MLB Player News

Mitch Farris did the heavy lifting here, coming in with a 4-2 lead to start the seventh and getting eight outs before exiting with the bases loaded in the ninth. Zeferjahn walked the first batter he faced, forcing in a run, before striking out Cedric Mullins to end it. Unused tonight was nominal Angels closer Kirby Yates, even though he hadn’t pitched since Tuesday. The walk Zeferjahn issued was his 25th in 32 innings, which is why he isn’t serving as the Angels’ closer right now. Still, he’ll be a candidate for more saves if he’s able to cut down on the free passes.

The Padres are now in line to host a Wild Card series, holding a one-game lead on the Cubs and a two-game lead on the Phillies. If the Padres and Cubs face off, it’ll be a rematch of last year’s series, won 2-1 by the Cubs. Tatis is up to 38 steals in 51 attempts. He’s sixth in the majors there, 12th with a .289 average and tied for 16th with 95 runs scored.

Pivetta gave up four hits, walked one and struck out seven before departing. While he wasn’t in line for a win when he left, he could have gotten one had he finished the fifth, since the Padres took a lead in the top of the sixth and didn’t relinquish it. Pivetta has allowed three runs in 18 2/3 innings over four starts since returning from an elbow injury that cost him most of the year. He’s probably in line to start the second or third game of next week’s Wild Card series.

Miller could have had a one-two-three inning, but Tommy Edman reached on a strikeout/wild pitch to keep the game going before Shohei Ohtani doubled him in. Miller then got Mookie Betts to ground out. The Padres clinched a postseason berth tonight, so Miller should get Friday off after working back-to-back days. Yuki Matsui or David Morgan could get a chance to closer.

Glasnow allowed one run on two singles and a sac fly in the sixth and then was charged with two more after leaving following a double and a walk in the seventh. Those were the only three hits he allowed on the night, and he gave up only one other walk. The loss means he’ll enter the postseason 5-2 with a 3.53 ERA. He figures to start Game 3 or 4 of the NLDS, depending on how Blake Snell is slotted in.

This was probably Díaz’s best showing yet. He matched his season high from last week by averaging 97.6 mph with his fastball. He’s at 97.3 mph in four appearances since coming off the IL, which is one mph better than he averaged previously this year.

Ohtani’s two outs tonight were both barrels traveling a projected 382 and 372 feet. The RBI double was hit 106.8 mph to the gap in left center off a 102.6-mph fastball from Mason Miller in the ninth. That makes for a very encouraging night, even if he didn’t totally fill up the box score in his second game back from the IL.

Moore singled in one in the first on a fly to center that Julio Rodríguez really should have caught but got a late break on. In the fifth, Moore fanned on a bounced strike three, only to wind up on second after hustling his way to first and taking advantage of an incredibly poor throw from Cal Raleigh that went into left. Moore’s one good at-bat came the next inning, as he doubled off the wall in center to plate two. He hit the ball 403 feet, topping his previous season high of 389.

Rodriguez struck out just two, but his performance was good enough with the Mariners having nothing to play for tonight. It’s his first win since Aug. 20, and he ends the year 5-8 with a 6.02 ERA. The Angels were 5-15 in all in his 20 starts. Still, acquiring him from the Orioles for Taylor Ward seems like a major win. He’s under control for three more years and won’t make all that much in his first year of arbitration in 2027. We wouldn’t want to bet on him being a mixed-league SP next year, but some improvement seems likely if he again remains relatively healthy.

Watson struck out two in protecting a two-run lead. The Rule 5 pick from the Giants organization has a 2.20 ERA in 18 appearances for the Angels since being claimed off waivers from the Red Sox.

The Mariners could have lifted Woo with a 4-3 lead after five, allowing him to finish with a 3.91 ERA, but after two more earned runs in the sixth, he ends the season with a 4.01 ERA. It’s something that could pay off for the team with Woo eligible for arbitration for the first time. Not only did his ERA eclipse a round number, but he also took his 10th loss, matching his total from the previous two seasons combined.