MLB Player News

Jax didn't factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing two hits over five scoreless innings in a 2-1 win over the A's. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

The right-hander was dominant over 67 pitches (46 strikes), but an early hook from manager Kevin Cash nearly cost the Rays when Ty Johnson gave up the tying run in the top of the sixth inning. Jax has been held under 70 pitches in all three of his September starts following a month-long absence due to elbow discomfort, but the strict workload limit appears to be working, as he's given up just one run in 10 innings over his last two trips to the mound with a 9:1 K:BB. Jax will look to stay stingy in his next outing, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Red Sox.

The Cardinals activated Wetherholt (wrist) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Wetherholt was scheduled to go through a full pregame workout Tuesday, and he came out of it with no concerns, clearing the way for his return. He's starting at second base and batting leadoff Wednesday versus the Giants. The rookie infielder has been sidelined since late August with right wrist tendinitis. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that Wetherholt will play just six innings Wednesday as he eases back into a full-time role, John Denton of Roundtable.io reports.

Perkins didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Rays, allowing one unearned run on four hits and one walk over 6.2 innings. He struck out eight.

In his longest and best performance of the season, Perkins fired 53 of 83 pitches for strikes, and the only run to cross the plate against him came as the result of a passed ball by Jonah Heim, which let Chandler Simpson scamper home from third base. Perkins has had a rough season overall, but the 26-year-old right-hander is providing some optimism for 2027 -- over his last six outings, he's produced a 2.86 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 33:16 K:BB through 28.1 innings. He's scheduled to make his next start on the road this weekend in Cleveland.

Flores went 4-for-4 in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Brewers.

All four knocks were singles, but it was still an impressive way for Flores to extend his hitting streak to nine games. During that span, the 25-year-old catcher is batting .441 (15-for-34) with a double and a homer but just two runs and two RBI as the Pittsburgh offense as a whole has struggled over the final weeks of the season -- Tuesday marked the sixth time in 13 September contests that the Pirates scored two runs or fewer.

Lowe went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Brewers.

The second baseman supplied the only offense for the Pirates when he bashed a DL Hall fastball off the right-field foul pole in the eighth inning. It was Lowe's 30th homer of the season, marking the third time in his career he's reached that plateau, and he's been locked in to close out the campaign. Over his last 14 games, Lowe has delivered a .346/.424/.558 slash line with two doubles, three home runs, six RBI and 10 runs.

Ortiz went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Pirates.

It's the 28-year-old infielder's second straight two-RBI performance, as he raises his game to close out the regular season, Over 12 contests in September, Ortiz is batting .417 (15-for-36) with two doubles, two homers, five runs and eight RBI.

Misiorowski (15-5) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing five hits and a walk over five scoreless innings in a 5-1 victory over the Pirates. He struck out seven.

With the win, the Brewers clinched their fourth straight NL Central title. Misiorowski hasn't lost a game in over a month, going 4-0 over his last seven starts with a 2.75 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 48:13 K:BB in 39.1 innings as the 24-year-old right-hander makes a final push to claim the NL Cy Young Award. He seems set to get two more chances to make his case before the regular season ends, with Misiorowski's next outing likely coming on the road this weekend in Baltimore.

Lowder (6-11) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks over five innings as the Reds fell 4-0 to the Dodgers. He struck out four.

The right-hander didn't pitch badly, but he had no margin for error with Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the LA bullpen combining for a three-hit shutout. Lowder has lost all three of his September starts, stumbling to an 11.68 ERA, 2.11 WHIP and 10:8 K:BB over 12.1 innings on the month. He'll try to right the ship in his next outing, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Cubs.

Freeland went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-0 win over the Reds.

The 25-year-old has been the Dodgers' primary second baseman against right-handed pitching in September, and Tuesday's long ball off Pierce Johnson was his first in the majors since May 31. Since rejoining the Dodgers when rosters expanded at the beginning of the month, Freeland has produced a .258/.378/.419 slash line in 37 plate appearances with one homer, two doubles, two steals, two RBI and six runs.

Freeman went 3-for-5 in Tuesday's 4-0 win over the Reds.

It was the star first baseman's first multi-hit performance since Sept. 2, as he's been playing through a nagging knee injury. Freeman's batting just .171 (6-for-35) on the month with one homer and three RBI in 11 contests, but it's not clear if he'll be afforded some time off ahead of the playoffs -- the Dodgers are on the verge of clinching the NL West, but they still need to hold off Atlanta to ensure a first-round bye.