MLB Player News

Griffin will start Game 1 of the ALCS against the Rays on Monday, Nick Camino of WKYC Channel 3 Cleveland reports.

Griffin will take the mound for the series opener after tossing 2.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out seven batters in Game 3 of the ALDS against Chicago. The southpaw threw 53 total pitches (39 strikes) in his last outing, and he will likely be operating under a similar workload Monday in Tampa Bay.

Yelich is out of the lineup for Game 1 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Sunday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Yelich started all four games versus San Diego during the NLDS, including the series opener versus lefty Robbie Ray, but the veteran slugger will hit the bench Sunday with ace southpaw Tarik Skubal taking the mound for Los Angeles. Yelich was a key piece of Milwaukee's offense versus the Padres -- going 5-for-14 with a double, two steals, one RBI and two runs -- and the Brewers may need him to deliver similar numbers to make the World Series. The 34-year-old will likely make an appearance off the bench Sunday once the Dodgers go to their bullpen.

Edman is out of the lineup for Game 1 of the NLCS against the Brewers on Sunday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

It's the third straight game on the bench for Edman, who has gone 0-for-7 with a walk, a run and one strikeout through four playoffs games. Enrique Hernandez, who had a two-run homer in Game 3 of the NLDS, is picking up another start at second base Sunday.

GM Alex Anthopoulos said Sunday that Schwellenbach (elbow) should return to Atlanta's rotation next year, though the organization won't be counting on him to fill that role across the full season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Schwellenbach spent the entire 2026 campaign on the injured list, first undergoing surgery in February to have bone spurs removed from his right elbow before having another procedure in August to repair a fracture in the same elbow that dated back to last year. The 26-year-old's availability for the start of the 2027 campaign is in question as he works his way back from the latter surgery, and he could also have some workload limitations while coming off a lost season.

Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Sunday that Strider (elbow) will be a rotation option in 2027, but the organization doesn't plan to count on him to be able to fill that role across the full-season schedule, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander struggled in his return from internal brace surgery during 2025 with a 4.45 ERA in 23 regular-season starts, and he made just eight appearances this year due to oblique and elbow issues. Strider landed on the IL in mid-June due to elbow inflammation and missed the rest of the season, but he resumed throwing in August and should enter spring training in decent shape health-wise. However, his injuries and limited availability the past three years have resulted in Atlanta tempering its expectations for him in 2027.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos said Sunday that Fuentes will enter spring training as a starting pitcher and could be transitioned to a relief role, if needed, Lindsay Crosby of BravesToday.com reports.

Atlanta had a similar plan for the right-hander in 2026, and he ended up working out of the bullpen to stellar results. Fuentes made 58 appearances during the regular season, recording thee saves and 17 holds with a 2.45 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 92:21 K:BB across 73.1 innings during his first full MLB campaign. He was also a key contributor in the playoffs, allowing three runs on five hits with a 5:2 K:BB over seven innings.

The Rays named Rasmussen as their starting pitcher for Game 1 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Tampa Bay's three-game sweep of the Yankees made it easy to set up their ace to start Game 1 of the ALCS, so this announcement is hardly a surprise. Rasmussen dominated New York in the division series, striking out 10 with just one hit and two walks allowed across eight scoreless innings.

McClanahan (forearm) won't be available to pitch during the rest of the postseason, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

It would have been a great story for the left-hander to rejoin the Rays during their playoff run after going down with forearm soreness in early September, but it's not a major surprise he's been ruled out given that there's been no indication he's close to game ready. McClanahan also spent time on the IL earlier in the season due to a back issue, limiting him to 24 starts. He posted a 3.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 106:39 K:BB across 118 innings this season and is entering his penultimate year of arbitration eligibility in 2027. Manager Kevin Cash indicated that McClanahan should be fully ready for the start of spring training, per Topkin.

Rojas (back) recently received a cortisone injection but was included on the Dodgers' roster for the NLCS, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

The club hasn't provided an official update regarding the 27-year-old availability, but his inclusion on the NLCS roster -- and Hyeseong Kim's exclusion -- is a good indication that Rojas is fine. The utility infielder appeared in two games during the NLDS, going 1-for-4 with a double and a strikeout.

The Dodgers added Wrobleski to their roster for the NLCS against the Brewers, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

The southpaw was left off the roster for the NLDS, but Los Angeles will shore up its pitching staff for the best-of-seven championship series. Wrobleski was a key rotation piece for much of the regular season before coming out of the bullpen for his final six appearances. He posted a 3.66 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 118:31 K:BB across 140 innings.