MLB Player News

Gibson (10-13) picked up the win in Saturday's 8-3 victory over the White Sox, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over six innings while striking out seven.

The streaky right-hander finished 2018 with three straight wins, posting a 2.76 ERA in five September starts to lower his mark on the season to a career-best 3.62. Gibson also set a new personal high in strikeouts with 179 and innings pitched with 196.2, and he'll be looking for a healthy raise this winter as he heads into his final arbitration-eligible year.

Rodon (6-8) took the loss Saturday, surrendering eight runs on six hits and four walks over one-plus innings while striking out two as the White Sox fell 8-3 to the Twins.

The southpaw's season ended in disaster, as he got hammered for 18 earned runs in 10.1 innings over his final three starts. Rodon wraps up 2018 with a 4.18 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 90:55 K:BB through 120.2 frames, and the 25-year-old will head into next spring just looking to stay healthy enough to make 30-plus starts for the first time in his career.

Paxton intends to develop and increase the use of his changeup in 2019, partly by seeking advice from changeup throwers Wade LeBlanc and Marco Gonzales, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

The left-hander, who spun a quality start in his season finale Saturday, wants to cultivate a pitch that will help his top-flight velocity play even more strongly and aid in retiring right-handed batters. While this could be dismissed as narrative, successful efforts to change a pitcher's approach, pitch mix or other attribute can lead to sustained progress if done correctly. Of course, although injury concerns will probably keep Paxton's price lower relative to other ace-type arms in many mixed-league drafts next spring, Paxton will remain a highly coveted starter.

Paxton allowed one earned runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out nine across six innings Saturday against the Rangers. He did not factor into the decision.

Paxton threw 91 pitches in his final start of the season, and he pitched at least six innings for only the second time in his last six starts. Despite performing unevenly since the All-Star break, Paxton pitched a career-high 160.1 innings while also surpassing 200 strikeouts for the first time.

Morton returned to the Astros in between Saturday's doubleheader following the birth of his child and is confirmed for Sunday's start, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The shoulder soreness that cut his previous start short doesn't appear to be an issue, though Morton probably won't pitch more than a few innings so the club can conserve him for the playoffs. Whether fantasy players should start him depends on what they'll need during the championship matchup: This probably isn't a good spot to count on a win or quality start, but those merely chasing strikeouts against the whiff-happy Orioles have no reason to avoid him.

Snell gave up one run in five innings Saturday, giving up three hits while striking out 10 and walking four in the Rays' 4-3 win, but he didn't factor into the decision.

Though he didn't notch a win as the cherry on top, Snellzilla gave up three or fewer runs for his 15th straight start and struck out eight-plus for the seventh time in eight outings to wrap up his remarkable 2018 breakout season. Arguably the top candidate for the American League's Cy Young Award, Snell finishes with a jaw-dropping 1.89 ERA, 11.0 K/9 and a 3.2 BB/9 in 180.2 innings. Caution: His absurdly high 88.0 left-on-base percentage might position him for a notable ERA correction in 2019. That being said, Snell, turning 26 in December, boasts the alluring dominance and command that befits a conservative projection of a low-end fantasy ace in most fantasy formats, while it's strongly possible he'll again finish among the top few.

Bundy allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over six innings in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Astros. He struck out seven but did not factor in the decision.

Bundy fired five scoreless innings before allowing a two-run homer to George Springer and a solo home run to Carlos Correa in the sixth inning. Bundy's season-long issue with homers continued Saturday, as he's given up a whopping 41 this year. The 25-year-old will finish 2018 with a 5.45 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 184:54 K:BB across 171.2 innings.

Verlander struck out 10 and allowed three hits and a walk across six scoreless innings during Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Orioles. He did not factor in the decision.

Verlander exited after six innings with a 3-0 lead, but the bullpen promptly allowed three runs during the seventh to cost him a shot at the win. The veteran right-hander was utterly dominant in September, striking out double-digit batters in four straight starts while allowing four earned runs over 33 innings. The 35-year-old will finish the regular season with a 2.52 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 290 strikeouts over 214 innings.

Keuchel's start will be limited to three innings during Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Orioles, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

The Astros have the doubleheader well-planned with Lance McCullers slated to enter after Keuchel as he continues to be eased back from the disabled list. Limiting Keuchel's usage in his final start of the regular season could also help to keep him fresh for the playoff run.

Rodriguez (12-5) took the loss Saturday against the Yankees, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks across two innings. He struck out two.

Rodriguez just didn't have it in this game. He entered in a tie game, but needed 44 pitches to record just six outs, allowing an RBI double to Greg Bird and a two-run homer to Gleyber Torres. The left-hander has permitted 14 earned runs in his last six appearances, covering just 18.1 innings. He holds a 3.85 ERA and 1.27 WHIP for the season and has a 144:45 K:BB.