MLB Player News

Javier will start Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Lance McCullers appeared to be lined up to start Game 3 in New York, but he'll instead pitch Game 4 on Sunday. It will be the first start of the postseason for Javier, who allowed one run over 1.1 innings out of the bullpen in his lone appearance during the ALDS against the Mariners. The right-hander didn't allow a run over his final four starts of the regular season, though he figures to have a reduced workload Saturday while making his first start since Oct. 1.

Valdez pitched seven innings and got the win Thursday night in Game 2 of the ALCS, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and zero walks while striking out nine during the 3-2 win over the Yankees.

Valdez had just one stressful inning Thursday night, which came in the fourth when he bobbled a comebacker from Giancarlo Stanton and compiled the mistake with a throwing error to first base. Two runs eventually scored in the inning, but the 28-year-old lefty was able to limit the damage by striking out Josh Donaldson and Kyle Higashioka, and he finished his outing by striking out the side in the seventh. The nine strikeouts were the most in a postseason game for Valdez since he recorded nine against the Rays in 2020. The southpaw owns a 1.48 postseason ERA and 15 strikeouts over 12.2 innings.

Severino tossed 5.1 innings and took the loss Thursday during Game 2 of the ALCS, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six.

A devastating three-run homer by Alex Bregman with two outs in the third was enough for the Astros to win Game 2 in Houston. Severino was able to battle the tough Houston lineup all night, but the one mistake to Bregman put a damper on his performance. He managed to work into the sixth but was pulled for Jonathan Loaisiga after a one-out single by Kyle Tucker. The 28-year-old has now surrendered six runs in 11 innings during the postseason while striking out 12.

Verlander earned the win during Game 1 of the ALCS on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out 11 over six innings in the 4-2 victory over the Yankees.

Verlander delivered a vintage performance Wednesday night, keeping the dangerous New York lineup in check for six strong innings. The Yankees had runners on second and third with one out in the third inning, but Verlander was able to strike out Josh Donaldson and Matt Carpenter to keep the game tied. The 39-year-old then retired the next nine batters, delivering a crucial bounce-back performance after allowing six runs to the Mariners in his previous outing. The 11 strikeouts were the most in a postseason game for Verlander since he recorded 13 against the Yankees in the 2017 ALCS.

Taillon did not factor in the decision during Game 1 of the ALCS after 4.1 innings of work, allowing one run on four hits and three walks in the 4-2 loss to the Astros.

Taillon delivered a solid performance against the tough Astros lineup, but he was tagged for a two-out RBI double by Martin Maldonado in the bottom of the second to tie the game, 1-1. The 30-year-old righty fared much better than his relief performance in Game 2 of the ALDS, when he allowed two runs on three hits against the Guardians without recording an out; however, the lack of strikeouts is alarming for Taillon. He tallied 151 K's over 177.1 innings in the regular season but has yet to record a strikeout spanning 23 batters in the postseason.

Snell earned the win after five innings of work Wednesday during Game 2 of the NLCS, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six in the 8-5 win over the Phillies.

Snell gave up all four of his earned runs in the second inning when the Phillies piled on a few bloop singles as well as a fly ball into the sun that Juan Soto was unable to keep his eyes on. Despite the tough luck in the second, Snell was able to settle down and give the Padres a chance to come back, which they did. The 29-year-old lefty has always put up solid postseason numbers, so it is no surprise that he was able to settle down and give the Padres a chance to win. Snell has a career 3.36 ERA and 61 strikeouts in the postseason spanning 48.2 innings.

Nola took the loss Wednesday afternoon after 4.2 innings of work, surrendering six runs on seven hits and zero walks while striking out six during the 8-5 defeat to the Padres in Game 2 of the NLCS.

Nola's offense gave him a 4-0 lead to work with, but a two-run second inning followed by four more runs in the fifth proved enough to knock him out of the game. Nola had gone three straight starts with six innings of scoreless work, but the Padres were able to pile on hits in bunches against the 29-year-old righty. In his lone start against the Padres during the regular season, Nola delivered a one-run, 10-strikeout performance over seven innings, but the new-look Padres offense gave him problems in Game 2. Nola's postseason ERA jumped from 0.00 to 3.16, but he does have 18 strikeouts across 17.1 innings.

The Yankees have reinstated Montas (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday in advance of Game 1 of their American League Championship Series with the Astros.

Montas was placed on the IL on Sept. 20 with right shoulder inflammation and wasn't able to get ramped up in time to contribute for the Yankees during their five-game American League Division Series with the Guardians. He looks like he'll be healthy enough to pitch during the ALCS, though Montas will presumably be working out of the bullpen to begin the series with Jameson Taillon, Luis Severino, Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes likely to form the Yankees' four-man rotation. After being acquired from Oakland on Aug. 1, Montas went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 33:15 K:BB in 39.2 innings over eight outings.

Darvish (0-1) took the loss Tuesday night, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out seven in the 2-0 defeat to the Phillies in Game 1 of the NLCS.

Despite being charged with the loss, Darvish pitched a solid game, but he was outdueled by Zack Wheeler. The Phillies were just 3-for-24 against Darvish, but two of his hits allowed were solo homers by Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. The Padres' ace is struggling to limit home runs in the postseason -- he has allowed six earned runs across three starts, and all six runs have come from solo homers. Nonetheless, Darvish has a 2.84 ERA in the postseason while striking out 18 batters across 19 innings.

Wheeler pitched seven scoreless innings to earn the win in Tuesday night's Game 1 of the NLCS, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out eight in the 2-0 victory over the Padres.

Wheeler put together a stellar performance, needing only 83 pitches as he mowed down the Padres for seven strong innings. Wheeler was attacking with his fastball in the strike zone all night, getting five of his six first-pitch outs by way of the heater. The Phillies' ace has only allowed three runs and nine hits through 24.1 innings of work in October. Wheeler's ERA on the road in 2022 was 3.84 -- more than double his 1.85 home ERA -- so it is even more impressive that he was able to silence the crowd in San Diego and help give the Phillies a crucial road victory.