MLB Player News

Rafaela is not in the lineup for the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs.

Rafaela didn't have to miss any starts because of a right hamstring cramp that he suffered Wednesday versus the Guardians. Presumably, he's simply resting for the first game Friday and will be back in action for the nightcap. Jarren Duran will play center field for the Red Sox during the afternoon tilt.

Assad has made his last four appearances out of the Cubs bullpen, yielding two earned runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out two batters over four innings.

Since making a 4.2-inning spot start against the Marlins on Sept. 5, Assad has shifted back into a relief role. After clinching a wild-card berth Thursday, the Cubs will have little at stake in the regular-season finale Saturday in Boston, so the team could look to get by with a bullpen game that day to keep all of their rotation arms fresh for the playoffs. If Assad isn't needed in Friday's doubleheader, he could end up covering multiple innings as a starter or bulk reliever in Saturday's contest.

Betts went 3-for-5 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Padres.

Betts has gone 14-for-28 (.500) with four multi-hit efforts over his last seven games. He's added two home runs, five doubles and six RBI in that span. With another late-season surge under his belt, Betts looks playoff ready. He's batting .261 with a .784 OPS, 22 home runs, 68 RBI, 70 runs scored, 25 doubles and two stolen bases across 120 contests this season.

Glasnow (5-2) allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out 11 over 6.1 innings to take the loss versus the Padres on Thursday.

Glasnow gave up one run in the sixth inning and then left two runners on base in the seventh, both of whom scored after Justin Wrobleski took over on the mound. Despite the loss, it was another strong start for Glasnow, who has racked up double-digit strikeouts in his last two starts. He ends the regular season with a 3.53 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 98:25 K:BB across 74 innings over 13 starts. Glasnow will get a little extra rest before a potential start during the NLDS.

Tatis went 2-for-3 with a walk, one RBI and two stolen bases in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Dodgers.

Tatis is up to 38 steals this season, including seven over his last 16 games. He's also batting .369 (24-for-65) with eight extra-base hits in that span. If Tatis keeps running over the weekend against the Diamondbacks, he'll have a chance to reach 40 steals for the first time. He's batting .289 with an .828 OPS, 25 home runs, 82 RBI, 95 runs scored, 31 doubles and three triples over 157 contests this year.

Miller allowed a run on one hit and struck out two over one inning to earn the save in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Dodgers.

Miller gave up an RBI double to Shohei Ohtani but was able to preserve the Padres' lead. Miller has given up just 13 runs all season (10 earned), but he's allowed six runs (five earned) over his last 13.2 innings dating back to Aug. 25. The star closer has a 1.30 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 127:24 K:BB through 69 innings while converting 38 of 41 save chances, but he's not in the best form as the Padres look to lock up a playoff spot.

Pivetta allowed four hits, a walk and a hit batsman while striking out seven over 4.2 scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Thursday.

Pivetta pitched well but wasn't particularly efficient with 87 pitches (59 strikes) in this outing. The right-hander gave up just three runs across 18.2 innings in September after a nearly five-month layoff due to a flexor strain. He ends the regular season with a 3-2 record, 2.86 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 42:8 K:BB across 34.2 innings over eight starts. It's unclear what role he'll have if the Padres secure a postseason berth, but based on recent usage, he may be limited if he functions as a starter.

Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Angels.

Rodriguez went deep in the second inning to put the Mariners ahead temporarily. He had gone 11 games without a long ball, though he batted .364 in that span. For the season, the star outfielder is batting .250 with a .718 OPS, 22 homers, 70 RBI, 69 runs scored, 26 doubles and 22 stolen bases over 148 contests in what's been the most challenging campaign of his career.

Woo (12-10) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits, three walks and a hit batsman while striking out eight over 5.1 innings to take the loss Thursday versus the Angels.

The story of Woo's season was extreme home/road splits, but he ended the campaign with 11 runs allowed (10 earned) over his last 17.1 innings at T-Mobile Park. Overall, it concludes as a mostly average campaign for Woo, who had a 4.01 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 175:39 K:BB across 173 innings over 30 starts. He still figures to be a major part of the Mariners' rotation moving forward.

Watson struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Thursday's 6-4 win over the Mariners.

Ben Joyce (shoulder) is done for the year, so Watson is poised to handle the closing duties in the last series of 2026. The 28-year-old Watson has allowed just one run with an 11:1 K:BB over 8.1 innings in September. He's at a 4.00 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 65:23 K:BB across 72 innings between the Angels and the Red Sox this season. He's converted four of six save chances and added eight holds.