MLB Player News
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Kevin Gausman SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman: Takes no-decision in Game 5
Gausman allowed one earned run on three hits and three walks while striking out four batters across 5.2 innings during Game 5 of the ALCS against the Mariners on Friday. He did not factor into the decision.
Gausman gave up a solo home run to Eugenio Suarez in the second inning, but the 34-year-old otherwise did a nice job to minimize the Mariners' threats and left the game with Toronto ahead 2-1 in the sixth. Toronto's bullpen gave up the lead in the eighth, which forced Gausman to settle for a no-decision. The veteran righty now owns an impressive 2.12 ERA and 0.94 WHIP through 17 innings in the postseason and may be available to pitch out of the bullpen in Game 7, if the series gets that far.
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George Springer DH | TOR
Blue Jays' George Springer: X-rays negative
X-rays on Springer's right knee came back negative after he was hit by a pitch Friday in Game 5 of the ALCS, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Springer exited Friday's contest immediately after getting plunked in the seventh inning. The fact that his imaging came back clean keeps the door open for his return at some point in the postseason, though it remains unclear whether he'll be able to play right away in Game 6 on Sunday. If he sits, Davis Schneider and Joey Loperfido would be candidates to start in Springer's place.
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George Springer DH | TOR
Blue Jays' George Springer: Exits after HBP
Springer was removed from Game 5 of the ALCS against Seattle on Friday after getting hit on the right knee by a pitch, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Springer went down after taking a 95-mph sinker off his kneecap, and he was taken out of the game after being unable to make it to first base without a severe limp. The Blue Jays will presumably bring him in for X-rays to determine whether he suffered a fracture, at which point more will be known regarding his status for the remainder of the postseason.
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Trey Yesavage SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Trey Yesavage: Getting ball in ALCS Game 6
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that Yesavage will start Game 6 of the ALCS versus the Mariners on Sunday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Yesavage struggled in Game 2, alowing five runs on four hits and three walks over four innings. He had a dominant start against the Yankees in the ALDS, however, and will get an opportunity to bounce back Sunday. Depending on what happens in Game 5 on Friday, Yesavage's start Sunday will either be to help send the Blue Jays to the World Series or allow them to stave off elimination.
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Jose De Leon RP | BOS
Red Sox's Jose De Leon: Outrighted to Triple-A
The Red Sox outrighted De Leon to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday.
De Leon made one late-season appearance for the Red Sox but has lost his 40-man roster spot heading into the offseason. The right-hander has the ability to reject the assignment and become a free agent, but it's unclear what his plans are.
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Isiah Kiner-Falefa 2B | BOS
Blue Jays' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Grabbing another start Friday
Kiner-Falefa will start at second base and bat eighth in Friday's ALCS Game 5 against the Mariners.
With Anthony Santander (back) removed from the ALCS roster ahead of Game 4, the Blue Jays have shifted Addison Barger to right field and Ernie Clement to third base while installing Kiner-Falefa at the keystone for the second straight contest. Kiner-Falefa went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in the Blue Jays' Game 4 victory.
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Julio Rodriguez CF | SEA
Mariners' Julio Rodriguez: Elevated to leadoff spot for Game 5
Rodriguez will start in center field and bat leadoff in Friday's ALCS Game 5 versus the Blue Jays.
The Mariners tweaked their lineup in Game 4 and are shaking it up further for Game 5 after the Blue Jays evened the series Thursday. It's the first time since late July that Rodriguez has batted leadoff for Seattle. Randy Arozarena -- who had batted leadoff in every one of his starts since July 31 -- has been bumped down to the No. 5 spot.
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Leonardo Rivas 3B | SEA
Mariners' Leo Rivas: Another start at second base
Rivas will start at second base and bat ninth in Friday's ALCS Game 5 versus the Blue Jays.
For the second straight game, the Mariners are going with Rivas at second base, Jorge Polanco in the designated hitter spot and Dominic Canzone in right field, with Victor Robles retreating to the bench. Rivas went 0-for-2 with a walk in Thursday's Game 4 loss.
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Troy Melton SP | DET
Tigers' Troy Melton: Projected to be in 2026 rotation
Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris and manager A.J. Hinch said at their end-of-season press conference Monday that Melton will be a starting pitcher next season, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Melton bounced between the rotation and bullpen for the Tigers in 2025 both in the regular season and playoffs and was impressive in both roles, collecting a 2.76 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 36:15 K:BB over 45.2 regular-season frames. The 24-year-old has been almost exclusively a starting pitcher in the minors and held a 2.99 ERA and 101:20 K:BB across 75.1 innings between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo this season.