MLB Player News

Oakland’s decision to jettison Soderstrom means that Carlos Pérez will open the season as the primary backup to starter Shea Langeliers. The 22-year-old top prospect struggled mightily in his first taste of the majors last year and didn’t produce at all this spring in Cactus League action. There’s a chance he gets another look at some point in the near future, but he hasn’t shown enough in the big leagues to gain any trust with fantasy managers.

Martínez was a late addition to the ALDS after Tyler Freeman hurt his oblique. The 22-year-old had one plate appearance in the series against the Tigers but was carried primarily for defensive versatility off the bench. Instead, the Guardians will carry Pedro Avila as another key reliever in the bullpen.

The Guardians will not carry Angel Martinez, which means they will now go with 13 pitchers and 13 position players. It makes some sense considering how much they had to rely on the bullpen in the ALDS against the Tigers. Avila struggled in eight innings to start the season with the Padres, but he has been solid in 74 2/3 innings for the Guardians (50 appearances), posting a 3.25 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 73:30 K:BB ratio. He will give the Guardians another solid option out of the bullpen this series.

Flaherty didn’t excel in his final three regular-season starts or in his loss to the Padres a week ago, but he cruised tonight, even if he did give up nine hard-hit balls. He retired the first nine and the final eight batters he faced. The Mets’ lone real threat should have materialized in the fifth, but after collecting the team’s first hit of the game, Jesse Winker made a huge baserunning blunder on a second consecutive hit off the bat of Jose Iglesias, getting himself thrown out at third with no outs and the Mets down 6-0. Flaherty never allowed another baserunner afterwards. Game 2 will come Tuesday. Sean Manaea is starting for the Mets, while the Dodgers will likely go with a bullpen game after Flaherty’s long outing tonight.

Senga walked four of the 10 batters he faced, and he was credited with strikes on just 10 of his 30 pitches. His velocity was also off; he averaged 93.5 mph with his fastball, down from 94.3 mph eight days ago and 95.8 mph in 2023. The Mets might start him again in Game 5, but they’ll certainly be very cautious with him then.

Ohtani was caught stealing for the first time in 37 attempts since July 23, but it was a nice night after a bit of a down series against the Padres. He hit a single 116.5 mph, and his other two balls in play also came in at over 102 mph.

If it had to happen, this is at least a decent time for it, as he wasn’t going to start against a lefty in Game 2 and he’ll get another day off before Game 3. Kevin Kiermaier replaced him against the Mets, with Enrique Hernández moving to the infield.

Martinez played against lefties in Games 2 and 4 against the Phillies, but he’s sitting out a fourth straight with a righty opponent. The Mets did make one change tonight, moving Starling Marte up to the fifth and Jose Iglesias down to seventh. The lineup: SS Francisco Lindor, 3B Mark Vientos, LF Brandon Nimmo, 1B Pete Alonso, RF Marte, DH Winker, 2B Iglesias, CF Tyrone Taylor and C Francisco Alvarez.

The Dodgers are using nearly the same lineup they did Friday against the Padres: DH Shohei Ohtani, RF Mookie Betts, 1B Freeman, LF Teoscar Hernández, C Will Smith, 3B Max Muncy, CF Enrique Hernández, 2B Gavin Lux and SS Tommy Edman. The lone difference is that Smith and Muncy have been flipped.

McNeil missed the last month with a fractured left wrist, but he was able to get some at-bats in the Arizona Fall League over the weekend, and now the 32-year-old will get a chance to help the Mets make a World Series. With McNeil healthy, Adam Ottavino is off the roster to make the room.

Rojas aggravated a previous groin injury he had dealt with in the 2024 campaign, and the Dodgers will not like the 35-year-old take part on the Championship Series. As expected, Alex Vesla (ribs) is also not able to go for the best-of-seven set. Kevin Kiermaier takes Rojas’ place on the roster, with Brent Honeywell the substitution for Vesla.