MLB Player News

Verlander said Wednesday that he plans to continue his major-league career in 2025, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Verlander -- who will turn 42 in February -- battled through a disappointing 2024 season, finishing with a 5.48 ERA and 74:27 K:BB over 90.1 innings covering 17 starts before being left off the Astros wild-card roster. He began the year on the injured list with a shoulder problem and also missed substantial time with a neck issue, an injury which he has indicated he might have come back too soon from and could have affected his performance. Given his age and the season he just had, Verlander will enter free agency with question marks, but he shouldn't have trouble finding a team willing to take a shot on a bounce-back showing in 2025.

Ragans (calf) will start Monday in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Ragans exited his wild-card series start versus the Orioles after six shutout innings due to left calf cramps, but his readiness for the start of the ALDS doesn't seem to be in question. The left-handed Ragans -- who will be pitching on five days' rest -- will be preceded by Michael Wacha in Game 1.

Wacha will start Saturday in Game 1 of the ALDS versus the Yankees, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Wacha had been lined up for Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series, but with the Royals completing a two-game sweep of the Orioles, the righty will be held back for the ALDS opener. He'll be opposed by Gerrit Cole.

Lorenzen (lower body) struck out three and allowed an unearned run on one hit in two innings out of the bullpen in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Atlanta.

Lorenzen made his final start of the regular season last Wednesday, when he tossed two-plus innings against the Nationals before leaving early due to lower-body fatigue. He made his return to action out of the bullpen a few days later, with the clean appearance assuaging any concerns about his health. He was included on the Royals' 26-man wild-card roster but went unused during the club's two-game sweep of the Orioles.

Bibee will start Saturday in Game 1 of the ALDS, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Bibee was the obvious choice for the Guardians' first playoff game after putting up a 3.47 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 187:44 K:BB over 173.2 innings covering 31 starts during the regular season. The 25-year-old has pitched well of late with a 2.64 ERA in five September outings.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins on Wednesday was noncommittal on Rodriguez's role for next season, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Atkins referred to Rodriguez as a "solid option" for the 2025 rotation and said he's happy with where the pitcher's workload is at as a starter after he threw 107 innings in 2024. However, the GM also noted that, if the club acquires outside help for its rotation, Rodriguez "would be an exceptional reliever." All 21 of Rodriguez's appearances for the Blue Jays this season were as a starter and he should be penciled into next year's rotation, but it doesn't seem to be set in stone.

Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake indicated Wednesday that the team will wait until after Game 1 of the ALDS to announce whether Gil or Clarke Schmidt will start Game 3, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

The club will have both Gil and Schmidt available in relief in Game 1, so it is holding off on naming a Game 3 starter until after the series opener plays out. The Yankees are set to play the winner of the Royals-Orioles wild-card series.

Kikuchi is slated to start Thursday in Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Tigers, assuming he's not needed in relief in Game 2 on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Kikuchi has been told to be ready in relief for Game 2 with the Astros having all hands on deck as they try to avoid elimination. If Houston wins and doesn't have to use Kikuchi on Wednesday, he'll take the ball Thursday. The left-hander was outstanding after being acquired by the Astros at the trade deadline, putting up a 2.70 ERA and 76:14 K:BB over 60 innings.

Rodon will start Oct. 7 in Game 2 of the ALDS, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Rodon will follow Game 1 starter Gerrit Cole against a yet-to-be-determined opponent. The lefty went through his fair share of ups and downs during the regular season, but he finished on an upswing in September, collecting a 2.20 ERA and 34:10 K:BB over 28.2 frames covering five starts.

Eflin will start Wednesday in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Royals, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

The Orioles dropped the first game of the series against the Royals on Tuesday, losing 1-0. Eflin did not have his strongest outing in his final start of the regular season Wednesday, giving up three runs on four hits and five walks across 4.2 innings. With a week of rest under his belt, the 30-year old will look to rebound in order to force Game 3.