Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela is expected to be activated from the injured list Wednesday after missing time since Sept. 6 with a right quad strain. Rafaela began rehabbing at Triple-A Worcester and has been hitting against a Trajekt machine, and the Red Sox believe he is ready to use their final five regular-season games to get back into a rhythm before the postseason gets underway.
JR Ritchie delivered a strong start for the Atlanta Braves, striking out eight batters across five innings while allowing just one run on a homer during a 4-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Despite a few walks to Elly De La Cruz, Ritchie posted a sub-3.00 xFIP in his best multi-inning outing to date. The Braves clinched the NL East division title despite the defeat, as Ritchie builds momentum for a potential postseason bullpen role or strong offseason preparation.
Cincinnati Reds infielder Elly De La Cruz went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two RBIs, two walks, and a stolen base during a 4-0 win over the Atlanta Braves. De La Cruz launched his 29th homer off JR Ritchie in the third inning and has drawn multiple free passes in three of his last four games. Through 614 plate appearances this season, the 24-year-old is slashing .288/.370/.521 with 29 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases.
Colton Gordon turned heads in his Milwaukee Brewers debut, tossing five innings of two-run ball on four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies. Pitching after Dustin May and Kyle Harrison, Gordon retired the Phillies in order initially before encountering trouble in the eighth inning. Despite the 6-4 loss, the Brewers secured a first-round postseason bye thanks to an Atlanta Braves loss, leaving them with favorable pitching depth for the final week.
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Konnor Griffin went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a strikeout in a 2-0 win over the Cardinals, recording his 23rd stolen base of the season in the eighth inning. The 20-year-old has hit safely in seven of his last eight games and now sports a .271/.324/.397 slash line with five homers.
The Texas Rangers placed veteran slugger Joc Pederson on the 10-day injured list due to a wrist fracture, dealing a blow to the team's depth during the final week of the regular season.
The Texas Rangers placed pitcher Cal Quantrill on the 60-day injured list due to a lat issue, officially ending his 2026 season and keeping him unavailable for the playoffs. Quantrill finishes the year with a 2.86 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 81 strikeouts across 110 innings. Michael Helman was activated from the 60-day IL to take his spot.
Tarik Skubal forms a formidable part of the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation alongside Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell as the team prepares for its upcoming postseason push and quest for a three-peat. His presence provides crucial depth and elite-level pitching performance for the Dodgers pitching staff heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow revealed he will likely serve in a versatile role during the postseason, potentially pitching out of the bullpen or starting depending on the series structure. Coming off a strong bounce-back start where he tossed six innings of two-run baseball with 10 strikeouts against the Giants, Glasnow is feeling healthy and prepared to handle any assignment the Dodgers ask of him as their championship quest kicks off.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night against the San Diego Padres for his final start of an excellent regular season. Yamamoto has pitched seven innings in each of his three September starts and leads the majors averaging 6.63 innings per start. He carries a 2-1 record against San Diego this year, allowing only three runs across 20 innings with 22 strikeouts against six walks as the Dodgers ramp up for the postseason.
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell is on track to start Saturday against the San Francisco Giants after throwing a successful bullpen session following left groin discomfort that forced him out of his previous start. Snell plans to throw a final bullpen session later this week and aims to make one regular-season tune-up start before the postseason, ensuring the Dodgers' rotation remains fully intact for their upcoming playoff run.
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Will Klein pitched a simulated inning against Dalton Rushing as he works his way back from elbow discomfort on the 60-day injured list. Klein is ineligible to be activated until September 30 but could join the team later in the postseason depending on health and roster availability.
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante delivered a strong outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing just three hits and one earned run over six full innings while striking out two and walking two. He exited in a 1-0 game after allowing a sixth-inning run, dropping to 12-7 on the season with a 3.70 ERA as the Cardinals were shut out on only one hit.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones delivered an exceptional performance, pitching seven scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out nine without issuing a walk in a 2-0 win over the Cardinals. Jones retired the first 15 batters he faced before surrendering a sixth-inning double, bringing his season ERA down.
Houston Astros right-hander Cristian Javier takes the mound for the series opener against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Javier enters with a 2-6 record and 5.31 ERA, but has been sharp recently with a 2.20 ERA and 15 strikeouts over his last three starts as Houston fights for the AL West title.
Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman is avoiding the injured list and confident he will be ready for the postseason after suffering multiple facial fractures when hit by a foul ball off teammate Michael Busch's bat. Manager Craig Counsell stated Bregman is tracking pitches and planning on playing as early as this weekend in Boston. The veteran slashes .292 with 17 home runs and 48 RBIs in the second half, taking a day-by-day approach to his recovery.
San Francisco Giants rookie Bo Davidson made history in his major league debut against the Twins by becoming the first player to steal a base, get a hit, and score a run in a debut since 1931. However, the team's celebration video suffered an embarrassing mishap when a camera briefly captured a nude player in the clubhouse background. The clip was quickly removed, and Davidson continues to draw praise after recording a hit in his very first at-bat.
Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. exited Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning after fouling a pitch into the unprotected inside of his left leg. Acuña was in visible pain, received attention from trainers, and limped off the field under his own power before being replaced by Brewer Hicklen. The Braves have already clinched the NL East title, and any potential injured list stint could impact his availability for the upcoming postseason series next week. The 28-year-old outfielder is slashing .260/.352/.463 with 20 home runs, 55 RBI, and 20 stolen bases this season.
Cody Bellinger provided all the offense the Yankees needed in a 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, launching a two-run home run 382 feet to right field in the fourth inning. It marked Bellinger's fifth home run in his last 12 games. In addition to his clutch bat, he contributed defensively by catching a fly ball and firing a strike to first base to complete a key inning-ending double play, helping secure New York's wild-card home-field advantage.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced that Aaron Judge is not expected to play in the AL Wild Card series against the Red Sox after suffering a moderate right calf strain. Judge received a platelet-poor plasma injection and aims to return for the ALDS if New York advances. The injury occurred September 16, just seven games into his return from a 75-game absence due to a rib fracture. He finishes the regular season with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs.
