MLB Player News

Valdez pitched 6.1 innings and earned the win during Saturday's 5-2 win over the Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out nine.

Valdez gave the Astros a much-needed performance in Game 2, keeping the red-hot Phillies' lineup off the scoreboard until the seventh inning. The 28-year-old had great control with his curveball Saturday, and he recorded five of his nine K's via the breaking ball. Valdez has been outstanding in the playoffs -- he has allowed only three earned runs in 19 innings during the postseason while amassing 24 strikeouts. The southpaw finished the regular season at 17-6 with a 2.82 ERA, but he looks even better in the playoffs.

Verlander pitched five innings and did not factor into the decision Friday night in Game 1 of the World Series, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five in a 6-5 loss to the Phillies.

Verlander was given a five-run advantage by the Houston offense, but he surrendered six hits and five runs in his last two innings and was unable to keep the lead. After three perfect innings to begin the game, the 39-year-old seemed on his way to another gem before the Phillies broke through and made consistent hard contact. Coming into the World Series with a 10-1 record and 1.64 ERA at home during the 2022 regular season, Verlander was expected to give the Astros a great chance at taking an early lead in the series. Instead, he has now given up five runs or more in two of his three playoff starts, a slightly alarming trend for the future Hall of Famer.

McCullers didn't factor in the decision during Sunday's 6-5 win over the Yankees in Game 4 of the ALCS, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and one walk while striking six over five innings.

McCullers had a shaky start in Game 4, allowing the Yankees to go 8-for-23 and score runs in three of the five innings he pitched. The 29-year-old righty did not record a clean inning until his final inning before he was relieved by Hector Neris. Sunday's start was much different than his ALDS start against the Mariners that included six scoreless innings and only two hits. McCullers now boasts a 2.45 ERA with 13 K's over 11 innings, and his next opportunity to pitch will be in the World Series against the Phillies.

Cortes was removed from Game 4 of the ALCS against the Astros on Sunday due to a left groin injury.

Cortes was visited by a trainer early in Sunday's matchup and remained in the game, but he was removed after allowing a three-run homer with no outs in the top of the third inning. Prior to his departure, he allowed three runs on two hits and three walks while striking out two in two innings. The severity of the issue isn't clear, and whether he's available later in the postseason if the Yankees advance remains to be seen.

Cole pitched five innings and took the loss during Saturday's 5-0 defeat in Game 3 of the ALCS, allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Cole was unable to turn the tide of the ALCS in Saturday's Game 3 defeat, surrendering a two-run homer to Chas McCormick in the second inning and leaving after loading the bases in the sixth inning. The two-run homer was a back-breaker, coming after a two-out error by Harrison Bader, and Lou Trivino allowed all three of Cole's inherited runners to score in the sixth. The 32-year-old Cole's only regular-season start against Houston had come June 25, when he threw seven strong innings while allowing one run, but he was unable to match that performance Saturday. Cole was 2-0 with two wins against the Guardians during the ALDS, but his loss in Game 3 brings him to 2-1 with a 2.98 ERA and 23 K's over 18.1 innings in the postseason.

Javier pitched 5.1 scoreless innings and got the win during Saturday's 5-0 victory over the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out five.

Javier had only made one appearance in the 2022 postseason -- a 1.1-inning relief effort in the ALDS -- but he was tasked with the start in Yankee Stadium for Game 3 and excelled on the road. The 25-year-old came into the postseason with four consecutive scoreless starts of at least five innings, and he added another by limiting the powerful Yankees lineup to just one hit in 5.1 frames. Javier produced the best season of his three-year career with a 2.54 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 194:52 K:BB across 148.2 innings this year, and he's now continuing that success in the playoffs.

McCullers will start Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees on Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander pitched Game 3 of the ALDS and fired six scoreless frames against the Mariners, but it will be Cristian Javier who takes the mound for the third game versus the Yankees. McCullers missed most of the year due to a forearm injury, but he pitched well after making his season debut Aug. 13 and finished with a 2.27 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 50:22 K:BB across 47.2 innings. According to Mark Berman of KRIV 26 News, McCullers was pushed back after being struck in the elbow by a champagne bottle during the ALDS victory celebration, but he threw a bullpen session Friday without issue and is ready to pitch in New York.

Javier will start Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Lance McCullers appeared to be lined up to start Game 3 in New York, but he'll instead pitch Game 4 on Sunday. It will be the first start of the postseason for Javier, who allowed one run over 1.1 innings out of the bullpen in his lone appearance during the ALDS against the Mariners. The right-hander didn't allow a run over his final four starts of the regular season, though he figures to have a reduced workload Saturday while making his first start since Oct. 1.

Valdez pitched seven innings and got the win Thursday night in Game 2 of the ALCS, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and zero walks while striking out nine during the 3-2 win over the Yankees.

Valdez had just one stressful inning Thursday night, which came in the fourth when he bobbled a comebacker from Giancarlo Stanton and compiled the mistake with a throwing error to first base. Two runs eventually scored in the inning, but the 28-year-old lefty was able to limit the damage by striking out Josh Donaldson and Kyle Higashioka, and he finished his outing by striking out the side in the seventh. The nine strikeouts were the most in a postseason game for Valdez since he recorded nine against the Rays in 2020. The southpaw owns a 1.48 postseason ERA and 15 strikeouts over 12.2 innings.

Severino tossed 5.1 innings and took the loss Thursday during Game 2 of the ALCS, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six.

A devastating three-run homer by Alex Bregman with two outs in the third was enough for the Astros to win Game 2 in Houston. Severino was able to battle the tough Houston lineup all night, but the one mistake to Bregman put a damper on his performance. He managed to work into the sixth but was pulled for Jonathan Loaisiga after a one-out single by Kyle Tucker. The 28-year-old has now surrendered six runs in 11 innings during the postseason while striking out 12.