MLB Player News

Wheeler is starting Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Marlins on Tuesday.

Wheeler had a 3.29 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 41 innings over his final seven starts of the season. He will pitch opposite Jesus Luzardo.

Abrams went 2-for-6 with an RBI, a run and two steals in Sunday's 10-9 win over Atlanta.

Abrams finished off 2023 with back-to-back multi-hit efforts and cemented his name in the franchise record books. His eighth-inning steal brought him up 47 for the year which broke the single-season record for the Nationals. He finishes the year hitting .244/.299/.413 with 18 homers, 64 RBI, 83 runs and a 32:118 BB:K in 614 plate appearances. Abrams was one of four players this season to hit at least 15 home runs and steal at least 45 bases, joining Ronald Acuna, Corbin Carroll and Bobby Witt.

Ruiz went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 10-9 win over Atlanta.

Ruiz plated two runs with a ground-rule double in the first and added an RBI-single an inning later as part of his fifth multi-hit effort over the last six games. During that span, the 25-year-old went 13-for-27 while striking out only twice. Ruiz finishes with a slash line of .260/.308/.409 with 18 home runs, 67 RBI, 55 runs scored and a 31:58 BB:K over 562 plate appearances. Though he remains in a rebuilding Nationals' lineup, Ruiz's ability to make contact along the increased power he displayed this season gives him a nice floor heading into 2024.

Thomas went 4-for-6 with a double and two runs scored in Sunday's 10-9 win over Atlanta.

Thomas had been going through a brutal 10-for-81 stretch at the plate coming into Sunday but capped off his breakout season in epic fashion with his first four-hit game of the year. He somehow managed to not drive in a run but did score twice, which brought him up to 101 runs this season. He became just the 10th player in franchise history to reach triple digits in that category. Thomas has certainly found himself a home in D.C. and finishes 2023 slashing an impressive .268/.315/.468 with 28 homers, 86 RBI and 20 steals.

Finnegan picked up his 28th save of the year in a 10-9 win over Atlanta on Sunday. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out one over an inning.

Finnegan was spotted a two-run lead after the Nationals were able to climb ahead in the top of the ninth. He allowed a solo home run to Marcell Ozuna, and Michael Harris followed up with a double, though Finnegan was able to retire the next two batters to put a cap on the season with a win. The 31-year-old finishes 2023 with a 3.76 ERA and 63:24 K:BB in 69.1 innings and should be the frontrunner to close again for the Nationals next year as long as he isn't traded.

Rutledge allowed five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings Sunday against Atlanta. He did not factor into the decision.

Rutledge was handed a four-run lead before he even took the mound but couldn't hold onto it for long. He allowed a two-run single in the bottom of the inning and a game-tying three-run blast to Marcell Ozuna in the third. The 24-year-old finished with a 6.75 ERA and 12:6 K:BB over four starts during his late-season audition for the Nationals. He had two good outings and two bad ones and figures to be in the running for a spot in the rotation for 2024.

Rogers exited Sunday's game against the Dodgers with lower-back tightness, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The season is over and the Giants aren't in the playoffs, so Rogers will have all offseason to get right. He gave up three earned runs on four hits and zero walks while striking out one before exiting.

Garrett will start Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Phillies on Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Garrett had a breakout season and logged a 2.10 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 25.2 innings over his final five starts. Jesus Luzardo will get the ball in Game 1.

Luzardo will start Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Phillies on Tuesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

The Phillies' playoff rotation has yet to be announced. Luzardo had a 2.91 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in 34 innings over his final six starts of the season.

Smyly (11-11) allowed three runs on two hits while retiring only a single batter to take the loss Sunday against the Brewers. He walked three.

Smyly struggled badly in the season finale, throwing just 11 of his 28 pitches for strikes and retiring only the one batter. The veteran southpaw bounced between the bullpen and rotation this year, ultimately making 23 starts and 18 relief appearances. Smyly finishes 2023 with an even 5.00 ERA across 142.1 innings. He's under contract next season in Chicago, though he's not an appealing fantasy option at this point in his career.