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Luke Keaschall 2B | MIN
Twins' Luke Keaschall: Productive from top of order Wednesday
Keaschall went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Yankees.
The 24-year-old made his mark from the leadoff spot, and it was Keaschall who crossed the plate as the phantom runner in the bottom of the 13th inning on a Victor Caratini walk-off single. Keaschall has posted back-to-back three-hit efforts, and through 14 contests in September he's batting .302 (16-for-53) with two doubles, two steals, four RBI and nine runs.
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Yoendrys Gomez RP | MIN
Twins' Yoendrys Gomez: Perfect closing season ends Wednesday
Gomez was charged with his first blown save of the season in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Yankees, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out two.
The unlikely closer, who was picked up by Minnesota after being DFA'd by Tampa Bay in early May, made it to the final two weeks of the regular season without blowing a save chance, but Gomez couldn't protect a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning Wednesday. He allowed a couple singles before Anthony Volpe tied it up with a two-out double, and after walking another batter the right-hander was replaced by Kody Funderburk. Gomez has been tagged for multiple runs in three of his last eight appearances, stumbling to an 11.05 ERA, 2.32 WHIP and 9:7 K:BB in 7.1 innings over that stretch as his luck has finally begun to run out down the stretch.
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Zebby Matthews SP | MIN
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Blanks Yanks in no-decision
Matthews didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Yankees, allowing two hits and two walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out eight.
The 26-year-old right-hander put together one of his best performances of the season, firing 63 of 97 pitches for strikes, and Matthews left the mound in line for his 10th win of the year before both bullpens got squirrelly as the game went to 13 innings. The quality start was Matthews' 11th of the season, and three of them have come in his last five outings -- a stretch in which he's produced a 3.45 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 26:8 K:BB over 28.2 innings. He's set to make what could be his final start of 2026 on the road early next week in San Francisco.
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Cody Bellinger LF | NYY
Yankees' Cody Bellinger: On base four times in extra-innings loss
Bellinger went 3-for-5 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Twins.
The veteran outfielder did what he could to set the table for the rest of the Yankees' lineup out of the two-hole, but offense got tough to find after Aaron Judge (lower leg) left the game in the sixth inning. Bellinger has banged out multiple hits in five of his last seven games as he wraps up the regular season on a heater, and through 14 contests in September he's batting .390 (23-for-59) with three doubles, four homers, two steals, 12 RBI and 14 runs.
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David Bednar RP | NYY
Yankees' David Bednar: Stuck with fourth blown save
Bednar was charged with his fourth blown save of the season in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Twins, giving up two unearned runs on three hits over two innings. He struck out two without walking a batter.
The Yankees closer got the call in extra innings and had one-run leads to protect in both the 10th and 11th frames, but each time Bednar couldn't prevent the phantom runner from crossing the plate. It was a tough way to see his streak of seven straight save conversions come to an end, but the veteran righty has still been tagged for earned runs in only two of his last 13 appearances, posting a 2.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 16:1 K:BB through 14.2 innings during that span with two wins and eight saves. With a team day off Thursday, Bednar's heavy usage Wednesday may not affect his availability heading into this weekend's road series in Arizona.
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Spencer Arrighetti RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Spencer Arrighetti: Mops up in Tuesday's loss
Arrighetti struck out two and gave up two unearned runs on one hit and two walks over two innings of relief in Tuesday's 10-1 loss to the Tigers.
Arrighetti made his second consecutive relief appearance, pitching on two days' rest as part of a bullpen game. The Blue Jays didn't turn to Arrighetti until they were down 6-0 in the top of the seventh, with his usage in a mop-up role likely indicating that he's lost his grip on a rotation spot. Since being acquired from the Astros at the trade deadline, Arrighetti has submitted a 6.20 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 17:12 K:BB in 20.1 innings across six appearances.
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Carlos Rodon SP | NYY
Yankees' Carlos Rodon: Quality start goes to waste Wednesday
Rodon didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Twins, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out five.
The veteran southpaw left the mound after 102 pitches (59 strikes) with the Yankees down 2-0, but they were able to tie it up in the ninth and take Rodon off the hook for his fourth loss. Rodon has produced back-to-back quality starts, giving him five on the season in 15 trips to the mound. Since coming off the IL in mid-August, he's delivered a 2.40 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 31:12 K:BB over 30 innings. He lines up to make what will likely be his final start of the regular season at home next week against the Rays, in a game that could still have huge significance in the race for the AL East title.
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Louie Varland RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Notches 34th save
Varland earned the save in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the Tigers, retiring all three batters he faced with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
After Spencer Miles gave up a single and a walk to open the ninth, the Blue Jays turned to Varland who promptly recorded the final three outs, locking down his 34th save this season. It was a nice rebound effort from Varland, who gave up a run in a blown save against Detroit his last time out. The right-hander now sports a 1.30 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP and 95:22 K:BB across 76 innings this season.
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Max Scherzer SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Rebounds for third win
Scherzer (3-8) earned the win Wednesday against the Tigers, allowing a run on three hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out three.
It was a strong bounce-back effort from Scherzer, who gave up six runs over five innings in a loss to Baltimore his last time out. The veteran right-hander allowed a two-out run in the first inning before settling in and blanking Detroit over his final four frames. Scherzer's ERA now sits at 6.07 through 16 starts (72.2 innings) this season with a 1.36 WHIP and 54:31 K:BB. He's currently in line to face the Orioles on the road his next time out.
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Cade Smith RP | CLE
Guardians' Cade Smith: Nails down 37th save
Smith recorded his 37th save of the season in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the White Sox, striking out two over 1.1 perfect innings.
After Erik Sabrowski walked two batters in the eighth inning to bring the tying run to the plate for Chicago, Smith was brought in and got Sam Antonacci to fly out to end the frame before dominating in the ninth. Smith hasn't blown a save in over a month, and across his last 15 appearances he's posted a 1.08 ERA, 0.60 WHIP and 25:4 K:BB in 16.2 innings while collecting three wins and seven saves.