MLB Player News
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Mookie Betts RF | LAD
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: Vintage performance Wednesday
Betts went 4-for-5 with three doubles, three RBI and one run scored in Wednesday's win over the Reds in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series.
Betts helped lift Los Angeles to the NLDS with his seven total bases Wednesday and six hits across the two-game set. His .732 OPS during the regular season was by far the worst mark of his career, but the 32-year-old can still make a big impact on any given night. Betts is chasing his fourth World Series title and third with the Dodgers.
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Brayan Bello SP | BOS
Red Sox's Brayan Bello: Coughs up two in brief start
Bello didn't factor into the decision during Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Yankees, giving up two earned runs on four hits and a walk over 2.1 innings. He failed to record a strikeout.
Bello put himself in a hole early by giving up a two-run homer to Ben Rice in the first inning. The 26-year-old righty picked up the next four outs with relatively little trouble while Boston's offense tied the game, but after allowing two men to reach with one out in the third, he got the hook after only 28 pitches. Because his appearance was so short, Bello may be available to take the mound again early in the ALDS, though the Red Sox will first need to leave Yankee Stadium with a win in Game 3.
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Zack Littell SP | CIN
Reds' Zack Littell: Takes loss in elimination game
Littell took the loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series. He allowed three runs on six hits while striking out two without a walk over 3.1 innings.
The Reds staked Littell to a two-run lead before he took the mound, but he ultimately gave the lead back with three runs allowed over the third and fourth innings. Littell was lifted after 52 pitches -- an understandably quick hook from manager Terry Francona with the season on the line. Littell served up 36 home runs during the regular season, second most in the majors, but he nonetheless managed a highly respectable 3.81 and 1.10 WHIP over 186.2 innings between Tampa Bay and Cincinnati. The soon-to-be 30-year-old is a free agent this winter.
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Carlos Rodon SP | NYY
Yankees' Carlos Rodon: Takes no-decision in Game 2
Rodon didn't factor into the decision during Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Red Sox, giving up three earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six batters over six innings.
Rodon squandered an early 2-0 lead by giving up a two-run single to Trevor Story in the third inning. The Yankees' offense then gave the southpaw a 3-2 lead to work with entering the sixth, which was once again spoiled by Story -- this time via a 381-foot solo shot to left field. Rodon needed 91 pitches to make it through six frames Wednesday, so he likely won't be available to pitch again until Game 3 of the ALDS on Tuesday if the Pinstripes advance past Boston.
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto SP | LAD
Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Secures series win
Yamamoto earned the win over the Reds on Wednesday in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series. He was charged with two unearned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out nine over 6.2 innings.
Cincinnati scored a couple runs in the first inning, but Teoscar Hernandez's fielding error kept both runs off Yamamoto's ledger. Yamamoto escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the sixth and ended up throwing a career-high 113 pitches in the series-clinching win, sending the Dodgers to the NLDS. Yamamoto figures to start Game 3 against the Phillies at home next Wednesday, Oct. 8.
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Robert Suarez RP | ATL
Padres' Robert Suarez: Secures Game 2 save
Suarez gave up one hit over 1.1 scoreless innings to pick up the save in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Cubs.
A great catch in right field from Fernando Tatis allowed Suarez to record the final out of the eighth inning on just three pitches. The 34-year-old right-hander then came back out to handle the ninth and gave up a one-out single to Kyle Tucker before inducing a double play from Seiya Suzuki to end the game. Suarez led the National League with 40 saves during the regular season and figures to have a firm grip on the ninth inning as long as the Padres remain in the postseason.
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Dylan Cease SP | TOR
Padres' Dylan Cease: Five strikeouts in no-decision
Cease pitched 3.2 shutout innings Wednesday against the Cubs, surrendering three hits and a walk while striking out five batters. He did not factor into the decision.
A sacrifice fly from Jackson Merrill during the top of the first inning gave Cease a 1-0 lead to work with before he even stepped on the mound Wednesday. He kept the Cubs' offense at bay for the duration of his start, but he got an early hook from manager Mike Shildt after giving up a double to Seiya Suzuki on his 69th pitch of the day. While Cease's brief outing prevented him from picking up the win in Game 2, it will help to keep him fresh for the NLDS if San Diego takes Game 3.
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Shota Imanaga RP | CHC
Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Allows two runs in Game 2
Imanaga gave up two earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three batters over four relief innings during Wednesday's 3-0 loss to the Padres. He did not factor into the decision.
The left-hander entered the game in the second inning after opener Andrew Kittredge allowed the Padres to score a run in the first. Imanaga made it through three frames before conceding a two-run blast to Manny Machado in the fifth, which gave the Padres more insurance than it needed while the Cubs' offense struggled to put a rally together. If Chicago prevails in Thursday's win-or-go-home matchup, Imanaga would likely be in the running to pitch in Game 3 of the NLDS next Wednesday.
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Jarred Kelenic RF | ATL
Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Off 40-man roster
Kelenic cleared waivers Wednesday and was sent outright to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Kelenic slashed just .195/.275/.268 across 91 plate appearances at Gwinnett after being demoted to Triple-A in early August, and he's now lost his place on the team's 40-man roster. The 26-year-old outfielder also turned in a career-worst .531 OPS in the big leagues during the regular season over 24 games and will likely need to show improvement at the plate in the minor leagues before taking another big-league at-bat.
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Luke Williams SS | ATL
Braves' Luke Williams: Sent outright to Triple-A
Atlanta outrighted Williams to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Williams played in 45 games for Atlanta this season, though he managed only a .370 OPS through 34 plate appearances. Assuming the 29-year-old opts for free agency, his defensive versatility may be enough to draw interest from another organization looking to boost its minor-league depth.