MLB Player News
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Andrew Heaney RP | LAD
Dodgers' Andrew Heaney: Contract selected
The Dodgers selected Heaney's contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday.
Heaney secured a minor-league deal at the beginning of September after being cut by the Pirates, and he has since given up just one run while striking out 13 batters over 10 innings in Triple-A. The 34-year-old southpaw's turnaround has now bought him another chance to contribute in the majors as a long reliever during the final two games of the regular season. Will Klein was optioned to the Arizona Complex League to clear room on the active roster, and Nick Frasso (undisclosed) was moved to the 60-day IL to create a 40-man spot.
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Javier Assad SP | CHC
Cubs' Javier Assad: Receiving another start
Assad is slated to start Sunday's game against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
Assad will make a second straight start to close out the regular season after allowing two earned runs over four innings in a no-decision his last time out Sept. 20 versus the Reds. Since the Cubs will begin a best-of-three wild-card series versus the Padres on Tuesday, Assad likely won't be rested enough to remain in consideration for a roster spot during the first round of the playoffs.
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Freddy Peralta SP | MIL
Brewers' Freddy Peralta: Set for light workload Sunday
Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested Friday that Peralta will be on a limited pitch count in his final start of the regular season Sunday versus the Reds, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Heading into play Saturday, the Brewers sit one game ahead of the Phillies for the best record in baseball and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Even if the Brewers drop Saturday's game against Cincinnati to leave something at stake Sunday, Murphy seems inclined to prioritize easing up on Peralta's workload heading into the NLDS rather than counting on the team's ace to make a normal start. Peralta has tossed 174.2 innings through his first 32 starts, narrowly surpassing the career-high 173.2 he tossed in 2024.
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Cade Horton SP | CHC
Cubs' Cade Horton: Placed on IL
The Cubs placed Horton on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to Sept. 25, due to a right rib fracture, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.
Horton underwent an MRI earlier this week, which revealed "areas of concern" in his rib area. The Cubs initially planned on having Horton pitch through the issue and make a start during the NL Wild Card Series. However, Horton will require a stint on the injured list due to what's now known to be a fractured rib. The 24-year-old rookie will be eligible for reinstatement Oct. 10, one day before Game 5 of the NLDS. With Horton unavailable, Chicago will have to lean on Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon.
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Cade Horton SP | CHC
Cubs' Cade Horton: Throwing bullpen Sunday
Horton (ribs) will throw a bullpen session Sunday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Horton left his last appearance with back tightness, and an MRI revealed areas of concern in his rib area. Still, the Cubs plan on starting Horton in the NL Wild Card series against San Diego next week, likely in Game 1. Horton's scheduled bullpen session indicates the 24-year-old remains on schedule.
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Roki Sasaki SP | LAD
Dodgers' Roki Sasaki: Pops triple digits on radar gun
Sasaki recorded the second hold of his career in Friday's 3-2 win over the Mariners, giving up one hit and striking out two in a scoreless seventh inning.
It's been a tough first North American season overall for Sasaki, who has only been healthy enough to throw 36.1 innings, but he appears to be back to 100 percent as he works a high-leverage relief role for the Dodgers headed into the playoffs. The right-hander topped out at 100.1 mph with his fastball Friday, and he's fanned four batters in two shutout innings since being activated from the IL on Sept. 24. If closer Tanner Scott falters in the postseason, Sasaki could find himself in some very high-pressure situations in October.
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Emmet Sheehan SP | LAD
Dodgers' Emmet Sheehan: Begins conversion to short relief
Sheehan didn't factor into the decision Friday, getting the start but working only one inning in a 3-2 victory over the Mariners. He gave up one unearned run on one hit while striking out three.
The Dodgers will shift the 25-year-old right-hander to the bullpen in the playoffs, and Sheehan looked like he will have no issues adapting to the role, topping out at 97.6 mph with his fastball as he struck out the side around a single, a wild pitch and an error. If this was Sheehan's final appearance of the regular season, he'll put 2025 in the books with a 2.82 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 89:22 K:BB through 73.1 innings, and he could have a prominent spot in the Dodgers' 2026 rotation plans.
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Quinn Priester SP | MIL
Brewers' Quinn Priester: Win streak finally ends
Priester (13-3) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on nine hits and a walk over five innings as the Brewers fell 3-1 to the Reds. He struck out four.
For the first time since May 13, Priester found his name in the loss column, ending a streak of 12 straight winning decisions. The right-hander is still taking plenty of momentum into the postseason, however -- he hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start since Aug. 10, posting a 2.79 ERA over his last seven trips to the mound and 38.2 innings. With Milwaukee locked into a first-round bye, Priester will close the books on his 2025 regular season having compiled a 3.32 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 132:50 K:BB in 157.1 innings.
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Zack Littell SP | CIN
Reds' Zack Littell: Inefficient in no-decision
Littell came away with a no-decision in Friday's 3-1 win over the Brewers, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out three.
The right-hander needed 85 pitches (55 strikes) to record 14 outs, and with the Reds in a tight race for a wild-card spot, Littell was lifted from a 1-1 tie after Jackson Chourio reached on an error in the fifth inning. Littell wraps up his 2025 regular season with a career-high 10 wins, along with a 3.81 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 130:32 K:BB through 186.2 innings split between Cincy and Tampa Bay.
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Zac Gallen SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen: Poor end to rough season
Gallen (13-15) allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.1 innings to take the loss versus the Padres on Friday.
A Fernando Tatis grand slam in the fourth inning flipped this game in the Padres' favor. Gallen was pushed back a day after dealing with fatigue stemming from an illness in recent weeks, but his final start of 2025 was reflective of his year as a whole. The right-hander finishes the season at a career-worst 4.83 ERA while adding a 1.26 WHIP and 175:66 K:BB over 192 innings through 33 starts. He also gave up a career-high 31 homers, an area in which the 30-year-old will need to improve if he is to get back on track in 2026.