MLB Player News

Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that he expects Bautista (elbow) to more or less be without restrictions at the start of spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Bautista started throwing off the mound in August and will be 16 months removed from Tommy John surgery by February. As long as he looks good during Grapefruit League play, he should regain the closer role for Baltimore heading into 2025. Bautista posted a 1.48 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 110:26 K:BB over 61 innings while notching 33 saves in 2023.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson indicated Wednesday that Turnbull (lat) is unlikely to be on the NLDS roster, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Thomson said Turnbull was "erratic" during an intrasquad game Wednesday, adding that he believes the righty needs to fine-tune things. Turnbull has been sidelined since late June with a right lat strain and it would appear he'll remain out at least through the first round of the postseason.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Hoffman didn't pitch in a simulated game Wednesday due to a stiff neck, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Thomson said holding Hoffman back was precautionary, adding that he expects the reliever to be "fine" for Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday. Hoffman will be a high-leverage reliever for the Phillies this postseason following a regular season which saw him collect a 2.17 ERA and 89:16 K:BB over 66.1 innings.

Turnbull (lat) will pitch in an intrasquad game Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park, MLB.com reports.

Turnbull made a rehab start with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sept. 22 and threw 52 pitches in a live batting practice session Sept. 27. If he gets through Wednesday's session without any issues, Turnbull could be included on the Phillies' NLDS roster as a long reliever. He's been sidelined since late June with a right lat strain.

Holton will open Game 2 of the Tigers' wild-card series versus Houston on Wednesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

After turning in a 2.19 ERA and 0.78 WHIP through 94.1 innings in the regular season, Holton will now be rewarded with an opener assignment in the playoffs as the Tigers look to advance to the ALDS. He'll likely only remain in the game for an inning or two before turning things over to Reese Olson, though Holton has reached three frames in four of his 66 appearances.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Cousins (pectoral) is on track to be ready for the ALDS, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Cousins will throw another bullpen session Wednesday, which should be the last hurdle he needs to clear before being included on the ALDS roster. The right-handed reliever hasn't pitched in a game in nearly two weeks because of a right pectoral strain.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo revealed Tuesday that Ginkel suffered a fractured bone in his left leg when he was hit by a comebacker during an appearance versus the Mets on June 1, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

The Diamondbacks said at the time that X-rays on Ginkel's leg came back negative, but evidently, subsequent testing revealed the fracture. Ginkel never went on the injured list and his numbers suggest the discomfort didn't hinder him, as he held a 2.81 ERA and 57:10 K:BB over 48 innings after the incident. The reliever's leg should fully heal with a little rest this offseason.

Hudson is not on the Brewers' roster for the National League Wild Card Series against the Mets, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Hudson was one of the Brewers' best relievers this season, collecting a 1.73 ERA and 62:17 K:BB over 62.1 innings, but he was sent down to Triple-A Nashville in early September after his velocity dipped. The lefty allowed one run with a 10:0 K:BB across 5.2 frames at Nashville, but the team evidently still wasn't convinced he was ready to help during the first round of the playoffs.

Iglesias blew his fourth save of the season in the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the Mets, giving up two runs on two hits in one-third of an inning. He then gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning during the second game to record his 34th save of the year.

With Atlanta clinging to a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning of the matinee and needing at least one win in the twin bill to secure a playoff spot, Iglesias got the call with nobody out and runners on first and second to try and shut down a rally, but the veteran closer gave up an RBI single to Jose Iglesias, a sacrifice fly to Mark Vientos and a two-run homer to Brandon Nimmo. Atlanta wound up losing 8-7, but Iglesias shut the door in the nightcap, taking him off the hook for what might have been a season-ruining meltdown. It was his first blown save since Aug. 27, but the second time in his final eight appearances of the regular season he's been tagged for multiple runs. Fatigue could be a factor after the 34-year-old finished the regular season with 69.1 innings, his biggest workload since 2021. Iglesias has also taken the mound four times in the last four days, which likely makes him unavailable should Atlanta have a late lead to protect Tuesday in Game 1 of its NL Wild Card Series against the Padres.

Holmes came away with a no-decision in the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Mets, allowing only one hit and one walk over four innings. He struck out seven.

Atlanta needed to win at least one of the two games in Monday's twin bill to make the playoffs, and after dropping the matinee, the original plan was to turn to ace Chris Sale in the must-win nightcap. Back spasms made Sale unavailable however, forcing the team to turn to Holmes with its season on the line, and the 28-year-old rookie right-hander rose to the occasion. He wraps up his first regular season in the majors with a 3.56 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 70:15 K:BB over 68.1 innings in a swingman role, but after throwing 53 pitches (35 strikes) Monday, Holmes may not be available during the Wild Card Round against the Padres.