MLB Player News

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol told reporters Siani has yet to resume taking swings, so it seems unlikely he’ll be back before September. The 25-year-old defensive ace hit the injured list back in early August with a moderate right oblique strain. His extended absence has created an opportunity for both Jordan Walker and Victor Scott II at the highest level.

Blackburn is currently dealing with a spinal fluid leak, and has been ruled out for the rest of the 2024 season. That move clears room on the 40-man roster for Kodai Senga, who started Game 1 for the Mets on Saturday against the Phillies.

The Dodgers had Freeman go through multiple workouts to make sure Freeman was good to go, and he passed enough tests to get the start after missing the end of the year with his ankle sprain. The full lineup for the Dodgers against Dylan Cease: DH Shohei Ohtani, RF Mookie Betts, 1B Freeman, LF Teoscar Hernandez, 3B Max Muncy, C Will Smith, 2B Gavin Lux, Tommy Edman CF and Miguel Rojas at shortstop behind starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The Padres aren’t making any changes to their regular lineup in the pivotal Game 1 matchup against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers. The full lineup behind Dylan Cease for the Padres: DH Luis Arraez, RF Tatis Jr., LF Jurickson Profar, 3B Manny Machado, CF Jackson Merrill, SS Xander Bogaerts, 2B Jake Cronenworth, 1B Donovan Solano and Kyle Higashioka hitting ninth and catching.

“Where he’s at right now, physically, the foot, the toe, just is not cooperating,” Roberts said. “It’s actually getting worse. Yeah, this is it for Clayton for 2024.’' Kershaw was limited to just seven starts and 30 innings because of injuries, and he forged a 4.50 ERA and 24/9 K/BB in his seven starts. He should be back in 2025, but there’s more risk than reward in the future Hall of Famer’s profile.

Rojas has a torn adductor muscle and he’ll need surgery in the offseason, but he’ll be able to play through it through the postseason.

This explains why Kelly is not on the roster for the series against the NLDS against the Padres. The right-hander will be eligible to return in the coming playoff series, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that he wouldn’t be available until the World Series, if the Dodgers were able to advance.

Roberts said he was still hopeful that Freeman would be able to play Saturday in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Padres, but “not as hopeful as yesterday.” The 35-year-old first baseman is trying to come back from a sprain that typically sidelines a player for 4-to-6 weeks. The Dodgers lineup is expected out soon, and there’s no guarantee Freeman will be in it against San Diego.

The Guardians got all of those runs before an out was even recorded, with Thomas homering as the first batter off Reese Olsen after opener Tyler Holton was pulled. The Guardians were pretty quiet the rest of the way, but it never did turn into a contest, as Cleveland was just fine using its best relievers in advance of Sunday’s off day. Game 2 will come Monday and feature a Tarik Skubal-Matthew Boyd matchup that would seem to favor Detroit.

That means no win for Bibee, even though he hardly seemed stressed in throwing 75 pitches and striking out six with one walk. Instead, the win went to Cade Smith, who got four outs in the fifth and sixth innings. Bibee should be back to pitch on four days’ rest in Game 4 if necessary.

Unfortunately, that one run came on a three-run homer from Lane Thomas that put the Guardians up 5-0 in the first. Olsen, though, did a great job afterwards, allowing just two more hits and striking out four. The showing might get him a start if the series goes to a fourth game.