MLB Player News

Darvish (10-12) allowed just one run on two hits while striking out nine across seven innings in a victory over the Padres on Monday.

The right-hander asserted his dominance against one of the league's worst offenses, tossing over 70 percent of his pitches for strikes and letting just three Padres traverse the basepaths. Darvish now has a 3.44 ERA and four victories since joining the Dodgers. He lines up for a road start against the Rockies in his final outing of the regular season.

Flexen (3-5) allowed four runs on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts over five innings to take the loss in the first game of Monday's doubleheader against Atlanta.

Flexen was starting for the first time since Sept. 3. He gave up nine home runs in a span of eight starts prior to Monday's, and he was touched up for another one by Ozzie Albies in the fourth inning. Flexen's ERA sits at 7.14, and he's unlikely to receive another start this season.

Fried (1-1) allowed two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits and a walk across 5.1 innings to earn the loss in the nightcap of Monday's doubleheader against the Mets. He struck out two.

Fried pitched well aside from the third inning, when he allowed two runs on two hits, an error and a hit batsman. He pumped in 16 first-pitch strikes to 25 hitters and induced 12 groundball outs. Fried struggled in his previous start, but this improved effort lowered his season ERA to a respectable 3.74. This was just a spot start, so it's possible that the left-hander has made his final appearance of 2017.

Lugo (7-5) went six scoreless innings to earn the win in the nightcap of Monday's doubleheader against the Braves, allowing two hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.

Lugo was dominant in this one, allowing just a pair of singles as he cruised to a quality start. He was on an efficient pitch count and likely could've gone deeper into the game, but manager Terry Collins elected to turn it over to the bullpen for the latter stages. Lugo was shellacked for seven runs by the Cubs earlier this month, but he has since bounced back with just one earned run and a 10:1 K:BB over his last two outings. He will make his final start of the season Sunday against the Phillies.

Nola (12-11) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks across six innings while taking the loss Monday against the Nationals. He struck out nine.

Nola allowed a two-run home run to Michael Taylor in the second inning, but he was extremely effective the rest of the way and came away with his third consecutive quality start. His teammates weren't able to pick him up for the win, but that didn't stop Nola from running his K:BB to an outstanding 36:8 over 25.1 innings in his last four outings. He is not currently scheduled to pitch again this season due to the team's six-man rotation, meaning Nola's sophomore season could be in the books unless an alteration is made. If so, the 24-year-old's arrow will remain pointed straight up heading into 2018 after he posted a 3.54 ERA and 184 strikeouts across 168 innings this year.

Ryu (forearm) experienced reduced swelling and played catch Monday, Eric Stephen of SB Nation reports.

Ryu suffered a bruise after he was struck by a line drive Saturday. He will complete a bullpen session later in the week, at which point his availability for Friday's start against the Rockies will be determined. Ideally, the Dodgers can get him into one more game before the postseason begins.

Fried will start the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Mets, Chris Bumbaca of MLB.com reports.

The Braves will require a sixth starter with the team in the midst of a six-game stretch in five days, so Fried will temporarily reenter the rotation to fill the void. It will mark the left-hander's first start since Sept. 9 against the Marlins, when he surrendered four runs (three earned) over 3.2 innings. Due to Fried's prior history of elbow problems, the Braves likely aren't eager to have him work deep into Monday's outing even if he performs well, so his upside is fairly limited as a streamer in season-long leagues and as a DFS play.

Flexen will start the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the Braves, Chris Bumbaca of MLB.com reports.

Flexen will rejoin the rotation for the first time since Sept. 3, when he was lit up for seven runs over four innings. The rookie has found his footing in the bullpen, allowing one run over five frames of relief, but his poor results as a starter earlier this season will make it difficult to depend on him as a streaming option Monday. Since he hasn't started in nearly three weeks, Flexen could be subjected to a limited pitch count in what's likely just a spot start.

Kershaw (18-4) completed eight innings Sunday against the Giants, allowing just one run on eight hits while striking out six on his way to another victory.

It wasn't the most dominant outing of his career, but it certainly got the job done. The only blemish on Kershaw's stat line came from a Mac Williamson home run in the eighth inning, but the southpaw still managed to get out of that frame with the lead intact. With a playoff spot already locked down, the ace southpaw will probably make only one more start during the regular season, likely coming during the team's trip to Colorado next weekend.

Anderson (11-4) was stuck with the loss Sunday despite holding the Cubs to three runs on seven hits and a walk across 6.1 innings. He struck out eight.

Although the hit count was high, Anderson did what he could to keep the Brewers in it all afternoon. He wound up getting the short end of the stick after hanging a few too many curveballs in the fourth inning and serving up a two-run homer to Ben Zobrist in the seventh. Anderson's ERA for the season is a stellar 2.81, and his K:BB during the month of September is a solid 27:6. With the Brewers gunning for the final playoff spot in the National League, Anderson will try to get back in the win column when he takes on the Cardinals during the final series of the regular season.