Yamamoto will start Sunday in Game 2 of the NLDS against San Diego, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Yamamoto allowed eight earned runs over six innings across his two appearances against the Padres during the regular season, though it's been nearly six months since he last faced the division rival. More recently, the 26-year-old righty turned in a 3.38 ERA and 21:5 K:BB over 16 frames following his return from the injured list Sept. 10.

Darvish will start Sunday in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Dodgers, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Michael King would be on regular rest Sunday following a dominant 12-strikeout outing in the wild-card series versus Atlanta, but the Padres will hold him back, presumably for Game 3. Darvish will be opposed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Cease will start Saturday in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Dodgers, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

After not being needed in the two-game sweep of Atlanta in the wild-card round, Cease was an easy call to take the ball in the NLDS opener. The righty collected a 3.47 ERA and 224:65 K:BB across 189.1 innings covering 33 starts this season for the Padres. Cease will be opposed by Jack Flaherty.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that he expects Rodriguez (lat) to more or less by without restrictions at the beginning of spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Rodriguez sustained a right lat strain in early August and was eventually shut down in late September after it became apparent he wasn't going to make it back for the regular or postseason. He should be able to have a relatively normal throwing program during the offseason, though health concerns could linger given how much time he missed in 2024.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Thursday that Urquidy (elbow) is projected to return in late July next season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Urquidy underwent his second Tommy John surgery in June, so a return in a little over a year would be aggressive. Of course, any timetable at this juncture of recovery is a rough approximation. Urquidy is arbitration eligible for a final time this offseason, and it would seem as though the Astros plan to tender him a contract for 2025.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Thursday that Javier (elbow) is projected to return in late July of next season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

It's an ambitious timeline considering Javier underwent Tommy John surgery in June. Any projected timetable at this stage of rehab is approximate, but it does appear Brown expects Javier to have a good shot to contribute shortly after the All-Star break next season.

Verlander said Wednesday that he plans to continue his major-league career in 2025, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Verlander -- who will turn 42 in February -- battled through a disappointing 2024 season, finishing with a 5.48 ERA and 74:27 K:BB over 90.1 innings covering 17 starts before being left off the Astros wild-card roster. He began the year on the injured list with a shoulder problem and also missed substantial time with a neck issue, an injury which he has indicated he might have come back too soon from and could have affected his performance. Given his age and the season he just had, Verlander will enter free agency with question marks, but he shouldn't have trouble finding a team willing to take a shot on a bounce-back showing in 2025.

Musgrove will undergo and MRI on his injured right elbow Thursday, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Musgrove had to depart Wednesday's start versus Atlanta due to what the Padres are referring to now simply as right elbow tightness. Initial testing on his UCL came back clean, but more clarity will be available following Thursday's exam. For what it's worth, Musgrove said the discomfort he felt Wednesday was "very different" from the pain he experienced due to a bone spur in his elbow which sent him to the injured list twice earlier this season. The pitcher also revealed that he'd been battling some soreness in the elbow prior to the outing. If Musgrove needs to be replaced on the NLDS roster, Martin Perez is a candidate to fill that slot.

Ragans (calf) will start Monday in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Ragans exited his wild-card series start versus the Orioles after six shutout innings due to left calf cramps, but his readiness for the start of the ALDS doesn't seem to be in question. The left-handed Ragans -- who will be pitching on five days' rest -- will be preceded by Michael Wacha in Game 1.

Wacha will start Saturday in Game 1 of the ALDS versus the Yankees, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Wacha had been lined up for Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series, but with the Royals completing a two-game sweep of the Orioles, the righty will be held back for the ALDS opener. He'll be opposed by Gerrit Cole.