MLB Player News

O'Brien said recently that he wants to put on "as much muscle as I can" this offseason in order to help his body absorb the toll of the 2027 season, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

O'Brien finished tied for the National League lead with 38 saves this season, but he faded after the All-Star break, posting a 5.11 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 25:16 K:BB over 24.2 innings while blowing four of 18 save chances. The 31-year-old also saw his velocity dip in the second half, as he averaged 97 mph with his four-seamer after averaging 98.2 mph with the pitch in the first half. As things stand right now, O'Brien is the clear favorite to open next season as the Cardinals' closer again.

Padres manager Craig Stammen said after Tuesday's NLDS Game 3 win over the Brewers that Morejon was unavailable to pitch in the contest due to "stickiness in his shoulder," AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

With Morejon and Mason Miller (paternity) unavailable, Michael King closed out Tuesday's victory. Morejon's shoulder issue appears to be minor, as Stammen said the left-hander could be ready to pitch in Game 4, if needed. The southpaw has allowed one run with a 2:0 K:BB over four innings in two appearances this postseason.

Diaz earned the save in Game 3 of the NLDS against Atlanta on Tuesday, allowing a hit with no walks or strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

The 32-year-old entered for the ninth with a 3-1 advantage, and he got off to an inauspicious start as Ozzie Albies doubled to open the frame. Diaz dialed in from there, however, and retired the next three batters to tally his first save since mid-August. The right-hander was plagued by injuries and ineffectiveness this year -- which resulted in him losing the closer role -- but he finished the regular season with five straight scoreless outings and has been unscored upon in his first two appearances of the playoffs. He seems unlikely to fully reclaim the closer role given that Evan Phillips was called upon for the save in the series opener, but it still appears that Diaz has regained the trust of manager Dave Roberts.

The Padres added Peralta to their NLDS roster Tuesday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Peralta will join San Diego's NLDS roster as a temporary replacement for Mason Miller, who was placed on the postseason paternity list Tuesday. If the Padres extend the series long enough to allow Miller to return, Peralta would be forced back off the roster.

The Padres placed Miller on the postseason paternity list Tuesday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Miller will be permitted to spend no more than three days away from the team while he welcomes a new addition to his family, and he'll be allowed to rejoin the active roster immediately upon returning if San Diego is able to extend the series. In the meantime, the Padres will add Wandy Peralta to their NLDS roster to replace Miller in the bullpen.

Miller was charged with the loss and a blown save in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Brewers on Sunday. He gave up two runs on a hit and three walks with two strikeouts over 1.2 innings.

Padres manager Craig Stammen called on his closer for a six-out save in Game 2, and Miller hit the ground running with a clean eighth inning that included two punchouts. The right-hander started the ninth by inducing a groundout, but his command wavered from there as he walked three of the next four batters to set up Jackson Chourio for a walk-off, two-run single. Miller had two six-out appearances in 66 outings during the regular season but was unable to close things out Sunday. Milwaukee forced him to throw 40 pitches, which was his highest workload since 2023 with the A's. His availability would likely be in question for Tuesday's Game 3 were it not the playoffs, but it'll likely be all-hands-on-deck situation with San Diego facing elimination.

Kerr will start Game 2 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Sunday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander served as the opener in Game 3 of the wild-card series versus the Phillies, and he pitched well with just one hit and one walk allowed across 3.1 scoreless frames. Kerr ended up working longer than the expected bulk reliever Grant Holmes, and Atlanta could have a similar game plan Sunday.

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Saturday that Treinen (shoulder) hasn't been ruled out for a return in the postseason, Jon Paul Hoornstra of Newsweek.com reports.

Treinen landed on the injured list at the end of the regular season due to right shoulder inflammation, but Friedman said that the 38-year-old's injury isn't severe enough to require surgery. His availability for future postseason series (if the Dodgers advance) will likely depend on how quickly he recovers, but there's still a chance he can aid Los Angeles' bullpen as the team pursues a third consecutive World Series title.

Dodd will serve as the opening pitcher Saturday during Game 1 of Atlanta's National League Division Series against the Dodgers, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Atlanta will rely on its bullpen to get through the opening game of the NLDS, and it will be up to Dodd to shut down the top of the Dodgers' lineup. The 28-year-old lefty was one of Atlanta's top bullpen arms in the regular season, turning in a 2.54 ERA and 0.91 WHIP alongside a 53:14 K:BB across 49.2 innings.

The Pirates signed Urquidy to a minor-league contract Thursday.

Urquidy inked a major-league contract with the Pirates last offseason and made five appearances for them before being traded to the White Sox. The 31-year-old swingman collected a 4.95 ERA and 30:7 K:BB across 36.1 innings between the Pirates, White Sox and Phillies in 2026.