MLB Player News

Lowe went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to the Cardinals

The 32-year-old supplied the only offense for the Pirates when he crushed a Matthew Liberatore pitch nearly into the Allegheny River. This was Lowe's 34th home run of the year, which is his most since the 2021 season when he hit 39 for the Rays. Lowe has been hot in September, slashing .338/.413/.620 with two doubles, six homers, 12 RBI and 12 runs.

Liberatore (6-14) gave up one run on six hits and no walks while striking out six over 5.2 innings to earn the win Wednesday versus the Pirates.

Liberatore picked up his first victory since July 11, which came against Atlanta just before the All-Star break. During the winless stretch, the left-hander tossed 61.1 innings with a 5.58 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with eight losses in 11 outings. The 26-year-old pitched great Wednesday in Pittsburgh, with the only damage against him coming via a solo homer by Brandon Lowe. It was Liberatore's final start of the campaign, and he'll end 2026 with a disappointing 5.23 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 154:55 K:BB across 155 innings.

Manager Craig Counsell said after Wednesday's loss to Miami that Gausman is dealing with left shoulder soreness, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Gausman's shoulder was extended awkwardly as he dove to tag a runner out at third base in the sixth inning. He was removed from the game immediately afterward, though the fact that his pitch count had reached 101 at that point may also have factored into Counsell's decision to take him out. The Cubs will monitor his status over the next couple of days before determining his status for the wild-card round.

Stowers went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Cubs.

Stowers pushed his hitting streak up to four games with the homer. The slugging first baseman has now left the yard in back-to-back games as he tries to end a somewhat disappointing campaign for Miami on a high note. After submitting a .912 OPS for the Marlins in 2025, Stowers is slashing .240/.331/.460 with 21 long balls, 65 RBI and 57 runs scored over 511 plate appearances in 2026.

Alcantara notched the save Wednesday against the Cubs, allowing one hit and no walks in a scoreless ninth inning.

The Marlins deployed Alcantara as their closer for the second time this month, and the hurler induced a game-ending double play to seal it for Miami. The right-hander threw just 12 pitches Wednesday, so he remains firmly on track to take his next and final turn in the rotation Saturday against Atlanta. He has a 3.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 152:59 K:BB across 213 innings, converting both of his save opportunities as well.

Gusto took a no-decision Wednesday against the Cubs, striking out five while allowing two runs on six hits and two walks in 5.1 innings.

Gusto held the explosive Cubs lineup in check Wednesday to end his season on a positive note. The right-hander gave the Marlins serviceable work particularly down the stretch, yielding two earned runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts since the beginning of August. He figures to be in contention for a rotation spot next spring for Miami, turning in a 4.09 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 74:28 K:BB over 88 innings in 2026.

Gausman took a no-decision Wednesday against Miami, striking out seven while allowing two runs on six hits and one walk in 5.2 innings.

Gausman came one out short of a quality start, but it goes down as a strong outing nonetheless. The right-hander's Cubs tenure has been rocky at times -- he's given up two runs or fewer five times and coughed up three or more in four other instances. Barring any unforeseen changes to Chicago's rotation, he'll end his regular season with a 4.51 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 184:47 K:BB across 177.2 innings for Chicago and Toronto.

Swanson went 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Marlins.

Swanson plated all of Chicago's runs in the narrow loss, though he was hoping for more when he came up with a runner on in the bottom of the ninth inning but flew out. The shortstop has played in four games since returning from about a month on the injured list due to an oblique strain, and he's gone 4-for-15 with a home run and three RBI. Swanson may get a break as soon as the Cubs officially clinch a playoff spot, but he should play every day once the postseason rolls around, so long as he remains fully healthy.

Turang went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Phillies.

Turang opened the scoring in the first inning with a 406-foot blast off Aaron Nola, his career-high 20th homer this season. The 26-year-old Turang has been on a tear down the stretch, going 22-for-54 (.407) over his last 17 games. He's now slashing .265/.365/.444 with 99 runs scored, 94 RBI and 19 stolen bases across 662 plate appearances this year.

Abbott took a no-decision Wednesday against Atlanta, striking out six while allowing two runs on six hits and one walk in seven innings.

The two runs allowed were both homers, but it was an otherwise strong finish to the season for Abbott. Not only was it his first quality start since Aug. 18 versus the Cardinals, but Wednesday also marked a season-long outing for the southpaw. He'll be searching for a bounce-back campaign in 2027 after a disappointing 2026, during which Abbott posted a career-worst 4.61 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 131:76 K:BB over 166 frames.