MLB Player News

Bauers will start in left field and bat eighth in Thursday's NLCS Game 3 versus the Dodgers.

Bauers drew the start in left field in Game 2 and went 0-for-3 at the dish, but he'll get another opportunity in Game 3 as the series moves to Los Angeles. The 30-year-old Bauers was one of the Brewers' best hitters down the stretch of the regular season, slashing .360/.458/.560 with a pair of home runs in September. He's gone 3-for-8 with one home run, one double and a 1:1 BB:K in four games this postseason.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday he would be "surprised" if Alvarado (forearm) is not back next season, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The Phillies have a $9.5 million club option on Alvarado for 2026, and while Dombrowski did not confirm the option would be exercised, it seems that is the most likely scenario. Alvarado served an 80-game PED suspension and also missed time late in the year with a forearm injury, resulting in him appearing in only 28 games. The lefty remained effective when on the bump, posting a 3.81 ERA and 32:7 K:BB over 26 innings. It's not clear whether the forearm issue will affect Alvarado's offseason throwing, but Dombrowski did not mention any health concerns with the reliever moving forward.

Ashby will serve as the Brewers' opening pitcher in Thursday's Game 3 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Ashby tossed a scoreless frame as the opener in NLCS Game 1 and will get another opportunity to open in Game 3 as the series moves to Los Angeles. He's expected to be followed by Jacob Misiorowski, who is in line to eat up most of the innings for the Brewers as a bulk reliever.

Alcantara will undergo core-muscle surgery Thursday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The expectation is that Alcantara will have a relatively normal offseason and report to spring training in full health. Alcantara has seen spot duty with the Cubs each of the last two seasons, going 5-for-21 at the dish. The 23-year-old slashed .266/.349/.470 with 17 home runs and 10 stolen bases over 102 contests in 2025 at Triple-A Iowa. Alcantara is out of minor-league options, so he's likely to make the Cubs' Opening Day roster in 2026, though it could be as a reserve outfielder.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Wednesday that Horton (rib) was going to be on the NLCS roster if the team advanced, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Horton exited his final regular-season start with a right rib fracture and was not on the wild-card or NLDS rosters, but he appears to be healthy now and is expected to have a relatively normal offseason. The rookie right-hander collected a 2.67 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 97:33 K:BB over 118 regular-season innings for the Cubs.

Yamamoto picked up the win Tuesday against the Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS, giving up one run on three hits and a walk while striking out seven batters over nine innings.

Jackson Chourio sent Yamamoto's first pitch over the right-field wall to give Milwaukee a quick 1-0 lead. That would prove to be the only mistake the 27-year-old right-hander made Tuesday, as he allowed just three men to reach base for the rest of the game while recording all 27 outs by himself on only 111 pitches. The earliest that Yamamoto could potentially be called upon to make his next start would be Game 6, but that may not be necessary with the Dodgers already up two games to none as the series moves to Los Angeles.

Peralta took the loss in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Tuesday, allowing three earned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four batters over 5.2 innings.

The 29-year-old righty took the mound in the second inning with a 1-0 lead but watched it quickly disappear courtesy of a solo home run from Teoscar Hernandez and an RBI double from Andy Pages. Peralta did a good job of settling in afterward and kept the game close for the next several innings, but he was eventually pulled after coughing up another solo shot to Max Muncy in the sixth. If Milwaukee can rally and take a couple of games from the Dodgers on the road, Peralta may be able to take the mound again in Game 6 or 7.

Perkins isn't in the lineup for Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Perkins will miss out on the starting nine for a second consecutive game Tuesday, allowing Jake Bauers to start in left field and bat eighth.

Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller said Tuesday that the organization will have conversations soon about the possibility of moving Morejon into the starting rotation in 2026, 97.3 The Fan reports.

Morejon boasts a 2.42 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 141:38 K:BB over 137.1 regular-season innings as a full-time reliever since the start of the 2024 campaign. He was often used as a starting pitcher earlier in his career, though, and the Padres could have a clear need in the rotation next season if Dylan Cease and Michael King depart in free agency. San Diego is also mulling shifting Mason Miller into the rotation.

Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller said Tuesday that the team will discuss in the coming weeks whether Miller will remain in the bullpen or move into the starting rotation next season, 97.3 The Fan reports.

Miller has been a full-time reliever the last two seasons and has been arguably the best bullpen arm in the game during that span, collecting a 2.56 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 43.1 percent strikeout rate over 115 regular-season appearances. If the Padres elect to keep him in a relief role, he would likely take over as closer, as incumbent Robert Suarez is expected to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract and become a free agent. However, Miller has past experience as a starter and the club could try him in that role, particularly if it loses both Dylan Cease and Michael King in free agency.