MLB Player News
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Gerrit Cole SP | NYY
Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Named Game 1 starter
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Cole will start Friday in Game 1 of the World Series, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.
The Yankees wrapping up the ALCS in five games allowed them to set up their rotation as they wanted, and that means Cole taking the ball in Game 1. Boone added that Cole will likely be followed by Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil, in that order, although he has not yet etched that into stone. Cole holds a 3.31 ERA and 12:6 K:BB over 16.1 innings in three starts this postseason.
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Nestor Cortes SP | NYY
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Throws live BP
Manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that Cortes (elbow) came away from his live batting practice session feeling good, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Cortes is slated to throw another round of BP within the next few days. Assuming he gets through that without any issues, it appears the left-hander has a good chance to be on the active roster if the Yankees advance to the World Series.
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Tanner Bibee SP | CLE
Guardians' Tanner Bibee: Named Game 5 starter
Bibee will start Game 5 of the ALCS against the Yankees on Saturday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Bibee has made three starts during the postseason so far, during which he's allowed four earned runs over 10 innings. He didn't fare well during his most recent outing in Game 2, however, allowing three runs (two earned) in just 1.1 frames. His abbreviated outing will allow him to pitch on short rest Saturday, and he'll look to quiet the Yankees' offense, which owns a .743 OPS in the postseason.
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Gavin Williams SP | CLE
Guardians' Gavin Williams: Named ALCS Game 4 starter
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Thursday that Williams will start Friday in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Williams hasn't pitched since Sept. 22, as the Guardians haven't needed a fourth starter yet this postseason. He will be opposed by Luis Gil. Williams was limited to 16 starts during the regular season due to elbow issues and finished with a 4.86 ERA and 79:32 K:BB over 76 innings.
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Matthew Boyd SP | CLE
Guardians' Matthew Boyd: Taking ball in ALCS Game 3
Boyd will start Thursday in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Boyd will be on regular rest and was the obvious choice for Guardians manager Stephen Vogt in Game 3 after Boyd struck out 10 over 6.2 shutout innings in two ALDS starts versus the Tigers. The left-hander will be opposed by Clarke Schmidt.
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Nestor Cortes SP | NYY
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Throwing live batting practice
Cortes (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
It will be something of a hybrid bullpen session/live batting practice session, as Cortes is slated to throw 10-to-15 pitches off the bullpen mound before throwing another 10-to-15 to hitters. If all goes well, Cortes could face hitters again this weekend. The southpaw has been out since late September with a flexor strain but has a chance to be on the Yankees' World Series roster, should they advance. Cortes hasn't started a game in nearly a month, so if he does return for the World Series, it seems likely to be as a reliever.
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Ben Lively SP | CLE
Guardians' Ben Lively: Added to ALCS roster
The Guardians added Lively to their ALCS roster Tuesday.
He's taking the roster spot vacated by Alex Cobb, who is now out for the remainder of the postseason with a back injury. Lively hasn't made an appearance since his final start of the regular season back on Sept. 28, but he's a candidate to make a start during the ALCS in Cobb's place.
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Alex Cobb SP | CLE
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Off ALCS roster due to back injury
The Guardians removed Cobb from their ALCS roster due to an acute left low-back strain.
Cobb lasted 2.2 innings in his Game 1 start against the Yankees, getting charged with three runs on five hits and three walks. Because he's being removed from the roster due to injury, he is now ineligible for the World Series, should the Guardians advance. Ben Lively has absorbed Cobb's roster spot and might also get an ALCS start in his place.
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Nestor Cortes SP | NYY
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Out for ALCS; World Series possible
Cortes (elbow) is not on the Yankees' ALCS roster but is in play for the World Series, should they advance, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.
Manager Aaron Boone said Monday that he's "really excited" where Cortes is at in his recovery from a left flexor strain. The southpaw resumed throwing a little over a week ago and could face hitters by this weekend. Cortes has been shelved since late September.
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Marcus Stroman SP | NYY
Yankees' Marcus Stroman: Cracks ALCS roster
Stroman is on the Yankees' roster for the ALCS versus the Guardians.
Stroman was left off the ALDS roster but will be carried on the ALCS roster as a long reliever. The veteran right-hander posted a 4.31 ERA and 113:60 K:BB over 154.2 innings during the regular season, covering 29 starts and one relief appearance.