MLB Player News

Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel will start Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Mets on Wednesday, per Jess Rogers of ESPN Chicago.

Hammel had already been considered the likely option rather than Jon Lester on short rest, but the Cubs have now made the decision official. He'll either be looking to keep the season alive or try to knot up the series at 2-2.

Hammel is "likely" to start Game 4 of the NLCS for the Cubs, Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago reports.

Hammel was in line to either see the start in Game 3 or Game 4, but the Cubs decided to go with Kyle Hendricks in Game 3. With the announcement that he'll pitch Game 4, it's highly improbable that Hammel will receive another start during the NLCS.

Hendricks was named the starter for Game 3 of the NLCS, Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago reports.

Hendricks was expected to receive the start in either Game 3 or Game 4, but he has now received the nod for the earlier game. The announcement gives him a chance to pitch multiple times in the NLCS, though the Cubs will likely go with Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta as much as possible.

Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel will pitch in either Game 3 or Game 4 of the NLCS, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.

Manager Joe Maddon hasn't decided on his Game 3 starter yet, but it's probably more likely to be Kyle Hendricks than Hammel, who struggled in the NLDS clincher. Even if he doesn't get the call in Game 3, Hammel will still start Game 4.

Cubs pitcher Hendricks will pitch in either Game 3 or Game 4 of the NLCS, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.

Manager Joe Maddon announced that Hendricks and Jason Hammel will each start in the series, but did not say which game each would pitch. Hendricks is the likely choice, only because it's his turn, but both pitchers will have more than five days of rest since their last start. The Game 3 starter, of course, is far more likely to get a second start in the NLCS, though the Cubs would prefer to use Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta for as many games as possible.

Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard will start Game 2 of the NLCS against the Cubs on Sunday, Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal reports.

Syndergaard took the mound twice in the divisional series versus the Dodgers, conceding three runs on five hits and five walks, while striking out 11 in 7.1 innings. In his sole matchup with the Cubs this season on May 12, he didn't fare much better (three earned runs in 5.1 innings) but took advantage of the Cubs' free-swinging ways, striking out six.

Dodgers standout starter and Cy Young Award candidate Zack Greinke will opt out of his contract, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports.

This move doesn't come as much of a surprise considering he was one of the best pitchers in baseball this season. Heyman speculates Greinke, by turning down the remaining $71 million over the next three seasons, could stand to make more money on the open market, even with pitchers such as David Price and Johnny Cueto likely to reach free agency as well.

The Dodgers and their open wallets seem to be the front-runners to re-sign the superstar pitcher, but with Greinke turning 32 in a week it remains to be seen how lucrative and lengthy a contract they are willing to offer. The team has little starting depth beyond Clayton Kershaw and Greinke at this point.

Rookie left-hander Steven Matz (back) has been confirmed as the starting pitcher for the Mets in Game 4 of the NLDS Tuesday against the Dodgers.

Matz has not pitched since Sept. 24 due to a sore back, but he will get back on the bump Tuesday night as the Mets try to clinch their opening-round series. Both Matz and the Mets hitters will have their work cut out for them squaring off against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.

Kershaw will start Game 4 for the Dodgers on Tuesday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Kershaw being named the starter shouldn't come as a surprise, as the Dodgers will give the ball to their ace in what will be an elimination game one way or another. He'll oppose a youngster in the Mets' 24-year-old Steven Matz.

Hammel will start Game 4 of the NLDS on Tuesday against the Cardinals, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Hammel looked strong in his final outing of the regular season, tossing five shutout innings with five strikeouts and no walks to end the year with a 3.74 ERA. Barring an emergency relief appearance in Monday's Game 3, he'll take the hill Tuesday for the fourth playoff start of his career.