MLB Player News

Alcantara underwent Tommy John surgery Friday to repair the UCL in his right elbow, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

Alcantara landed on the injured list in early September and had his rehab assignment cut short after spraining his UCL on Sept. 22. Now having undergone surgery to address the issue, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner will almost certainly miss the entire 2024 season.

Scherzer (shoulder) faced hitters during a simulated game Friday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Scherzer threw two simulated innings against live hitters before throwing a third inning with nobody standing in the batter's box. The 39-year-old said afterward that he felt good while on the mound, but he's more concerned with how he'll recover afterward. It's possible the Rangers list Scherzer on their ALDS roster ahead of Game 1 against Baltimore on Saturday, but there is no guarantee he'll be available to pitch during the series.

Fried (finger) will start Monday against the Phillies in Game 2 of the NLDS.

Fried finished the regular season on the injured list due to a blister on his left index finger, but the issue seems to have subsided as Atlanta prepares to begin its postseason run. Fried most recently faced the Phillies on Sept. 12, allowing just one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six batters through five innings.

Strider will start Saturday against the Phillies in Game 1 of the NLDS.

Strider struggled toward the end of the regular season, posting a 5.60 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across 27.1 innings in September. However, he was dominant in the two starts he made against the Phillies that month, giving up four runs over 14 innings while striking out 20 batters and walking just two.

Gray will start Game 3 of Minnesota's ALDS matchup versus the Astros on Tuesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Gray's next postseason start will come after Bailey Ober and Pablo Lopez, who are slated to start the first two games of the series, respectively. Gray faced Houston twice in the regular season, giving up four total runs while striking out 16 batters and walking four through 13 innings.

Lopez will start Game 2 of the Twins' ALDS matchup against Houston on Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Lopez will follow Game 1 starter Bailey Ober, and Sonny Gray will start Game 3 on Tuesday. Lopez had a shaky end to the regular season, giving up 11 runs over 15.1 innings. However, he was able to bounce back nicely in Game 1 of the Twins' AL Wild Card Series against Toronto, allowing just one run over 5.2 frames while striking out three batters and walking two.

Ober will start Saturday against the Astros in Game 1 of the ALDS, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Ober wasn't even on the Twins' AL Wild Card Series roster, but he'll be entrusted with the series opener in Houston. The big right-hander was sent to the minors following a midseason swoon, but he returned in September to post a 2.08 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 21.2 innings of work. Ober will be opposed by Justin Verlander in Game 1.

Manager Rob Thomson said Friday that Suarez will start Game 1 of the Phillies' NLDS matchup against Atlanta on Saturday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Suarez's services weren't needed during the Phillies' two-game sweep over Miami in the NL Wild Card Series, so he'll be making his first appearance of the postseason on plenty of rest. The 28-year-old lefty posted a 4.18 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 22 starts during the regular season, but he surrendered 10 runs over 11.1 frames across his last two outings and will be facing an Atlanta offense that boasts an incredible .845 OPS -- a mark that rise to .870 against southpaws.

Rodriguez will start Sunday in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Rangers, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The rookie right-hander will be following Game 1 starter Kyle Bradish. Rodriguez got sent back to the minors following a slow start to the season but was dynamite after returning, posting a 2.58 ERA and 73:21 K:BB over his final 76.2 frames covering 13 starts. That includes a 2.17 ERA and 32:7 K:BB over 29 innings in September.

Bradish will start Saturday in Game 1 of the ALDS versus the Rangers, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Bradish seemed to be the clear choice for the Orioles following a breakout 2023 campaign which saw him post a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 168:44 K:BB over 168.2 innings covering 30 starts. That includes a 2.34 ERA in the second half and a 16-inning scoreless streak to end his regular season. The Rangers have not yet announced a Game 1 starter, but it's expected to be Dane Dunning. Grayson Rodriguez will get the ball in Game 2 for the O's.