MLB Player News

Alcantara allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out nine batters in Friday's win over the Yankees. He did not factor into the decision.

Alcantara saved his best performance this year for the most opportune time as his season-high nine strikeouts and 7.1 innings played a key part in the Marlins' playoff-clinching win Friday night. The only time the 25-year-old struggled was in the third inning, when a walk and back-to-back doubles resulted in two runs for the Yankees. Following the second double, Alcantara found a groove, retiring 12 of the next 13 batters, and he came back out for the eighth still clinging to a 3-2 lead. The right-hander faced two batters, allowing a leadoff single and striking out Clint Frazier before he was removed from the game after throwing 98 pitches. The Yankees would end up tying the game in the inning, resulting in a third run charged to Alcantara, but he looked good in his final regular-season appearance. Alcantara will finish the regular season with a 3.00 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 42 innings and should be the favorite to start Miami's first postseason game.

Kershaw did not factor into the decision during Friday's win over the Angels, allowing four runs (one earned) on eight hits and no walks while striking out three across four innings.

All of Kershaw's damage came via the long ball. The 32-year-old gave up a three-run home run to Mike Trout in the third inning and a solo blast to Justin Upton in the fourth. Aside from that, it was still a tough outing for the veteran ace, who was uncharacteristically lifted after the fourth frame. Of course, the Dodgers had no reason to leave him in and risk any potential injury with their sights set on the postseason. Despite starting things off on the injured list, it's been a spectacular year for the southpaw, who finishes out regular season play with a 2.16 ERA and 0.84 WHIP across 11 appearances (10 starts).

May won't start Sunday's regular-season finale but will pitch multiple innings in a bulk-relief role, Alanna Rizzo of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

May was originally scheduled to face the Angels in a starting capacity Sunday, but the Dodgers have instead elected to bring him into the game as a bulk reliever, perhaps in preparation for a similar role in the playoffs. The rookie is nonetheless expected to go multiple innings in the season finale. The team has yet to name an opener for the contest.

Mahle allowed one run on three hits and two walks over 2.1 innings in a no-decision against the Twins on Friday. He struck out four.

Mahle worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning before giving up a run on a single and a double in the third. Manager David Bell was treating this one like a postseason game and gave Mahle a quick hook in favor of Michael Lorenzen, which worked as the Reds went on to clinch their first postseason berth since 2013. Mahle ends his 2020 regular season with a 3.59 ERA , 1.15 WHIP, 60:21 K:BB and only four home runs allowed in 47.2 innings. He will almost certainly transition to the bullpen for the playoffs, but Mahle's future as a major-league starting pitcher is looking bright at the moment.

Gallen (3-2) fired six scoreless innings as he earned the win in Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader against the Rockies. He allowed five hits and two walks while striking out 10.

Gallen finished the season strong as he earned wins in his final two starts. He notched a season-high 10 strikeouts Friday and was rewarded with the win in the matinee. The right-hander posted a 2.75 ERA and 84:25 K:BB over 72 innings during the 2020 season.

Darvish (8-3) tossed seven scoreless innings to pick up the win Friday against the White Sox. He allowed just three hits and a walk, while striking out five.

Making his final start of the 2020 regular season, Darvish left a good taste in the mouths of Cy Young voters, and he received plenty of run support in the 10-0 rout. The 34-year-old righty finishes the year with a 2.01 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 93 strikeouts across 76 innings. While it was an abbreviated campaign, it was the best he's looked since coming to Chicago in 2018. Darvish will now turn his attention to the playoffs, and he'll start one of the first two games of the first round, with Kyle Hendricks getting another rotation spot and then possibly Jon Lester in a potential Game 3.

Senzatela (5-3) allowed four runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out two over 4.1 innings as he was charged with the loss in Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader against the Diamondbacks.

Senzatela entered Friday's contest after posting quality starts in each of his last two outings, but he gave up a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning before allowing another run in the fifth. Although the right-hander finished the season on a lackluster note, he posted a career-best 3.44 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 73.1 innings during his 12 starts in 2020.

Ynoa (finger) was optioned to the Braves' alternate training site Friday.

Ynoa was warming up in the bullpen during Friday's game against the Red Sox, but he didn't enter the game. He was believed to be a candidate to start one of Atlanta's final two games of the regular season, but Tucker Davidson was recalled to start Saturday's contest. It's unclear whether Ynoa will be utilized during the postseason after posting a 5.82 ERA and 1.66 over 21.2 innings during nine appearances (five starts) in the regular season.

Wright allowed two runs on two hits and three walks and struck out four in 6.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Red Sox on Friday.

Wright was in line for the loss, but the Braves got him off the hook with a three-run eighth inning. The right-hander allowed a solo shot to Jackie Bradley and an RBI groundout to Rafael Devers. Wright ends the regular season with a 2-4 record, 5.21 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 30 strikeouts in 38 innings across eight starts.

Clevinger (elbow) received a cortisone shot Friday and hasn't been ruled out for the first round of the postseason, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Clevinger was diagnosed with an elbow posterior impingement Saturday, and his status for the beginning of the postseason should depend on how the injury responds to his most recent treatment. The Padres were initially targeting a potential return during the NLDS or NLCS, but there's still a possibility that he could pitch in the best-of-three wild-card round to start the playoffs.