MLB Player News

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Scherzer could pitch on short rest Sunday versus the Reds, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

Scherzer is starting the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader in Baltimore, but it might not be his final outing of the season. Bringing the 42-year-old back on short rest could serve two purposes. One is that the impending free agent would get to pitch in front of the home crowd in Toronto one more time. Another is that Scherzer is currently 11 strikeouts behind Justin Verlander on the all-time list, so he could pad that total this weekend. Scherzer has yet to commit one way or another in regard to continuing his career in 2027.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that an MRI on Bateman's right hip came back negative, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Bateman is dealing with some inflammation in his hip, but he has a chance to play later this week if he bounces back well in the coming days. While Bateman recuperates, Myles Straw is covering center field for the Blue Jays in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader in Baltimore.

Holliday will undergo left wrist surgery next week, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Holliday is dealing with a triangular fibrocartilage complex tear in the wrist. The current estimate points to Holliday needing 10 weeks to rehab, which would give him plenty of time to be ready ahead of spring training. Holliday was limited to only 98 games this season due to injury, slashing .229/.300/.340 in those contests.

Bateman (hip) is absent from the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.

Bateman was lifted from Monday's contest due to right hip discomfort and is considered day-to-day. Myles Straw will patrol center field and will bat eighth for the Blue Jays while Bateman recuperates.

Kirk is not in the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader in Baltimore.

Kirk will likely start behind the dish for Wednesday's nightcap, but he will begin the first contest on the bench. Brandon Valenzuela will do the catching and bat seventh for the Blue Jays in the afternoon tilt.

Guerrero (back) remains out of the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader in Baltimore.

Guerrero has not played since departing Sunday's game against the Rangers with lower-back tightness. He did some hitting pregame Wednesday and could be available to play in the nightcap, per Hazel Mae of Sportsnet. Sean Keys will grab another start at first base for the Blue Jays while Guerrero rests.

Williams went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Tuesday's 9-7 win over the Angels.

Williams contributed in the high-scoring affair, logging a pair of singles and scoring twice. The 27-year-old has put together a solid September, slashing .273/.322/.491 with two homers, four RBI, eight runs and a stolen base over 19 contests. On the year, the shortstop is hitting .265/.304/.427 with four homers, 16 RBI, 27 runs and a stolen base across 87 games.

Kuroda-Grauer went 0-for-2 in Tuesday's 9-7 win over the Angels.

Kuroda-Grauer came up empty in his first MLB game since July 20 after recovering from surgery for a ruptured testicle. The 23-year-old has impressed in a small sample with the Athletics, slashing .403/.422/.565 with a homer, four RBI and eight runs in 64 plate appearances. Kuroda-Grauer started Tuesday's contest at second base and figures to continue seeing action at the keystone over the club's final five games of the regular season.

Witt went 3-for-4 with a double in Tuesday's 14-11 loss to the White Sox.

Witt sprayed a trio of hits, his second three-hit effort over the past three games. In 19 September contests, the star shortstop is slashing .268/.369/.394 with two homers, five RBI, 11 runs and seven stolen bases. On the year, Witt is hitting .283/.362/.444 with 18 homers, 54 RBI, 88 runs and 43 stolen bases across 138 games.

Eovaldi (11-10) took the loss and was charged with his first blown save after allowing three runs on three hits and a walk over one inning in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Mets. He did not record a strikeout.

Eovaldi entered to begin the sixth with Texas protecting a 3-2 lead but couldn't hold the advantage. Brett Baty doubled and Marcus Semien reached before Francisco Alvarez delivered a two-run double to put New York ahead 4-3. Luis Torrens followed with a sacrifice fly that brought Alvarez home and completed the three-run inning. Eovaldi needed 29 pitches to record three outs, and this rough appearance increased his ERA to 4.27. This was Eovaldi's first time allowing more than one earned run since the end of July, and he will continue to pitch in relief down the stretch.