MLB Player News

Lowe hadn’t pitched in a week because of a sore elbow. Manager Mike Hargrove will probably be more careful with him the rest of the way.

Only the Rockies. This was a meaningful game for their opponent, too, but not as meaningful as a .300 batting average. Rumfield singled in the first inning Saturday and then was replaced prior to his second at-bat, leaving him at .300/.390/.453 in 631 plate appearances for the year. He’s been a great success as a 26-year-old rookie, but given that he’s sported some of the league’s weakest exit velocity numbers, he still doesn’t seem like a very good bet going forward.

Ortiz also underwent tests on his knee, but they showed only a contusion. He seems doubtful for Sunday, but he could be ready to play in the NLDS opener.

The Guardians won’t play again until Saturday, so Messick will throw a few innings in order to stay fresh. He’ll then start Game 1 or 2 of the ALDS against the Astros, Rangers or White Sox.

Moreno managed to go 1-for-3 with a walk tonight even though the injury was limiting his ability to push off his leg. He figures to DH again on Sunday.

Luzardo has spent the last two weeks on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Because the D-backs lost, Sunday’s game won’t necessarily be a must-win for the Phillies, though they would clinch if they win. They’ll only fail to advance if they lose and Arizona wins.

McCann briefly gave the Diamondbacks a 4-3 lead with his two-run homer off Walker Buehler, but the Padres ended up scoring the next 10 and holding on for the win. McCann has homered seven times in 52 games with a solid slash of .283/.313/.461. He’s one of the better backup backstops in the sport.

With the win, the Padres have clinched the top Wild Card spot, and they will host the Cubs beginning Tuesday. The Phillies should also be thanking Machado, as that homer means a win over the Rays — or another loss by Arizona — gives them the final playoff spot. Machado clobbered a three-run homer in the fifth inning, and it gives him an even 30 homers and 90 RBI on the season. The .216 average leaves a lot to be desired, but the power is still there for the 34-year-old.

It was a final tune-up for Miller ahead of the Padres’ Wild Card Series against the Cubs beginning Tuesday. He loaded the bases with no outs, and he saw all three runs scored while putting the tying run at the plate before finally getting out of the frame. It’s an ugly outing for the 28-year-old, but Miller’s regular season was still nothing short of dominant with 38 saves and an ERA of 1.67. Obviously, he’ll be counted on heavily for the Padres in the postseason.

Buehler’s final start of the season was shaky at best. He gave up runs in the second and third, and then a two-run homer allowed to James McCann punctuated a disappointing outing for the 32-year-old. It was an up-and-down year for Buehler, but he pitched better over the final few months than his 4.63 ERA suggests. It remains to be seen what role he’ll have for San Diego in the postseason, if any.

Díaz doubled and singled twice in another excellent game in what has been another strong season for the 35-year-old. If he doesn’t play Sunday, he’ll finish 2026 with a .293/.359/.446 slash at the top of the Tampa Bay lineup.