MLB Player News

Ohtani intends to pitch in 2027, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports. "Yes, definitely," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton when asked if he plans to pitch in 2027. "And looking forward to having a better season next year."

It remains to be seen whether Ohtani will have any offseason physical procedures, and how a potential lockout might affect his rehab and subsequent return date. Ohtani was great when he pitched, but he was last able to pitch July 3 due to his left knee injury and later biceps inflammation.

Armstrong and the Guardians won't face the Rays on Friday in Game 4 of the ALCS, as the game was postponed due to inclement weather.

Games 4 and 5 will both be pushed back a day as a result. Armstrong had been slated to work as an opener in Game 4 after logging 5.1 shutout innings to begin the postseason, and the Guardians will stand pat with their plan to use him in the first inning of Saturday's contest, per Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Tanner Bibee and Joey Cantillo will be candidates to follow Armstrong in a bulk role.

Martinez and the Rays won't face the Guardians on Friday in Game 4 of the ALCS, as the game was postponed due to rain.

Game 4 will now be played Saturday, and Game 5 will be pushed back to Sunday. Martinez will presumably remain in place as Tampa Bay's Game 4 starter and will be looking to bounce back after giving up two earned runs in just 3.2 innings during his last outing against the Yankees in the ALDS.

The Rays list Martinez as their probable pitcher for Friday's ALCS Game 4 in Cleveland.

Martinez will be pitching on eight days' rest after yielding two runs over 3.2 innings in the Rays' ALDS Game 3 win over the Yankees. The right-hander logged a 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB over 180 regular-season innings for the Rays. The Guardians will counter with opener Shawn Armstrong as an opener, with Tanner Bibee and/or Joey Cantillo likely to handle bulk relief.

Armstrong will serve as the Guardians' opener Friday in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Rays, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Armstrong has been terrific this postseason, logging 5.1 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit with a 5:0 K:BB. Tanner Bibee and/or Joey Cantillo will be options for bulk relief for the Guardians on Friday.

Woodruff (shoulder) said Thursday that "it's gonna be hard to keep me off that [World Series] roster," Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Woodruff has not pitched in more than three months due to right shoulder inflammation, but he's been throwing off a mound for the past week and hopes to gain clearance to face hitters soon. If the Brewers do decide to carry Woodruff on their World Series roster, it would be in a relief role.

Hamilton went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, a stolen base, two total RBI and two total runs in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Thursday.

The speedy infielder contributed in his typical fashion during the fifth inning with an RBI single, a steal and a run scored, and he followed up by doubling the Brewers' lead with a ninth-inning solo shot off Edwin Diaz to help Milwaukee complete the series sweep. Hamilton clubbed only four homers in 121 regular-season games, the last of which he hit Aug. 18 versus the Mariners. The 29-year-old appeared in two games apiece in both the division and championship series, going 5-for-11 with three stolen bases and five runs, in addition to the long ball.

Glasnow didn't factor in the decision in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Brewers on Thursday, giving up four runs on three hits with six strikeouts and two walks over 4.1 innings.

The right-hander opened the contest in dominant fashion by retiring the first 10 batters he faced with six punchouts, but Milwaukee's bats came alive across the next two frames to quickly flip the script. After issuing five walks during his NLDS start in Atlanta, Glasnow again struggled with free passes Thursday, as the rally in both of those frames began with a walk. The 33-year-old surrendered five runs with an 11:7 K:BB across nine frames in his two playoff appearances. Glasnow was limited to 13 starts during the regular season due to a back issue, though he was effective when available with a 3.53 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 98:25 K:BB over 74 innings.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and three strikeouts in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Brewers on Thursday.

After being bumped down in the order, the Japanese superstar returned to the leadoff spot Thursday and gave the Dodgers some hope and a 4-0 lead in the second inning with a three-run homer, which was his first long ball since Aug. 18 in Colorado. However, Ohtani struck out in his other three plate appearances, including during the seventh with one out and the tying run on third base. The 32-year-old played through nagging knee and biceps injuries down the stretch and finished the playoffs with a .192/.323/.308 slash line in eight games, with his struggles being reflective of the Dodgers offense as a whole while being swept by the Brewers. According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Ohtani isn't sure if he'll require any surgeries during the offseason to address the injuries, which leaves his availability heading into spring training a bit up in the air.

Ashby earned the save in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Thursday, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out three across three scoreless innings.

Ashby generated seven whiffs on 39 pitches (25 strikes), but Los Angeles still threatened during the seventh and eighth innings, putting a runner on third with one out in both frames, which at the time represented the tying run. The left-hander didn't flinch and escaped both jams, and manager Pat Murphy allowed him to finish off the series sweep even though closer Trevor Megill was ready for the ninth. Ashby fired 6.2 scoreless frames in the series and remains unscored upon through six appearances during the postseason.