MLB Player News

Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and three total RBI in Saturday's 7-0 win over the Giants.

Martinez opened the scoring with a second-inning homer and added a two-run double a frame later. The designated hitter has been mashing lately with five homers and 12 RBI over his last six games. For the year, he's up to 31 long balls, 98 RBI, 58 runs scored, 25 doubles, a stolen base and a .270/.324/.573 slash line through 106 contests.

Grove allowed a walk and struck out three over two scoreless innings in Saturday's 7-0 win over the Giants.

Grove worked the seventh and eighth innings and helped preserve the Dodgers' shutout. This was his fourth relief appearance in 16 outings this year, and it's likely he'll work out of the bullpen for the rest of the regular season as well as the postseason, assuming he is on the playoff roster. Grove has a 6.41 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 70:19 K:BB through 66 innings this season.

Kershaw (13-4) allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five over five shutout innings to earn the win over the Giants on Saturday.

Kershaw didn't have to do much, as J.D. Martinez provided the Dodgers with three RBI over the first three innings. Since returning from the injured list in mid-August, Kershaw has given up just seven runs over 31 innings across seven appearances. The southpaw is now at a 2.42 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 132:38 K:BB through 126.1 innings over 23 starts. His 13 wins are his most in four years, while his innings count is the same as it was in 2022. Kershaw is expected to start once more in the regular season next weekend in a rematch with the Giants at Oracle Park.

Walker will be the opening pitcher Sunday against the Dodgers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

This will be the 13th opener assignment of the year for Walker, who has posted a 3.20 ERA and 71:22 K:BB across 56.1 total innings for San Francisco. Alex Wood looks poised to follow him Sunday as the Giants' bulk pitcher.

Junis was lifted from Saturday's game against the Dodgers with neck tightness, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Junis was supposed to work in bulk relief for the Giants, but he covered just 1.1 innings before departing with the neck issue. Ross Stripling, another bulk relief option, replaced him to begin the bottom of the fifth. It's unclear what Junis' availability will be leading into the final week of the regular season.

Alcantara (elbow/forearm) acknowledged Saturday that he will not pitch again this year, Jordan McPherson and Andre Fernandez of the Miami Herald report.

Alcantara threw four scoreless innings in a promising rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Jacksonville, but his elbow and forearm were barking again in the aftermath and he's now officially been shut down with what's being called a right UCL sprain. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner said it has yet to be determined whether the injury will require a surgical repair. He finishes 2023 with a 7-12 record, 4.14 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 151:48 K:BB in 28 starts covering 184.2 innings.

Cuas picked up the save Saturday against Colorado. He issued one walk and notched one strikeout over a scoreless ninth inning.

The 29-year-old Cuas was called upon to preserve Chicago's three-run, ninth-inning lead and successfully earned his first save of the campaign by retiring three of the four batters he faced on 18 pitches. The righty was simply filling in and is not expected to receive regular save opportunities in the final week of the regular season with Adbert Alzolay (forearm) soon expected back from the injured list.

Hoerner went 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBI and one run scored in Saturday's victory over the Rockies.

Hoerner has now hit safely in 15 of the last 17 contests, batting .358 with 12 runs, six RBI and six steals across 67 at-bats during that stretch. Despite a 37-game homer drought, the 26-year-old has found myriad other ways to contribute down the stretch, stealing 13 bases during that same span and extending his streak of plate appearances without a strikeout to 34.

Doyle went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a stolen base in Saturday's 6-3 loss against the Cubs.

Doyle laced a run-scoring double in the second inning before bunting his way on and stealing second base in the fourth. Known best for his fielding prowess and speed, the 25-year-old outfielder showcased the latter once again Saturday, giving him 20 steals in his rookie campaign. In 118 games this season, Doyle is hitting .197 with 15 doubles, nine home runs, 41 RBI and 45 runs scored across 371 at-bats.

Flexen did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings against the Cubs. He struck out one.

After surrendering a run-scoring double to Ian Happ in the first frame, Flexen settled in and held the Cubs scoreless until a fifth-inning sacrifice fly accounted for his only other blemish. Unfortunately, Chicago's late rally disqualified the 29-year-old righty from earning his second win of the campaign. Saturday was the first time in Flexen's five September starts that he was able to limit the opposition to less than three runs, accumulating a 7.23 ERA and 1.56 WHIP acorss 23.2 frames. He currently lines up to face the Dodgers at Coors Field in his final regular-season start next week.