MLB Player News

Wacha (14-4) earned the win Saturday, allowing three hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings against the White Sox. He struck out seven.

The 32-year-old scattered three singles and needed just 87 pitches to complete seven scoreless innings en route to his 14th victory of the campaign. Outside of a recent seven-run start against the Dodgers, Wacha compiled a 6-1 record with a 2.82 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 48:15 K:BB across 44.2 innings after returning from a shoulder injury Aug. 15. Building upon a resurgent 2022 season for the Red Sox, the right-hander's first year in San Diego concludes with a 3.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 124:43 K:BB across 134.1 innings with his highest win total since Wacha went 17-7 in 2015.

Rom came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 15-6 rout of the Reds, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out seven.

The Cardinals' offense handed the southpaw a 10-0 lead after two innings, but Rom wasn't efficient enough to stick around and qualify for his second win, getting the hook after 90 pitches (55 strikes). The seven strikeouts did tie his career high, however, set Sept. 13 against the Orioles. Rom has had a shaky start to his big-league career, posting a 32:19 K:BB through his first 33.2 innings but also an 8.02 ERA thanks to seven homers allowed. The 23-year-old could have an uphill climb to secure a full-time rotation spot next spring.

Castillo (14-9) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs on five hits and five walks over 2.2 innings as the Mariners were downed 6-1 by the Rangers. He struck out four.

The right-hander picked the worst possible time to have his shortest outing of the season, as the loss eliminated the M's from postseason contention. Castillo got the hook after 86 pitches (52 strikes), and his control deserted him in September -- he issued multiple free passes in five of six starts on the month, leading to a 4.96 ERA and 38:18 K:BB through 32.2 innings. He also came up just short of his first 200-inning campaign, finishing with a career-high 197 innings over 33 starts. Castillo still has four years left on the $108 million contract extension he signed last September, and the 30-year-old should anchor the Seattle rotation once again in 2024.

Dunning will start Sunday's game against the Mariners, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Rangers will call on Dunning to pitch on only three days of rest with an opportunity to clinch the division on the line. He tossed a gem in his last outing Wednesday against the Angels by firing seven scoreless innings on 87 pitches, so it's unclear as to how long he'll be able to go Saturday.

Heaney didn't factor into the decision Saturday as the Rangers won 6-1 over the Mariners, allowing five hits and a walk over 4.1 scoreless innings. He struck out two.

While the southpaw didn't record the win, he was a key part of Texas' playoff-clinching victory. Heaney tossed 85 pitches (51 strikes) in his first start since Sept. 4, and he extended his streak of appearances without giving up an earned run to five. The Rangers still need a win Sunday, or an Astros loss, to lock up the AL West crown and a first-round bye in the playoffs, but if they wind up with a wild-card spot, Heaney could play a big role in that series too with Jon Gray (forearm) and Max Scherzer (shoulder) both currently on the IL. On the season, Heaney has a 4.15 ERA and 151:60 K:BB through 147.1 innings.

Kershaw appears in line to start Game 1 of the National League Divisional Series, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Kershaw had a chance for one final tune-up Saturday night against the Giants, surrendering two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five across 5.1 innings. He would ultimately take the loss in a low-scoring contest, though he looked sharp, firing 52 of his 83 pitches for strikes. Manager Dave Roberts all but solidified Kershaw as the starter for Game 1, so expect an official announcement to arrive sometime next week.

Quintana came away with a no-decision in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader sweep of the Phillies, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits over four innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The Mets handed the veteran lefty an 8-0 lead after three innings, but Quintana stumbled in the fourth and got the hook after 96 pitches (64 strikes), failing to qualify for his fourth win of the year. He coughed up 10 runs (eight earned) in 10 innings over his final two starts of 2023, a sour ending to the campaign given the 3.02 ERA he posted in his first 11 trips to the mound after coming off the IL following the All-Star break. With one more season left on his contract at $13 million, Quintana should be locked into a rotation spot for the Mets in 2024.

Megill (9-8) picked up the win in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader sweep of the Phillies, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over 7.1 innings. He struck out seven.

The right-hander saved his best performance of the season for last, as he hadn't worked more than six innings in any start this season. The quality start was Megill's sixth of 2023, but half of them have come in his last six outings -- a stretch in which he posted a 2.55 ERA and 31:12 K:BB through 35.1 innings. The impressive finish to the campaign should make the 28-year-old a favorite to secure an Opening Day rotation spot with the Mets in 2024, provided the team doesn't engage in another winter spending spree.

Plassmeyer (0-1) took the loss in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets, surrendering 10 runs (nine earned) on eight hits -- including three home runs -- over 3.2 innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

With the Phillies already locked into the No. 4 seed in the National League playoffs, Plassmeyer got called up for his season debut and first career big-league start so the team could avoid using any arms it might need in the wild-card round, which starts Tuesday. The 26-year-old southpaw got through the first inning unscathed but quickly fell apart after that, serving up a pair of homers to Francisco Alvarez and another to Francisco Lindor before getting the hook. Plassmeyer posted a 5.05 ERA over 67.2 innings at Triple-A this season, and he's unlikely to be a factor for Philly in the postseason.

Dodd will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Sunday's game against the Nationals, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Dodd's last big-league start dates back to Sept. 9 against the Pirates, when he surrendered four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two across four innings. He'll be tasked with eating innings for Atlanta with little left to play for before the postseason begins.