MLB Player News

Smith will start Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Astros on Tuesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Smith is no stranger to working multiple innings, so the length of his start will likely depend on how he fares. He opened a game for the White Sox on Sept. 10, firing two scoreless frames against the Pirates while striking out three. Hagen ended the regular season with a 1.29 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with a 41:16 K:BB across 28.0 innings.

Blubaugh will start for the Astros on Tuesday in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series versus the White Sox, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Blubaugh is capable of covering multiple innings, but it will be a bullpen game for the Astros. The right-hander made 64 appearances for Houston this season in a relief role, collecting a 3.66 ERA and 94:42 K:BB over 96 frames. Hunter Brown will get the ball on normal rest for the Astros in Game 2 on Wednesday.

Okert (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Monday and could be included on the Astros' wild-card series roster against the White Sox, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Okert has been shelved since early September with a right hamstring strain, but it sounds like the Astros could get one of their better relievers back in time for the playoffs. The left-hander has logged a 2.13 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 68:14 K:BB over 67.2 innings this season.

Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said Monday that the team has yet to decide whether Crochet (lat) will be include on the American League Wild Card series roster versus the Yankees, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Crochet has not pitched in a competitive setting since late April, as he has been brought along slowly in his recovery from a left lat strain. He's been throwing off a mound for several weeks and resumed facing hitters last week. If Crochet is included on Boston's wild-card series roster, it will be in a bullpen role, as he is not stretched out to be used as a starting pitcher.

Madden tossed three scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates.

The Tigers only got 1.1 innings out of starter River Ryan in the regular season finale Sunday, so they needed some length from Madden and two other relievers. The righty bounced back from allowing two runs in his last appearance to wrap up his 2026 campaign on a high note. Madden finishes the year with a 3.26 ERA and 46 strikeouts across 47 innings, and he figures to be in the mix for a bullpen spot with the Tigers once again in 2027.

Richards was credited with the save Sunday against Colorado, allowing one run on one hit and no walks in 3.1 innings. He struck out three.

Richards bridged the final gap between the regular season and postseason for the White Sox on Sunday. The performance bolstered his case to make Chicago's playoff roster, and the right-hander is expected to fill a middle-relief role as a multi-inning option this postseason. He'll close the regular season with a 3.78 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 68:23 K:BB across 78.2 innings for the White Sox.

Erceg allowed a hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Guardians.

Erceg closed out the season with five scoreless innings, earning a save and a hold over five appearances in that span. He had spent a month in Triple-A after giving up 14 runs (11 earned) over 10.2 innings in July and August. Erceg finishes the campaign with a 5.59 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 34:32 K:BB across 48.1 innings in the majors. He added 13 saves, five holds and six blown saves.

Lynch allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out two without walking a batter over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Guardians on Sunday.

Lynch made his last 10 appearances of the season as a starter, but he had some struggles. He allowed nine home runs over 40 innings in those games while posting a 6.53 ERA in a starting role. Overall, he finished the campaign at a 6-6 record, 4.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 56:26 K:BB through 86 innings over 56 appearances. Lynch's success out of the bullpen compared to his poor showings as a starter could make it tough for him to stick in the rotation in future seasons.

The Royals activated McArthur (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Sunday.

McArthur began the year on the shelf and ultimately required a third elbow procedure in May to combat continued soreness and inflammation in the region. If he ends up pitching in Sunday's season finale for Kansas City, it will be McArthur's first big-league appearance since 2024.

The Royals placed Gonsolin on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to an allergic reaction.

James McArthur (elbow) was reinstated to take Gonsolin's spot on the active roster for the final day of the regular season. Gonsolin spent most of the year on the mend from Tommy John surgery with an internal brace, returning for a lone big-league appearance Sept. 22, when he allowed five runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five over 2.2 innings against the White Sox.