MLB Player News

Odorizzi didn't factor into the decision Saturday against the Athletics after allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk across 4.2 innings, fanning three.

Odorizzi ended a streak of six straight appearances allowing two or fewer runs, and this was his fourth straight no-decision as well. He posted a 3.15 ERA through his five appearances since the beginning of September, but his season-long ERA was a 4.21 mark through 104.2 innings across 24 appearances (23 starts).

Blackburn (1-4) was tagged with the loss Saturday against Houston after allowing six runs on seven hits and a walk while fanning two across two innings.

This wasn't a solid end of the season for the right-hander, who gave up a season-high six runs while also tossing his shortest outing of the campaign. Plus, the three home runs he gave up represents a season-high mark as well. Blackburn only made eight starts on the year but his numbers were not encouraging, as he ended the season with a 5.87 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP through 38.1 innings.

The Red Sox activated Whitlock (pectoral) from the 10-day injured list Sunday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Whitlock hasn't pitched since Sept. 19 due to a pectoral strain, but he'll likely see action if Sunday's game against the Nationals is close in the late innings. Further, he'll be one of manager Alex Cora' top relief options in any potential Game 163, wild card game or ensuing postseason round.

Bubic (6-7) was charged with the loss against Minnesota on Saturday, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and no walks while striking out five.

Bubic gave up a single run in each of the first, fourth and fifth frames, with the fourth-inning tally largely caused by an infield error. The southpaw pitched into the seventh for the third straight outing but was outdueled by rookie Griffin Jax, who gave up only one hit in five scoreless frames. Bubic ends the campaign with a 4.43 ERA, but he finished on a high note, posting a 2.05 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 23:7 K:BB across his final five starts covering 30.2 innings.

Flexen got a no-decision in Saturday's 6-4 victory over the Angels, allowing one run on six hits and one walk with one strikeout in 5.1 innings.

Flexen pitched well in Saturday's win, permitting just one run on a Jose Rojas home run in the fifth inning, but he was saddled with the no-decision as Seattle's offense didn't get going until late. After sitting out the 2020 season, the 27-year-old concludes the regular season with a 14-6 record in 31 starts with a 3.61 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 125:40 K:BB in 179.2 innings.

Giolito didn't factor in the decision against Detroit on Saturday, pitching five innings and allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out three.

Giolito was effective in his final start of the regular season, as the Tigers were held to a lone run and didn't produce any extra-base hits against the hurler. He was outdueled by Detroit starter Matt Manning, who pitched five scoreless frames and also gave up only a pair of hits, though a late-game comeback by Chicago resulted in both pitchers notching a no-decision. Giolito finishes the regular season with a 3.53 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 201 strikeouts across 178.2 innings. His next outing will likely come in the ALDS.

Manning pitched five scoreless innings against the White Sox on Saturday, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out seven. He did not factor in the decision.

Manning's final start of his rookie campaign was arguably his finest, as the right-hander yielded a season-low two hits while tossing his first scoreless outing. He also notched a season-high seven strikeouts, but a late-game collapse by Detroit's bullpen cost him a victory. Manning enjoyed some bright moments throughout the season, though he wraps up the campaign with a 5.80 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 4-7 record. He should be a key part of the Tigers' rotation in 2022.

Manoah (9-2) picked up the win in Saturday's 10-1 rout of the Orioles, allowing one run on one hit and one walk over seven innings. He struck out 10.

The rookie was dominant in his final start of the regular season, firing 60 of 89 pitches for strikes en route to his fourth straight win, and his performance down the stretch has been a big reason why the Jays will head into the season's final day still alive in the wild-card hunt. Manoah has a 3.22 ERA and 127:40 K:BB through 111.2 innings in his first taste of the majors.

Lyles (10-13) allowed one run on two hits and one walk with eight strikeouts through seven innings, picking up the win in Saturday's 7-2 victory over Cleveland.

Entering play, Lyles led the American League in hits and earned runs allowed while also leading all of baseball in home runs conceded. For seven innings you forgot about all of that, as the right-hander carved up Cleveland. Although he does have some unsightly numbers attached to his name, this season was pretty solid for the journeyman. He ate up 180 innings for a rebuilding Texas team and emerged healthy. He might not be flashy, but he figures to have a market when he hits free agency this offseason.

McKenzie (5-9) allowed four runs on four hits and four walks with two strikeouts through four innings, taking the loss in Saturday's 7-2 defeat to the Rangers.

McKenzie battled his command Saturday, issuing the most walks he's allowed since June 12 and finding the zone with just 54 percent of his pitches. All of his runs came via the long ball too, with Willie Calhoun going yard for a solo shot in the first before Jonah Heim smacked a three-run shot in the fourth. McKenzie showed a ton of growth this season, but simply ran out of gas down the stretch. After being virtually unhittable through August and into September (1.76 ERA, 48:5 K:BB through seven starts), the lanky right-hander had a brutal 11.81 ERA and 9:8 K:BB in his last three outings. Still, at just 24 years old, McKenzie has oodles of upside and projects to grow into a more-than-serviceable rotation piece for Cleveland over the next few seasons.