MLB Player News

Paxton (12-5) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks through just 3.2 innings to take the loss against Texas on Thursday.

Paxton is working his way back from a pectoral injury, and while this was a better showing than his first start off the disabled list, the hard-throwing lefty still hasn't found his pre-injury form. The plan was for the Mariners to squeeze in two more starts for Paxton before the end of the season. He takes a 3.03 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 into his next projected outing against the Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum.

Hamels (11-4) allowed a single run on three hits and two walks while striking out eight batters through eight innings to take the win over Seattle on Thursday.

The veteran lefty has found a groove of late with a 2.53 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 8.4 K/9 through his past three starts. Hamels had allowed 21 runs through 28.1 innings over a five-game stretch before his recent rebound, so this mid-September surge has helped stabilize his season-long numbers (3.80 ERA, 1.14 WHIP). It's definitely worth highlighting his career-worst 6.1 K/9, which is significantly lower than the 8.6 mark he posted through his first 11 seasons in the majors. Hamels has a daunting matchup against the Astros up next.

Mejia allowed a single run on four hits and a walk while striking out five batters through 4.2 innings during Thursday's win over Detroit. He didn't factor into the decision.

Mejia hasn't pitched out of the fifth inning in either of his two starts since returning from the disabled list Sept. 16. He sports a 4.48 ERA and 7.8 K/9 for the campaign, which would have him in line to be a potential streaming option in favorable matchups. However, until he pitches deeper into games, it's difficult to rely on the 24-year-old lefty. A daunting road matchup against Cleveland at Progressive Field projects to be Mejia's final start of 2017.

Keuchel gave up two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out seven in six innings Thursday against the White Sox, but was saddled with his fifth loss of the season.

After White Sox starter Carson Fulmer exited with a blister in the first inning, Keuchel was outpitched by Chicago's bullpen the rest of the way. He has quality starts in three of his last four outings and his ERA still sits just under 3.00 (2.96) on the season. Keuchel lines up to start Tuesday in Texas and then again on the final day of the regular season, although the Astros could opt to scratch him from that final start in an effort to set their playoff rotation.

Bridwell (8-3) allowed four runs on five hits -- including two home runs -- over 5.1 innings in a losing effort against the Indians on Thursday. He struck out one and walked two batters.

He was able to stave off significant regression for longer than most expected, but all the contact allowed has started to catch up with Bridwell, with his ERA jumping nearly a full run over his last five starts. The Angels don't have another off day before the end of the regular season, so Bridwell will likely make two more starts (at CWS, vs SEA), but he's more of a risk to the ratios than his current 3.86 ERA and 1.25 WHIP would suggest.

McCullers (arm) felt good following his bullpen session Wednesday, and remains a candidate to start Sunday's game against the Angels, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Sunday's start seems to be between McCullers and Collin McHugh, although manager A.J. Hinch has yet to decide at this point in time. If McHugh is tabbed as the starter, there's a chance McCullers will take the mound Monday against Texas, but the club hasn't released any concrete information on that front either. Over the course of the 2017 season, the right-hander has accumulated a 3.97 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over 20 starts.

Heaney (shoulder) was able to play catch for the second time this week, but may not have enough time to come back this season, Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group reports.

Heaney continues to work back from a minor impingement in his shoulder, which can be traced back to his outing against the Mariners on Sept. 9. Although the left-hander is feeling optimistic about his injury, the clock is dwindling on the 2017 season, and there may not be enough time to get him back into the fold. At this moment, the club has yet to release any sort of timetable for his return, but it's likely that he will need to take the next step and toss a bullpen in the immediate future if there's any chance for a comeback this year.

Albers allowed two earned runs on four hits and a walk over 1.2 innings in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to the Rangers. He struck out three.

Albers is now being utilized in relief after an earlier starting stint, but the results haven't been exactly encouraging. He's allowed five earned runs over 6.2 innings across his last two appearances, which has bumped his ERA from 2.67 to 3.48.

Albers allowed two earned runs on four hits and a walk over 1.2 innings in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to the Rangers. He struck out three.

Albers is now being utilized in relief after an earlier starting stint, but the results haven't been exactly encouraging. He's allowed five earned runs over 6.2 innings across his last two appearances, which has bumped his ERA from 2.67 to 3.48.

Snell (4-6) pitched seven scoreless innings with five strikeouts to take the win against the Cubs on Wednesday.

Snell entered Wednesday's game with a respectable 3.75 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 7.9 K/9 through 11 second-half starts, and he has now allowed three runs or fewer in 10 of his 12 outings since the All-Star break. It's been a solid turnaround for the 24-year-old southpaw, and his fantasy value is on the rise heading into the 2018 campaign. Snell lines up for a road start against the Yankees and a home date against the Orioles to end the season.