MLB Player News
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Spencer Schwellenbach P | ATL
Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach: Strong effort wasted Monday
Schwellenbach came away with a no-decision in the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the Mets, allowing one run on four hits over seven innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The rookie right-hander was sharp once again, firing 68 of 94 pitches for strikes in his 12th quality start of the season and leaving the mound in line for a playoff-clinching victory. Atlanta's bullpen unraveled however, coughing up eight runs in the final two frames to cost Schwellenbach his ninth win. He wraps up an impressive first regular season in the majors with a 3.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 127:23 K:BB through 123.2 innings, but Atlanta -- which won the nightcap to get into the postseason -- will likely need to advance past the Wild Card Round for Schwellenbach to pitch again in 2024.
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Joey Lucchesi SP | NYM
Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Delivers quality start Monday
Lucchesi (0-2) took the loss in the second game of Monday's doubleheader against Atlanta, allowing one run on three hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out five.
The 31-year-old got the spot start -- just his second MLB appearance of 2024 -- after the Mets clinched a wild-card berth by winning the first game of the twin bill, and Lucchesi delivered his first quality start in the majors since Sept. 27 of last year. A lack of run support from a lineup resting top players like Francisco Lindor saddled him with the loss, however. Lucchesi tossed 111 pitches (62 strikes) in the outing, but he likely wasn't factoring into New York's postseason rotation plans anyway.
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Tylor Megill SP | NYM
Mets' Tylor Megill: Fans eight in no-decision Monday
Megill came away with a no-decision in the first game of Monday's doubleheader against Atlanta, giving up three runs on eight hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out eight.
The right-hander had some trouble keeping the ball in the yard, serving up a two-run homer to Ozzie Albies in the third inning and a solo shot to Ramon Laureano in the sixth, but the Mets' offense got Megill off the hook for a loss in an eventual 8-7 victory that clinched a wild-card spot for New York. Megill hadn't given up a homer in five starts since rejoining the big-league staff in late August, and in 31 innings over that stretch he sports a 2.32 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 36:10 K:BB. It's not clear how the 29-year-old will fit into the Mets' postseason rotation plans, but after throwing 100 pitches Monday (66 strikes) he's likely unavailable for the Wild Card Round.
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Bryce Elder SP | ATL
Braves' Bryce Elder: Could make Game 1 start
Elder is a candidate to start Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver and Ian Anderson have all been named as options for Tuesday's game, and the club doesn't appear to be in a hurry to name a starter. Elder struggled to find his footing in the big leagues during the regular season, accruing a 6.52 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with 46 strikeouts across 49.2 innings (10 starts).
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A.J. Smith-Shawver SP | ATL
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Option for Game 1
Smith-Shawver could start Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Bowman notes that Bryce Elder and Ian Anderson are two other options for Atlanta in Game 1, and it seems the club is content with keeping its pitching plans behind closed doors until closer to first pitch. Smith-Shawver made one start during the regular season, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings May 23 against the Cubs.
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Ian Anderson SP | ATL
Braves' Ian Anderson: In mix for Game 1 start
Anderson is a candidate to start Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Bowman stated that AJ Smith-Shawver and Bryce Elder are also in the mix, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the club wait until closer to first pitch to announce who will get the start. Anderson hasn't pitched in the big league since 2022 but has impressive postseason numbers, as he's posted a 1.26 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with a 40:17 K:BB across 35.2 innings (eight starts).
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Chris Sale SP | ATL
Braves' Chris Sale: Status for wild-card round in doubt
Manager Brian Snitker doesn't believe Sale (back) will be available to pitch during the team's upcoming wild-card series against the Padres, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Sale was scratched from the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Mets due to back spasms, and the issue could force the southpaw to miss the entire first round of the postseason. Snitker notes that Sale hasn't officially been ruled out just yet, but this isn't promising news for Atlanta, which may be forced to rely more upon Max Fried, Reynaldo Lopez and Charlie Morton.
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Luis Severino SP | NYM
Mets' Luis Severino: Starting Game 1 vs. Milwaukee
Severino will start Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Brewers on Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Severino was held out of Monday's twin bill against Atlanta, so he'll be fresh for the beginning of the wild-card round. He accrued a 3.64 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 30 strikeouts in his last five appearances of the regular season, and the Mets would surely appreciate some length out of Severino on Tuesday after some of the club's high-leverage relief arms were forced into action Monday to secure a place in the postseason.
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Yu Darvish SP | SD
Padres' Yu Darvish: Expected to operate as bullpen arm
Darvish is expected begin the postseason as a bullpen arm for the Padres, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Darvish will be left out of the starting rotation as the Padres begin their best-of-three Wild Card Round series with Atlanta on Tuesday. San Diego will go with Michael King, Joe Musgrove and Dylan Cease as its starters in the series. Darvish finished the 2024 regular season with a 3.31 ERA and 78 strikeouts over 81.2 innings in 16 starts with the Padres. Additionally, the right-hander owns a 4.19 ERA with 54 punchouts over 58 innings in 11 career postseason appearances.
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Michael King RP | SD
Padres' Michael King: Getting nod in Game 1
King will start Game 1 of the wild-card series against Atlanta on Tuesday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
The Padres will ride the hot hand and deploy King in their first postseason action, as he posted a 2.11 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 40 strikeouts in his last seven starts of the regular season (38.1 innings). Joe Musgrove will get the call in Game 2 and Dylan Cease would draw the start in Game 3 if necessary.