MLB Player News

Garcia will start Game 6 of the ALCS against the Red Sox on Friday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Garcia started Game 2 of the ALCS on Saturday, but he was forced out of the contest in the top of the second inning due to right knee discomfort. However, he threw a bullpen Sunday and felt better following his early exit. As a result, the right-hander will start at Minute Maid Park as the Astros attempt to punch their ticket to the World Series.

Sale allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out seven batters in 5.1 innings in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Astros on Wednesday. He was saddled with the loss.

The whiffs were there for Sale, and he actually pitched quite well through his first five frames, allowing nothing more than a second-inning solo shot by Yordan Alvarez. Everything unraveled in the sixth inning, however, when he started to face Houston's best bats for the third time. A walk and an error to start the frame put him in trouble right away, and he was eventually pulled after allowing a two-RBI double by Yordan Alvarez, who would later come around to score himself. It hasn't been a postseason to remember for the veteran lefty, who's only thrown nine innings across his three starts and owns an 8.00 ERA.

Valdez picked up the win with an excellent outing in Game 5 of the ALCS against Boston on Wednesday, allowing just one run on three hits and a walk while striking out five across eight innings.

A recurring theme throughout the postseason has been starters failing to pitch deep into games, sometimes by design but often due to poor performance. Valdez contributed to that in his previous outings, lasting a combined seven innings in his first two playoff starts, but he did everything the Astros could have wanted this time around. The only blemish on his record was a solo shot by Rafael Devers in the seventh inning, but all that did was shrink the Astros' lead from seven to six. Valdez won't be lined up to start again this series, but it's possible he's available out of the bullpen for Game 7 on Saturday if the series goes the distance.

Manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that Eovaldi is still available to pitch in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Astros on Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Eovaldi threw 24 pitches as a reliever in Tuesday's Game 4 loss. However, he tentatively lines up to make his fourth postseason start on the road in Game 6 on Friday and seems to have a good chance to take the mound to begin the game.

Eovaldi (1-1) allowed four runs on two hits and two walks while striking out two in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss against the Astros in Game 4 of the ALCS on Tuesday.

Eovaldi made his first relief appearance of the postseason after starting in each of his first three outings, but he was roughed up in the top of the ninth inning. It's not clear whether the right-hander will be able to start one of the final two games of the ALCS after he tossed 24 pitches in Tuesday's contest.

Greinke allowed two runs on a hit and a walk in 1.1 innings during Tuesday's win over the Red Sox in Game 4 of the ALCS. He didn't factor into the decision.

Greinke had gone a month between starts since he's worked out of the bullpen to begin the postseason, and he wasn't able to provide much length Tuesday. He threw just 18 of his 37 pitches for strikes, and his free passes helped to contribute to a two-run first inning for the Red Sox. Across the right-hander's first two appearances of the postseason, he's recorded a 7.71 ERA and 2.57 WHIP in 2.1 innings. He'll presumably be available out of the bullpen later in the ALCS.

Sale will start Game 5 of the ALCS against the Astros on Wednesday unless he's needed in relief for Tuesday's Game 4 matchup, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

While Sale is technically available out of the bullpen Tuesday, the Red Sox would likely much prefer for him to handle multiple innings at the start of Wednesday's contest. He's had a limited role in his two playoff starts thus far this year, lasting a combined 3.2 innings while allowing six runs on nine hits.

Taillon will undergo ankle surgery in late October, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.

Taillon hit the injured list in early September with a right ankle tendon injury. He returned for a pair of brief starts at the end of the season but wasn't fully healthy. The procedure is expected to take five months to recover from, giving him an expected return date in late March. If everything goes smoothly, he could be ready for game action by Opening Day, but even a slight delay will likely send him to the injured list to open the season.

Urquidy was removed from Monday's ALCS Game 3 loss to the Red Sox after just 1.2 innings, as he'd given up six runs (five earned) on five hits and a pair of walks while striking out just one batter.

Urquidy retired the first four batters he faced, but it all fell apart with one out in the second. A walk, a double, a walk and a single led to the Red Sox's first run before a fielder's choice drove in the second. An error on that play meant the bases were still loaded, but they didn't remain that way for long, as Kyle Schwarber cleared them with a grand slam. Urquidy then allowed singles to two of the next three batters before finally exiting. It was a disastrous first outing of the 2021 postseason for the 26-year-old righty, who previously owned a 2.81 ERA in 25.2 career playoff innings.

Rodriguez earned the win in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Astros on Monday, striking out seven and walking none while giving up three runs on five hits in six innings of work.

Rodriguez wasn't handed a particularly tough task Monday, as his teammates gave him a 6-0 lead after two innings and a 9-0 lead after three. He did give back three runs on a Kyle Tucker homer in the top of the fourth, so his performance may not have been good enough on a different day, but it was an overall encouraging outing. He'll be on turn to start Game 7 on Saturday if the series goes the distance.