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MLB News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Friday, September 18

Justin Turner Wins Championship with Toros de Tijuana in Mexico

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At 41 years old, former Dodgers fan favorite Justin Turner won a championship as the designated hitter for the Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican League, defeating the Olmecas de Tabasco in six games. After finding no minor league contracts in MLB, the 17-year veteran expressed joy on X about capturing another title, adding to his stellar career resume that includes winning the 2020 World Series with Los Angeles.

Kyle Leahy Set to Pitch for St. Louis Cardinals Against Nationals

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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Leahy gets the start Friday night as the team kicks off its final homestand of the season against Cade Cavalli and the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium. Leahy takes the mound as the Cardinals look to open the weekend series on a high note, with the game broadcast handled by Cardinals.tv starting at 7:15 p.m. Central time.

Cade Cavalli Agrees to Four-Year Extension With Washington Nationals

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The Washington Nationals and staff ace Cade Cavalli finalized a four-year contract extension through 2030 with a 2031 club option, worth $47 million guaranteed and up to $70 million. The 28-year-old right-hander has enjoyed a breakout campaign, posting a 3.12 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 194 strikeouts across 164.2 innings and 31 starts. The deal buys out his final arbitration years as Cavalli takes the mound Friday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Nolan Schanuel Likely Shut Down for Season With Side Injury

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Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel returned from his rehab assignment Friday and is expected to be shut down for the remainder of the season due to a side injury. After appearing in one minor league rehab game with Triple-A Salt Lake, the 24-year-old underwent further testing and treatment. Manager Kurt Suzuki indicated Schanuel will likely not return from the injured list, leaving Vaughn Grissom as the team's primary first baseman.

Nolan McLean Involved in Scary On-Field Collision With Jared Young

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New York Mets rookie pitcher Nolan McLean was involved in a frightening sixth-inning collision with teammate Jared Young during Thursday's 3-0 loss to Philadelphia. While fielding a slow ground ball, McLean's knee inadvertently struck Young in the head, knocking the first baseman unconscious. Visibly shaken, McLean remained in the game to strike out Garrett Stubbs to complete the frame before being replaced by Tobias Myers in the seventh inning.

Jared Young Placed on Concussion IL, Out for Season After Collision

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New York Mets first baseman Jared Young has been placed on the 7-day concussion list and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season following a frightening collision with pitcher Nolan McLean on Thursday. Young suffered a concussion and short-term memory loss after losing consciousness, though hospital CT scans came back negative and he retains full motion in his limbs. Ronny Mauricio was recalled as Young finishes his year with a .759 OPS, 9 HRs, and 39 RBIs.

Bryan Woo Makes First Career Start at Coors Field for Mariners

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Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo makes his first career start at Coors Field on Friday night against Gabriel Hughes and the Colorado Rockies. Woo enters the contest with a 12-9 record, a 3.88 ERA, and 163 strikeouts on the season. The right-hander has been dominant over his last seven starts, posting a 1.93 ERA and 0.76 WHIP while walking just 5.3% of opposing hitters as Seattle opens a three-game series in Denver.

Gabriel Hughes Searches for First Career Win Against Seattle Mariners

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Colorado Rockies rookie Gabriel Hughes makes his 13th major-league start Friday night against Bryan Woo and the Seattle Mariners at Coors Field. Still seeking his first career win, the right-hander enters with an 0-8 record and a 6.37 ERA over 59.1 innings. Despite the high ERA, Hughes boasts a 4.04 FIP, an 87.2 mph average exit velocity allowed, and a 29.9% hard-hit rate, though he struggled in his last outing on September 13 against Detroit.

Kumar Rocker Takes Mound for Texas Rangers Against Toronto Blue Jays

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Texas Rangers right-hander Kumar Rocker takes the mound Friday night to face RHP Dylan Cease and the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 154 at home. Rocker previously pitched on September 12 against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, where he was removed during the fifth inning. Texas enters the contest at 76-77, sitting just one game behind the Houston Astros in a tight American League West race with nine games remaining.

Alex Bregman Celebrates Horse's Victory With Chicago Cubs Teammates

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Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman treated his teammates to a visit at Churchill Downs on a recent team off day during his strong second-half stretch. The group gathered at the historic racetrack to watch Bregman's horse run to victory, highlighting a memorable off-field celebration for the veteran slugger as the Cubs continue their late-season push toward the postseason.

Paul Skenes Set for 31st Start of Season Against Royals

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Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes will make his 31st start of the 2026 season on Friday evening against the Kansas City Royals. Skenes holds a 10-11 record with a 3.78 ERA on the year. In his previous outing on September 12 against the Chicago Cubs, the young ace allowed just two runs on four hits over seven strong innings at Wrigley Field, receiving a no-decision after the bullpen surrendered the lead.

Jared Jones Scheduled for Two-Start Final Week for Pirates

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Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones enters the final week of the season as a prime two-start pitcher option. Over his last 13 starts since returning from the injured list, Jones has posted a 3.56 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and an 84:22 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 65.2 innings, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 12 of those outings. He is projected to face the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers.

Drew Anderson Slated for Strong Two-Start Final Week

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Detroit Tigers right-hander Drew Anderson is lined up for a two-start week at Comerica Park to conclude the 2026 regular season. Since joining Detroit's rotation in early August, Anderson has performed impressively, recording a 2.58 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and a 31:19 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 38.1 innings. He faces home matchups against the Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates in the season's closing week.

Logan Gilbert Set to Feature as Top Two-Start Pitcher Option

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Seattle Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert highlights the top two-start fantasy options for the final week of the 2026 regular season. Gilbert has compiled a 3.69 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a 194:46 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 178 innings across 30 starts this year. He is slated to wrap up his campaign with a pair of favorable home matchups against American League West divisional rivals, the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels.

Zack Wheeler Regains Dominant Form Ahead of Postseason

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Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler has rebounded from a mid-summer slump where his ERA hit 8.51. Over his last four starts, the 36-year-old right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA, striking out 29 batters with eight walks over that stretch. Tentatively lined up to start twice in the regular season's final week against Milwaukee and Tampa Bay, Wheeler provides a critical boost to the Phillies' rotation as they prepare for October baseball.

José Urquidy Delivers Strong Relief Outing For Phillies

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Recently claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Chicago White Sox, right-handed pitcher José Urquidy gave the team crucial length against the New York Mets. Entering in the first inning with bases loaded, Urquidy tossed 4.2 scoreless frames, allowing five hits, striking out six, and issuing no walks while throwing 47 of 64 pitches for strikes. The deceptive veteran provided a major boost to Philadelphia's depleted rotation depth down the stretch.

Tarik Skubal Set for Final Regular Season Home Start

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Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Tarik Skubal is scheduled to make his final regular-season home start at Dodger Stadium on Saturday against the San Francisco Giants. Pitching on four days' rest for the second time in three starts, Skubal previously made five such starts with Detroit before his midseason trade. Skubal recently celebrated securing the NL West division title with the Dodgers as they gear up for a deep postseason run.

Randy Dobnak Takes 2.73 ERA Into Friday Start Against Pirates

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Kansas City Royals right-hander Randy Dobnak takes the mound Friday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates for his 12th start of the season. The 31-year-old enters the matchup with a 3-4 record and a stellar 2.73 ERA across 13 total appearances in his first year with Kansas City. Dobnak is coming off a solid outing on September 12 against Boston where he surrendered three earned runs on four hits over 5.2 innings.

Landon Knack Optioned to Triple-A Following Scoreless Relief Outing

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The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned pitcher Landon Knack to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday to make room for Edwin Díaz. Knack earned the win in Thursday's division-clinching victory over Cincinnati, tossing four scoreless innings in relief. Across three major-league stints this season, Knack has posted a 3.86 ERA and 4.09 xERA over 11 2/3 innings across four appearances, including a team-high 2 2/3-inning save.

Junior Caminero Makes Strong Push Against Yordan Alvarez for AL MVP

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Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero has mounted a late-season surge for the American League MVP award, challenging Astros DH Yordan Alvarez. The 23-year-old superstar is slashing .277/.363/.532 with 41 home runs and 96 RBI through 151 games for the AL-leading Rays. Caminero recently delivered a signature walk-off home run to clinch a postseason spot for Tampa Bay, strengthening his case among award voters.