MLB Player News

Kikuchi (11-6) picked up the win Friday, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks over five-plus innings in an 11-4 victory over the Rays. He struck out four.

The southpaw blanked Tampa for five innings before fading in the sixth and giving up three straight extra-base hits to open the frame, but the Jays were already up 8-0 at that point. Kikuchi stumbles into a likely postseason run -- Toronto needs just one more win, or a Seattle loss, to clinch a wild-card spot -- with a 5.02 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 35:10 K:BB through 28.2 innings in September.

Bradley didn't factor into the decision Friday during the Rays' 11-4 loss to the Blue Jays, allowing one run on two hits in an inning of relief. He struck out one without walking a batter.

The rookie right-hander tossed 21 pitches (16 strikes) in his brief appearance, but this usage doesn't necessarily mean Bradley is shifting to the bullpen for the postseason. With Tampa Bay already locked into the top wild-card spot in the American League and likely to face Toronto to begin the playoffs next week, manager Kevin Cash elected not to give the opposition a good look at any of the starting pitchers the Rays might be using -- Aaron Civale got the start but left the mound after 40 pitches, while Zack Littell also tossed 35 pitches in relief. Bradley finishes the regular season with a shaky 5.56 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through his first 103.2 big-league innings, but the 22-year-old righty's 129:39 K:BB highlights his upside.

Littell didn't factor into the decision Friday during the Rays' 11-4 loss to the Blue Jays, coughing up three runs on three hits and two walks over 1.1 relief innings. He struck out one.

Aaron Civale tossed 40 pitches as the starting pitcher and was charged with the loss during a game in which the Rays never led, but both Littell (35 pitches) and Taj Bradley (21 pitches) also saw action out of the bullpen, as manager Kevin Cash wanted to keep all his options open for his playoff rotation while not giving Toronto -- Tampa's likely opponent in the wild-card round -- a good look at any of them. Littell closes the books on a regular season that saw him post a 4.10 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 74:12 K:BB through 90 innings split between the Rays and Red Sox.

Civale (7-5) took the loss Friday as the Rays were routed 11-4 by the Blue Jays, giving up one run on two hits and two walks over 1.2 innings. He struck out three.

With Tampa Bay already locked into the top wild-card spot in the American League and likely to face Toronto to begin the playoffs next week, manager Kevin Cash elected not to give the opposition a good look at any of the starting pitchers the Rays might be using. Civale got the hook after 40 pitches (21 strikes), while Zack Littell (35 pitches) and Taj Bradley (21 pitches) also saw action out of the bullpen. All three right-handers figure to be available when the AL Wild Card Series begins Tuesday. Civale finishes the regular season with a 3.46 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 116:33 K:BB through 122.1 innings split between Tampa Bay and Cleveland, but his ratios since being acquired by the Rays (5.36 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 45.1 IP) are far less impressive.

Means (1-2) took the loss Friday, allowing two runs on three hits and no walks over 6.1 innings against the Red Sox. He struck out four.

Means picked up his second straight quality start after firing 7.1 one-run innings against Cleveland on Sept. 23. The only blemish on the 30-year-old lefty's outing Friday was a two-run homer by Trevor Story in the fifth inning. Means wraps up his return from Tommy John surgery this season having posted an impressive 2.66 ERA and 0.72 WHIP over 23.2 innings with a 10:4 K:BB.

Ryan did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing six runs on eight hits and one walk over five innings against the Rockies. He struck out six.

Ryan allowed three homers on the night, bringing his season total to 32 -- more than all but four other pitchers. The right-hander finishes the regular season with a 4.51 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 197 strikeouts in 161.2 innings, but over his past five outings, he holds an ERA of 6.20 and a WHIP of 1.46. His next start will likely come in the wild-card round, as the Twins look to break an 18-game playoff losing skid that dates back to Oct. 5, 2004.

Whitlock picked up the save in Friday's 3-0 victory over the Orioles. He allowed one hit and no walks while striking out three over two scoreless innings.

Whitlock notched his first save of 2023 and the ninth of his career. The 27-year-old righty has been solid in relief this month with a 2.89 ERA, 0.86 ERA and 10:2 K:BB over 9.1 September innings. The 33-pitch effort likely ends a tough season for Whitlock in which he's thrown 71.2 innings with a 5.15 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 72:13 K:BB.

Wentz (3-13) took the loss Friday, allowing seven runs on eight hits and three walks over 2.1 innings against the Guardians. He struck out two.

It has a been a miserable year for Wentz as he is tied for fifth in the league with 13 losses. The 25-year-old lefty's September was particularly rough, as he has an 8.39 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 15:9 K:BB in 16.1 innings. Wentz ends his 2023 season with a gruesome 6.90 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 98:47 K:BB over 105.2 frames.

Woo allowed two hits and three walks while striking out five over 3.2 shutout innings in a no-decision versus the Rangers on Friday.

While he didn't give up a run, Woo needed 82 pitches (44 strikes) to get 11 outs. Manager Scott Servais elected not to push the young right-hander further, and the bullpen was able to keep the shutout going with 5.1 scoreless innings distributed between five relievers. Woo finishes the regular season with a 4.21 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 93:31 K:BB as well as a 4-5 record through 18 starts spanning 87.2 innings. He also logged 44 innings with a 2.05 ERA with Double-A Arkansas after throwing just 57 innings across three levels last year. Should the Mariners push their way into the postseason, Woo would likely work out of the bullpen if he gets onto the playoff roster at all.

Eovaldi (12-5) allowed seven runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five over 3.1 innings to take the loss Friday versus the Mariners.

The Mariners did all their damage in the third and fourth innings, sending Eovaldi to the showers early after the back-to-back shaky frames. Over six appearances in September after returning from a forearm strain, Eovaldi allowed 21 runs across 20.1 innings with a 21:13 K:BB. He ends the regular season with a 3.63 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 132:47 K:BB over 144 innings through 25 starts. Given his recent struggles, it's unclear if he'd be part of the postseason rotation for the Rangers should they secure a playoff spot.