MLB Player News
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Absent from Game 4 lineup
Freeman (ankle) is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the NLCS against the Mets, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had said previously that he expected Freeman -- who has been playing through discomfort in his right ankle -- to start every game during the NLCS. It's not clear yet whether Freeman has experienced a setback or if Roberts decided Game 4 was a good day to get the first baseman a little rest since the Mets are starting a lefty in Jose Quintana. Max Muncy is handling first base Thursday while Enrique Hernandez plays third.
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Gavin Williams SP | CLE
Guardians' Gavin Williams: Named ALCS Game 4 starter
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Thursday that Williams will start Friday in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Williams hasn't pitched since Sept. 22, as the Guardians haven't needed a fourth starter yet this postseason. He will be opposed by Luis Gil. Williams was limited to 16 starts during the regular season due to elbow issues and finished with a 4.86 ERA and 79:32 K:BB over 76 innings.
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Jasson Dominguez CF | NYY
Yankees' Jasson Dominguez: Still not starting versus lefty
Dominguez is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 3 of the ALCS versus the Guardians.
The Yankees are facing a lefty (Matthew Boyd) for the second time this postseason, and it's the first time they're going up against a southpaw that doesn't have reverse splits (they faced Cole Ragans the first time). Nevertheless, the switch-hitting Dominguez will again yield left field to the left-handed-hitting Alex Verdugo, who has started all seven contests during these playoffs. Dominguez has yet to see any action this postseason.
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Austin Wells C | NYY
Yankees' Austin Wells: Sitting versus lefty
Wells is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 3 of the ALCS against the Guardians.
Wells is just 2-for-24 so far during the playoffs and also ended the regular season in a 2-for-41 drought at the dish. He will yield to Jose Trevino at catcher as the Guardians send southpaw Matthew Boyd to the bump.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Absent from Game 3 lineup
Rizzo is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 3 of the ALCS in Cleveland.
Rizzo returned from two fractured fingers to reach base twice in each of the first two games of the series, but with southpaw Matthew Boyd on the hill for the Guardians in Game 3, the left-handed-hitting Rizzo will begin the contest on the bench. Jon Berti is starting at first base and batting sixth.
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Will Brennan RF | CLE
Guardians' Will Brennan: Absent from Game 3 lineup
Brennan isn't in the Guardians' lineup Thursday for Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees, Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Brennan will get a chance to regroup Thursday after starting the postseason just 1-for-10 at the plate. While he sits, Daniel Schneemann will take over in right field and bat sixth versus New York righty Clarke Schmidt.
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Bo Naylor C | CLE
Guardians' Bo Naylor: Sitting out Game 3
Naylor isn't in the lineup Thursday for Game 3 of the ALCS versus the Yankees, Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Naylor has gone 0-for-14 through seven postseason games so far, so the Guardians will sit him down in favor of Austin Hedges in an effort to get some offensive production from behind the plate.
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Chris Murphy RP | BOS
Red Sox's Chris Murphy: Begins throwing program
Murphy (elbow) began a throwing program last week, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Murphy had Tommy John surgery in April and has finally been cleared to begin throwing again. The left-hander is sure to begin next season on the injured list -- perhaps the 60-day IL -- but will hope to contribute out of Boston's bullpen eventually.
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Miguel Rojas SS | LAD
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Diagnosed with sports hernia
Rojas said Wednesday that he has a sports hernia and will need to undergo surgery during the offseason, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Rojas noted that he attempted to persuade the Dodgers to keep him on the roster for the NLCS despite his injury, and he feels that he could still play through it if Los Angeles advances to the World Series. However, based on the team's unwillingness to play him against the Mets, it seems more likely that the 35-year-old infielder remains sidelined until next season.
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Daniel Hudson RP | LAD
Dodgers' Daniel Hudson: Available for Game 3
Manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Hudson will be available for Game 3 of the NLCS against the Mets on Wednesday after dealing with a lower-body injury in Game 2, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Hudson pitched a scoreless inning during Game 1 but was apparently unavailable for Game 2 due to an injury that wasn't disclosed beforehand. The discomfort seems to have subsided, and the 37-year-old righty will be able to pitch in high-leverage situations after logging 10 saves and posting a 3.00 ERA during the regular season.