MLB Player News

Scherzer (shoulder) went through pitchers' fielding practice at Globe Life Field on Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The veteran right-hander completed a 60-pitch simulated game Wednesday, and this is a good sign he's feeling OK afterward. The Rangers have not yet announced their ALCS roster, but it would be a surprise at this point if Scherzer isn't on it. He last pitched Sept. 12 due to a strain of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder and was initially given an 8-12 week timeline to return, so if he does indeed make it back for the ALCS it would be a rapid recovery.

Woodruff underwent surgery Friday to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Three days after general manager Matt Arnold expressed optimism regarding the right-hander's status for 2024, the Brewers now expect him to miss most if not all of next season. Woodruff missed four months of the 2023 season due to shoulder issues, and his capsular injury also kept him out of the NL Wild Card Series against the Diamondbacks. He will be entering his final year of team control in 2024, though his resume could still encourage Milwaukee to sign him to a long-term contract and keep him around for his return to the mound. Woodruff will turn 31 years old before the start of the 2024 campaign.

Wright underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn capsule in his right shoulder.

Wright will miss the entire 2024 campaign as he recovers from the procedure. He strained his shoulder multiple times this season and posted an ugly 6.97 ERA and 1.84 WHIP through 31 innings when he was healthy -- a sharp decline from his 3.19 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 2022.

Kaprielian (shoulder) cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.

Kaprielian had been on the 60-day injured list following surgery in August to repair the posterior labrum in his right shoulder. It's not clear how long his rehab is expected to take, but the right-hander will have to prove his health and earn his way back onto the 40-man roster.

Suarez earned the win in Thursday's 3-1 victory over Atlanta in Game 4 of the NLDS, allowing one run on three hits across five innings. He struck out two.

Suarez had a solid start keeping runners off the basepaths, and while he by no means dominated, he kept the Atlanta offense at bay to hand the ball off with a lead. His only blemish came on a changeup that Austin Riley took deep from outside below the zone in the fourth inning. Suarez now has a sterling 1.04 ERA and 0.58 WHIP with six strikeouts across 8.2 innings this postseason. The southpaw will tentatively line up to take the mound again next week against the Diamondbacks in the NLCS.

Strider took the loss in Thursday's 3-1 defeat to the Phillies in Game 4 of the NLDS, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks across 5.2 innings. He struck out seven.

Strider was not as sharp as his start in Game 1 of the series and once again found himself on the wrong side of the decision. The bulk of the damage came on two home runs from Nick Castellanos in the fourth and sixth innings, both of which came on pitches Strider left inside to the pull-happy outfielder. Although Strider struggled with allowing constant traffic on the basepaths, he also racked up 19 whiffs, underscoring the rollercoaster command that plagued him in this start. His postseason concluded with a 2.84 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 12.2 innings with 15 strikeouts.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said he was "real encouraged" by Scherzer's (shoulder) simulated game Wednesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Scherzer nearly made the roster for the ALDS and appears on track to return to the Rangers' starting rotation for their upcoming ALCS matchup against the Astros, which begins Sunday in Houston. He's been sidelined since Sept. 12 because of a teres major muscle injury, but the veteran right-hander threw around 40 pitches to live hitters last Friday and extended himself to about 60 pitches during Wednesday's workout at Globe Life Field. Jon Gray (forearm) could also be activated for the American League Championship Series.

Verlander will start Game 1 of the ALCS against the Rangers on Sunday in Houston, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Verlander would have gotten the call for a potential ALDS Game 5 start against the Twins, but the Astros took care of business with a clinching Game 4 victory Wednesday at Target Field. The veteran right-hander was his usual trusty October self in Game 1 of that best-of-five series, tallying six strikeouts over six scoreless innings in a 6-4 defeat of Minnesota. He'll be on seven full days of rest leading into the opener of the best-of-seven American League Championship Series versus Texas.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that Means' left elbow checked out fine and the pitcher will participate fully in spring training, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

Means was excluded from the team's ALDS roster because of elbow soreness, which initially raised a red flag considering this was his first year back from Tommy John surgery. However, the left-hander was expected to be ready for the ALCS had the Orioles advanced, so there never appeared to be much internal concern about the setback. Means posted a 2.66 ERA and 10:4 K:BB over 23.2 innings in 2023 after rejoining Baltimore's rotation late in the season.

Dunn (shoulder) elected free agency Wednesday.

Dunn had been cast off the Reds' 40-man roster and has decided to look for another organization rather than accept an outright assignment. The right-hander missed all of this season with a shoulder injury, which eventually required surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule. Dunn probably won't be ready to pitch until well into the 2024 campaign.