MLB Player News
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Kevin Gausman SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman: Named Game 1 starter
Gausman will start Sunday against the Mariners in Game 1 of the ALCS, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Gausman was brilliant on the mound in his first appearance of the postseason, tossing 5.2 innings of one-run ball against the Yankees in Game 1 of the ALDS. His strong performance will now earn him the right to open Toronto's upcoming series against the Mariners, who put up three runs on Gausman over 5.1 frames in the regular season.
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Gleyber Torres 2B | DET
Tigers' Gleyber Torres: Slated for sports hernia surgery
Torres said after Friday's loss to Seattle that he plans to undergo sports hernia surgery in the offseason, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Torres added that he has been playing through the injury for multiple months, which helps to explain why he slashed .223/.320/.339 during the second half of the season after entering the All-Star break with an .812 OPS. His procedure isn't expected to affect his availability for the start of the 2026 campaign, so it also shouldn't interfere with the interest he receives in free agency this winter.
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Jordan Lawlar SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Heading to winter ball
Lawlar will play winter ball in the Dominican Republic, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
The Diamondbacks need to find a home for Lawlar, who was drafted as a shortstop but is blocked at the position by Geraldo Perdomo, and the plan is to use him at a couple of positions in the DR. During his late-season call-up, Lawlar played third base, but shaky mechanics and footwork led to him being primarily a DH. In winter ball, he's expected to get regular reps at third base and in center field.
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Jorge Polanco 2B | NYM
Mariners' Jorge Polanco: Sends Seattle to ALCS
Polanco went 1-for-6 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Tigers on Friday.
Polanco drew a walk in the seventh inning before scoring on an RBI single from Leo Rivas to tie the game at two apiece. The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the 15th inning, when Polanco drove a single into right field with the bases loaded to walk off the Tigers and give the M's their first ALCS berth since 2001.
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George Kirby SP | SEA
Mariners' George Kirby: Takes no-decision in Game 5
Kirby didn't factor into the decision in Game 5 of the ALDS versus Detroit on Friday, allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out six batters over five-plus innings. He did not issue a walk.
Kerry Carpenter managed two singles against Kirby, but the rest of Detroit's offense was unable to find any success against the 27-year-old righty through the first five innings. Kirby came back out to start the sixth but was immediately pulled after giving up a leadoff double to Javier Baez, who scored on a home run from Carpenter during the ensuing at-bat. Because the Mariners were able to prevail over the Tigers after a 15-inning marathon, Kirby will have the ability to make at least one more appearance in the postseason -- likely in Game 3 or 4 of the ALCS against Toronto.
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Tarik Skubal SP | DET
Tigers' Tarik Skubal: Fans 13 in ALDS finale
Skubal didn't factor into the decision in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Mariners on Friday, giving up one earned run on two hits while striking out 13 batters across six innings. He did not issue a walk.
Outside of a second-inning double from Josh Naylor, which later resulted in a run, the Mariners were helpless to get any sort of offense going against Skubal. By striking out 13 batters Friday, the 28-year-old lefty tied the MLB record for most punchouts with no walks in a postseason game, and he became the first pitcher in MLB history to record multiple 13-strikeout performances in the same postseason. The Tigers were unable to come away with the win after 15 innings, however, so Skubal will now shift his focus to next season and is likely to repeat as one of the top fantasy performers in the sport in 2026.
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Bryan Woo SP | SEA
Mariners' Bryan Woo: Throwing bullpen Friday
Woo (pectoral) is throwing a bullpen session ahead of Game 5 of the ALDS versus the Tigers on Friday, the results of which should dictate whether he'll be included on the Mariners' roster for the ALCS, should they advance, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.
The right-hander was sidelined for the closing stretch of the regular season due to minor inflammation in his right pectoral and was left off Seattle's roster for the ALDS, but it's possible he's back for the next round of the playoffs. The Mariners still need to win Game 5 against Detroit, of course, but Woo's return would be a big boost for Seattle given his 2.94 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 198:36 K:BB across 186.2 innings during the regular season.
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Jose Iglesias SS | SD
Padres' Jose Iglesias: Suspended one game by MLB
Iglesias has been suspended one game by Major League Baseball for his actions following Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Cubs, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Iglesias was among several Padres players to voice their displeasure to the umpire crew following their Game 3 loss, but he's the only one to receive a suspension. Much of the angst was over a strike three call on Xander Bogaerts, who received a fine. Barring a successful appeal, Iglesias will serve the suspension on Opening Day next year. The 35-year-old is a pending free agent.
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Cody Bellinger LF | NYY
Yankees' Cody Bellinger: Will opt out, become free agent
Bellinger plans to decline his $25 million player option for 2026 and become a free agent, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
Bellinger opting out of the final year of his deal and hitting the free-agent market this winter has been a foregone conclusion for a while now, as the 30-year-old is in line to net a lucrative, multi-year pact. He slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 98 RBI and 13 stolen bases over 152 games in 2025 while playing plus defense at multiple positions. Having previously received a qualifying offer, Bellinger is not eligible to get another one, which will only enhance his free-agent appeal.
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Jacob Misiorowski SP | MIL
Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski: Likely to be featured in Game 5
Misiorowski could be key to the Brewers' pitching plans in Game 5, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
The Brewers have yet to announce a starter for Saturday's winner-take-all contest against the Cubs, but they are likely to go with a de facto bullpen game. Misiorowski earned the win in a bullpen game in Game 2 for Milwaukee, striking out four over three scoreless innings. He was the third of seven pitchers the Brewers used in that contest, and while Misiorowski might not start Saturday, he's a good bet to be heavily featured. The only pitcher likely to be unavailable for the Brewers in Game 5 is Freddy Peralta, who threw 84 pitches in Thursday's Game 4 loss.