MLB Player News

Bieber is listed as the Indians' probable starter for Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

After making his first 18 appearances with the big club as a member of the rotation, Bieber shifted to the bullpen last Friday against the Red Sox while the Indians used Trevor Bauer as an opener in the latter's return from a fractured fibula. Bauer covered 1.1 scoreless innings before giving way to Bieber, who worked 4.2 frames and gave up six runs on eight hits and two walks. The Indians initially planned to bring Bieber back into the rotation for Thursday's series opener in Kansas City, but he'll instead be moved up a day after Josh Tomlin was pushed back in the pitching schedule when he was needed out of the bullpen Sunday. Bieber's start will likely be his final one of 2018, as he's expected to transition into a long-relief role during the playoffs or get left off the Tribe's postseason roster entirely.

Gray (11-9) allowed one run on two hits and a walk across two innings to earn the win Monday against the Rays. He struck out two.

Gray was actually the third Yanks pitcher of the night in a bullpen game, working the third and fourth innings and earning the win after his side took the lead in the top of the fifth. Despite the victory, he has been a bit shaky over his last three outings, allowing four earned runs while allowing 15 baserunners across nine total innings. Gray should close out the season in a long relief role and seems unlikely to provide much fantasy value the rest of the way.

Kluber (20-7) tossed seven scoreless innings Monday to earn the win against the White Sox, allowing four hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts.

Kluber threw 69.4 percent of his pitches for strikes and induced 19 swinging strikes as he tied his second-highest strikeout total of the season. He seemed to get stronger as the game went along, retiring the final 11 batters he faced en route to his 20th win of the campaign. Kluber has now posted back-to-back quality starts while posting a 22:3 K:BB and allowing three earned runs over 15 innings in that span. He'll take a sharp 2.83 ERA into his final start of the regular season Saturday against the Royals.

Paxton allowed two earned runs on three hits and no walks while striking out five across four innings Monday against the Athletics. He did not factor into the decision.

The Mariners made it clear that Paxton would be on a pitch count prior to the game and followed through by limiting him to 71 pitches. He hadn't pitched since Sept. 7 due to the flu and pneumonia, but should make one final start in the team's weekend series against the Rangers. Paxton has not lived up to his lofty standards since the All-Star break, posting a 4.37 ERA across seven starts.

Keuchel (12-11) allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five over five innings as he notched the victory Monday against the Blue Jays.

Keuchel was spotted a four-run lead early in his outing, although he'd give up two in the fourth and another run in the fifth before exiting in a 4-3 ballgame. The 30-year-old will slot in as a key cog within the starting rotation during Houston's playoff run, sitting on a 3.75 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 151 punchouts through 201.2 frames this season. He'll draw one last start in the regular season Sunday against Baltimore before shifting his focus to the postseason.

Eovaldi (6-7) allowed one run on four hits while striking out 10 over five innings and picking up the win Monday against Baltimore.

Eovaldi gave up his lone run in the fifth inning on a wild pitch, but the Red Sox had already gotten out to a healthy lead. Although the 28-year-old has made 20 starts in 2018, he'll be deployed out of the bullpen when postseason play begins. Eovaldi owns a 3.88 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 97 strikeouts over 109 frames this year.

Bundy (8-16) surrendered four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five over three innings and taking the loss Monday against Boston.

Bundy tossed a scoreless first frame but was lit up for all four runs of his outing in the second. He racked up 90 pitches (56 strikes) over just three innings of work. The 25-year-old figures to make one final start in 2018, likely Saturday against a challenging Houston lineup. Bundy has accrued a 5.49 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with a 177:53 K:BB through 165.2 innings this year.

Paxton will be on a pitch count for his start Monday against Oakland, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Paxton hasn't pitched since Sept. 7 while battling the flu and pneumonia. He's expected to throw 70 to 75 pitches in Monday's game and start again Saturday or Sunday against Texas.

McCullers (forearm) was activated from the disabled list Monday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers hasn't pitched since Aug. 4 after suffering a forearm strain. He appears to be ticketed for a bullpen role in the final week of the season. Prior to the injury, he had recorded a solid 3.93 ERA in 22 starts.

Cobb was ruled out for the season after aggravating a blister on his right middle finger during his abbreviated start Sunday in the Orioles' 6-3 win over the Yankees, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Cobb had been sidelined for nearly two weeks with the blister, but was cleared to start in the series finale after throwing a successful bullpen session days earlier. However, after doing some throwing prior to the start, Cobb said he knew the finger would be an issue, but he elected to push through and see how long he could work during the outing. He ended up lasting just four pitches after the cut on his finger opened up again in the first inning, resulting in an impromptu bullpen day. Rather than waiting and seeing if Cobb can heal up in time to pitch next weekend against the Astros, the Orioles will give him an early start on his offseason. He'll wrap up his disappointing debut campaign in Baltimore with a 5-15 record, 4.90 ERA and 1.41 WHIP across 152.1 innings.