MLB Player News

Morejon picked up the loss as the opener in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Thursday, giving up three runs on two hits and two walks in just two innings while striking out two batters.

The brief outing was seemingly the plan all along, as Morejon had averaged 2.03 innings per appearance in his 11 previous outings this season. He retired the side in the first inning but struggled in the second, allowing three baserunners and one run. He stayed in the game to start the third but allowed both of the first two batters to reach base, both of whom would come around to score. It was a disappointing outing for the talented young lefty, but the mere fact that he was trusted to open the game with the Padres' season on the line indicates how highly the team thinks of him.

Jansen won't be available to pitch during Game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres on Thursday after pitching during the past two games, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Jansen pitched on two consecutive nights to begin the series, including a 30-pitch outing Wednesday as he nearly blew the save. As a result, manager Dave Roberts indicated Jansen won't pitch during the third game as the Dodgers hold a 2-0 lead over San Diego. Roberts said that Thursday's closer will be based on matchups if the Dodgers have a save opportunity. Jansen should be available for the rest of the NLDS if the series continues, even though Roberts didn't commit to using the right-hander as the closer going forward.

Jansen earned a hold after recording two outs and surrendering two runs on three hits with one strikeout and zero walks during the ninth inning of Wednesday's Game 2 win over San Diego.

The veteran right-hander entered with a three-run cushion and struck out the first batter he faced, but he allowed three of the next four batters to reach before being pulled in favor of Joe Kelly, who stranded the inherited runner. Jansen has been lights out throughout his career in the playoffs with a 1.94 ERA over 51 innings entering Wednesday's game, but his role going forward may not be so clear. According to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, manager Dave Roberts didn't commit to anything regarding the closer's role and said he's "going to keep thinking through it."

Kelly was credited with the save by recording the final out of Wednesday's Game 2 against the Padres. He walked two batters.

Closer Kenley Jansen surrendered two runs and was pulled with two outs and the tying run on second base, leaving Kelly to face Fernando Tatis and Manny Machado. Kelly walked both batters but was able to induce a groundout from Eric Hosmer to end the game. It was the right-hander's first outing of the postseason and his first game action since Sept. 26, but he was able to get the job done against San Diego's best bats.

Morejon will start Game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Thursday, Bob Scanlan of FOX Sports San Diego reports.

The 21-year-old will take the mound with the Padres' season potentially on the line. Morejon won't operate as a traditional starter as his highest pitch count this season was 41 pitches, but he should be able to cover a few innings if he's effective. The left-hander has provided three scoreless frames in the playoffs and had a 4.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 25:4 K:BB over 19.1 innings during the regular season.

Melancon came in to close the game out the ninth inning, recording one scoreless inning of work while striking out one in Wednesday's win over the Marlins in Game 2 of the NLDS.

Melancon earned his first save of the postseason and threw eight of his 13 pitches for strikes. The 35-year-old recorded 11 saves during the regular season and will continue to get the ball in save situations.

Weathers came in to replace Pierce Johnson in the third inning, recording 1.1 scoreless innings of work while walking two in Tuesday's loss to the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLDS.

Weathers made his MLB debut Tuesday and threw 16 of his 30 pitches for strikes. The 20-year-old showed why he was the seventh pick in the 2018 draft and some of his command issues could be attributed to nerves seeing as it was the rookie's first appearance on the big stage.

Weathers' contract was selected by the Padres on Tuesday, and he'll be part of the team's roster for the NLDS against the Dodgers.

Weathers is just 20 years old and hasn't pitched above High-A. The seventh overall pick in the 2018 draft looked quite good in 22 starts for High-A Fort Wayne last season, striking out 22.8 percent of opposing batters while walking just 4.6 percent en route to a 3.84 ERA and 3.17 FIP. He also saw a significant velocity jump at the Padres' alternate training site this summer and now sits in the mid-90s after sitting in the low-90s last season. Those factors make it seem like he'll have a chance to hold his own should he get an opportunity during the NL Division Series, though it's still quite a jump and quite a high-pressure situation for someone so inexperienced.

Lamet (biceps) did not make the Padres' NLDS roster.

While the Padres did get Mike Clevinger (biceps/elbow) back for the series, they're still without one of their best arms in Lamet. The news isn't a big surprise, as reports on his health have been rather pessimistic in recent days. It's still possible he's able to return for future playoff rounds should the Padres manage to upset their division rivals.

Brewers general manager David Stearns said Monday that Williams won't require any procedures for his right shoulder and should be in store for a relatively normal offseason, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Williams was surprisingly left off the Brewers' 28-man roster for the team's wild-card series with the Dodgers last week after he was revealed to be dealing with right shoulder soreness. Fortunately for the standout setup man, Stearns clarified that Williams' injury was only a minor concern, going as far to say that the 26-year-old likely would have been included on the Brewers' NLDS roster had Milwaukee advanced past the Dodgers. Instead, Williams will likely just get some extra rest and rehab over the next few weeks before starting his offseason training program in earnest, looking to build on a 2020 campaign in which he emerged as arguably the best reliever in the majors. Thanks to the development of a unique changeup featuring a slider-like spin, Williams finished his rookie season with a 0.33 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 53:9 K:BB in 27 innings.