 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with a 109:26 K:BB across 180.0 innings, and he'll look to carry that momentum into the playoffs.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Rodon is lineup up to start potential Game 4 of the ALDS versus the Rays on Thursday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

The Yankees will turn to Max Fried in Game 3, leaving Rodon to take the ball in Game 4 in what would be his first start this postseason. Gerrit Cole would be on regular rest in Game 4 and could be used in relief that day, but otherwise he'll be lined up for a possible Game 5. Rodon's last start came on Sept. 22 against the Rays, and he struck out eight over eight shutout innings.

DeLuca will start in center field and bat seventh Monday in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees.

Cedric Mullins was the Rays' primary center fielder versus righties during the regular season. However, it's been DeLuca at the postion for each of the team's first two playoff games, despite the Yankees starting a right-hander in both contests. DeLuca went hitless in three plate appearances in Game 1.

Mullins is not in the lineup Monday for Game 2 of the ALDS versus the Yankees.

Despite the Yankees starting a righty again in Cam Schlittler, the left-handed-hitting Mullins will begin the contest on the bench. Jonny DeLuca is manning center field again for the Rays, and it seems he'll be manager Kevin Cash's preferred option at the position in the playoffs.

The Padres removed Vasquez from their NLDS roster Monday.

Vasquez was added to the roster as a replacement for Walker Buehler (personal), who was on paternity leave. With Buehler back in tow, Vasquez will exit the roster. Vasquez did not make an appearance during the first two games of the series.

The Padres activated Buehler from the paternity list Monday.

Buehler was away for the first two games of the series but will be back on the roster as the series shifts to San Diego for Game 3 on Tuesday. The veteran right-hander is a candidate to start Game 4, if needed. Buehler logged a 4.63 ERA and 131:57 K:BB over 153.2 innings covering 32 starts this season for the Padres.

Naylor underwent surgery Saturday to repair the triangular fibrocartilage complex in his right wrist.

Naylor first hurt his wrist in early August, and he went homerless in his final 41 games after the injury. The Mariners anticipate Naylor being fully recovered before the start of spring training. Naylor will be looking to bounce back offensively for Seattle in 2027 after finishing with just a .667 OPS and 10 long balls this season, though he kept his fantasy value afloat by stealing 30 bases for the second year in a row.

Raleigh underwent debridement surgery Saturday on the AC joint in his left shoulder.

He is expected to be fully recovered from the operation by the beginning of spring training. It's unclear how much the shoulder issue might have affected him, but Raleigh experienced a massive downturn in production from his historic 2025 season to 2026, dipping 284 points in OPS (.948 to .664) and dropping from 60 home runs to 23 long balls. With health, Raleigh should bounce back to some degree in 2027.

Johnson underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

It's unclear how long the knee had been bothering Johnson, but he's expected to be ready to roll by the time spring training comes around. The right-handed reliever made 28 appearances between the Phillies and Athletics in 2026, finishing with a 5.88 ERA and 40:20 K:BB across 33.2 frames.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday that Crochet (lat) is on track to have a fully healthy, normal offseason, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Crochet missed the final five-plus months of the regular season with a strained left lat, but he returned to make an appearance during the playoffs and will enter the offseason without restrictions. Lingering durability questions for Crochet will likely remain next spring, though he could quiet them somewhat if he looks sharp during Grapefruit League play.