MLB Player News

Javier (5-2) picked up the win Thursday after holding the Rangers to three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out six across 5.2 innings.

Javier blanked the Rangers until the sixth inning when Willie Calhoun swatted a two-run home run. Following a wild pitch, the 23-year-old allowed a third run to score on a sacrifice fly to Rougned Odor, who would be Javier's final batter of the night. Despite spending the majority of his rookie season as a starter, Javier is expected to move into the bullpen for the Wild Card Series. The right-hander finishes out the regular season with a 3.48 ERA and 0.99 WHIP across 12 appearances (10 starts).

Lynn (6-3) was charged with the loss against Houston on Thursday, surrendering 10 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits and two walks while striking out five across 5.2 innings.

To say Lynn got obliterated by the Astros would be an understatement. The 33-year-old was rocked for a season-worst 10 runs, including homers by George Springer, Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve, bringing Lynn's season home-run total to 13. With the tough outing, the right-hander's ERA rose from 2.53 to 3.32. The only positive note to take away is that he continued his streak of 37 consecutive starts with 100-plus pitches. Overall, Lynn compiled an impressive 2020 campaign, but the surface numbers looked a lot better a day ago.

Kaprielian was recalled from the alternate training site Thursday.

Kaprielian is set to rejoin the major-league roster after J.B. Wendelken was placed on the injured list due to an undisclosed issue. The right-handed Kaprielian has appeared in one game for Oakland this year, allowing one run across two innings against the Giants on Aug. 16. He figures to assume a long-relief role in the Athletics' bullpen.

Kremer was optioned to the Orioles' alternate training site Thursday.

He was not scheduled to make another start this season, so the Orioles will summon some bullpen depth in David Hess. Kremer gave up more runs (seven) in his last start than he did in his first three combined (three), finishing with a 4.82 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 22:12 K:BB in 18.2 innings. He walked three batters in each of his four starts.

Schmidt will likely be called up to start Sunday's game against the Marlins, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

This would essentially be an audition for Schmidt to make the roster for the AL Division Series, as he would not be available for the initial best-of-three series. He has not been used as a traditional starter in his two big-league appearances thus far this season, but Schmidt still has a very high ceiling and floor long term and could emerge as an unlikely weapon for the Yankees this October.

Rodon (shoulder) was reinstated from the 45-day injured list prior to Thursday's game against Cleveland.

He last pitched Aug. 3 -- one of only two appearances for the southpaw this season. It's encouraging that Rodon's shoulder is healthy enough for him to be activated, but it is unclear exactly what his role will be down the stretch and into the postseason. He could get a brief audition as a long reliever over the final four games, and could make the postseason roster in that capacity.

Stripling was credited with his first save of the season in Wednesday's 14-1 win over the Yankees after tossing four shutout innings in long relief. He gave up one hit and no walks while striking out three.

Stripling started in his previous appearance Sept. 18 in Philadelphia, but Toronto moved him back to the bullpen after Matt Shoemaker recently returned from the injured list and rejoined the rotation. On Wednesday, Stripling essentially piggybacked one of the Blue Jays' other trade-deadline pickups, Robbie Ray, who worked four innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. Stripling isn't a lock to be included on the Jays' postseason roster, but his stellar outing against the Yankees certainly bolstered his case for earning a multi-inning relief role.

Greinke (3-3) took the loss against the Mariners on Wednesday, allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out five over 4.2 innings.

This was Greinke's shortest start since July 26 and continued a second-half slide. He ends the regular season having lost his last three decisions, with a 5.73 ERA over his last seven starts.

Kremer (1-1) allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two over 2.2 innings in a loss to the Red Sox on Wednesday.

While he didn't allow any homers, all four run-scoring hits the Red Sox produced in the third inning went for extra bases, three of which came off Kremer. That hard contact made it a short outing for the righty, who will finish 2020 with a 4.82 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 22:12 K:BB in 18.2 innings across four starts. He hadn't allowed more than one run in a game prior to Wednesday.

Maeda (6-1) earned the win Wednesday against the Tigers. He allowed three runs on four hits while fanning nine across six innings.

Maeda posted yet another quality start in his final turn of the regular campaign. The former Dodgers hurler ended the regular season with a 2.70 ERA and is expected to play a big role for the Twins in the postseason as one of Minnesota's top arms. He also ended the regular season striking out at least seven in each of his final seven outings.