Mason Miller Still in Play to Return to a Starting Role?
Mason Miller potentially moving from the bullpen to the starting rotation next year, general manager AJ Preller said the team will have more communication with the players moving forward, according to 97.3 The Fan in San Diego. The 27-year-old came up in the Athletics' system as a starter, but he has spent the last two years as a full-time reliever and has been one of the most dominant bullpen arms in that time. He was a first-time All-Star with the A's in 2024 and was just as good this year with the A's and Padres, posting a 2.63 ERA, 0.91 ERA, 104:28 K:BB and an absurd 15.2 K/9 in 61 2/3 regular-season innings of relief. What route the Padres go with Miller will likely depend on what happens in free agency, as they could lose closer Robert Suarez and starters Michael King and Dylan Cease. It's hard to imagine Miller being any more effective as a starter, but a move to the rotation would immediately make him one of the most sought-after starting arms in fantasy in 2026.
Source: 97.3 The Fan
When asked about San Diego Padres flame-throwing right-hander Source: 97.3 The Fan
Tigers Non-Committal on Tarik Skubal's Contract Situation
Tarik Skubal's contract situation, Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris was non-committal. "He's a Tiger, he's an incredible pitcher," Harris said. "I can't comment on our players being traded. I can't comment on free agents. I can't comment on other teams' players. So, I'm going to respond by just not actually commenting on it." Skubal is probably on his way to a second straight American League Cy Young award in 2025 after going 13-6 while leading the league in ERA (2.21), FIP (2.45), WHIP (0.89), and walks per nine innings (1.5) on his way to striking out a career-best 241 hitters in 195 1/3 regular-season innings over his 31 starts. The 28-year-old has quickly become one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, but he's entering his contract year in Detroit in 2026. If the Tigers don't have plans to commit to a hefty long-term extension with Skubal, he could be trade bait next summer.
Source: Woodward Sports Network
When asked about left-hander Source: Woodward Sports Network
Shane Bieber to Start in Game 3 of ALCS Against Mariners
Shane Bieber will make the start in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Wednesday night in Seattle against the Mariners with the team down two games to none in the best-of-seven series. Toronto cannot afford to fall down three games to none in the series, so they'll be hoping that Bieber will look a lot better than he did in Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees, when he allowed three runs (two earned) in just 2 2/3 innings pitched. Bieber got a late start to the 2025 season after recovering from right-elbow surgery, making just seven starts for the Jays. He went 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 37:7 K:BB in 40 1/3 innings. The 30-year-old former AL Cy Young winner did not face the Mariners in his seven regular-season starts this year. Bieber will probably be on a very short leash in Game 3 if he doesn't have it early on.
Source: WKYC Cleveland - NIck Camino
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Source: WKYC Cleveland - NIck Camino
Isaac Collins Getting First Postseason Start
Isaac Collins will move into the starting lineup for the first time this postseason. Collins came off the bench twice during the NLDS versus the Chicago Cubs. He'll now enter the lineup for the first time as he'll bat eighth and start in left field against left-hander Blake Snell. Collins slashed .263/.368/.411 with nine home runs, 54 RBI, and 16 stolen bases in 130 games during the regular season. On Monday, Sal Frelick will move over to center field while Blake Perkins heads to the bench.
Source: mlb.com
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Source: mlb.com
Aaron Ashby to Serve as Opener for Game 1
Aaron Ashby will serve as the opener for Game 1 of the NLCS versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ashby served as the opener for Game 2 of the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs. He gave up three runs in 1.2 innings, but he has been a viable option for the Brewers outside of that. The southpaw posted a 2.16 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 76/24 K/BB ratio across 43 appearances with the Brewers in the regular season. The assumption is that the Brewers are using Ashby to face Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. Quinn Priester figures to pitch a bulk of the innings during Monday's game.
Source: mlb.com
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Source: mlb.com
Jackson Chourio to Bat Leadoff in Game 1
Jackson Chourio will move into the leadoff spot in the lineup ahead of Game 1 of the NLCS versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Chourio appears to be back at full strength after suffering a hamstring injury during Game 1 of the NLDS. Despite the injury, Chourio was able to go 7-for-19 at the plate with one home run and six RBI during the five-game series versus the Chicago Cubs. Sometimes, Christian Yelich takes over in the leadoff spot, but the Brewers will opt to go with Chourio against left-hander Blake Snell. The 21-year-old figures to be an important factor for this series.
Source: mlb.com
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Source: mlb.com
Anthony Santander Scratched From Game 2 of ALCS With Back Tightness
Anthony Santander (back) has been scratched from Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Monday against the visiting Seattle Mariners due to lower-back tightness, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. In his place, Davis Schneider will start in left field and bat eighth in the order versus Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert. Santander played in only 54 regular-season games due to injury in his first year in Toronto, but he was able to return in the final month and has gone 3-for-13 with two RBI and four strikeouts in the team's four playoff games so far this October. It's unclear if Santander's back injury will keep him out beyond Game 2 of the ALCS, but the good news is he'll have a day off on Tuesday before the series continues for Game 3 in Seattle on Wednesday. Schneider has never faced Gilbert in his career.
Source: Sportsnet - Shi Davidi
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Source: Sportsnet - Shi Davidi
Bryan Woo Tentatively Scheduled for Game 5 of ALCS
Bryan Woo (pectoral) is tentatively scheduled to start Game 5 of the American League Championship Series (if necessary) on Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. Right-hander Logan Gilbert is starting Game 2 on Monday. Right-hander George Kirby will go in Game 3, and right-hander Luis Castillo will start in Game 4. Right-pectoral inflammation kept Woo off the team's roster for the AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, but he was included on the ALCS roster and had a successful batting practice session on Monday, clearing him to start later in the series. Woo has been excellent for the Mariners in 2025 when healthy, but his last big-league start came back on Sept. 19 against the Houston Astros, so he will almost certainly be on a pitch-count limit on Friday.
Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
Seattle Mariners right-hander Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
Nathan Lukes Back in ALCS Lineup After Suffering Knee Contusion
Nathan Lukes (knee) fouled a ball off his right kneecap in the Game 1 loss to the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series on Sunday, but he is back in the lineup for Game 2 in Toronto on Monday, according to Blake Murphy. X-rays and a CT scan on Lukes' knee came back negative for a fracture, although his knee was pretty swollen. His injury is being called a knee contusion, and he's starting in right field and batting second on Monday against Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert. The 31-year-old will hope to keep things going at the plate despite his knee injury, as he comes into Monday's game hitting .308 (4-for-13) with two doubles and five RBI in his first five playoff games. Lukes has never faced Gilbert in his career.
Source: Sportsnet - Blake Murphy
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Source: Sportsnet - Blake Murphy
Mike Shildt Retires as a Manager
Manager Mike Shildt will not be returning to the San Diego Padres next season and has decided to retire, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. The 57-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Padres, but he said "the grind of the baseball season has taken a severe toll on me mentally, physically, and emotionally." In his two seasons at the helm in San Diego, Schildt led the Padres to two postseason appearances. San Diego lost in the three-game wild-card series to the Chicago Cubs this year to get eliminated from postseason contention. He ended up with a 183-141 record as the manager of the Padres in his two seasons. Before joining the Padres organization in 2022 as a player development coach, Shildt managed the St. Louis Cardinals from 2018 to 2021, posting a winning record in all three of his full seasons. He was the National League Manager of the Year in 2019 after leading St. Louis to 91 wins.Logan Gilbert to Start Game 2 of ALCS Against Blue Jays
Logan Gilbert will make the start in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Monday in Toronto against the Blue Jays, according to manager Dan Wilson. Gilbert, who will be making his third appearance of the postseason on Monday, will be looking to give Seattle a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The 28-year-old right-hander made one start and one relief appearance in the AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers and allowed just one run while giving up seven hits, walking one, and striking out nine in eight innings of work. In his lone start against Toronto back on April 19, Gilbert allowed two runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out nine in just 4 2/3 innings of work. He last pitched on Friday in Game 5 of the ALDS against Detroit, tossing two scoreless innings out of the bullpen in the marathon 15-inning contest.
Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Seattle Mariners right-hander Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Start Game 2 of NLCS Against Brewers
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday in Milwaukee against the Brewers, according to manager Dave Roberts. Left-hander Blake Snell is getting the nod for Game 1 on Monday. Roberts said that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will "pitch at some point" in the series, but it's unclear when that might be. In his two starts so far in the postseason against the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, Yamamoto has allowed three earned runs on 10 hits while walking three and striking out 11 in 10 2/3 innings pitched. He will be hoping he can be a lot better on Tuesday than when he faced the Brewers back on July 7, allowing five runs (three earned) and three hits before being pulled in just two-thirds of an inning. Yamamoto should be able to improve on that outing, but it won't be an easy task.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Brandon Woodruff Will Not be on NLCS Roster
Brandon Woodruff (lat) will not be on the National League Championship Series roster. NLCS Game 1 is on Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Milwaukee, but the right-hander has yet to begin playing catch, so there is no need to include him. The 32-year-old is working his way back from a right-lat strain and hasn't pitched since September 17. While it seems like a long shot, the veteran hurler has not ruled out the possibility of pitching in the World Series if the Brewers are able to advance past the Dodgers, although he could end up coming out of the bullpen rather than starting games after such a long layoff.
Source: Adam McCalvy
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Source: Adam McCalvy
Blake Snell Named Game 1 Starter for NLCS
Blake Snell has been named the starting pitcher for Monday's Game 1 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers. The southpaw finished the regular season strong, allowing one earned run over his final three starts (19 innings pitched), allowing a total of nine hits and five walks while striking out 28. The 32-year-old has carried that momentum into the postseason, allowing two earned runs over two starts (13 IP), yielding five hits and six walks while striking out 18. The 2x Cy Young winner did not face the Brewers during the regular season, but Milwaukee had the highest batting average (.286) and the third-highest wRC+ (118) versus left-handed pitchers from August 1 through the end of the season, so it should prove to be a challenging lineup for the veteran hurler.
Source: Jon Heyman
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Source: Jon Heyman
Chris Bassitt Joins ALCS Roster
Chris Bassitt (back) joins the roster ahead of the upcoming ALCS versus the Seattle Mariners. Bassitt was left off the ALDS roster while he nursed a back injury he suffered in the middle of September. He appears to be healthy now and ready to help this team in the postseason. It's unclear if he'll be used as a traditional starter or out of the bullpen. Bassitt posted a 3.96 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 166/52 K/BB ratio across 31 starts in the regular season. The 36-year-old isn't an elite pitcher, but certainly does give this pitching staff a boost for this series.
Source: Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Source: Toronto Blue Jays