MLB Player News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Singer is not on the Reds' wild-card roster.

Singer started Sunday's regular-season finale, so he likely would have been available to pitch in the wild-card series only in a limited relief capacity. It's possible -- though not a given -- that he'll crack the rotation if the Reds advance to the NLDS.

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.

Abbott will start Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Dodgers, if necessary, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Cincinnati is set to deploy Hunter Greene in Game 1 and Zack Littell in Game 2, setting up Abbott to pitch in Game 3 if the series goes beyond two matchups. The 26-year-old southpaw put together a solid finish to the 2025 regular season, turning in a 2.78 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 19 strikeouts over 22.2 frames during his final four starts.

Manager Dave Roberts stated Monday that Sasaki will be on the roster for the team's National League Wild Card Series against the Reds, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Sasaki has looked sharp since his return from a right shoulder impingement, racking up four strikeouts in two scoreless relief appearances (two innings) during the final week of the regular season. Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia and Blake Treinen may be LA's top options in high-leverage situations heading into the postseason, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Sasaki called upon in a key scenario or two given his electric stuff.

Littell will start Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Dodgers on Wednesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Littell hadn't been particularly effective down the stretch of the regular season, accruing a 4.91 ERA over 25.2 frames during his final five appearances, but he'll toe the rubber in LA for Game 2. He found success in his last start against the Dodgers on July 30, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out four across five scoreless innings.