MLB Player News

Lively (13-9) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over five innings in a 5-1 victory over the Cardinals. He struck out two.

The right-hander looked like he was running out of gas in late August as he set a new career high in innings pitched, but Lively has found a second wind. Over his last three starts, he's given up just one run in 12 innings, and he's won back-to-back outings. On the season, Lively's posted a 3.80 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 114:45 K:BB through 147 innings. With the Guardians on the cusp of clinching the AL Central title, the team could shuffle its rotation ahead of the playoffs, but Lively currently lines up to make his final start of the regular season at home next weekend against the Astros.

Bregman went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and three RBI on Friday against the Angels.

Bregman missed some time in late August and early September with an elbow injury, and he has struggled to find his rhythm at the plate since. In 57 at-bats since September began, he is hitting just .211. However, Bregman has still managed to provide meaningful counting stats, delivering three homers, nine RBI and eight runs scored in that span.

Lowe went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Friday's 8-2 loss to Seattle.

Lowe delivered two runs on a fourth-inning single that gave the Rangers a brief lead. He's finishing the season on an up note, batting .321/.435/.446 with 12 RBI over 18 games in September.

Aranda went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Friday against the Blue Jays.

Aranda has started five straight games and 12 of the Rays' last 14 contests. He's played primarily at first base but has also made three starts at second base-- including Friday night. Since Aranda has gotten regular playing time, he's gone 12-for-44 with three home runs, four RBI and seven runs scored while striking out only 14 percent of the time.

Ornelas started at third base and went 0-for-3 in Friday's 8-2 loss to the Mariners.

Ornelas appeared in just his third game since being called up at the beginning of the month. He filled in for Josh Jung, who was shut down for a couple of days due to discomfort in the area near where he underwent wrist surgery earlier this year. The Rangers aren't yet mathematically eliminated from the postseason, but that could happen this weekend. At that point, the club may not want to risk bringing Jung back. If that were to occur, Ornelas and Ezequiel Duran would likely share the hot corner for the remainder of the regular season.

Alexander didn't factor into the decision Friday against Toronto, allowing two hits and a walk over 4.1 shutout innings. He struck out six.

Alexander was sharp Friday, holding Toronto to just two singles, though he'd fail to qualify for the win as the Rays turned to the bullpen in the fifth inning after Alexander hit 65 pitches. Still, it was an encouraging performance from the left-hander, who had allowed 20 earned runs and eight homers in his previous six outings (27.1 innings). Overall, Alexander is 6-5 with a 5.35 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 84:24 K:BB over 102.2 innings this year. He's lined up to face the Tigers on the road next week in what will likely be his final start of the season.

Tucker went 4-for-5 with a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Friday's 9-7 win over the Angels.

His sixth-inning blast off Roansy Contreras wrapped up the scoring for the Astros on the night. Tucker has been doing his best to make up for lost time since coming off the IL in early September, and over 12 games since his activation he's slashing .342/.447/.526 with two homers, five RBI and 10 runs.

Hader struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his 33rd save of the season in a 9-7 win over the Angels.

The Houston closer has been dominant to close out the regular season, striking out multiple batters in eight of his last 15 appearances while posting a 1.69 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and 22:4 K:BB through 16 innings over that stretch. Hader has reached triple-digit strikeouts on the season for the fourth time in his career, and he's produced at least 33 saves in four straight campaigns.

Verlander came away with a no-decision in Friday's 9-7 win over the Angels, surrendering six runs on eight hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out four.

The 41-year-old righty was staked to a 6-1 lead after three innings, but Verlander couldn't stick around long enough to qualify for the win, as he got the hook after 86 pitches (60 strikes). Verlander hasn't lasted more than five innings in any of his six starts since coming off the IL in late August, and his 8.89 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB through 27.1 innings over that stretch makes it uncertain if he even has enough left in the tank to be part of Houston's postseason rotation. Verlander is scheduled to make one more regular-season start, on the road next weekend in Cleveland.

Wagaman went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI in Friday's 9-7 loss to the Astros.

The 27-year-old is having a nice finish to the season in his first look at big-league pitching. Over the last seven games, Wagaman's batting .355 (11-for-31) with four doubles, two homers, five runs and seven RBI, and he's at least put himself in position to compete for a regular spot on the 26-man roster next spring.