MLB Player News

Manager Dusty Baker said Greinke is being evaluated for right arm soreness, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 36-year-old didn't pitch during the first two games of the ALDS against the A's and Jose Urquidy was announced as the starter for Game 3, which seemed to indicate the veteran wasn't 100 percent. Baker indicated the team doesn't yet have the results from Greinke's examination, so it remains unclear when he'll next be available to take the mound.

Stripling (lower leg) was used in relief in Game 2 of the Blue Jays' AL Wild Card Series loss to the Rays, giving up a run on three hits over 1.1 innings.

Stripling entered the postseason in uncertain health after being struck in the leg by a comebacker in his final appearance of the regular season Sept. 23, but his inclusion on the 28-man wild-card roster indicates that the injury wasn't anything worrisome. After acquiring Stripling in a deadline-day deal with the Dodgers, the Blue Jays will retain his rights for two more seasons, but the 30-year-old may not be a surefire bet to have a contract tendered. He struggled mightily during his time between the two clubs in 2020, posting a 5.84 ERA and 1.50 WHIP while giving up 13 home runs in 49.1 innings.

German was reinstated from the restricted list Tuesday.

German missed the entirety of the season due to suspension after violating the league's domestic violence policy late in the 2019 campaign. He's ineligible to participate in the postseason but could potentially figure into the Yankees' rotation plans in 2021.

McClanahan made his major-league debut out of the bullpen in the Rays' Game 1 loss to the Yankees on Monday. He allowed one hit and one walk before recording the final out of the ninth inning.

The lefty made history in the opener of the ALDS, becoming the first pitcher ever to make his major-league debut in the postseason. Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com noted that nine of McClanahan's 15 pitches were clocked at 98-plus miles per hour. Obviously he has a lot to prove and this run is mostly just about getting his feet wet, but McClanahan appears to have a bright future as a starting pitcher. He could be part of that mix as early as 2021 and should be rostered in most dynasty leagues.

Snell took the loss to the Yankees on Monday in Game 1 of the ALDS. He allowed four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings.

Clint Frazier, Kyle Higashioka and Aaron Judge all took the lefty yard, the latter two in the fifth inning. As John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times notes, Snell was constantly working from behind and went to three-ball counts to seven different hitters. He could not locate his fastball and as a result had to rely more on his changeup and curveball. Even with his struggles Monday, it still seems likely Snell would start Game 5 on short rest if the Rays are able to force a Game 5.

Bassit allowed four runs on nine hits (including two homers) in his four-inning start in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Astros on Monday, striking out four while walking none.

The outing was a far cry from the seven-inning, one-run performance Bassitt managed in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the White Sox. The Astros had runners on base in each of Bassitt's innings, though it took until the fourth for them to break through, with a solo shot by Alex Bregman followed two batters later by a two-run homer from Carlos Correa. Bassitt threw 73 pitches, so it's conceivable he could pitch in some capacity on short rest in Game 5 on Friday, if necessary.

McCullers lasted just four innings in Game 1 of the ALDS against Oakland on Monday, giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits and a walk while striking out five.

McCullers was done in by the long ball; he gave a two-run shot to Khris Davis in the second followed by solo homers to Sean Murphy and Matt Olson over the next two innings. He was pulled from the game after allowing the leadoff runner in the bottom of the fifth to reach base, who would eventually come around to score to add a fifth run to McCullers' tally. While the Astros' offense would eventually bail him out, it certainly wasn't the outing McCullers hoped to have in his first postseason start since 2017.

Cole allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out eight over six innings Monday in a win over the Rays in Game 1 of the ALDS.

The ball was flying at the neutral-site location of Petco Park in San Diego -- there were six home runs hit in the game, two off Cole. Cole was his usual dominant self otherwise, inducing 18 swinging strikes on 97 pitches. The 30-year-old could theoretically go again Friday on short rest, if a Game 5 is necessary.

Garcia has been added to the Astros' roster for the upcoming series against the Athletics, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

The Astros adjusted their roster balance slightly, dropping bench infielder Jack Mayfield in favor of another reliever in Garcia. The 23-year-old righty cruised to a 2.92 ERA in his 12.1-inning debut this season, though he was helped by a .182 BABIP, and his 18.4 percent strikeout rate wasn't particularly impressive.

Dunning recorded two outs and allowed two hits during Thursday's Game 3 loss to the Athletics. He didn't factor in the decision had zero strikeouts and zero walks.

The 25-year-old surrendered a pair of singles during the opening frame, and that was all manager Rick Reneria needed to see before calling in the bullpen. Despite the brief postseason outing, it was a strong rookie campaign for Dunning as he had a 3.97 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 35:13 K:BB over 34 innings (seven starts).