MLB News
Carlos Rodon Wins Game 1 Over Guardians, Strikes Out Nine
New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon was on his game in the team's Game 1 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night at Yankee Stadium in the American League Championship Series by a score of 5-2. Rodon was on point, going six innings while allowing only one earned run on a solo home run by Brayan Rocchio and striking out nine. He didn't walk a single batter. The 31-year-old southpaw was missing bats with regularity in the Bronx and picked up his first career postseason victory with the outstanding effort. Rodon was much sharper than in his start in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Kansas City Royals, when he allowed four runs on seven hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings in a loss. Don't look now, but Rodon now has zero walks and 16 strikeouts in his two playoff appearances this fall. Rodon pitched one of his best games in pinstripes at a very opportune time.
7 hours ago
Javier Baez Expected To Be Ready For Spring Training
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (hip) is expected to be part of workouts in spring training in February after having surgery on his hip, according to president of baseball operations Scott Harris. Despite Baez's massive decline since joining the Tigers, the team still sees a role for him, particularly if his surgery helps him move more like he did when he was younger. The 31-year-old's 2024 season ended early in early September when he had surgery on his right hip. Perhaps his hip injury was part of the reason why he was atrocious again this year with a .184/.221/.294 slash line, six home runs, 37 RBI and eight stolen bases in just 80 games played. Since joining the Tigers in 2022, Baez has hit .221/.263/.347 with a .610 OPS, 32 homers, 163 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 360 games. He still has three years and $73 million left on his deal, but regular playing time won't be guaranteed to Baez in 2025.
9 hours ago
Nestor Cortes Left Off ALCS Roster
New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes (elbow) was left off the roster for the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians, but manager Aaron Boone said on Monday that he's "really excited" about where Cortes is at in his rehab from a flexor strain in his left elbow. Cortes could throw to live hitters by the weekend and could be in play to return to the roster if the club advances past the Guardians and to the World Series. The fact that the 29-year-old southpaw has been sidelined by the injury since late September means that he will likely only be available in a relief role out of the bullpen if the Yankees advance to the World Series. The Cuban hurler allowed five earned runs in four innings in his first start of September but then settled down to allow only one run while walking seven and fanning 18 in his final three outings (two starts) over 15 1/3 innings before being shut down with his flexor strain.
9 hours ago
Mark Vientos Has Grand Performance In Game 2 Win Over Dodgers
New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos stepped up in a big way in the 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium to even the series at 1-1. Vientos finished the game 2-for-5 with four RBI and a run scored. The Dodgers walked Francisco Lindor with two outs and two runners on in the second inning with first base open, and Vientos made the Dodgers pay with a grand slam to blow it open early on. The 24-year-old came into this game swinging a hot bat in his first exposure to the playoffs, going 12-for-32 (.375) with two home runs, two doubles, seven RBI, two walks and five runs scored in eight games played. He also had a career year in 2024 in his first full season in the big leagues, slashing .266/.322/.516 with an .837 OPS, 27 homers and 71 RBI in 111 games. The Dodgers might give Vientos a little more respect the rest of the series.
9 hours ago
Luis Severino To Start Game 3 Against Dodgers In NLCS
New York Mets right-hander Luis Severino flew ahead of the team back to New York before his Game 3 start against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series on Wednesday at Citi Field. Severino will head into Wednesday's start after allowing three earned runs in six innings for a quality start and a no-decision in Game 2 of the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. He also walked none and struck out seven. He had another quality start in his win in Game 1 of the Wild-Card Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, giving up three earned runs in six innings while walking two and striking out three. Dating back to the final month of the regular season, Severino has quality starts in six of his last seven starts, so he's been pitching well heading into a showdown with one of the best offenses in baseball on Wednesday. Severino didn't face the Dodgers at all in 2024.
9 hours ago
Clayton Kershaw Plans To Continue Pitching In 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (toe) said on the FOX pre-game show before Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Mets that he plans to pitch again next year. "Mentally, I feel great. I had shoulder surgery last offseason, and my shoulder and elbow, everything, my arm, feels great. Obviously, I had some tough luck with my foot this year. But I want to make use of this surgery. I don't want to have surgery and shut it down. So I'm gonna come back next year and give it a go and see how it goes," Kershaw said. The 36-year-old three-time Cy Young winner only made seven starts (30 innings) this year after returning from his shoulder surgery and was shut down in late August due to a bone spur in his left big toe. The future Hall of Famer can still be useful when healthy in fantasy, but the injuries are piling up and he's not getting any younger.
9 hours ago
Walker Buehler To Start In Game 3 Of NLCS
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed on Monday that right-hander Walker Buehler will make the start in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the New York Mets. Buehler will look to be much better than he was his last time out in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres last week, when he gave up six runs in five innings without a strikeout. It was a rough 2024 season for the 30-year-old two-time All-Star after returning from Tommy John surgery, as he went 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA (5.54 FIP), a 1.55 WHIP and a 64:28 K:BB in 75 1/3 innings over his 16 starts during the regular season. His strikeout rate (18.6%) was a career-low, while his 8.1% walk rate was his highest mark since his rookie season in 2017. Buehler will certainly be a risky DFS play on the road on Wednesday.
10 hours ago
Marcus Stroman On Yankees Roster For ALCS
New York Yankees right-hander Marcus Stroman has been included on their roster for the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians, which begins on Monday at Yankee Stadium for Game 1. Stroman rejoins the team's playoff roster after being left off the roster for the AL Division Series against the Kansas City Royals. The 33-year-old veteran will presumably serve in a long-relief role against Cleveland, with right-hander Luis Gil rejoining the starting rotation. In his first year in the Bronx in 2024, Stroman went 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA (4.62 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 113 strikeouts and 60 walks in 154 2/3 innings over 30 appearances (29 starts). In his last four outings (three starts) in the regular season, he struggled by allowing 15 earned runs with 11 K's and three walks in 15 1/3 innings. Stroman didn't face Cleveland during the regular season.
16 hours ago
Anthony Rizzo Makes Yankees ALCS Roster, Starting In Game 1
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (fingers) was included on the team's roster for the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians and will start at first base and bat eighth in Game 1 on Monday at Yankee Stadium against Guardians right-hander Alex Cobb. Rizzo fractured two fingers on his right hand during a hit-by-pitch at the tail end of the regular season and was unavailable to play in the AL Division Series versus the Kansas City Royals. The 35-year-old veteran is back now, though, although he'll hit lower in the Yankees' lineup, making him much harder to trust for DFS purposes. He also missed extended time during the regular season due to a fractured forearm and hit just .228 (77-for-337) with eight homers and 35 RBI in his 92 games played. In just four career at-bats against Cobb, Rizzo has a single, a walk and a strikeout.
16 hours ago
Andy Pages Starting In Center Field Against Mets
Los Angeles Dodgers rookie outfielder Andy Pages is starting in center field and is batting out of the nine-hole for the Dodgers on Monday in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets and left-hander Sean Manaea. With Gavin Lux (hip) sitting out, Enrique Hernandez moves to second base, opening up a spot for Pages to make his first career postseason start. In four appearances in this year's playoffs, Pages has gone hitless in his two plate appearances with a strikeout and a run scored. Pages only has faced Manaea twice this year and has a double and a strikeout. The 23-year-old won't have much DFS appeal for Monday's slate while hitting at the bottom of LA's batting order. In his first MLB season, the Cuban outfielder slashed .248/.305/.407 with a .712 OPS, 13 home runs, 46 RBI and 65 runs scored in 116 games and 443 plate appearances.
16 hours ago
Jeff McNeil Not In Game 2 Lineup On Monday
New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil is absent from the team's starting lineup for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday at Dodger Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets will stick with Jose Iglesias at second base, and he will hit seventh. Meanwhile, Starling Marte will make another start in right field and will bat fifth against Dodgers right-handed opener Ryan Brasier. McNeil fractured his right wrist in early September and remained on the injured list during the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The 32-year-old former batting champion came off the bench as a pinch-hitter in the 9-0 loss to the Dodgers in Game 1 and lined out. There's a good chance we'll see McNeil come off the bench at some point as a pinch-hitter again in Game 2. McNeil hit a career-low .238 (101-for-424) with 12 homers, 44 RBI and five steals. The Mets may just use him as a bench bat the rest of the way in 2024.
16 hours ago
Brandon Nimmo Dealing With Plantar Fasciitis
New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (foot) said after the loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night that he has been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot since May. Nimmo aggravated the injured in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, but he played in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Dodgers and is starting in left field and batting third on Tuesday for Game 2 against right-handed opener Ryan Brasier. He went 0-for-3 on Sunday night and was pinch hit for in the ninth inning. The injury doesn't bother him much while hitting or throwing, but it gives him pain while running. Through Sunday's Game 1, Nimmo is hitting .241 with a home run, a .353 on-base percentage and a .698 OPS in the postseason. In his only career at-bat against Brasier, Nimmo had an RBI double.
16 hours ago
Gavin Lux Available Off The Bench In Game 2 Against Mets
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that second baseman Gavin Lux (hip) will be available off the bench but won't play defense for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are hoping that Lux will be back to full strength after the scheduled off day on Tuesday as the series heads to New York. Enrique Hernandez will make the start at the keystone and hit eighth on Monday against Mets left-hander Sean Manaea. Hip-flexor tightness forced Lux from the Game 1 win early on Sunday night, but he could be back in there against right-hander Luis Severino for Game 3 on Wednesday at Citi Field. Hernandez is on a three-game hit streak in the postseason and has gone 5-for-13 in four games with a homer and RBI. However, he has just one hit and an RBI in 11 career at-bats against Manaea, the Game 2 starter.
16 hours ago
Freddie Freeman In The Game 2 Lineup
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that first baseman Freddie Freeman (ankle) is in the starting lineup for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Mets. Freeman is at first base and is batting cleanup against Mets left-hander Sean Manaea. In a 9-0 blowout win over New York in Game 1 on Sunday night, the Dodgers pulled Freeman after seven innings to give him a little extra rest. The 35-year-old veteran has been playing through a right-ankle sprain in the playoffs that he suffered in the last week of the regular season and even skipped Game 4 of the NL Division Series because of the injury. It hasn't really affected his hitting, as Freeman has gone 6-for-17 with an RBI, steal and a run scored in five postseason games. In 17 career at-bats versus Manaea, Freeman has gone 5-for-17 with a homer, two RBI, one walk and four K's.
16 hours ago
Ryan Brasier To Open, Landon Knack Set For Bulk Role In Game 2 Of NLCS
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Ryan Brasier will serve as the opener for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Mets, with manager Dave Roberts saying he expects right-hander Landon Knack to take "most of the outs" as the bulk reliever. Brasier served as the opener in the Game 4 win over the division-rival San Diego Padres in the NL Division Series and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out one. He also went 2 1/3 innings in a traditional relief role earlier in the series, allowing two earned runs on three hits while walking none and striking out one. Brasier obviously isn't a viable DFS play as an opener in Game 2. Knack pitched the final inning of the Game 4 win over the Pads and threw a scoreless frame with a strikeout. The 27-year-old went 3-5 with a 3.65 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 69 K's and 18 walks in 69 innings over his first 15 big-league outings (12 starts) during the regular season.
16 hours ago
Kodai Senga Tosses Clunker In Game 1 Loss
New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga had a rough outing in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, taking the loss in a 9-0 defeat. Senga had all kinds of control issues, walking four and throwing a wild pitch in his 1 innings of work. He just didn't have it tonight, which makes sense for a pitcher who had only thrown 7 IP this season between the regular season and playoffs. He can be elite when he's on, but he hasn't quite found that version of himself yet. He could get a chance to redeem himself later in the series, but manager Carlos Mendoza wouldn't confirm that and said they will have to see where Senga is at in the next few days.
Yesterday
Mookie Betts Comes Through With Bases-Clearing Double
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts delivered a clutch bases-loaded double to put Game 1 of the NLCS out of reach on Sunday. Betts big hit put a cap on a 9-0 onslaught over the New York Mets. He finished the day 1-for-4 with a walk, a double, a run scored, and three RBI. He was somehow the only player on either team to collect an extra-base hit, even though there were 12 hits in total. The 32-year-old has had a solid postseason, hitting two homers, driving in six, and posting a .891 OPS in 22 at-bats. He will look to keep it rolling against Sean Manaea in Game 2 on Monday.
Yesterday
Jack Flaherty Tosses Gem In Game 1 Win
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty was at his best on Sunday, tossing seven shutout frames against the New York Mets in Game 1 of the NLCS. Flaherty allowed just two hits (both singles) and two walks while punching out six Mets. The 28-year-old was electric in this one, which is surely a huge relief for him after a subpar outing in the NLDS against the San Diego Padres. Flaherty would be on full rest for Game 5 on Friday and will likely get the ball for that game if necessary.
Yesterday
Anthony Rizzo Could Be On ALCS Roster
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (fingers) is a candidate to be added to the ALCS roster ahead of Game 1 on Monday. Rizzo is working his way back from fractures in multiple fingers after being hit by a pitch on the final weekend of the regular season, and he appears to be nearly ready to return. The Yankees would love to have him back, as they have been using a combination of Jon Berti and Oswaldo Cabrera to fill in for the lefty and could use a boost. He would likely slot into the back half of the lineup if he returns Monday.
Yesterday
Luis Gil Scheduled To Start Game 4 Of ALCS
New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil will make his first postseason start on Friday in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians. Gil was skipped over in favor of using Gerrit Cole for a second time in the ALDS, a decision that worked out well for the Yankees. Although Gil was very good for most of the season, he was prone to the occasional bad start and struggled with control even in his good starts. Expect the Yankees to be very careful with the 26-year-old and have a backup plan in place in case he struggles early. That being said, Gil could go out and dominate as well.
Yesterday
