MLB Player News

McCullers will start Game 1 of the ALDS against the White Sox on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

McCullers was edged out for the ERA lead among the Astros' regular rotation members this season, as Framber Valdez beat him by a very narrow margin of 3.14 to 3.16. McCullers will get the ball in Game 1, with Valdez starting Game 2.

Heaney was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Tuesday.

Heaney endured a terrible time after coming over from the Angels at the deadline, posting a 7.32 ERA in 35.2 innings for his new team. He lost his rotation spot in late August and his spot on the active roster in late September. He'll now be removed from the 40-man roster as the Yankees shuffle the deck and select the contracts of Greg Allen and Rob Brantly. Heaney is technically available for any team to claim, but there's little point in doing so, as he'll be a free agent at the end of the season.

Sale is not on Boston's wild-card roster, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Starters pitching out of relief in an elimination game is standard practice, and the Red Sox are prepared to do just that if necessary, as Eduardo Rodriguez, Nick Pivetta and Tanner Houck are all on the squad. Sale just threw 62 pitches in the season finale Sunday against the Nationals, however, so it's understandable that the Red Sox considered him unavailable on one day's rest less than two months into his return from Tommy John surgery.

Wacha threw five shutout innings in a no-decision versus the Yankees on Sunday. He allowed a hit, a walk and a hit batter while striking out two.

The veteran right-hander was locked in for his final start of the season. Outside of allowing six runs in six innings to Toronto on Sept. 15, Wacha was very effective both as a starter and a reliever with 10 runs allowed in his final 30 innings of the regular season. That helped to lower his season ratios to a 5.05 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 121:31 K:BB across 124.2 innings overall. It's still unclear if he'll work as a starter or a reliever during the ALDS.

Taillon (ankle) allowed two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 3.1 innings in a no-decision versus Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Taillon has been bothered by this ankle injury for much of the last month, but he was able to deliver solid work across 45 pitches (27 strikes) Sunday. He ends the regular season with an 8-6 record, a 4.30 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 140:44 K:BB in 144.1 innings in his first season with the Yankees. It's unclear if the 29-year-old would be a candidate for a rotation spot in the postseason should the Yankees defeat Boston in Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game.

Whitlock (pectoral) pitched a perfect inning and struck out two in Sunday's 7-5 win over Washington.

The right-hander missed nearly two weeks with a pectoral strain, but he was solid in his return in the regular-season finale. Whitlock has a 1.96 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 81:17 K:BB across 73.1 innings this year. He's added a pair of saves and 14 holds, so he could be a quality high-leverage option if Boston goes on an extended postseason run.

Rodriguez (13-8) pitched a perfect inning with one strikeout to earn the win Sunday over Washington.

With a playoff spot on the line, manager Alex Cora took no chances, turning to Rodriguez in the eighth inning after the southpaw threw five shutout innings Friday. Rodriguez delivered a solid relief appearance, and Boston took the lead in the ninth to put him in line for the win. The 28-year-old ended the regular season with a 4.74 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 185:47 K:BB across 157.2 innings, primarily as a starter. He was marginally better after the All-Star break with a 3.76 ERA in 67 innings across his last 14 starts, which bodes well for his chances of being in the postseason rotation should Nathan Eovaldi and Boston beat the Yankees in Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game.

Sale gave up two runs on four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in 2.1 innings, taking a no-decision versus Washington in Sunday's regular-season finale.

With Boston needing a win to clinch a playoff berth, manager Alex Cora was quick to give Sale the hook once he pitched into a jam in the third inning. The southpaw ended the regular season with a 3.16 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 52:12 K:BB in 42.2 innings across nine starts. Should Boston get through Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game versus the Yankees, Sale would line up for a start versus the Rays in the ALDS.

Anderson (7-11) allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks across 1.2 innings, taking the loss to the Angels on Sunday.

Anderson surrendered a leadoff home run to Shohei Ohtani in the first inning, and the Angels mustered a pair of runs in each of the first two frames. The right-hander was quickly pulled after just 37 pitches, as Seattle was fighting for a wild card spot. However, the Angels maintained the lead and Anderson was stuck with the final loss of the season. The 31-year-old finished with a 4.81 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 63.2 innings.

Detmers allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two across 1.2 innings in the win over the Mariners on Sunday. He did not factor into the decision.

Detmers started the season finale after his previous appearance came back on Aug. 21. He failed to last two innings, allowing all three of his hits in the second frame. The rookie struggled in his five starts this season, carrying a 7.40 ERA and 1.79 WHIP with 19 strikeouts in 20.2 innings.