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River Ryan SP | DET
Tigers' River Ryan: Chased early in loss
Ryan (0-1) took the loss against the Pirates on Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 1.1 innings.
Ryan allowed a leadoff homer and struggled overall, throwing just 21 of 39 pitches for strikes with four whiffs. The 28-year-old yielded two earned runs over 4.1 innings in a two-start stint with the Tigers and posted a 4.39 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 47:9 K:BB across 41 Triple-A frames this season. He was a prized asset in the Tarik Skubal trade with the Dodgers and should factor into the Tigers' rotation plans in 2027.
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Brandon Williamson SP | CIN
Reds' Brandon Williamson: Hit hard in fifth loss
Williamson (5-5) took the loss Sunday against Toronto, striking out three while allowing four runs on four hits and three walks in three innings.
Williamson didn't end the year on a positive note, as he couldn't make it to the fourth inning despite tossing 76 pitches. The left-hander was part of the Reds' Opening Day rotation, but a shoulder injury cost him most of the season and derailed his campaign. After logging a career-worst 5.30 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 36:30 K:BB in 52.2 innings, he may have to battle for a roster spot again next spring.
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Max Scherzer SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Turns clock back in season finale
Scherzer (4-9) notched the win Sunday against the Reds, striking out seven while allowing one run on six hits and one walk in seven innings.
In what may have been his final major-league start, Scherzer put forth a vintage display Sunday. The future Hall of Famer worked seven innings for just the second time all year, generating an outstanding 19 whiffs and emptying the tank for a season-high 114 pitches on just three days' rest. Scherzer, 42, is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and he'll decide over the winter if he's ready to hang up his cleats following a decorated 19-year big-league career. He appeared to be on his last legs in the first half, working to a 10.23 ERA and 1.73 WHIP over 22 innings before the All-Star break, but Scherzer did show signs of life with a 4.16 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 62.2 frames after the break.
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Jared Jones SP | PIT
Pirates' Jared Jones: Throws four scoreless in finale
Jones did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Tigers, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out five over four scoreless innings.
Jones was dominant, throwing 36 of 55 pitches for strikes with 10 whiffs while retiring the first six batters he faced. It was an exclamation point on an excellent September in which he went 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA and 40:4 K:BB over five outings. The 25-year-old enjoyed a strong bounceback campaign after undergoing elbow surgery in 2025, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 123:31 K:BB across 101.2 innings after making his season debut May 29.
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Ethan Pecko SP | HOU
Astros' Ethan Pecko: Earns win in division clincher
Pecko (2-0) earned the win Sunday over the A's, allowing just one hit and no walks over three scoreless innings. He struck out three.
Pecko handled bulk duties Sunday after Peter Lambert went the first two innings. The rookie right-hander was sharp, holding the A's to a lone single across three scoreless frames as the Astros' cruised to a 9-0 victory to clinch the AL West title. Pecko was effective overall as a swingman for Houston after making his debut in August. He'll finish the regular season with a 3.93 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 23:14 K:BB over 34.1 innings.
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Yusei Kikuchi SP | LAA
Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Strikes out seven in loss
Kikuchi (1-7) allowed three runs on six hits, a walk and a hit batsman while striking out seven over five innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Mariners.
Kikuchi allowed two runs or fewer in four of seven starts after coming back from shoulder inflammation in late August. He allowed 18 runs (17 earned) over 36.2 innings in that span. The 35-year-old southpaw ends the season at a 4.92 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 67:30 K:BB through 67.2 innings over 14 starts. He has one more year on his contract, so he could be a trade candidate moving forward.
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Peter Lambert SP | HOU
Astros' Peter Lambert: Goes two innings Sunday
Lambert did not factor into the decision Sunday against the A's, allowing two hits and no walks across two scoreless innings. He struck out one.
After going just 2.2 innings in his last start Thursday, Lambert essentially served as the opener in Sunday's regular-season finale, as he delivered threw 41 pitches across two scoreless frames. The 29-year-old Lambert established himself as a mainstay in Houston's rotation this year, going 8-10 with a 3.82 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 154 strikeouts across 29 starts (155.2 innings). There's a good chance Lambert gets the call again at some point during the Wild Card Series, where Houston will host the White Sox.
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Logan Gilbert SP | SEA
Mariners' Logan Gilbert: Shines in abbreviated start Sunday
Gilbert walked one over four-plus scoreless and hitless innings while striking out eight in a no-decision versus the Angels on Sunday.
The Mariners clearly didn't want to push Gilbert too much in a meaningless game, pulling him after he walked Moises Ballesteros to open the fifth inning, ending his chance at a perfect game. Gilbert managed just six scoreless outings this season, and just two of them came after the All-Star break as he struggled down the stretch. He ends 2026 with a 12-11 record, 3.73 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 205:49 K:BB through 186 innings over 32 starts.
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Dean Kremer SP | MIN
Twins' Dean Kremer: Goes seven strong in win
Kremer (5-5) earned the win against the Rangers on Sunday, allowing one run on three hits and no walks with four strikeouts over seven innings.
Kremer was spotted an early lead and ran with it, with a solo homer in the third inning serving as his only blemish. The 30-year-old ended his season on a nice run, finishing September 3-0 while yielding just four earned runs over his final four outings. Overall, he'll conclude the campaign with a 4.68 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 86:29 K:BB across 90.1 innings with the Orioles and Twins.
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MacKenzie Gore SP | TEX
Rangers' MacKenzie Gore: Early hook in finale
Gore did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Twins, allowing one run on one hit and one walk over 2.1 innings. He did not record a strikeout.
Gore started a major-league-leading 34th game but did not last long, throwing 15 of 25 pitches for strikes and departing with one out in the third inning. It's unclear if the southpaw was injured Sunday, but he'll finish the campaign having completed five frames in only five of his final seven outings. He'll conclude his first season in Texas with a 4.58 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 174:71 K:BB across a career-high 173 innings.