MLB Player News
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Kris Bryant DH | COL
Rockies' Kris Bryant: Still bothered by back
Bryant said Saturday in an interview with Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post that he continues to experience daily pain and discomfort while recovering from lumbar degenerative disc disease, but the 33-year-old said that he's not yet considering retirement. "[The back is] not in the best shape, and that's pretty disheartening for me," Bryant said. "It's exhausting for me waking up and hoping to feel [better]. I can't tell you the last time I woke up feeling I'm in a good spot."
Bryant spent nearly all of the 2025 campaign on the shelf after he underwent an ablation operation in May to address his back condition, but the procedure hasn't yielded the desired effect. Though Bryant noted that he hasn't felt any pain while swinging a bat, straight-line running as well as quick, unorthodox movements such as diving for a grounder or retreating to first base on a pickoff attempt are still presenting discomfort. Bryant said that he's continuing to treat his injury during the offseason by doing Pilates three times a week with the hope of strengthening his core and providing some relief for his lower back, but if he's still dealing with substantial pain by the time spring training arrives, it's possible that Bryant and the Rockies more seriously discuss a financial arrangement that would allow him to medically retire. Since signing a seven-year, $182 million contract in March of 2022, Bryant has played in 170 games over his four seasons with the Rockies and has struggled to a .244/.324/.370 slash line (82 wRC+) with 17 home runs and 61 RBI across 712 plate appearances.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Goes 2.1 frames in Game 7 of WS
Ohtani didn't factor into the decision against the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 2.1 innings. He also went 2-for-5 with a walk as a batter.
Ohtani struggled throughout his time on the mound, but he managed to get through two scoreless innings despite allowing four baserunners over that span. He wasn't able to escape in the third, however, as Bo Bichette tagged him for a three-run homer in that frame, leading to his exit. Ohtani did manage to reach base three times as a hitter, and over the seven-game series he batted .333 with three home runs, three doubles, five RBI, six runs and nine walks. As a pitcher, he was less effective, yielding seven earned runs while posting a 9:3 K:BB across 8.1 frames.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Tapped for Game 7 start
Ohtani will start Game 7 of the World Series against the Blue Jays on Saturday.
Ohtani will be pitching on short rest after making it through six innings during a loss in Game 4 on Tuesday. The 31-year-old owns a 3.50 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with 25 strikeouts through 18 innings so far in the postseason and will be opposed by Max Scherzer in Saturday's winner-take-all contest.
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George Springer DH | TOR
Blue Jays' George Springer: Back in lineup for Game 6
Springer (side) will bat leadoff and serve as the designated hitter in Friday's World Series Game 6 against the Dodgers.
Springer did not play in Games 4 or 5 after exiting Game 3 with discomfort in his right side, but he's improved enough to give it a go as the Fall Classic moves back to Toronto. The 36-year-old Springer has an .884 OPS with four home runs over 14 contest this postseason.
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George Springer DH | TOR
Blue Jays' George Springer: Likely to return for Game 6
Manager John Schneider said Thursday that there's a strong chance Springer (side) returns to the starting lineup in Game 6 of the World Series on Friday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Toronto's skipper added that Springer has "checked every box physically so far" and nearly returned to the lineup in Game 5, but the Jays instead opted to give the outfielder another day to recover. His return to the lineup after a two-game absence would provide Toronto's offense with a significant power boost, as the 36-year-old has posted a .561 slugging percentage across 65 plate appearances in the postseason.
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George Springer DH | TOR
Blue Jays' George Springer: On bench again for Game 5
Springer (side) isn't in the lineup for Game 5 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Wednesday.
Manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Springer has made "significant progress" in his recovery since exiting Game 3 with a side injury, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca, but evidently not enough to return to the starting nine for the final game in Los Angeles. Bo Bichette will get another start as Toronto's designated hitter Wednesday; meanwhile, Springer could be available as a pinch hitter.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Saddled with Game 4 loss
Ohtani took the loss in Game 4 of the World Series against the Blue Jays on Tuesday after allowing four earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six batters over six-plus innings. He also went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts as a batter.
After getting through the first two innings without giving up a run, Ohtani allowed a single to Nathan Lukes in the third before serving up a home run to Vladimir Guerrero in the ensuing at-bat. The two-way superstar kept the game close for the next several innings but was pulled after allowing the first two men he faced in the seventh to reach base -- both of whom eventually came around to score. Ohtani is likely now done making starts on the mound for the Dodgers this postseason, but he will likely be available out of the bullpen for the remainder of the series and also remains one of the most dynamic bats in Los Angeles' lineup.
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George Springer DH | TOR
Blue Jays' George Springer: Absent from Game 4 lineup
Springer (side) isn't in the lineup for Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Tuesday.
Springer was forced to leave Game 3 early after injuring his side on a swing in the seventh inning, and he'll officially remain on the bench for the beginning of Tuesday's contest. Bo Bichette will work as Toronto's designated hitter in Springer's stead, opening up second base for Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
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George Springer DH | TOR
Blue Jays' George Springer: Sent for MRI
Springer will undergo an MRI after departing Monday's Game 3 of the World Series due to right side discomfort, Jon Paul Hoornstra of Newsweek.com reports.
Springer exited Monday's matchup in the seventh inning after a swing left him in obvious discomfort. The club will presumably wait until reviewing his scans to determine his status for Tuesday's Game 4 and the remainder of the series. Ty France could draw the start in the DH slot if Springer is unable to go Tuesday.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Blasts two home runs in Game 3 win
Ohtani went 4-for-4 with two solo home runs, two doubles, five walks, three RBI and three runs scored in Monday's 6-5 win in 18 innings in Game 3 of the World Series against the Blue Jays.
Ohtani smoked a ground-rule double in his first at-bat of the game and only continued to wreak havoc from there on out. He hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third, followed by an RBI double in the fifth and a game-tying solo homer in the seventh. His only blemish took place when he got thrown out attempting to steal second base in the bottom of the ninth as the potential winning run, popping off the bag after initially sliding in safe. The Blue Jays had evidently seen enough, as the slugger was then walked in his final five at-bats of the matchup, making him the first player in MLB postseason history to reach base nine times in the same game. Ohtani is now 6-for-12 with three home runs, five RBI, six walks and five runs scored through the first three games of the World Series and is slated to toe the rubber for Game 4 on Tuesday.