MLB Player News

“I think we can pretty much guess how it’s going to go, given that one of them a historic number of saves on his resume,” Hinch said while discussing the ninth on Tiger Territory. Jansen has said he wasn’t promised anything ahead of signing with the Tigers in December, but he has, of course, been a full-time closer since 2012, and he’s fourth all-time with 476 saves. The primary alternatives in the ninth would be Will Vest, who had 23 saves for the Tigers last season, and Kyle Finnegan, who has 112 career saves.

With Jack Flaherty rejoining the active roster on Sunday, someone needed to get the boot from the Tigers’ bullpen and Hurter drew the short straw. The 28-year-old left-hander made 29 appearances on the season, registering a 3.06 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 24/15 K/BB ratio across 35 1/3 innings of work.

Flaherty is expected to piggyback with River Ryan in Sundays’ season finale against the Pirates. The 30-year-old right-hander has been shelved since mid-July due to right flexor inflammation. He’ll get to toe the slab one final time in a Tigers’ uniform before hitting the free agent market over the winter.

Ortiz underwent an MRI exam that revealed nothing more than abdominal swelling. He’s also dealing with a knee contusion. If it were the postseason, it’s possible that he may have gutted it out, but with nothing to play for on Sunday it was an easy choice for the Brewers to keep him out of the lineup.

Walker enters the final day of the season just one home run shy of 30 for the season, so the Cardinals will move him up in the order to try to maximize his chances of hitting one out. He’s having an outstanding year at the dish, slashing .271/.329/.469 with 29 homers, 101 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 663 plate appearances.

Braves’ skipper Walt Weiss is using Sunday to give several of his regulars a day off in advance of the start of the postseason, with Acuña, Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris II all sitting. Brewer Hicklen will start in Acuña’s place in right field and will bat eighth against Marlins’ right-hander Janson Junk.

The Padres appear to be mailing it in a bit with nothing to play for on Sunday, despite the fact that the Diamondbacks are still alive for a Wild Card berth. It’s surprising that Tatis especially isn’t in there, as he’s just two stolen bases away from 40 for the season. Along with Tatis, Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill are also sitting for the Padres on Sunday.

With the American League Central wrapped up, Guardians’ skipper Stephen Vogt is using Sunday as an opportunity to give several of his regulars a day off including Ramírez, Steven Kwan, Chase DeLauter, Patrick Bailey and Brayan Rocchio.

Basabe has been shelved since Monday due to tightness in his left hamstring. It’s possible that he could be available off the bench on Sunday. Marcelo Mayer will start at the hot corner for the Giants and will bat cleanup against Jack Dreyer and a host of Dodgers’ relievers.

There’s nothing wrong with the hard-hitting backstop, it’s just a routine day of rest. Hunter Feduccia will do the catching for the Dodgers and will bat eighth against Giants’ right-hander Carson Seymour on Sunday afternoon in San Francisco.

There had been some hope that Williams would be able to return for Sunday’s finale, but he’ll miss his fourth consecutive game due to soreness in his upper extremities. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer will start in his place at shortstop and will bat seventh for the A’s.