MLB Player News
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Max Fried SP | NYY
Yankees' Max Fried: Stuck with no-decision in Game 1
Fried pitched 6.1 shutout innings during Tuesday's loss to the Red Sox, giving up four hits and three walks while collecting six strikeouts. He did not factor into the decision.
The 31-year-old lefty pitched his way out of a couple of jams in the fourth and fifth innings to keep the Sox off the scoreboard through six. However, MLB's highest-scoring offense wasn't able to replicate its regular-season success against Garrett Crochet, forcing Fried to settle for a no-decision in his first postseason appearance as a Yankee after Luke Weaver gave up two runs following Fried's removal in the seventh. If New York can come back to take the series from Boston, Fried will presumably get the call to start against Toronto in Game 2 of the ALDS on Sunday.
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Nick Pivetta RP | SD
Padres' Nick Pivetta: Fans nine in Game 1 loss
Pivetta took the loss in Tuesday's game against the Cubs after surrendering two earned runs on three hits and no walks while striking out nine batters across five innings.
The right-hander allowed just one baserunner through the first four innings of Tuesday's contest, but a pair of solo homers from Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly to lead off the fifth put Chicago in front. Pivetta struck out the next three batters he faced to finish his start; however, a shutdown performance from the Cubs' bullpen kept the Padres behind for the rest of the game. It was a reassuring performance from the 32-year-old after he finished the regular season by giving up six runs in 10.1 frames, but San Diego will now need to win two straight games at Wrigley Field for Pivetta to have any chance of facing the Brewers in the NLDS.
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Matthew Boyd SP | CHC
Cubs' Matthew Boyd: Takes no-decision in Game 1
Boyd didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Padres, giving up one earned run on four hits and a walk while striking out two batters across 4.1 innings.
Back-to-back doubles from Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts in the second inning allowed the Padres to plate their lone run of the game. Boyd likely would have conceded a few more runs if it weren't for Dansby Swanson's defense, and consistent hard contact from San Diego's offense led to the southpaw's removal in the fifth inning after just 58 pitches. If the Cubs manage to advance to the NLDS, Boyd would likely be called upon to start Game 2 in Milwaukee on Monday.
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Gavin Williams SP | CLE
Guardians' Gavin Williams: Tough-luck loss in Game 1
Williams permitted just two unearned runs on five hits and one walk over six-plus innings but was saddled with a loss in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to the Tigers. He struck out eight batters.
The Tigers plated their first run in the top of the first inning thanks to a pair of two-out singles and an error, and they added another in the top of the seventh on a squeeze bunt after Williams was pulled from the game. That turned out to be enough, as Tarik Skubal and the Tigers' bullpen kept the Guardians in check. Williams accrued up 19 whiffs on his 88 pitches, picking up where he left off after closing out the regular season on a high note. He would likely pitch Game 2 of the ALDS versus the Mariners on Sunday, should the Guardians advance.
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Tarik Skubal SP | DET
Tigers' Tarik Skubal: Fans 14 in Game 1 masterpiece
Skubal yielded only one run on three hits and three walks while striking out 14 over 7.2 innings to pick up the win in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Guardians.
The Guardians managed to scratch together a run in the bottom of the fourth inning despite not hitting the ball out of the infield, and Skubal also walked the light-hitting Austin Hedges twice. He was otherwise in complete control, regularly topping 100 mph with his fastball and inducing 26 swinging strikes on 107 pitches. The left-hander's 14 strikeouts tied a Tigers postseason record. If the Tigers advance to the ALDS to play the Mariners, Skubal would likely start Game 2 on Sunday.
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Connelly Early SP | BOS
Red Sox's Connelly Early: Likely to start potential Game 3
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Early would likely start a potential Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series versus the Yankees, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Early became the most likely candidate to take the ball in Game 3 after Lucas Giolito (elbow) went down, and Cora has confirmed it will indeed be the lefty, barring something unforeseen. The rookie collected a 2.33 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 29:4 K:BB across 19.1 innings covering four September starts for the Red Sox.
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Lucas Giolito SP | BOS
Red Sox's Lucas Giolito: Unlikely to pitch this postseason
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that while Giolito's right elbow injury is not as bad as the team feared it might be, the hurler is unlikely to be available at any point during the postseason, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Giolito seems to have been cleared of any structural damage after a visit with Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, but the right-hander needs extended rest, so he's done for the season even if the Red Sox make a deep postseason run. It's poor timing for the Red Sox and also Giolito, who will enter free agency this winter. Giolito had a nice bounce-back 2025 campaign, posting a 3.41 ERA and 121:56 K:BB over 145 frames, but he'll head into the free-agent market with health questions.
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Sean Manaea RP | NYM
Mets' Sean Manaea: Elbow surgery undetermined
Manaea will be evaluated soon to determine whether he will need surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.
Manaea was diagnosed with loose bodies in his pitching elbow in June, which set back his rehab from an oblique strain at the time. He made his season debut just before the All-Star break, stayed off the injured list from that point forward and finished the year with the elbow feeling well. However, Manaea posted a 5.64 ERA over 12 starts and three relief appearances, and it's possible the elbow was a factor in his struggles. More should be known about Manaea's status in the coming weeks.
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Luis Gil SP | NYY
Yankees' Luis Gil: Left off wild-card roster
Gil is not part of the Yankees' wild-card roster.
The Yankees are going with Max Fried, Carlos Rodon and Cam Schlittler as their three starters in the American League Wild Card Series against the Red Sox, and they've decided against including Gil on the roster as a reliever. Will Warren is on the roster as a reliever, and either Warren or Gil could be added back to the rotation if the Yankees advance to the ALDS.