MLB Player News

Urquidy elected free agency Wednesday after clearing waivers.

Designated for assignment by the Phillies on Sunday, Urquidy wasn't scooped up by another team and will now get a head start on finding a new destination heading into 2027. The 31-year-old righty made big-league stops with the Pirates, White Sox and Phillies this season, logging a 4.95 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 30:7 K:BB over 36.1 innings.

Buxton had the stitches removed from his surgically repaired right hip earlier this week and has begun the rehab process, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Buxton underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right hip Sept. 18. He will continue rehabbing through Christmas, at which point he will shift to ramping up for the 2027 season. The Twins expect Buxton to be ready to roll for the start of spring training. He finished this season with a .254/.319/.511 batting line, 25 home runs and seven stolen bases over 93 games.

Nola will start Thursday in Game 3 of the wild-card series in Atlanta, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Nola will take the ball on regular rest Thursday, and the Phillies will also have Zack Wheeler and Jesus Luzardo available out of the bullpen in the winner-take-all game. The 33-year-old Nola has posted a 2.93 ERA and 61:20 K:BB over 61.1 innings covering 11 starts since the beginning of August.

Atlanta outrighted Vanasco to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.

Vanasco has been outrighted before, so he has the ability to decline the assignment and become a free agent. The 27-year-old was claimed off waivers by Atlanta in August but never made an appearance for them. Vanasco has permitted 15 runs (14 earned) over 10.1 career innings in the majors.

Hernandez cleared waivers and elected to become a free agent Wednesday.

Hernandez had been removed from Atlanta's 40-man roster, and he's now a free agent after clearing waivers. The righty had been set for minor league free agency, anyway, so this simply gives him a head start. Hernandez gave Atlanta quality work out of the bullpen this season, posting a 2.25 ERA and 13:6 K:BB over 12 frames.

Bellinger went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and an additional RBI during Wednesday's win over the Red Sox in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series.

The 31-year-old outfielder pushed the Yankees' lead to 2-0 with an RBI single during the fifth inning, and he then blew the game open in the following frame with a three-run shot off Garrett Whitlock. Bellinger finished the regular season in a 2-for-23 slump, but he's quickly got back on track in the playoffs to help New York advance to face the Rays in the ALDS.

Gray was charged with the loss in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Yankees on Wednesday. He gave up two runs on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks over 4.2 innings.

Gray started off with three scoreless frames but surrendered a solo homer to Luis Garcia in the fourth and was pulled with two on and two out in the fifth at 70 pitches. One of the inherited runners came around to score, and New York erupted for six runs the following inning. It was the veteran right-hander's shortest outing since late May, as he had covered at least five frames in 20 consecutive starts. Though the early playoff exit leaves a sour taste, it was still one of the best regular seasons of Gray's career with a 2.72 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 149:46 K:BB over 169 innings.

Fried earned the win in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Red Sox on Wednesday. He struck out six and allowed one run on three hits and one walk over six innings.

The veteran left-hander was working on a shutout until Willson Contreras launched a two-out, solo homer during the top of the sixth inning, which spelled an end to his day after the Yankees erupted for six runs in the bottom of the frame. It's the second straight season Fried shut down Boston in the wild-card round, as he fired 6.1 scoreless frames in Game 1 of that series last year. He missed time in 2026 due to elbow issues but still made 20 regular-season starts and had a 2.80 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 104:33 K:BB across 112.2 innings.

Meidroth went 2-for-3 with a walk and a three-run home run during Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Astros on Wednesday.

Chicago's second baseman went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Game 1 on Tuesday, and he followed up Wednesday with a three-run blast in the sixth inning to provide some key insurance runs in the 7-3, series-clinching victory. Those two playoff games are the first of Meidroth's young career, and he's hit the ground running after he posted a .276/.350/.415 slash line with 16 long balls, four steals, 63 RBI and 90 runs in 154 games during the 2026 regular season.

Burke didn't factor in the decision in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Astros on Wednesday. He struck out eight, giving up three runs on four hits and no walks over four innings.

Burke looked dominant at times with 14 whiffs on 72 pitches while punching out half of the batters he faced, but three solo homers prevented him from working deeper into the contest. The eight strikeouts tied a season high, and it was the seventh time in 33 appearances this year that he issued no free passes. With the White Sox advancing past the Astros, Burke could next take the mound as early as Game 2 of the ALDS against the Guardians on Monday.