MLB Player News

Weber allowed three runs over five innings on four hits, two walks and three strikeouts in a start against the Mets on Wednesday.

It was Weber's second start of the season and was an improvement over his first start where he lasted just three innings. He stumbled out of the gate as the Mets led off the game with a walk and a two-run homer, but settled down from there. Following the homer, Weber allowed just three hits and needed only 75 pitches to get through five innings. Weber has had an up-and-down year in a long relief role for the Braves, posting a 5.45 ERA. It's unclear whether or not he'll get another start, but he's a risky play considering he's thrown no quality starts this year.

De Leon will not start Friday against the Rockies, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

It's uncertain if or when De Leon will start again this season. With both Brett Anderson (finger) and Scott Kazmir (neck) slated to return to the rotation this week, De Leon may be relegated to bullpen duty the rest of the way, although the Dodgers could rest some of their top starters late next week if they secure the NL West crown.

Stewart will not start Friday against the Rockies, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Scott Kazmir (neck) is slated to return Friday with Clayton Kershaw to follow Saturday, leaving Stewart to presumably work out of the bullpen this weekend. However, manager Dave Roberts said Stewart is still in the mix to start a game before the end of the season.

Maurer tossed a clean ninth inning for his 12th save Tuesday against Arizona.

Maurer has thrown scoreless innings in eight of his past nine outings and has converted 12 of 14 saves since converting his first one July 1. With his performance late this season, Maurer is giving himself a great chance to begin 2017 as the Padres closer.

Gsellman (2-2) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six over 5.1 innings, but took the loss against the Braves.

Gsellman gave the Mets another decent start Tuesday, but he was outdueled by Atlanta ace Julio Teheran. The young right-hander has now gone at least five innings allowing four runs or fewer in each of his five starts, never eclipsing 100 pitches in the process. That solid stretch has given Gsellman a 3.13 ERA over 31.2 innings, and potentially a chance to finish the year in the Mets rotation with Jacob deGrom slated to undergo arm surgery later this week.

Gomez could be bumped from the closer role before the end of the season, the News Journal's Meghan Montemurro reports.

Manager Pete Mackanin has suggested previously that Gomez would remain his closer, but after Gomez allowed three runs on three hits and a walk while recording just two outs Tuesday, the manager seemed to change his tune. Regression has come hard and fast for Gomez, whose ERA has climbed from 2.97 to 4.03 in nine September appearances. Hector Neris is the best reliever in the Phillies' bullpen and the obvious choice to replace Gomez if Mackanin does in fact make a move.

Stewart will not start Thursday against the Rockies, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Brett Anderson (finger) is slated to return Thursday, leaving Stewart's role uncertain. He may be the odd man out of the rotation, or he could end up getting the nod Friday over Jose De Leon. Stewart has fared well in his last three starts, giving up three runs over a combined 15 innings, but he does have a nine-run blowup on his record (at Coors Field). De Leon, meanwhile, tossed a quality start in his debut but failed to make it out of the fourth inning in his last outing.

Strop (knee) threw a simulated game Tuesday and expects to return to the bullpen Friday, Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reports.

Strop has been sidelined since early August with this knee issue, but the reliever is reportedly "game-ready". As long as everything goes as planned, the right-hander is expected to resume his high-leverage role in the Cubs bullpen and appear in five games prior to the postseason.

Law was charged with a run in the Dodgers' walk-off win Monday.

Law was brought into the game with two outs in the eighth inning to protect a one-run lead. He got the job done in the eighth and was given a chance to finish the job in the ninth. He gave up a leadoff single and was lifted for Javier Lopez, who also gave up a hit. Hunter Strickland came in and was eventually charged with the blown save after allowing both runners to score. Manager Bruce Bochy's plan of using both Law and Strickland as co-closers has failed its first attempt. It is unclear how the manager will handle the next save opportunity.

Maurer picked up his 11th save behind three strikeouts in a scoreless ninth Monday against the Diamondbacks.

Maurer bounced back well from a brutal outing Friday against the Rockies in which he served up three runs on five hits. This marks the fourth time that Maurer has struck out the side. He now has 70 strikeouts in 66.2 innings, the first time in his career that he has struck out more than a batter per inning.