MLB Player News

Walker pitched a perfect inning and earned the save in Monday's 6-3 win over the Diamondbacks.

Walker has rebounded with a pair of saves since he took a walk-off loss versus the Orioles last Thursday. The right-hander is up to 10 saves this year, which is impressive considering he took over the closing job in mid-August and the Giants haven't exactly been a dominant team. He's added 22 holds with a 1.94 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 99:17 K:BB across 79 innings in his second major-league campaign.

Birdsong (5-5) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings to earn the win over the Diamondbacks on Monday.

Birdsong has followed up a seven-start winless stretch with back-to-back victories. The rookie right-hander has allowed seven runs over 18.2 innings across four starts in September. He's at a 4.66 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 77:40 K:BB through 67.2 innings over 15 starts this season. Birdsong is tentatively projected to make his last start of the regular season at home versus the Cardinals.

Rodriguez (3-4) allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out eight over 4.2 innings to take the loss versus the Giants on Monday.

Rodriguez gave up three long balls, including an inside-the-park homer by Matt Chapman in the third inning that put the Giants ahead. The five runs allowed matched a season high for Rodriguez, and this was the third time he failed to complete five innings. He's now at a 5.56 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 44:17 K:BB through 45.1 innings over nine starts. The southpaw is tentatively projected for one more start in the regular season, which would be at home versus the Padres.

Realmuto went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run Thursday against the Cubs.

Realmuto's 14th round-tripper put the Phillies on the board in the second inning and served as the springboard to their division-clinching victory. It was the veteran catcher's fifth multi-hit game and third homer this month. Barring a surge during the final week of the season, Realmuto will finish with fewer than 17 home runs in a full season for the first time since 2016.

Kilian (0-1) took the loss Monday, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and four walks over 5.2 innings against the Phillies. He struck out three.

Kilian was called up earlier in the day and then tossed 5.2 innings in a bulk-relief role. It was his first major-league appearance of 2024 after having appeared in six big-league contests over the previous two seasons. Kilian has now allowed 28 earned runs across 22.1 career big-league innings.

Tauchman went 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Phillies.

With the Cubs eliminated from playoff contention and Ian Happ (back) out of the lineup for the second straight day, Tauchman got another chance to start. The veteran homered Sunday and posted another solid stat line Monday from the leadoff spot. Tauchman could have some short-term fantasy value in the final week of the regular season as Chicago deploys some different lineups, though he figures to revert to a reserve role in 2025, which will push him back off the radar in most formats.

Walker won't make his scheduled start Tuesday against the Cubs but could pitch in relief, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Walker was knocked around in his last start Thursday against the Mets (eight runs on six hits and three walks), and he'll likely have a difficult time making Philadelphia's postseason roster unless things change in his final appearance or two of the regular season. Tanner Banks will be called on to serve as the opener, and Gelb notes that Walker and Kolby Allard are candidates to pitch in long relief. Walker's spot in the rotation won't come up again with only four games remaining after Tuesday.

Paredes went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Phillies.

Paredes snapped an 0-for-13 slump that stretched across his last five games with the two hits Monday. The 25-year-old has shown flashes of promise since joining the Cubs via trade in late July, but his performance overall has been disappointing. In 47 games with Chicago, Paredes is batting just .216 with a .634 OPS. He had a .792 OPS in 101 games with Tampa Bay before the trade.

Banks will serve as the Phillies' opening pitcher for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Banks will be asked to work an inning or so before turning the ball over to a bulk reliever. Gelb notes that Kolby Allard or Taijuan Walker will likely be used in long relief Tuesday.

Nola (13-8) earned the win Monday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings against the Cubs. He struck out seven.

Nola shut out the Cubs through six frames but ran into trouble in the seventh, failing to record an out while allowing a couple of runs on a walk and three hits. Despite the rocky end to his night, Nola maintained a quality start while cruising to his 13th victory of the season, clinching the first National League East division title for the Phillies since 2011. This marks the fourth-straight season and sixth-straight non-COVID season Nola has started at least 32 games, while the 13 wins are the second most of his 10-year career. The veteran righty is in line to start on the final day of the regular season Sunday in Washington, but he could have a more limited workload with the Phillies positioning themselves for the start of the playoffs.