MLB Player News

Pecko (2-0) earned the win Sunday over the A's, allowing just one hit and no walks over three scoreless innings. He struck out three.

Pecko handled bulk duties Sunday after Peter Lambert went the first two innings. The rookie right-hander was sharp, holding the A's to a lone single across three scoreless frames as the Astros' cruised to a 9-0 victory to clinch the AL West title. Pecko was effective overall as a swingman for Houston after making his debut in August. He'll finish the regular season with a 3.93 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 23:14 K:BB over 34.1 innings.

Kikuchi (1-7) allowed three runs on six hits, a walk and a hit batsman while striking out seven over five innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Mariners.

Kikuchi allowed two runs or fewer in four of seven starts after coming back from shoulder inflammation in late August. He allowed 18 runs (17 earned) over 36.2 innings in that span. The 35-year-old southpaw ends the season at a 4.92 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 67:30 K:BB through 67.2 innings over 14 starts. He has one more year on his contract, so he could be a trade candidate moving forward.

Lambert did not factor into the decision Sunday against the A's, allowing two hits and no walks across two scoreless innings. He struck out one.

After going just 2.2 innings in his last start Thursday, Lambert essentially served as the opener in Sunday's regular-season finale, as he delivered threw 41 pitches across two scoreless frames. The 29-year-old Lambert established himself as a mainstay in Houston's rotation this year, going 8-10 with a 3.82 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 154 strikeouts across 29 starts (155.2 innings). There's a good chance Lambert gets the call again at some point during the Wild Card Series, where Houston will host the White Sox.

Gilbert walked one over four-plus scoreless and hitless innings while striking out eight in a no-decision versus the Angels on Sunday.

The Mariners clearly didn't want to push Gilbert too much in a meaningless game, pulling him after he walked Moises Ballesteros to open the fifth inning, ending his chance at a perfect game. Gilbert managed just six scoreless outings this season, and just two of them came after the All-Star break as he struggled down the stretch. He ends 2026 with a 12-11 record, 3.73 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 205:49 K:BB through 186 innings over 32 starts.

Kremer (5-5) earned the win against the Rangers on Sunday, allowing one run on three hits and no walks with four strikeouts over seven innings.

Kremer was spotted an early lead and ran with it, with a solo homer in the third inning serving as his only blemish. The 30-year-old ended his season on a nice run, finishing September 3-0 while yielding just four earned runs over his final four outings. Overall, he'll conclude the campaign with a 4.68 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 86:29 K:BB across 90.1 innings with the Orioles and Twins.

Gore did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Twins, allowing one run on one hit and one walk over 2.1 innings. He did not record a strikeout.

Gore started a major-league-leading 34th game but did not last long, throwing 15 of 25 pitches for strikes and departing with one out in the third inning. It's unclear if the southpaw was injured Sunday, but he'll finish the campaign having completed five frames in only five of his final seven outings. He'll conclude his first season in Texas with a 4.58 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 174:71 K:BB across a career-high 173 innings.

Messick allowed a run on six hits and a walk while striking out two over three innings in a no-decision versus the Royals on Sunday.

Messick's start was a shorter one, as expected, since the Guardians had nothing to play for in the regular-season finale. This outing will function to keep him on a normal schedule heading into the playoffs, where he's expected to get a start in the ALDS. Messick allowed no more than three runs in any of his last 15 starts of the season, providing excellent consistency. He ends the regular season with a 12-9 record, 2.56 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 193:49 K:BB over 186.1 innings through 32 starts.

Martinez (15-6) took the loss Sunday against the Phillies, allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk across 2.2 innings. He struck out one.

Martinez gave up a run in the first inning on a Bryson Stott two-out double before the Phillies put up a three spot in the second. The right-hander would ultimately depart in the third, after throwing 50 pitches. Coming into Sunday, Martinez had held opponents to three runs or fewer in each of his previous six outings, posting a 2.52 ERA across 35.2 innings in that span. Martinez will finish the regular season with a 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 109 strikeouts across 31 starts (180 innings).

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Sunday that he expects to have Rodon pitch out of the bullpen for the American League Wild Card series against the Red Sox, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

The Yankees already announced their rotation for the Wild Card series, with Cam Schlittler taking the mound for Game 1 on Tuesday, followed by Max Fried and Gerrit Cole. Rodon will thus be deployed out of the bullpen, though he could return if the Yankees make a deep run in the postseason. He posted a 7-3 record across 16 starts this season with a 2.67 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 84.1 innings.

Sunday's regular-season finale between the Yankees and Orioles has been canceled due to inclement weather and will not be rescheduled.

Rodriguez was slated to be recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to pitch in Sunday's regular-season finale, but the game has been rained out and will not be made up at a future date. Rodriguez made his major-league debut April 29 and started in six games for the Yankees, going 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.58 WHIP across 26.2 innings.