MLB Player News

Castro (knee) is expected to be shut down for the final four games of the season, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Castro has been unavailable out of the bullpen while nursing a sore knee. He hasn't pitched since Sept. 22 against the Yankees, and with the Orioles well out of playoff contention, he figures to be done throwing in 2018. Castro will finish with a 3.96 ERA with 57 strikeouts over 86.1 frames if he's indeed done for the season.

Norris is slated to make a couple of starts with the Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Winter League, Emily Waldon of The Athletic reports.

A groin injury limited Norris to just seven starts and three relief appearances for the Tigers this season. He recorded a disappointing 5.22 ERA and allowed seven homers in 39.2 innings, thanks in large part due to a groundball rate that fell to a career-low 30.4 percent. He'll look to get back on track and make up for lost time in winter ball.

Sadzeck walked one and struck out two over a scoreless eighth inning to pick up the hold in Thursday's 2-0 win over the Mariners.

Sadzeck, who has five holds in September, has not allowed a run over 9.1 innings since he joined Texas as part of the September callups. He's emerged as a setup man for interim manager Don Wakamatsu, despite Sadzeck's propensity to put men on base. He's walked 10 and hit one batter to produce a 1.61 WHIP. The key has been bearing down with men on base. The right-hander has quickened his pace with runners on while maintaining the power that allows him to throw in the upper 90s, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. "When we talk about development, if you got his times to the plate, they were under 1.1 seconds, and throwing 99 mph," Wakamatsu said. "It takes a long time for guys to understand that we can still stay compact, let the arm catch up and still throw hard with strikes. He's learning that."

Leclerc allowed one hit and struck out one in the ninth inning to earn the save Thursday.

Leclerc allowed a leadoff single to Mitch Haniger but retired the next three batters he faced to earn his 12th save of the season. He's taken well to his role as the Rangers' closer, not blowing a save or allowing an earned run across 18 innings since July 30.

Jurado (5-5) allowed two hits and no walks while striking out three across six scoreless innings to earn the win Thursday against the Mariners.

Jurado wasn't particularly deceptive, but limited the Mariners by allowing no free passes or extra-base hits. He's pieced together two positive outings to close the season -- he allowed two earned runs across his last 11 innings -- but has just 22 strikeouts across 54.2 innings to go along with a 5.93 ERA and 1.54 WHIP.

Gonsalves (2-2) allowed two earned runs on three hits and four walks while striking out two across 3.1 innings to earn the win Thursday against the Tigers.

Gonsalves wasn't effective, allowing seven baserunners in his short outing as the primary pitcher Thursday. Still, he limited the Tigers to just one earned run due to a timely strikeout in the second inning to strand two runners. He also got the assistance of Matt Magill, who stranded both of the runners he inherited from Gonsalves. It hasn't been a pleasant debut at the major-league level from Gonsalves, as he's posted a 6.57 ERA and 2.03 WHIP across 24.2 innings.

Gonsalves is expected to serve as the Twins' primary pitcher in Thursday's game against the Tigers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Gabriel Moya will serve as the Twins' opening pitcher, likely working no more than two innings before giving way to Gonsalves, who will be making what's expected to be his final appearance of 2018. After serving up 19 runs (16 earned) in 12.1 innings while being deployed as a traditional starter in his first four big-league appearances, Gonsalves seems to have found his footing as a primary pitcher out of the bullpen. In his two relief outings, Gonsalves has given up just one unearned run on one hit and five walks over nine innings while striking out eight.

Jurado is listed as the Rangers' starting pitcher for Thursday's game against the Mariners.

Jurado has worked out of the bullpen behind an opening pitcher in his last four turns through the rotation, but he'll be deployed in a traditional starting role to close out the season. Regardless of how the Rangers have utilized him this season, the rookie right-hander hasn't delivered quality results. He's submitted a 6.66 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 3.5 K/9 across 48.2 innings.

Johnson will make a spot start against the Yankees on Friday, Chad Jennings of The Athletic reports.

Following Johnson during the three-game set will be Nathan Eovaldi and Rick Porcello. This will mark Johnson's first start since Sept. 2 when he only lasted 1.1 innings against the White Sox. On the year, he's logged a 4.11 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 85 strikeouts in 96.1 innings. During his latest relief appearance, he posted three scoreless frames versus Cleveland on Saturday.

Yacabonis didn't factor into the decision in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks over 3.1 innings while striking out two in a 10-3 win over the Red Sox.

He needed 82 pitches (46 strikes) to record only 10 outs, and Yacabonis exited the game with the score tied 2-2 before the O's bats really got rolling, denying him his last shot at his first win of the year for Baltimore. He'll wrap up the season with a 6.00 ERA and 32:16 K:BB through 36 big-league innings.