MLB Player News

Yesavage (5-6) took the loss Saturday as the Blue Jays fell 5-1 to the Reds, allowing one run on two hits and one walk over two innings. He struck out three.

The 23-year-old right-hander was able to make two abbreviated starts in the final week of the season after returning from minor knee surgery, with Yesavage getting limited to just 30 pitches (19 strikes) Saturday. He pitched well in his two frames, but a solo shot by JJ Bleday in the second inning put Cincinnati in the lead for good. Yesavage ended his first full season in the majors having thrown 97.2 innings over 20 starts while producing a 3.69 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 97:47 K:BB, giving him a baseline to build from in 2027.

Scherzer will start Sunday's regular-season finale against the Reds, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Scherzer said that he's still undecided about whether he'll retire after this season, but he'll officially get to make at least one more start on a big-league mound before he hangs up his cleats. The 42-year-old hasn't been particularly effective this season, posting a 6.14 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 77.2 innings, but facing a Reds offense that's turned in a .690 OPS since the beginning of September could allow him to end his Hall of Fame career on a high note.

The Tigers optioned Sears to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Sears will depart the active roster to make room for Justin Verlander (hamstring/hip), who was activated to start Saturday's contest. Sears posted a 2.16 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 58.1 innings in the minors this season but struggled mightily in the big leagues, allowing 15 earned runs in just 19 frames.

The Tigers reinstated Verlander (hamstring/hip) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his start Saturday against the Pirates, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

After missing the majority of the season due to hamstring and hip issues, Verlander will return from the IL to make what will be the final start of his Hall of Fame career. He never made any rehab appearances in the minors, so his outing Saturday is likely to be brief. Andrew Sears was optioned to the minors to make room for Verlander on the active roster, and Kerry Carpenter (foot) moved to the 60-day IL to free up a 40-man spot.

Jobe (3-3) allowed two runs on three hits across 5.1 innings to earn the win in Friday's 8-7 victory over the Pirates. He walked two and struck out eight.

Jobe put a cap on his 2026 campaign with another strong performance as he came within one strikeout of matching a season high. Across his final three starts of the year, the young righty posted a 2-1 record, 3.06 ERA and 0.79 WHIP while striking out 25 batters across 17.2 innings. Overall, Jobe finishes with a 3.91 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 51 strikeouts in 46 innings, making his return from Tommy John surgery a success. He'll now get the offseason to gear up for 2027, and Jobe looks like a potential breakout candidate as he gets further removed from his surgery and his workload presumably increases.

Lopez (7-5) earned the win Friday against the Astros after allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings.

Lopez kept Houston off the scoreboard through three innings before Christian Walker launched a solo homer in the fourth, which proved to be the only damage against the left-hander. He completed six innings with the Athletics still trailing 1-0, but Oakland's six-run rally in the bottom of the frame flipped the game and put him in position for the win. Lopez needed 94 pitches to navigate his six frames, but most importantly, he delivered a bounce-back performance in his final start of the regular season after he had given up 10 runs in just 2,2 frames against the Guardians on Sept. 19. and lowered his ERA to 5.47. The four-year veteran ends the regular season with career-worst marks of 5.47 ERA and 1.49 WHIP across 27 appearances (24 starts) and 123,1 innings.

Brown (6-4) took the loss Friday against the A's after allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks while striking out four over 5.1 innings.

Brown carried a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning, but a fielding error by Jose Altuve sparked the Athletics' comeback. He departed after a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with one out, and Bennett Sousa immediately surrendered a two-run single to Michael Stefanic, with the inherited runners giving Brown his two runs allowed. The right-hander otherwise held the Athletics to two hits, but his four walks raised his pitch count and kept him from working deeper into the game. Even though this outing didn't end as Brown or the Astros would've wanted, the right-hander ended the regular season on a strong note, allowing two or fewer earned runs in seven of his last eight starts, and just two over his last 15.1 frames. He ends the regular season with a 3.19 ERA in 20 starts and 107.1 innings, making it the third straight season in which he posted a regular-season ERA below 3.50.

Bennett didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs, allowing three hits and a walk over 3.2 scoreless innings of relief. He struck out one.

The southpaw took the mound to begin the third inning after opener Alec Gamboa had coughed up three runs, and Bennett steadied the ship for the Red Sox as they mounted a comeback, although he was no longer the pitcher of record when his team finally took the lead. Bennett's role on Boston's postseason staff isn't yet clear, but a 4.91 ERA since the beginning of August suggests he could be headed for the bullpen.

Ryan (7-10) earned the win after allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings in Friday's 10-2 victory over the Rangers.

Ryan endured a difficult first inning, allowing an RBI single to Corey Seager and a run-scoring groundout to Wyatt Langford as Texas grabbed a 2-0 advantage. However, Minnesota responded with six runs in the second, and Ryan took control the rest of the way, holding the Rangers scoreless over his final five frames to end a streak of seven starts without a win between July 11 and Sept. 19. Ryan gave up two or fewer runs in three of his final four starts of the season, but he posted a ballooned 6.82 ERA since the All-Star break. In 27 starts this season, Ryan posted a 3.79 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP over 144.2 innings.

DeGrom (11-11) took the loss Friday against the Twins after allowing eight runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out five over four innings.

DeGrom matched a season high in runs allowed at the worst possible time, as the Rangers are in a tight race to win the AL West. The subpar outing overshadowed the fact that the star hurler also recorded his 200th strikeout of the season Friday, reaching the milestone for the first time since 2019. DeGrom made 31 starts this season and pitched at least 160 innings in back-to-back years for the first time since 2018 and 2019. He finishes the regular season with a 4.20 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across 162.2 frames. If the Rangers make the playoffs, expect DeGrom to take the ball in the AL Wild Card round.