MLB Player News
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Blake Snell SP | LAD
Dodgers' Blake Snell: Excellent again Wednesday
Snell allowed one run on five hits and one walk while striking out five batters over six innings in a no-decision against Arizona on Wednesday.
Snell wasn't able to notch double-digit strikeouts as he had in his previous two outings, but he did extend his quality-start streak to three contests. The left-hander threw 63 of his 95 pitches for strikes and induced nine whiffs. This was presumably Snell's final appearance of the regular season, so he'll likely finish with a 2.35 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 72:26 K:BB over 61.1 innings spanning 11 starts. Snell has been particularly strong down the stretch, allowing just one run across 19 frames while posting a 28:5 K:BB over his past three starts. He'll undoubtedly be in Los Angeles' postseason rotation, and he's relatively fresh after missing fourth months of big-league action from early April to early August due to a shoulder injury.
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Max Fried SP | NYY
Yankees' Max Fried: Clinches MLB-best 19th win
Fried (19-5) picked up the win Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven over seven innings.
Coming off arguably his best start of the year, when he blanked Baltimore over seven innings while striking out 13, the left-hander produced another gem Wednesday. Fried gave up back-to-back singles followed by a sacrifice fly to Lenyn Sosa in the second inning, but he was nearly flawless otherwise, generating 12 whiffs and notching at least seven strikeouts for the 14th time this season. The victory was the 31-year-old's seventh in his last eight starts and his sixth straight, securing him the top of MLB's wins leaderboard with 19. Fried finishes his first regular season with the Yankees having posted a 2.86 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 189:51 K:BB across 195.1 innings, cementing himself as one of most consistent arms fantasy managers could find.
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Stephen Kolek RP | KC
Royals' Stephen Kolek: Adds another quality start to surge
Kolek (5-7) took the loss Wednesday against the Angels, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out two.
Kolek submitted his sixth straight quality start and his ninth of the season through 19 outings. Although it may not have been enough to push the Royals into the postseason, the right-hander kicked things into a higher gear since landing in Kansas City, producing a 1.91 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB across 33 innings. Kolek's surge to finish the campaign gives him a strong case for a rotation spot in 2026, and he may have worked his way into the club's long-term plans heading into the offseason.
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Luis Castillo SP | SEA
Mariners' Luis Castillo: Dominates Rockies in 11th win
Castillo (11-8) earned the win Wednesday against the Rockies, allowing one run on one hit and one walk in 7.1 innings. He struck out 10.
Castillo helped propel the Mariners to an American League West title, authoring one of his finest performances of the year. It was the first time this season that the right-hander piled up double-digit punchouts, and it was also his longest outing of the campaign. Castillo will be hoping to see most of his playoff action come at T-Mobile Park -- he'll close the regular season with a 2.60 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 17 home starts versus a 4.71 ERA and 1.46WHIP across 15 road outings.
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Taj Bradley SP | MIN
Twins' Taj Bradley: Fans nine in six impressive frames
Bradley didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Rangers, allowing one run on two hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out nine.
In what was his final scheduled appearance of the season, Bradley saved his best start since joining Minnesota for last. The nine strikeouts were his most since he fanned 10 during his June 1 outing in Houston as a member of the Rays, and Wednesday was the first time since July 18 that the right-hander fired at least six innings while conceding one run or zero. Bradley still struggled as a whole since landing with the Twins, turning in a 6.61 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 32:12 K:BB across 31.1 innings, so he may have to fight for a rotation spot next spring.
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Jacob deGrom SP | TEX
Rangers' Jacob deGrom: Eight Ks in five sterling innings
DeGrom didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Twins, allowing one run on two hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out eight.
With the Rangers out of the playoff hunt, it wasn't surprising to see deGrom's night end after he threw only 74 pitches. However, it was still a fine performance from the All-Star right-hander, who tossed at least five frames while yielding one or zero runs for the 12th time in 30 outings this season. DeGrom isn't scheduled to pitch again this season, though fantasy managers have to be pleased by the fact that the oft-injured righty hurled 172.2 innings, his most since 2019. He'll close the campaign with an outstanding 2.97 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 185:37 K:BB.
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Yusei Kikuchi SP | LAA
Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Exits with trainer
Kikuchi was removed from Wednesday's game against the Royals due to a left forearm cramp.
Kikuchi made it through five innings of one-run ball and struck out six batters before leaving the game alongside one of the Angels' trainers. Regardless of the severity of his injury, Wednesday will be the final start that Kikuchi makes in 2025, and he'll conclude the season with a 3.99 ERA and 1.42 WHIP alongside a 174:74 K:BB over 178.1 innings spanning 33 starts.
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Reese Olson SP | DET
Tigers' Reese Olson: Not throwing bullpens yet
Olson (shoulder) has been working on a throwing progression, though he's not yet ready for bullpen work and is likely still a ways off from returning, MLB.com reports.
Olson last appeared on the mound for Detroit back on July 24, and he's currently on the 60-day injured list as he recovers from a right shoulder strain. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection on Aug. 5, and there's a chance he can return if the Tigers make the playoffs and happen to stick around for a bit, but the righty's regular season is over. Whether Olson pitches again in 2025 or not, he should be a part of Detroit's rotation next year, and he's pitched well for the team since making his MLB debut in 2023.
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Shane Baz SP | BAL
Rays' Shane Baz: Goes four innings vs. Baltimore
Baz did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Orioles, allowing three walks and no hits across four scoreless innings. He struck out three.
It's unclear exactly why Baz was limited to four innings after throwing only 49 pitches (31 strikes), though he was effective nonetheless. The 26-year-old Baz's campaign will likely end on a high note -- he delivered nine scoreless innings over his last two starts, allowing just two hits while striking out seven. Overall, Baz's ERA sits at 4.87 with a 1.33 WHIP and 176:64 K:BB across 31 starts (166.1 innings) this season.
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Tyler Wells SP | BAL
Orioles' Tyler Wells: Falls to Rays
Wells (2-1) took the loss Wednesday against Tampa Bay, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk across four innings. He struck out four.
It was a tough outing for Wells, who gave up a run in each of the first three innings. Prior to Wednesday, the 31-year-old right-hander had not allowed more than two runs in any of his three starts. Wells, who missed all but the final month of the season while recovering from UCL revision surgery, will likely finish the campaign with a 2.91 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 18 strikeouts across 21.2 innings.