MLB Player News
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Ben Rice 1B | NYY
Yankees' Ben Rice: Viewed as primary first baseman
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that he views Rice as the team's primary first baseman next season, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Rice split time between designated hitter (48 starts), first base (46 starts) and catcher (26 starts) in 2025, slashing .255/.337/.499 with 26 home runs across 530 regular-season plate appearances. Boone didn't rule out Rice serving as the team's No. 2 or No. 3 catcher in 2026, but most of the 26-year-old's playing time is expected to come at first base.
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Luis Castillo SP | SEA
Mariners' Luis Castillo: Short outing in ALCS
Castillo (1-1) allowed three earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out one across 2.1 innings to take the loss in Game 4 of the ALCS on Thursday.
Castillo got through two innings unscathed, but he allowed five of the first six hitters he faced in the third frame to reach base before being pulled. This was Castillo's first stumble of the postseason, as he had previously thrown six scoreless innings across two appearances in the ALDS. He has a less impressive 5:5 K:BB, but he has largely been a reliable arm for Seattle.
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Andres Gimenez 2B | TOR
Blue Jays' Andres Gimenez: Knocks in four to even ALCS
Gimenez went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and four RBI in Game 4 of the ALCS on Thursday against the Mariners.
Gimenez delivered a pair of big hits, kicking off the scoring with a two-run home run in the third inning. He came through with a two-RBI single five frames later, and he has now driven in six runs in his last two games. Gimenez has posted a .310/.355/.552 OPS across 32 plate appearances this postseason.
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Smacks fifth postseason homer
Guerrero went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Game 4 of the ALCS on Thursday against the Mariners.
Guerrero provided an insurance run for the Blue Jays in the seventh inning with his fifth postseason home run. He's been a key to Toronto's success in the ALCS, going 6-for-9 with two homers, two doubles and four runs scored in his last two games.
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Max Scherzer SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Wins postseason debut
Scherzer (1-0) allowed two earned runs on three hits and four walks while striking out five across 5.2 innings to earn the win in Game 4 of the ALCS on Thursday against the Mariners.
Scherzer drew his first start of the postseason and took the mound in a game for the first time since Sept. 24. He understandably showed some rust, issuing two free passes in the first inning and giving up a leadoff homer in the second inning. He settled in from there, allowing only a pair of singles and walks across his final 3.2 frames of work. It's unclear when Scherzer will be called upon next, but he played a big part in the Blue Jays leveling the ALCS through four games.
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Anthony Santander DH | TOR
Blue Jays' Anthony Santander: Officially moved off roster
Santander (back) was removed from the Blue Jays' ALCS roster due to injury Thursday.
Santander was originally scratched from the lineup for Game 2 of the ALCS, though he managed to start in Game 3. The back issue has apparently persisted, with Joey Loperfido now taking Santander's place on the roster. If the Blue Jays advance to the World Series, Santander will be ineligible to play.
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Anthony Santander DH | TOR
Blue Jays' Anthony Santander: Expected to depart ALCS roster
The Blue Jays plan to remove Santander (back) from their ALCS roster, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Santander was scratched from the lineup ahead of Game 2 due to lower-back tightness, and renewed soreness will keep him from playing in Game 4 on Thursday as well. The Blue Jays are still in the process of determining the severity of the outfielder's injury, but the expectation is that he will be replaced on the postseason roster. His removal would also render him ineligible to play in the World Series, should Toronto advance, effectively ending his season.
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Kevin Gausman SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman: Tapped for Game 5 start
Gausman will start against the Mariners in Game 5 of the ALCS on Friday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Gausman was able to record 17 outs in Game 1 before allowing Seattle to score a run and ended up given up two runs over 5.2 innings. Now sporting a 2.38 ERA through 11.1 frames in the postseason, he'll potentially be tasked with ensuring the series returns to Toronto.
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Anthony Santander DH | TOR
Blue Jays' Anthony Santander: Back on bench for Game 4
Santander isn't in the lineup for Game 4 of the ALCS against the Mariners on Thursday.
Santander rejoined the starting nine Wednesday after sitting out Game 2 due to lower-back tightness, but he'll now return to the bench Thursday after experiencing renewed stiffness in his back, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca. Addison Barger will move to the outfield as a result, putting Ernie Clement at the hot corner and Isiah Kiner-Falefa at second base.