MLB Player News

Mize allowed one run on three hits across two innings of relief in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Rays. He struck out four.

Detroit started Reese Olson, who covered just four innings in his third game back from a shoulder injury. Mize then worked the middle of the contest and was fairly sharp overall, particularly with the four strikeouts. Detroit appears headed to the postseason, and it remains to be seen how Mize will be used. The 27-year-old missed two months with a hamstring injury this year, which contributed to an uneven campaign and a 4.37 ERA and 1.45 WHIP across 101 innings. However, at his best, Mize could give the Tigers a decent starting option to pair with staff ace Tarik Skubal during a playoff run.

Olson allowed two runs on four hits across four innings and did not factor into the decision Friday against the Rays. He struck out three.

Olson pitched decently enough but was limited to only 72 pitches in his third start back from a shoulder injury. It's an improvement from the 58 pitches and three innings he logged in his last outing Saturday. With just three games left in the regular season, Olson is not slated to take the mound again, though he figures to factor into Detroit's playoff plans if the team is able to secure its spot over the weekend. The 25-year-old had a solid campaign overall, posting a 3.53 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while recording 101 strikeouts across 112.1 innings.

Festa did not factor into the decision in an extra-innings loss to the Marlins on Thursday, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.

Festa got tagged for a run in the first inning after issuing a leadoff walk to open the frame and then surrendering an RBI double to Jake Burger two batters later. The right-hander then went on to retire nine of the next 10 batters he faced before allowing four of the first five batters to reach in the fifth, leading to his early departure. Festa has failed to make it through five frames in three of his last four outings, allowing multiple runs three times over that span. He carries a 4.91 ERA in September and hasn't won a start since Aug. 5 against the Cubs, a span of nine starts.

Cole (8-5) allowed two hits and one walk while striking out five over 6.2 scoreless innings to earn the win over the Orioles on Thursday.

Cole's last regular-season outing was one of his best, as it was one of three scoreless starts he produced this year. He threw 101 pitches (64 strikes), seeing a much higher workload than opposing starter Corbin Burnes (69 pitches). Cole will also get more time to recover, as this win secured the AL East title and a spot in the ALDS for the Yankees. Cole is now at a 3.41 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 99:29 K:BB over 95 innings across 17 starts this season. The right-hander's next start is likely to be Game 1 of the ALDS.

Burnes (15-9) allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out nine over five innings, taking the loss versus the Yankees on Thursday.

The lone run he gave up was on a Giancarlo Stanton solo home run in the second inning. Burnes was lifted at 69 pitches (46 strikes), likely to keep him fresh for the Orioles' wild-card round matchup, and the Orioles' bullpen was unable to keep this game close. Burnes concludes the regular season on a high note, having allowed just five runs (four earned) while adding a 31:8 K:BB over 30 innings across five starts in September. He posted a 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 181:48 K:BB over 194.1 innings across 32 regular-season starts.

Wacha didn't factor into the decision Thursday versus Washington, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out two.

Three of the four runs charged to Wacha came on a Luis Garcia homer in the third inning. The veteran right-hander hadn't allowed more than two runs in four starts coming into Thursday, posting a 1.99 ERA in that span (22.2 innings). Wacha will finish a solid campaign with a 13-8 record, 3.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 145:45 K:BB across 166.2 innings.

Ginn (1-1) picked up the win Thursday against Texas, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks across 5.1 innings. He struck out two.

The 25-year-old rookie logged his first MLB victory Thursday in front of a sold-out crowd for the Athletics' final game at the Oakland Coliseum. Ginn's now surrendered two or fewer runs in back-to-back starts, and he owns a 4.45 ERA across six starts (30.1 innings) this season. Ginn also tallied a 25:6 K:BB as a starter.

Anderson (10-15) took the loss Thursday against the White Sox, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and three walks across 4.1 innings. He struck out two.

Anderson blanked Chicago through four innings, but his start went downhill in the fifth frame. Five of the six batters Anderson faced reached safely ,and he was knocked out of the contest after allowing a two-RBI single to Andrew Vaughn and a two-RBI double to Lenyn Sosa back-to-back. With three games left on the Angels' schedule, Anderson's 2024 season has ended. He'll finish the campaign with a 3.81 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP and a 142:73 K:BB across 179.1 innings while losing his last four decisions.

Flexen (3-15) picked up the win Thursday against the Angels, allowing five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts across 6.1 scoreless innings.

Flexen helped the White Sox avoid its 121st loss of the season Thursday, logging his first scoreless start of more than five innings this season. The outing dropped Flexen's ERA under 5.00, bringing it to 4.95 across 160 innings. The 29-year-old isn't scheduled to pitch again in 2024, and he'll exit the campaign on a high note. Flexen logged a 3.52 ERA and a 40:17 K:BB across his final nine starts.

Gausman (14-11) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over six innings in a 6-1 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out three.

It's been a disappointing campaign overall for Gausman, but the 33-year-old righty still tied his career high in wins with a sharp performance in his last outing. The quality start was his 16th of the season, and Gausman gave up three earned runs or less in his last nine trips to the mound, posting a 2.22 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 43:20 K:BB through 56.2 innings over that stretch. The loss of strikeouts is a worrying sign -- his 21.4 percent K rate in 2024 is a huge drop from the 31.1 percent mark he posted the year before -- but he's still expected to head into spring training next season as one of the veteran anchors for Toronto's rotation.