MLB Player News

Dunning will start Sunday's game against the Mariners, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Rangers will call on Dunning to pitch on only three days of rest with an opportunity to clinch the division on the line. He tossed a gem in his last outing Wednesday against the Angels by firing seven scoreless innings on 87 pitches, so it's unclear as to how long he'll be able to go Saturday.

Heaney didn't factor into the decision Saturday as the Rangers won 6-1 over the Mariners, allowing five hits and a walk over 4.1 scoreless innings. He struck out two.

While the southpaw didn't record the win, he was a key part of Texas' playoff-clinching victory. Heaney tossed 85 pitches (51 strikes) in his first start since Sept. 4, and he extended his streak of appearances without giving up an earned run to five. The Rangers still need a win Sunday, or an Astros loss, to lock up the AL West crown and a first-round bye in the playoffs, but if they wind up with a wild-card spot, Heaney could play a big role in that series too with Jon Gray (forearm) and Max Scherzer (shoulder) both currently on the IL. On the season, Heaney has a 4.15 ERA and 151:60 K:BB through 147.1 innings.

Kershaw appears in line to start Game 1 of the National League Divisional Series, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Kershaw had a chance for one final tune-up Saturday night against the Giants, surrendering two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five across 5.1 innings. He would ultimately take the loss in a low-scoring contest, though he looked sharp, firing 52 of his 83 pitches for strikes. Manager Dave Roberts all but solidified Kershaw as the starter for Game 1, so expect an official announcement to arrive sometime next week.

Quintana came away with a no-decision in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader sweep of the Phillies, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits over four innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The Mets handed the veteran lefty an 8-0 lead after three innings, but Quintana stumbled in the fourth and got the hook after 96 pitches (64 strikes), failing to qualify for his fourth win of the year. He coughed up 10 runs (eight earned) in 10 innings over his final two starts of 2023, a sour ending to the campaign given the 3.02 ERA he posted in his first 11 trips to the mound after coming off the IL following the All-Star break. With one more season left on his contract at $13 million, Quintana should be locked into a rotation spot for the Mets in 2024.

Megill (9-8) picked up the win in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader sweep of the Phillies, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over 7.1 innings. He struck out seven.

The right-hander saved his best performance of the season for last, as he hadn't worked more than six innings in any start this season. The quality start was Megill's sixth of 2023, but half of them have come in his last six outings -- a stretch in which he posted a 2.55 ERA and 31:12 K:BB through 35.1 innings. The impressive finish to the campaign should make the 28-year-old a favorite to secure an Opening Day rotation spot with the Mets in 2024, provided the team doesn't engage in another winter spending spree.

Plassmeyer (0-1) took the loss in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets, surrendering 10 runs (nine earned) on eight hits -- including three home runs -- over 3.2 innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

With the Phillies already locked into the No. 4 seed in the National League playoffs, Plassmeyer got called up for his season debut and first career big-league start so the team could avoid using any arms it might need in the wild-card round, which starts Tuesday. The 26-year-old southpaw got through the first inning unscathed but quickly fell apart after that, serving up a pair of homers to Francisco Alvarez and another to Francisco Lindor before getting the hook. Plassmeyer posted a 5.05 ERA over 67.2 innings at Triple-A this season, and he's unlikely to be a factor for Philly in the postseason.

Dodd will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Sunday's game against the Nationals, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Dodd's last big-league start dates back to Sept. 9 against the Pirates, when he surrendered four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two across four innings. He'll be tasked with eating innings for Atlanta with little left to play for before the postseason begins.

Walker (15-6) took the loss Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader against the Mets, giving up four runs on four hits and four walks over seven innings as the Phillies fell 4-3. He struck out three.

A three-run first inning nearly led to a quick exit for Walker, but he gutted out the early offense and helped preserve the Phillies' bullpen ahead of Tuesday's playoff opener in the wild-card round. The veteran righty tossed 106 pitches (64 strikes) in his final regular-season trip to the mound, and while Walker was able to give the Phillies innings in September, they weren't very effective ones -- he got tagged for at least four runs in four of his final five outings, posting a 5.93 ERA and 19:12 K:BB through 30.1 innings on the month.

France (personal) is back with the Astros and is available out of the bullpen, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

France was scratched from his scheduled start against Arizona on Friday due to a family emergency. While his absence lasted just one day, he won't get another chance to start.

The Dodgers placed Lynn on the bereavement list Saturday, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.

Lynn will be held out for three-to-seven games as he tend to more important matters. Victor Gonzalez was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill Lynn's roster spot.