MLB Player News

Buehler (finger) was activated from the 10-day injured list prior to his start Thursday against the Athletics.

He has not pitched in a game since Sept. 8 due to a blister. He threw a 90-pitch simulated game Saturday, so Buehler should be able to handle a typical workload in his final start of the regular season. The 26-year-old righty has a 3.86 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 36 strikeouts in 32.2 innings.

Sanchez allowed four runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two over three innings Wednesday against the Marlins. He did not factor into the decision.

Most of the damage done against Sanchez came in the opening frame. He walked Ronald Acuna, who then used his speed to score from first on a double to deep right by Freddie Freeman. Two batters later, Freeman crossed home plate on a single to center by Ozzie Albies. Sanchez would later walk Dansby Swanson to bring up Adeiny Hechavarria, who lined one into center field to bring around Albies to put the Braves up 3-2 after the first inning. The 22-year-old had more control issues in the third after walking two additional batters and then surrendering another RBI single to Hechavarria to extend the lead to 4-2. It's been a mildly concerning end to the 2020 season for Sanchez; he has given up nine runs in seven innings over his last two starts after allowing just six runs in his first five outings. The Marlins are currently in line for a postseason spot and are hoping they can count on Sanchez to be their ace for a deep playoff run.

Gallen will start the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Rockies.

Gallen had been penciled in for the nightcap, but was moved to the afternoon (Arizona time) tilt. The right-hander has a 6.75 ERA over the last three starts after posting a 1.80 ERA in his first eight outings.

Hendricks (6-5) allowed two runs on seven hits (two home runs) and a walk while striking out three across 7.2 innings Wednesday as he took the loss against the Pirates.

Hendricks got off to a bumpy start by allowing back-to-back home runs to Adam Frazier and Ke'Bryan Hayes to lead off the first but was lights out for the rest of the game. The right-hander generated 19 of his 23 outs via either groundball or flyout as he primarily relied on his changeup and sinker to induce weak contact. Wednesday was Hendricks' last start of the regular season and he finished with a 2.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 64:8 K:BB while leading the majors with 81.1 innings pitched. The 30-year-old figures to slot in behind Yu Darvish as the Cubs' No. 2 rotation option come playoff time.

Williams (2-8) allowed just one run on three hits (one home run) and three walks while striking out four across 5.2 innings Wednesday as he earned the win in his final start of 2020.

Williams came into Wednesday's start having given up the most earned runs in the league (37), the most home runs (14) and had lost more games (8) than any other pitcher in baseball. It originally looked like it would be another poor outing for the 28-year-old after he gave up a first-inning solo home run to Anthony Rizzo, but Williams settled in afterward and was able to hold the Cubs' hitters in check for the rest of his outing. This was a season to forget for Williams, who finishes with a 6.18 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 49:21 K:BB across 55.1 innings pitched.

Webb (3-4) picked up the win against the Rockies on Wednesday, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out one batter across 5.1 innings.

The 23-year-old worked around a leadoff double allowed by Caleb Baragar in the second inning, finishing out the frame without any damage. His only blemishes on the night came from an RBI single he yielded to Trevor Story in the third and an RBI double he allowed to Raimel Tapia in the fifth. Otherwise, Webb was effective while working up to 84 pitches. The right-hander finishes out the regular season with a 5.50 ERA and 1.52 WHIP across 13 appearances (11 starts).

Urias took a no-decision during Wednesday's loss to the A's, giving up one run on two hits and a pair of walks while striking out five across six innings.

Serving as the bulk reliever behind Joe Kelly and Brusdal Graterol, Urias entered the game in the third inning and turned in a solid six frames. His only damage of the night came via an RBI single by Ramon Laureano in the seventh. Although the southpaw's role for the postseason has yet to be determined, it would appear as though Dave Roberts could be planning to use him out of the bullpen during the playoffs. The 24-year-old closes out the regular season with a 3.27 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 11 appearances (10 starts).

Houser (1-6) was charged with four runs (three earned) on five hits over 4.1 innings in a loss to the Reds on Wednesday. He struck out five and issued one walk.

The long ball did Houser in; he gave up a two-run homer to Joey Votto in the first inning and a solo shot to Jesse Winker in the fourth. Houser had some hype coming into the season, but he ends his 2020 regular-season campaign with 1-6 record, 5.40 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 44:21 K:BB and .284 BAA in 55 innings. He may have to fight for a rotation spot in the spring.

Wacha (1-4) allowed four runs on six hits and struck out four in six innings in a loss to the Rays on Wednesday.

Homers by Joey Wendle and Randy Arozarena accounted for three of the four runs against Wacha, who was not particularly sharp Wednesday and has now been charged with a loss in each of his last four decisions. The 29-year-old righty has likely made his last appearance of the season -- if so, he finishes with an unsightly 6.62 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across 34 innings and eight appearances.

Martinez exited Wednesday's start against the Royals with a left mid-back strain, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The veteran right-hander exited in line for the loss during the sixth inning after surrendering eight runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and two walks. It was a disastrous performance in potentially Martinez's final start of the regular season, and it was made worse by the injury. The 29-year-old lines up to pitch Monday against Detroit if those make-up games are deemed necessary, but his availability is up in the air with the severity of the back strain unclear.