MLB Player News
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Walker Buehler SP | LAD
Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Starting status for Game 2 uncertain
Manager Dave Roberts explained Sunday that Buehler's likelihood of starting Game 2 of the NLCS versus the Mets could depend on how heavily the team deploys the bullpen in Game 1, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
Jack Flaherty will take the mound for the Dodgers in Game 1 on Sunday, and it sounds like Los Angeles will try to get decent depth from him. If the right-hander isn't able to go very deep and the bullpen gets heavy use, it appears the Dodgers will start Buehler on Monday in Game 2. On the other hand, if the bullpen is mostly spared in Game 1, Los Angeles may opt for a bullpen game Monday -- a strategy that was key in helping the team come back from a 2-1 deficit against San Diego in the NLDS. Buehler started Game 3 in that series and took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits and one walk without striking out a batter over five frames.
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Tanner Bibee SP | CLE
Guardians' Tanner Bibee: Tabbed to start Game 2 of ALCS
Bibee has been confirmed to start Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Yankees, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Bibee's most recent start came in Game 4 of the ALDS versus Detroit, when he allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three batters over four innings. The right-hander also started Game 1 of that series and fared better, tossing 4.2 scoreless frames with six punchouts and one walk. Bibee will be opposed by Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in the second game of the ALCS.
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Alex Cobb SP | CLE
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Will start Game 1 of ALCS
Cobb has been named the starter for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series versus the Yankees, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Cobb was able to start only three games during the regular season, though he was effective with a 2.76 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB over 16.1 innings. The right-hander started Game 3 of the ALDS versus Detroit and took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out two batters over three frames. That was his first outing since Sept. 1, so Cobb may not be ready to handle a full workload -- he exited after 41 pitches in his ALDS start.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Could return for ALCS
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Rizzo (finger) could be on New York's ALCS roster, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.
Rizzo fractured two fingers on his right hand late in the regular season and wasn't part of the Yankees' roster for their ALDS victory versus Kansas City. He resumed baseball activities in early October and is set to ramp up further Sunday, per Boone, but his inclusion on the ALCS roster is far from a certainty. If he does return for the series against the Guardians, he would likely take over the starting role at first base, which was handled twice each by Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti during the ALDS.
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Adam Ottavino RP | NYM
Mets' Adam Ottavino: Left off NLCS roster
Ottavino is not part of New York's roster for the National League Championship series against the Dodgers.
Ottavino had a rough regular season by his standards, posting a 4.34 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 60 appearances. He saw few high-leverage opportunities in the second half of the campaign and notched just one hold over his final 20 games. Ottavino's omission from the NLCS roster makes room for the return of Jeff McNeil (wrist), who was added to the roster after ending the regular season on the injured list.
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Jeff McNeil 2B | NYM
Mets' Jeff McNeil: Comes off IL, on NLCS roster
McNeil (wrist) is part of New York's roster for the National League Championship Series versus the Dodgers.
McNeil ended the campaign on the 10-day injured list due to a wrist injury, but he logged at-bats in the Arizona Fall League on Friday and Saturday in preparation for returning for the series versus Los Angeles. His inclusion on the Mets' roster means New York will carry one more hitter than they did in the NLDS against Philadelphia, as reliever Adam Ottavino was left off the roster to make room for McNeil. It's likely that McNeil will work as a lefty bat off the bench during the NLCS.
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Kevin Kiermaier CF | LAD
Dodgers' Kevin Kiermaier: Makes NLCS roster
Kiermaier (finger) is included on Los Angeles' roster for the NLCS versus the Mets, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Kiermaier dislocated his left ring finger late in the regular season and wasn't part of the Dodgers' NLDS victory over San Diego, but he's apparently now healthy and ready to play. The veteran outfielder came to Los Angeles at the trade deadline in a deal with Toronto, and over 34 contests with Los Angeles he posted a .203/.242/.322 slash line to go along with one home run, eight RBI, seven runs and a stolen base. Kiermaier announced earlier in the campaign that this will be his final season in the majors, and he'll have a chance to contribute to a World Series push as a reserve outfielder who is still capable of playing excellent defense.
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Brent Honeywell RP | LAD
Dodgers' Brent Honeywell: Comes off IL, added to NLCS roster
Honeywell (finger) is part of Los Angeles' roster for the NLCS versus the Mets, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Honeywell ended the campaign on the 15-day injured list due to a cracked fingernail, but the issue appears to have since been resolved. The right-hander played in 18 games for the Dodgers during the regular season, posting a 2.62 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 17:9 K:BB over 34.1 innings while picking up a win, a save and a hold. Honeywell will take the roster spot of lefty reliever Alex Vesia, who is sidelined due to a rib cage injury.
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Miguel Rojas SS | LAD
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Absent from NLCS roster
Rojas (thigh) isn't on Los Angeles' roster for the NLCS against the Mets, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Rojas aggravated an adductor injury during Game 3 of the NLDS versus San Diego and wasn't able to play in either of the final two games of the series. The veteran shortstop has been dealing with the issue since late September, and the Dodgers are opting to hold him out of the NLCS to give him time to heal. It's possible that Rojas could return if the team advances to the World Series, but in the meantime, Tommy Edman could handle shortstop duties. Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier is taking Rojas' place on the roster for the series versus the Mets, per Toribio.
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Alex Vesia RP | LAD
Dodgers' Alex Vesia: Not on NLCS roster
Vesia (ribs) isn't included on Los Angeles' NLCS roster, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Vesia exited Game 5 of the NLDS against the Padres due to a rib cage injury, and the issue is going to prevent him from playing during the National League Championship Series. His absence could be significant for the Dodgers, as Vesia was the team's top left-handed bullpen option during the campaign, posting a 1.76 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 87:33 K:BB over 66.1 innings while tallying five saves and 14 holds. Righty reliever Brent Honeywell (finger) is replacing Vesia on the roster for the NLCS, per Toribio. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Vesia could return if the team advances to the World Series.