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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
The Toronto Blue Jays recalled John Klein to the active roster while optioning CJ Van Eyk to Triple-A Buffalo prior to their weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds. The roster move comes as the Blue Jays manage their final player movements of the 2026 season following the team's elimination from the American League Wild Card race.
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Edwin Díaz delivered four scoreless innings with eight strikeouts across four outings this week, working his way back into high-leverage consideration following a mechanical adjustment on a rehab assignment. Despite an injury-plagued season with a 9.17 ERA and 7-for-11 save conversion rate, manager Dave Roberts noted that Díaz could potentially be trusted late in games during October.
Atlanta Braves left-hander Ray Kerr will start Friday's series opener against the Miami Marlins as the Braves navigate a low-stakes final weekend. With Atlanta securely locked into the No. 3 seed in the National League and hosting a wild-card series next week, the team is utilizing a bullpen game to manage pitching workloads before postseason play begins.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh delivered a candid critique of the team's failed 2026 campaign, blaming poor defense, a struggling bullpen, and a collective lack of focus. Dismissing injuries as an excuse, Raleigh called for organizational improvement from top to bottom. Meanwhile, he sat out Friday's game against the Angels amid an 0-for-12 slump, finishing a disappointing season slashing just .179/.294/.369 across 520 plate appearances.
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo takes the mound for his final start of the 2026 regular season in Friday's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. Lodolo aims to finish strong in a largely meaningless game for Cincinnati, which has been out of the playoff picture for months while teammates like Elly De Caruz chase individual milestones.
Former star Joey Votto voiced his support for Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., praising him as a great community figure and a frustrated competitor following his public apology. Votto's message came as the Reds and Blue Jays kicked off their final meaningless regular-season series of 2026, with personal milestones remaining the primary focus for players on both struggling squads.
Tampa Bay Rays catcher Liam Hicks was out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies, giving way to Nick Fortes behind the plate against left-handed starter Cristopher Sánchez. Hicks is enjoying a breakout campaign, maintaining an impressive .804 OPS with the Rays after beginning the year with a .795 OPS for the Miami Marlins.
Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter is scheduled to throw live batting practice over the weekend, facing teammate Joc Pederson as the veteran hitter works his way back from a hand fracture. Leiter, managing ankle and biceps issues of his own, continues to progress through workouts as the Rangers evaluate their pitching staff and approach the crucial final stretch of the regular season.
Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson took batting practice swings and is scheduled to face teammate Jack Leiter in live batting practice over the weekend. A small fracture in his left hand ended his regular season, but Pederson expects to return for the wild-card round if the Rangers secure a playoff spot. He put together a resurgent campaign, posting an .816 OPS and 26 home runs.
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio was not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals, receiving a strategic rest day from manager Pat Murphy. Chourio enters the contest after a productive showing off the bench Thursday against the Phillies, where he went 1-for-1 with a solo home run, a walk, a run scored, and a stolen base as the Brewers prepare for the postseason.
Boston Red Sox catcher Mickey Gasper is expected to miss the entire postseason after suffering a significant right biceps injury during Friday's game against the Cubs. Gasper left the game after swinging and missing at a pitch in the fifth inning. Manager Chad Tracy confirmed the severity of the injury, calling it "pretty significant" and likely to keep him out. Gasper batted .251 with an .823 OPS and nine home runs across 67 games in a breakout campaign for Boston.
New York Mets infielder Ronny Mauricio is reflecting on another frustrating, injury-ravaged season that limited his big-league opportunities. After missing months due to a thumb fracture following Francisco Lindor's injury, Mauricio returned to star in Triple-A before being recalled. Manager Andy Green noted that the 25-year-old retains his athleticism and must focus on consistently impacting the baseball and minimizing his chase rate moving forward.
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler is scheduled to make his 30th start of the year in Friday's series opener against the Detroit Tigers. Chandler enters with an 8-9 record and 4.34 ERA over 151.1 innings. In his last outing against Kansas City, he allowed three earned runs on eight hits across four frames. The Pirates have won each of his last three appearances on the mound.
Detroit right-hander Jackson Jobe is scheduled to make his ninth start since returning from Tommy John surgery on Friday against the Pirates. In September, the 24-year-old has pitched 17.3 innings across three starts with a 3.12 ERA, 3.44 FIP, and 24 strikeouts. He enters his final outing of the 2026 campaign carrying a 2-3 record and a 3.98 ERA over 40.2 total innings.
Brandon Nimmo will start in right field and bat leadoff Friday against the Twins, marking his first start at the top of the order since May 11. Manager Skip Schumaker moved Nimmo from the middle of the order to spark the offense as the Rangers battle the Astros for the AL West crown. Nimmo previously hit .276/.358/.414 in the leadoff role earlier in the season.
Chase Meidroth missed Friday's starting lineup against the Rockies due to left hamstring discomfort. Manager Will Venable downplayed the issue, noting Meidroth is available off the bench. Although he's been running hot with multi-hit games in his last three contests and a .385/.429/.615 slash over his previous 10, the White Sox are likely to rest him further down the stretch with a playoff spot already locked up.
Cole Carrigg is out of the Rockies' starting lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox, marking his first day off this month. The outfielder is coming off a stellar 4-for-5 performance featuring his 11th home run in Thursday's loss to the Diamondbacks. Mickey Moniak, Jake McCarthy, and Troy Johnston will cover the outfield for Colorado.
Dylan Cease stated Friday that he expects a normal offseason following shoulder inflammation that required him to rule out surgery. He will take downtime over the next several weeks to let inflammation subside and projects to be ready for spring training in 2027. Cease finished a Cy Young-caliber 2026 campaign with a 2.40 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 239 strikeouts across 169 innings and 29 starts.
Xavier Edwards remains out of the lineup for Friday's matchup against Atlanta, marking his fifth consecutive absence after aggravating his left thumb injury last week. While the Marlins have resisted placing him on the injured list, it is increasingly unlikely that he will return before the regular season concludes. Jared Serna will continue filling in at second base.
Toronto outfielder Brett Bateman is expected to return to the starting lineup Saturday against the Reds after missing time with right hip discomfort. Bateman has been sidelined since Monday, though his recent MRI returned negative results. With Toronto out of playoff contention, he could be available off the bench initially before making his official return to action to wrap up the weekend.
