MLB Player News

Assad is slated to start Saturday's game in Cincinnati, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The Cubs have already clinched a playoff berth but are six games behind the Brewers in the NL Central standings heading into play Saturday, so the team is essentially locked into a best-of-three wild-card series in the postseason. As a result, the Cubs appear content to build in an extra day of rest for their rotation members heading into the playoffs and will do so by having Assad make a spot start Saturday. Since moving to the bullpen earlier this month, Assad's lone relief appearance was a 2.1-inning outing back on Sept. 14, so he should be well rested and capable of providing plenty of length Saturday. Over six appearances (five starts) for the big club this season, Assad has gone 3-1 with a 4.23 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 15:9 K:BB across 27.2 innings.

Megill (elbow) is expected to need Tommy John surgery, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander is still getting opinions on the best path forward, but surgery on his elbow appears to be the most likely outcome. Megill hasn't pitched for the Mets since June 14, and full Tommy John surgery, rather than a hybrid or internal brace procedure, would sideline him for at least the entire 2026 season. He wraps up the current campaign with a 3.95 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 89:33 K:BB through 68.1 innings over 14 starts.

Keller (6-15) allowed four earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four across five innings to take the loss Friday against the A's.

Keller had a smooth start to the outing, as he retired the first nine batters he faced. However, he allowed a solo home run in the fourth inning, followed by a three-run shot a frame later to ruin his day. Keller has now allowed at least one home run in six straight starts and has a 5.87 ERA paired with a 1.45 WHIP across 53.2 innings since the All-Star break.

Lodolo came away with a no-decision in Friday's 7-4 win over the Cubs, giving up four runs on nine hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out seven.

The southpaw was hurt by the long ball again, serving up homers to Dansby Swanson in the second inning and Matt Shaw in the fourth, but the Reds clubbed five homers of their own on the night. Lodolo hasn't won a game since returning from a blister issue in late August, failing to last longer than 5.1 innings in four straight starts, and over that stretch he's stumbled to a 5.95 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB through 19.2 innings. He'll try to finish his 2025 season on a high note next week, when he lines up for a home outing against the Pirates.

Elder (8-10) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on five hits over seven innings in a 10-1 rout of the Tigers. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The right-hander continued a strong finish to the campaign, serving up just a solo shot to Spencer Torkelson en route to his 13th quality start of the season. Elder has given up two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six outings, posting a 2.63 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 34:8 K:BB through 37.2 innings over that stretch. He's scheduled to wrap up his 2025 with a home start next week against the Nationals.

Imanaga allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits across five innings and did not factor into the decision in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Reds. He walked two and struck out four.

Imanaga was done in by the long ball, as he served up solo home runs to Miguel Andujar, Matt McLain and Spencer Steer. The lefty has now allowed exactly three earned runs in five straight starts, and he has a 4.66 ERA during that stretch. Overall, Imanaga has a 3.37 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 7.4 K/9 across 139 innings this season. The strikeouts are a step back from last year, when the 30-year-old rookie posted a 9.0 K/9. Imanaga is slated to wrap up his 2025 regular season next Friday against the Cardinals before slotting into Chicago's postseason rotation, potentially as the team's Game 1 starter.

Blalock (2-5) picked up the win Friday against the Angels, allowing six runs on eight hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out four.

Blalock was hit hard once again, serving up multiple home runs in his third straight start. The right-hander hasn't been able to overcome hitter-friendly Coors Field in 2025, limping to a 12.27 ERA, 2.18 WHIP and 9:14 K:BB across 29.1 innings at home. His last appearance of the season is set to come at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park against the Mariners, though Blalock's 5.61 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 25.2 innings on the road don't exactly offer much reason for optimism.

Ray (11-8) allowed five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.2 innings to take the loss Friday versus the Dodgers.

Ray had gone four starts in a row without allowing a home run, but that stretch of keeping the ball down came to a jarring halt Friday. He allowed a solo home run to Miguel Rojas in the second inning, followed by back-to-back blasts by Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts in the fifth, which collectively accounted for the rest of the runs on Ray's line. This was the fourth time in five starts that Ray fell short of the five-inning mark. He's now at a 3.65 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 186:73 K:BB through 182.1 innings over 32 starts this season. The southpaw's last start of the season is projected to be at home versus the Cardinals next week.

Kershaw allowed two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out six over 4.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Friday.

Kershaw's final regular-season home start wasn't all that great, but it's fitting that it came against the Dodgers' biggest rivals. The southpaw, who announced Thursday his plans to retire at the end of the season, was able to throw 91 pitches (56 strikes) in this outing before walking off the field to a standing ovation. He hasn't taken a loss since late July, allowing 18 runs over 46.2 innings across his last nine starts with a 38:16 K:BB in that span. For the season, he has a 3.55 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 77:34 K:BB through 106.1 innings across 21 starts. Kershaw's last regular-season start is projected to be on the road in Seattle, and it remain to be seen what role the Dodgers will have him in during the playoffs.

Nelson allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one over five innings in a no-decision versus the Phillies on Friday.

Nelson's streak of five straight quality starts came to a close, though it wasn't a poor outing that ended the hot stretch. He wasn't particularly efficient Friday, throwing 59 of 95 pitches for strikes, and Arizona's offense didn't offer any support after plating two runs in the first inning. Nelson is now at a 3.34 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 123:41 K:BB across 148 innings through 32 appearances (22 starts). Nelson will look to stay steady in his final start of the regular season, tentatively scheduled to come at home versus the Dodgers next week.