MLB Player News
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Tim Elko 1B | CHW
White Sox's Tim Elko: Out eight months after ACL surgery
Elko is expected to be sidelined for eight months following surgery Tuesday to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Elko was diagnosed with a right knee sprain July 11 and was sidelined for three-plus weeks. He did not miss any additional time after that during the 2025 season, but a recent medical exam evidently revealed the need for surgery. With Elko slated to be out until around midseason of next year, he'll likely open the campaign on the 60-day injured list.
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Lars Nootbaar CF | STL
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Foot pain dates back multiple years
Nootbaar -- who is recovering from Oct. 7 surgery to address deformities on both of his heels -- has dealt with discomfort in both feet off and on over the past two-and-a-half years, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Nootbaar has had ongoing treatment during the season to address recurring soreness in his heels, but he elected to have surgery earlier this month with the goal of alleviating the condition. It's difficult to gauge how much the foot issues have affected Nootbaar's play, but it's notable that his sprint speed has fallen each year, from the 83rd percentile in 2021 to just the 39th percentile in 2025. The outfielder admits that the discomfort "was holding me back." Nootbaar -- who played a career-high 135 games this season but produced a career-low .686 OPS -- has not been ruled out for Opening Day next season, but because the surgery he had is uncommon, there's uncertainty regarding how long his rehab will take.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Saddled with Game 4 loss
Ohtani took the loss in Game 4 of the World Series against the Blue Jays on Tuesday after allowing four earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six batters over six-plus innings. He also went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts as a batter.
After getting through the first two innings without giving up a run, Ohtani allowed a single to Nathan Lukes in the third before serving up a home run to Vladimir Guerrero in the ensuing at-bat. The two-way superstar kept the game close for the next several innings but was pulled after allowing the first two men he faced in the seventh to reach base -- both of whom eventually came around to score. Ohtani is likely now done making starts on the mound for the Dodgers this postseason, but he will likely be available out of the bullpen for the remainder of the series and also remains one of the most dynamic bats in Los Angeles' lineup.
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Go-ahead homer in Game 4 win
Guerrero went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, a walk and an additional run scored during Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series.
With the Blue Jays down 1-0 in the top of the third inning and Nathan Lukes standing on first, Guerrero hit a 395-foot shot off Shohei Ohtani to give Toronto a lead that it wouldn't relinquish for the rest of the game. The 26-year-old slugger has now belted seven home runs in the postseason and sports a monstrous 1.306 OPS through 74 plate appearances.
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Shane Bieber SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Shane Bieber: Takes win in Game 4
Bieber earned the win during Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Tuesday, allowing one earned run on four hits and three walks while striking out three batters across 5.1 innings.
Bieber allowed the Dodgers to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Enrique Hernandez, but the right-hander settled in nicely afterward, allowing just two of the next 12 batters he faced to reach base. He also did the Blue Jays' bullpen -- extremely fatigued from Monday's 18-inning marathon -- a solid by pitching into the sixth inning. Mason Fluharty returned the favor after Bieber's removal by stranding both of the inherited runners, keeping the latter in line for the win. Now carrying a 3.57 ERA through 17.2 innings in the postseason, the 30-year-old figures to have made his last start, though he could be available out of the bullpen going forward.
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Ian Gibaut RP | CIN
Reds' Ian Gibaut: Activated, outrighted to Louisville
The Reds reinstated Gibaut (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday and sent him outright to Triple-A Louisville.
Gibaut posted a 4.62 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 25.1 regular-season innings this year before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in late August. He has enough service time necessary to reject his assignment and enter free agency, though it's unknown what his plans are.
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George Springer RF | TOR
Blue Jays' George Springer: Absent from Game 4 lineup
Springer (side) isn't in the lineup for Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Tuesday.
Springer was forced to leave Game 3 early after injuring his side on a swing in the seventh inning, and he'll officially remain on the bench for the beginning of Tuesday's contest. Bo Bichette will work as Toronto's designated hitter in Springer's stead, opening up second base for Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
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Lawrence Butler CF | ATH
Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Says he'll be ready for spring
Butler (knee) said Monday that he will be fully ready for the beginning of spring training, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Butler underwent surgery in early October to repair a tear in his right patellar tendon and also had a debridement of chronic scar tissue in the knee. Additionally, he was given a platelet-rich plasma injection to combat chronic tendinitis in his left patellar tendon. Butler played through knee problems for a portion of the 2025 campaign, which could have contributed to his disappointing .234/.306/.404 batting line. While Butler is optimistic his recovery will not impact his readiness for the start of camp, it would not be a surprise if the Athletics slow-played the outfielder early on in spring training.
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George Springer RF | TOR
Blue Jays' George Springer: Sent for MRI
Springer will undergo an MRI after departing Monday's Game 3 of the World Series due to right side discomfort, Jon Paul Hoornstra of Newsweek.com reports.
Springer exited Monday's matchup in the seventh inning after a swing left him in obvious discomfort. The club will presumably wait until reviewing his scans to determine his status for Tuesday's Game 4 and the remainder of the series. Ty France could draw the start in the DH slot if Springer is unable to go Tuesday.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Plays hero in Game 3
Freeman went 2-for-7 with solo home run, two RBI, two walks and a stolen base in Monday's 6-5 victory in Game 3 of the World Series against the Blue Jays.
Freeman came up clutch in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game at 4-4 on an RBI single to right field, though his biggest moment would come much later in the evening. Freeman stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 18th inning and cracked a solo home run to dead center, propelling the Dodgers to a 2-1 series lead. He's scuffled to a 3-for-13 start to the series but perhaps Monday's key blow will help him gain some juice at the dish heading into Tuesday's Game 4.