MLB Player News

Jax (back) allowed a run on one hit and one walk over two innings during Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees on Wednesday.

The right-hander exited his final outing of the regular season due to a lower-back contusion after being struck by a 104-mph comebacker, but he had a week and a half to rest up before entering Wednesday's series clincher. Jax, who posted a 3.14 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 106:28 K:BB in 23 starts during the regular season, and Ian Seymour should be the candidates to start Game 4 of the ALCS for Tampa Bay.

Martinez didn't factor into the decision in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk across 3.2 innings.

The right-hander started off with two scoreless frames before New York got to him for single tallies in the third and fourth innings to end his evening. Martinez worked exclusively as a starter in MLB for the first time in his career this year, and he responded by delivering a 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB over 180 regular-season innings. The Rays will presumably line him up to start Game 3 of the ALCS.

Baker gave up no hits and one walk in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay may have swept New York, but the series was hardly a breeze as Baker was needed for the save in all three games. The right-hander issued a one-out walk Wednesday -- the first baserunner he allowed in the series -- but retired the next two batters to close out the ALDS. Including the playoffs, Baker has converted 33 consecutive save chances and is unscored upon in his past 10 appearances.

Fried was charged with the loss in Game 3 of the ALDS on Wednesday, allowing four runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and no walks over 5.2 innings.

The left-hander surrendered a pair of homers, including a two-run shot by Victor Mesa to break a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning. It's an unfortunate end to the campaign for Fried, who was limited to 20 regular-season starts due to elbow issues. He was still plenty effective when available with a 2.80 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 104:33 K:BB across 112.2 innings.

Mesa went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old went 1-for-6 with a walk and a stolen base in the first two games of the series, but he found his power stroke Wednesday with a sixth-inning homer that broke a 2-2 tie and proved to be the difference in the outcome. Mesa is coming off a productive rookie campaign that saw him post an .825 OPS with 14 homers, nine steals, 34 RBI and 37 runs in 79 regular-season games.

Diaz retired all three batters he faced with one strikeout to earn the save in Game 4 of the NLDS against Atlanta on Wednesday.

It's the second straight day with a save for Diaz, who was shifted to a low-leverage role late in the season and also dealt with a neck injury. Tanner Scott operated as the Dodgers' primary closer down the stretch, but he surrendered two runs in Game 1 and was used in a setup role Wednesday. Diaz's 8.68 ERA in 21 appearances during the regular season will likely prevent him from being viewed as a lockdown closer this October, but he's been unscored upon in his last eight appearances (three postseason) and is clearly back in the high-leverage mix for manager Dave Roberts.

Glasnow didn't factor into the decision in Game 4 of the NLDS against Atlanta on Wednesday. He allowed a run on one hit and five walks with five strikeouts across 4.2 innings.

The right-hander surrendered a run during the opening frame on a single, a stolen base and a wild pitch, but he was otherwise able to overcome his lack of control and keep Atlanta off the board. Glasnow threw just 44 of 78 pitches for strikes and allowed at least one batter to reach in each of the five frames he appeared. The 33-year-old should pick up another start in the NLCS, possibly in Game 4 again since Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell likely locked into the Dodgers' top rotation spots.

Smith will serve as the opener Thursday in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Guardians, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Smith has given up one earned run in 6.1 innings across his three postseason appearances, and the White Sox will turn to him again to pitch the first inning of Game 4. Erick Fedde is a likely candidate to follow Smith out of the bullpen.

Mahle took the loss in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Wednesday, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk over 6.1 innings.

Los Angeles scored its first run during the second inning on a dropped pop fly, and Mahle otherwise shut down a high-powered offense until it scratched across another run in the seventh. The right-hander allowed just two earned runs across 13.1 frames in his two playoff appearances, continuing a strong second half that saw him post a 1.99 ERA in nine starts after being acquired by Atlanta at the trade deadline. That surge will benefit Mahle immensely when he hits free agency during the offseason.

Griffin didn't factor into the decision in Game 3 of the ALDS against the White Sox on Wednesday, giving up a run on two hits with seven strikeouts and no walks over 2.2 innings.

The left-hander entered behind opener Daniel Espino and struck out seven of the 11 batters he faced, but he was pulled with one out in the fourth inning after throwing 53 pitches (39 strikes). It was the playoff debut for Griffin, who made 31 starts as a rookie for Cleveland and Washington this year, posting a combined 3.60 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 158:45 K:BB across 172.2 regular-season innings. Given his workload, the 31-year-old Griffin likely won't be available for Game 4 on Thursday, but he should be good to go for Game 5 on Saturday, should Cleveland stave off elimination again.