MLB Player News

Ottavino recorded his 12th save of the season in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader sweep of the Phillies, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk in the ninth inning of a 4-3 win. He struck out one.

The veteran right-hander nearly blew the save, walking J.T. Realmuto to lead off the ninth and watching rookie Weston Wilson steal two bags after his one-out RBI single brought the Phillies to within a run, but Ottavino was able to retire Jake Cave and Cristian Pache to end the rally. The 12 saves are a career high for the 37-year-old, and he's gone a perfect 5-for-5 on save chances in September while posting a 4.15 ERA and 15:5 K:BB through 8.2 innings.

Quintana came away with a no-decision in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader sweep of the Phillies, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits over four innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The Mets handed the veteran lefty an 8-0 lead after three innings, but Quintana stumbled in the fourth and got the hook after 96 pitches (64 strikes), failing to qualify for his fourth win of the year. He coughed up 10 runs (eight earned) in 10 innings over his final two starts of 2023, a sour ending to the campaign given the 3.02 ERA he posted in his first 11 trips to the mound after coming off the IL following the All-Star break. With one more season left on his contract at $13 million, Quintana should be locked into a rotation spot for the Mets in 2024.

Megill (9-8) picked up the win in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader sweep of the Phillies, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over 7.1 innings. He struck out seven.

The right-hander saved his best performance of the season for last, as he hadn't worked more than six innings in any start this season. The quality start was Megill's sixth of 2023, but half of them have come in his last six outings -- a stretch in which he posted a 2.55 ERA and 31:12 K:BB through 35.1 innings. The impressive finish to the campaign should make the 28-year-old a favorite to secure an Opening Day rotation spot with the Mets in 2024, provided the team doesn't engage in another winter spending spree.

Wilson went 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and two stolen bases in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets.

Getting the start at third base and batting seventh, Wilson flashed the speed that allowed him to rack up 32 steals in 38 attempts over 125 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season. The 29-year-old utility player couldn't repeat his success in the nightcap however, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts while seeing time at first and second base. With the Phillies already locked into the No. 4 seed in the National League playoffs and set to host a wild-card series beginning Tuesday, Wilson could get one more start Sunday as the team rests its regulars ahead of the postseason.

Plassmeyer (0-1) took the loss in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets, surrendering 10 runs (nine earned) on eight hits -- including three home runs -- over 3.2 innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

With the Phillies already locked into the No. 4 seed in the National League playoffs, Plassmeyer got called up for his season debut and first career big-league start so the team could avoid using any arms it might need in the wild-card round, which starts Tuesday. The 26-year-old southpaw got through the first inning unscathed but quickly fell apart after that, serving up a pair of homers to Francisco Alvarez and another to Francisco Lindor before getting the hook. Plassmeyer posted a 5.05 ERA over 67.2 innings at Triple-A this season, and he's unlikely to be a factor for Philly in the postseason.

Dodd will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Sunday's game against the Nationals, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Dodd's last big-league start dates back to Sept. 9 against the Pirates, when he surrendered four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two across four innings. He'll be tasked with eating innings for Atlanta with little left to play for before the postseason begins.

Walker (15-6) took the loss Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader against the Mets, giving up four runs on four hits and four walks over seven innings as the Phillies fell 4-3. He struck out three.

A three-run first inning nearly led to a quick exit for Walker, but he gutted out the early offense and helped preserve the Phillies' bullpen ahead of Tuesday's playoff opener in the wild-card round. The veteran righty tossed 106 pitches (64 strikes) in his final regular-season trip to the mound, and while Walker was able to give the Phillies innings in September, they weren't very effective ones -- he got tagged for at least four runs in four of his final five outings, posting a 5.93 ERA and 19:12 K:BB through 30.1 innings on the month.

Nelson will be called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley serve as the bulk reliever behind opener Matt Strahm in Sunday's game against the Mets, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Initial reports suggested Nelson would start Sunday's regular-season finale, but he'll instead work as a primary pitcher out of the bullpen, which sets him up better to pick up a win. The right-hander has yet to pitch at the big-league level in 2023 after posting a 4.35 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with a 75:42 K:BB across 97.1 frames with Lehigh Valley.

Strahm will serve as the Phillies' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Mets, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Strahm will likely be asked to work the first inning or two before making way for Nick Nelson, who is expected to serve as a bulk reliever. After gathering three holds and a save over a stretch of seven appearances in which he didn't allow an earned run, Strahm surrendered two runs on three hits over one inning in his most recent relief outing Thursday against the Pirates.

Turner (elbow) will be held out of Sunday's regular-season finale against the Mets, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Manager Rob Thomson stated after the second half of Saturday's twin bill that Turner is fine, but he'll miss Sunday's matchup. He'll presumably be good to go for the NL Wild Card Series, though confirmation on his availability likely won't come until early next week.