MLB Player News

Ponce de Leon is on the roster for the National League Division Series against the Braves.

The 27-year-old only made three appearances in September but will be available out of the bullpen for the NLDS. Ponce de Leon carries a 3.70 ERA with 52 strikeouts over 13 appearances (eight starts) in 2019.

Hudson will be available out of the bullpen for the first and second games of the National League Division Series, Jim Hayes of FOX Sports Midwest reports.

With Miles Mikolas and Jack Flaherty expected to start the first two games of the NLDS for the Cardinals, Hudson will be ready to provide relief should either of the starters struggle early. Hudson was effective in September, recording a 2.33 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched over five starts. The 25-year-old struggled to limit base runners during that time, allowing 18 walks and 15 hits, but his ability to cap run production could prove useful for St. Louis against the potent Braves lineup.

Hader blew the save and took the loss against Washington in Tuesday's NL Wild Card Game. He was charged with three runs (two earned) on two hits and one walk.

The Nationals rallied to take the lead against Hader with two outs in the eighth inning. His inning went as follows: strikeout, hit by pitch, strikeout, broken-bat single, walk, single. Right fielder Trent Grisham misread Juan Soto's base knock with the bases loaded and let the ball get by him, allowing the winning run to score. Hader also blew a save in a critical spot in the second-to-last game of the regular season and the long ball was a problem throughout the campaign. The Brewers will be getting Corey Knebel (elbow) back next year, but despite all that Hader has a case to be among the top five relievers off the board in 2020.

Rainey has made the Nationals' wild-card roster.

Rainey will be one of nine pitchers the Nationals are carrying Tuesday. He'll make the cut over Wander Suero as the team's fifth reliever, with the team's top four starters each making the roster as well.

Suero is not on the Nationals' wild-card roster.

The Nationals elected to carry just five relievers. Each of their top four starters will be active for Tuesday's game against the Brewers, with Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin and Anibal Sanchez all available to provide length behind Max Scherzer.

Kelly pitched two-thirds of an inning against the Giants on Sunday, retiring both hitters on groundouts.

It was an uneventful return for Kelly, who has been dealing with an undisclosed physical ailment and had not pitched since Sept. 18. He needed only six pitches to retire both hitters he faced in the brief outing. Despite Kelly's recent lack of appearances, the right-hander is expected to be ready to contribute when the NLDS begins Thursday.

Rodriguez (6-11) lasted just 1.2 innings while giving up five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two as he took the loss in the Giants' 9-0 defeat to the Dodgers on Sunday.

Madison Bumgarner was originally lined up to start this one but was dropped in favor of Rodriguez who probably reminded Manager Bruce Bochy why he was dropped from the rotation earlier this month. The right-hander finished the season with a 5.64 ERA over 99 innings, a year after his impressive rookie campaign in which he posted a 2.81 ERA through 118.1 innings. Rodriguez will have some things to work on in the offseason as he hopes to turn things around again in 2020.

Hoffman yielded two runs on two hits and three walks over five innings Sunday, striking out four batters in the win over Milwaukee. He did not factor in the decision.

After allowing a two-run homer to Yasmani Grandal in the first inning, Hoffman settled in and turned in a decent outing. He struggled throughout 2019 but he allowed three or fewer runs in five of his six September starts. Hoffman ends the season with a 6.56 ERA and 68:34 K:BB over 70 innings.

Young allowed four hits over four scoreless innings of relief Sunday, striking out one batter in the win over San Diego. He did not factor in the decision.

Young took over for opener Taijuan Walker and scattered four singles over his four shutout innings. The rookie southpaw ends his 2019 campaign with a 3.56 ERA and 71:27 K:BB over 83.1 innings.

Ponce de Leon, who's logged only one appearance since Sept. 7, has not seen more opportunities due to his designated long-relief role, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "Everyone has a spot and his spot has not come up," said manager Mike Shildt.

The young right-hander said he felt plenty of rust when called up on for three innings in Tuesday's 19-inning marathon against the Diamondbacks, but Ponce de Leon battled through and ended up logging three scoreless innings. Ponce de Leon remains hopeful of pitching in the postseason, but he's skeptical of his chances due to his recent lack of opportunity. "The goal is I want to pitch in the postseason, man," he said Saturday. "We've clinched the postseason, and I want to pitch so bad in the postseason. But there is no way you can make the postseason roster if you don't pitch. Sitting out there in September, you can't make the roster. That's what has really made me frustrated -- knowing that if I'm not getting innings now there's no way to crack the roster."