MLB Player News

Sale will start the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Mets, if necessary, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Sale will be waiting in the wings Monday to start the nightcap if Atlanta loses the opener of their doubleheader with New York. The team needs to win one of the two games to clinch a spot in the Wild Card Round on Tuesday, so if Atlanta wins the opener, Sale will shift his focus to getting ready for the postseason. Spencer Schwellenbach will toe the rubber in the first game Monday.

Schwellenbach will start the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Mets, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Schwellenbach will get another start prior to the end of the regular season as Atlanta will be forced to play a doubleheader with New York on Monday. The team needs to win at least one of the two games to clinch a spot in the playoffs. The right-hander has recorded three straight quality starts, posting a 1.89 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 15 strikeouts over 19 innings in those outings.

Irvin (10-14) took the loss Sunday against the Phillies, allowing six earned runs on five hits and three walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out three.

Irvin stumbled out of the gates, allowing the bases to be loaded with zero outs in the opening frame. He managed to limit the damage to two runs, but Irvin ran into trouble again in the fifth inning. The right-hander again loaded the bases with nobody out, allowing a pair of runs to score on a Kyle Schwarber single and later a Weston Wilson double. The 27-year-old Irvin finishes his second professional campaign with a respectable 4.41 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 156:52 K:BB in 187.2 innings (33 starts). Irvin will look for more consistency next season after he limped to the finish line in 2024, pitching to a 5.90 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 57:23 K:BB in 71.2 innings after the All-Star break.

Williams won't pitch Sunday after the Guardians' contest with the Astros was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Williams was expected to pitch the bulk role out of the bullpen after opener Nick Sandlin, but he will now go into the postseason with additional rest after Sunday's cancellation. Williams will finish his 2024 regular season having produced a 4.86 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 79 strikeouts over 76 innings in 16 starts with Cleveland.

Nola (14-8) picked up the win Sunday against the Nationals, allowing three earned runs on nine hits and zero walks while striking out seven in five innings.

Nola did not save his best for last, surrendering a leadoff home run to Luis Garcia in the opening frame. The veteran righty effectively worked around the traffic he put on the basepaths, however. The 31-year-old Nola was his steady, dependable self yet again for fantasy managers in 2024, pitching to a 3.57 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 197:50 K:BB in 199.1 innings -- the fifth-biggest workload in MLB this year. Excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, Nola has started 32 or more games in every season since 2018. During that span, he leads MLB in both starts (208) and innings pitched (1,264.2), making him one of the most reliable starting pitchers in fantasy.

Pepiot (8-8) took the loss Sunday against Boston, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out five in four innings.

Pepiot ran into trouble in the third inning when an RBI double by Vaughn Grissom drove in the game's first run. An unfortunate throwing error by the Rays defense compounded the damage, allowing another run to score. Pepiot wasn't given much of a chance to recover, as he was pulled after throwing just 63 pitches in the regular-season finale. Acquired from the Dodgers in the Tyler Glasnow trade last winter, the 27-year-old Pepiot enjoyed a successful inaugural season for the Rays, pitching to a 3.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 142:48 K:BB in 130 innings (26 starts).

Priester (3-6) pitched five innings of one-run ball to pick up the win Sunday against the Rays, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out two.

Called up Sunday to make his Red Sox debut, Priester held his own to notch his third win of the season. The right-hander did not allow an extra-base hit, limiting the Rays to just four singles thanks to a robust 12:2 GB:FB. Acquired from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline, Priester struggled to a 5.40 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 42:12 K:BB in 38.1 innings (nine starts) for Triple-A Worcester. Sunday's start was a step in the right direction, but Priester likely needs more time to develop in the minor leagues before becoming a major-league asset. The 24-year-old owns an ugly 6.23 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 69:41 K:BB in 94.2 career MLB innings (15 starts).

Singer will pitch out of the bullpen during the American League Wild Card Round, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Singer pitched a career-high 179.2 innings this year for Kansas City, logging a 3.71 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 170 strikeouts. Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha line up as Kansas City's starting rotation in the wild-card round.

Knack is set to follow Anthony Banda for Sunday's game in Colorado, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Plunkett notes that this could foreshadow how the Dodgers will use Knack in the postseason. The rookie right-hander has a 5.14 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 23 strikeouts in 21 innings over his last five appearances and will make his final trip to the mound of the regular season in Coors Field.

McDonald was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday.

The Giants are short on fresh arms for the final game of the regular season, so McDonald could make his big-league debut in relief of Hayden Birdsong. McDonald, a 23-year-old righty with decent stuff, logged 78.1 innings across High-A, Double-A and Triple-A this season.