MLB Player News

Montgomery will start for the Rangers in Game 2 of the ALDS on Sunday at Baltimore.

Andrew Heaney is on tap for Game 1, presumably in tandem with Dane Dunning, and then it'll be Montgomery in Game 2 and likely Nathan Eovaldi in Game 3. Montgomery posted a 0.67 ERA and 22:5 K:BB over his final 27 innings (four starts) in the regular season and worked seven shutout frames in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series this past Tuesday versus the Rays.

Heaney will start for the Rangers in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday at Baltimore.

The right-handed Dane Dunning seemed like the best bet to start Game 1 prior to Friday's announcement, but he could be viewed as a piggyback option after the left-handed Heaney navigates the tough left-handed and switch hitters that tend to occupy the top of the Orioles' batting order. Heaney finished his regular season on a high note last weekend at Seattle, scattering five hits and one walk over 4.1 scoreless innings in an 85-pitch start. His previous six appearances were in relief.

Scherzer (shoulder) faced hitters during a simulated game Friday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Scherzer threw two simulated innings against live hitters before throwing a third inning with nobody standing in the batter's box. The 39-year-old said afterward that he felt good while on the mound, but he's more concerned with how he'll recover afterward. It's possible the Rangers list Scherzer on their ALDS roster ahead of Game 1 against Baltimore on Saturday, but there is no guarantee he'll be available to pitch during the series.

Gray will start Game 3 of Minnesota's ALDS matchup versus the Astros on Tuesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Gray's next postseason start will come after Bailey Ober and Pablo Lopez, who are slated to start the first two games of the series, respectively. Gray faced Houston twice in the regular season, giving up four total runs while striking out 16 batters and walking four through 13 innings.

Lopez will start Game 2 of the Twins' ALDS matchup against Houston on Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Lopez will follow Game 1 starter Bailey Ober, and Sonny Gray will start Game 3 on Tuesday. Lopez had a shaky end to the regular season, giving up 11 runs over 15.1 innings. However, he was able to bounce back nicely in Game 1 of the Twins' AL Wild Card Series against Toronto, allowing just one run over 5.2 frames while striking out three batters and walking two.

Ober will start Saturday against the Astros in Game 1 of the ALDS, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Ober wasn't even on the Twins' AL Wild Card Series roster, but he'll be entrusted with the series opener in Houston. The big right-hander was sent to the minors following a midseason swoon, but he returned in September to post a 2.08 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 21.2 innings of work. Ober will be opposed by Justin Verlander in Game 1.

Rodriguez will start Sunday in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Rangers, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The rookie right-hander will be following Game 1 starter Kyle Bradish. Rodriguez got sent back to the minors following a slow start to the season but was dynamite after returning, posting a 2.58 ERA and 73:21 K:BB over his final 76.2 frames covering 13 starts. That includes a 2.17 ERA and 32:7 K:BB over 29 innings in September.

Bradish will start Saturday in Game 1 of the ALDS versus the Rangers, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Bradish seemed to be the clear choice for the Orioles following a breakout 2023 campaign which saw him post a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 168:44 K:BB over 168.2 innings covering 30 starts. That includes a 2.34 ERA in the second half and a 16-inning scoreless streak to end his regular season. The Rangers have not yet announced a Game 1 starter, but it's expected to be Dane Dunning. Grayson Rodriguez will get the ball in Game 2 for the O's.

Ober is being considered to start Saturday's Game 1 of the ALDS in Houston, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Joe Ryan was going to start a potential AL Wild Card Series Game 3 for the Twins, so he's also a candidate for Game 1 of the ALDS and perhaps the favorite for the start. Kenta Maeda is also in the mix. Ober wasn't even on the AL Wild Card Series roster because the team needed only three starters, but he told Hayes that the Twins "have dropped hints he'll pitch at some point" during the ALDS. Ober posted a 2.08 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 21.2 innings after rejoining the club Sept. 15 following a stint in the minors.

Dunning is likely to start for the Rangers in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday at Baltimore, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Dunning was not needed in the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series, with Texas earning a quick two-game sweep of the Rays, so he would be on five full days of rest for Saturday's ALDS opener versus the Orioles. Assuming the 28-year-old right-hander is indeed the pick for Game 1, the Rangers would probably then roll with Jordan Montgomery as their starter in ALDS Game 2 on Sunday followed by Nathan Eovaldi in ALDS Game 3 on Tuesday.