MLB Player News

Gausman will start Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series for the Blue Jays on Tuesday versus the Twins, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com.

Once the Blue Jays clinched a playoff spot and were able to scratch Gausman from his scheduled start in their regular season finale, it was obvious they were doing it in order to set him up for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. Gausman finished the regular season on a high note, tossing a combined 13 shutout frames in his last two starts. He'll be opposed by Pablo Lopez on Tuesday.

Montgomery will start for the Rangers in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series versus the Rays on Tuesday.

Montgomery has been the Rangers' best starter by a large margin since the trade deadline and with Max Scherzer (shoulder) injured and Nathan Eovaldi struggling he was a shoo-in to be tapped for the Game 1 start. The left-hander will be opposed by the Rays' Tyler Glasnow.

Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Monday that he expects Turnbull to compete for a job in the rotation next spring, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Turnbull missed all of the 2022 season following Tommy John surgery and suffered through a lost 2023 campaign. He was limited to just 15 starts this year due to neck and toe injuries and, when healthy, didn't pitch well either in the majors (7.26 ERA) or minors (6.23 ERA). Turnbull ended the season healthy at Triple-A Toledo, though, and should have a normal offseason. It's possible Turnbull could have been seen as a non-tender candidate, but it sounds like the Tigers plan to keep him around and hope he can bounce back in his walk year.

Sears (5-14) took the loss Sunday against the Angels after giving up three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings.

Sears allowed multiple home runs in a start for the first time since Aug. 26 and failed to go at least five innings for the first time since Aug. 20. He allowed 33 home runs in total this season, which was the most by an Oakland pitcher since 2013. The 27-year-old finishes 2023 with a 4.54 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 161:53 K:BB in 172.1 innings. He figures to be one of the Athletics' top returning arms in 2024.

Scherzer (shoulder) has been limited to flat-ground work since throwing a light bullpen session last Wednesday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Scherzer hasn't had a setback as he works his way back from a teres major muscle strain in his right shoulder. However, he did indicate that he didn't feel as good as he hoped to when throwing off the bump. "I'm still in the recovery process from a strain," Scherzer said. "I think the thing I learned from my bullpen session is how much you need the teres major to get down the slope of the mound. The slope really amplifies it way more than I thought." Scherzer remains hopeful of returning at some point during the playoffs for the Rangers but is not setting a target date. "I guess the best way to put it is you feel better than you actually are," he said. "The next time I get on the mound, I want to be a lot stronger. I've got to be the that much more healed."

Parsons (0-1) took the loss Sunday against the Rays after allowing nine runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out three over four innings.

Parsons allowed a run in the opening frame before the Rays tagged him for seven more in the second, highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of Jonathan Aranda. He wound up surrendering a second home run to Manuel Margot in the fourth before his day was done. Parsons has struggled with every major league opportunity he's received since debuting in 2018 and did not fare well at Triple-A Buffalo this year either, posting a 4.52 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 98:45 K:BB over 81.2 innings.

Greinke (2-15) earned the win Sunday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over five innings in a 5-2 victory over the Yankees. He struck out two.

Greinke earned his first win since May 3, in a season with his fewest total wins since 2006. The only damage occurred in the sixth inning when Taylor Clarke took over for Greinke and allowed an inherited runner to score. The right-hander had one of the poorer seasons of his storied career, pitching to a 5.06 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 97 strikeouts across 142.1 innings.

Bradish did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing just one walk over two scoreless innings against Boston. He struck out five.

Though he was held to just two innings Sunday, Bradish struck out five of the seven batters he faced to cap an excellent sophomore campaign. The 27-year-old right-hander will end the regular season with a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 168:44 K:BB across 30 starts (168.2 innings). Bradish is currently lined up to start Baltimore's postseason opener next weekend.

Houck (6-10) earned the win Sunday, allowing one hit and three walks over six scoreless innings against Baltimore. He struck out six.

On the final day of the regular season, Houck delivered one of his better outings of the campaign, blanking the Orioles through six innings after allowing nine runs (eight earned) over his previous two starts (seven innings). The 27-year-old Houck will finish an up-and-down year with a 5.01 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 99 strikeouts through 21 starts (106 innings). While the Red Sox could upgrade their starting pitching before the 2024 season, Houck seems to have the inside track to a spot in the rotation on Opening Day.

Urena did not factor into the decision, allowing four hits and three walks over six scoreless innings in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Padres. He struck out three.

Urena finished the season on a high note, working his way through the Padres lineup without difficulty. The right-hander finished his season with a 6.45 ERA and 1.61 WHIP across 44.2 innings with 29 strikeouts. Urena is expected to look for a new contract in free agency this winter.