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Yoshinobu Yamamoto SP | LAD
Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Takes loss against Padres
Yamamoto (14-9) allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits, a walk and a hit batsman while striking out four over six innings to take the loss versus the Padres on Wednesday.
Yamamoto earned a third straight quality start, though the Padres' pair of runs in the fifth inning were a product of his own throwing error. The right-hander has had few stumbles this season, pitching to a 2.53 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 182:42 K:BB over 185 innings through 28 starts. His regular season is done, so expect Yamamoto's next appearance to come in the NLDS.
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Robbie Ray SP | SD
Padres' Robbie Ray: Short outing against Dodgers
Ray allowed one run on seven hits and a walk while striking out two over 3.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Wednesday.
Ray's short outing came down to inefficiency -- he needed 84 pitches (55 strikes) to get the 10 outs. It's been a bumpy September for the veteran lefty, who has allowed 14 runs over 16.2 innings with a 14:11 K:BB this month. His regular season is likely done at a 13-8 record with a 3.59 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 140:84 K:BB over 31 games (30 starts) between the Padres and the Giants. Ray is lined up to pitch in the wild-card series in the likely event the Padres secure a playoff spot.
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Joe Musgrove SP | SD
Padres' Joe Musgrove: Playing catch, return TBD
Musgrove (elbow) has been regularly playing catch, but the timeline for a potential return to action remains unclear, MLB.com reports.
Musgrove has yet to pitch for the Padres this season. as he's struggled to recover from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in October of 2024. The veteran hurler fared mostly well during a four-game minor-league rehab stint in August, but he was ultimately pulled off the assignment because he was having trouble recovering between starts. There's still a chance San Diego could activate Musgrove to see what he can give them, but he'd be limited to a relief role if that were to happen.
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Matthew Liberatore SP | STL
Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Secures first win since July
Liberatore (6-14) gave up one run on six hits and no walks while striking out six over 5.2 innings to earn the win Wednesday versus the Pirates.
Liberatore picked up his first victory since July 11, which came against Atlanta just before the All-Star break. During the winless stretch, the left-hander tossed 61.1 innings with a 5.58 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with eight losses in 11 outings. The 26-year-old pitched great Wednesday in Pittsburgh, with the only damage against him coming via a solo homer by Brandon Lowe. It was Liberatore's final start of the campaign, and he'll end 2026 with a disappointing 5.23 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 154:55 K:BB across 155 innings.
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Kevin Gausman SP | CHC
Cubs' Kevin Gausman: Battling shoulder injury
Manager Craig Counsell said after Wednesday's loss to Miami that Gausman is dealing with left shoulder soreness, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Gausman's shoulder was extended awkwardly as he dove to tag a runner out at third base in the sixth inning. He was removed from the game immediately afterward, though the fact that his pitch count had reached 101 at that point may also have factored into Counsell's decision to take him out. The Cubs will monitor his status over the next couple of days before determining his status for the wild-card round.
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Sandy Alcantara SP | MIA
Marlins' Sandy Alcantara: Locks down second save
Alcantara notched the save Wednesday against the Cubs, allowing one hit and no walks in a scoreless ninth inning.
The Marlins deployed Alcantara as their closer for the second time this month, and the hurler induced a game-ending double play to seal it for Miami. The right-hander threw just 12 pitches Wednesday, so he remains firmly on track to take his next and final turn in the rotation Saturday against Atlanta. He has a 3.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 152:59 K:BB across 213 innings, converting both of his save opportunities as well.
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Ryan Gusto SP | MIA
Marlins' Ryan Gusto: Five Ks in no-decision
Gusto took a no-decision Wednesday against the Cubs, striking out five while allowing two runs on six hits and two walks in 5.1 innings.
Gusto held the explosive Cubs lineup in check Wednesday to end his season on a positive note. The right-hander gave the Marlins serviceable work particularly down the stretch, yielding two earned runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts since the beginning of August. He figures to be in contention for a rotation spot next spring for Miami, turning in a 4.09 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 74:28 K:BB over 88 innings in 2026.
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Kevin Gausman SP | CHC
Cubs' Kevin Gausman: Fans seven in no-decision
Gausman took a no-decision Wednesday against Miami, striking out seven while allowing two runs on six hits and one walk in 5.2 innings.
Gausman came one out short of a quality start, but it goes down as a strong outing nonetheless. The right-hander's Cubs tenure has been rocky at times -- he's given up two runs or fewer five times and coughed up three or more in four other instances. Barring any unforeseen changes to Chicago's rotation, he'll end his regular season with a 4.51 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 184:47 K:BB across 177.2 innings for Chicago and Toronto.
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Andrew Abbott SP | CIN
Reds' Andrew Abbott: Six Ks in season-long start
Abbott took a no-decision Wednesday against Atlanta, striking out six while allowing two runs on six hits and one walk in seven innings.
The two runs allowed were both homers, but it was an otherwise strong finish to the season for Abbott. Not only was it his first quality start since Aug. 18 versus the Cardinals, but Wednesday also marked a season-long outing for the southpaw. He'll be searching for a bounce-back campaign in 2027 after a disappointing 2026, during which Abbott posted a career-worst 4.61 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 131:76 K:BB over 166 frames.
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Chris Sale SP | ATL
Braves' Chris Sale: Fans 10 in no-decision
Sale took a no-decision Wednesday against the Reds, striking out 10 while allowing one run on four hits and no walks in 5.2 innings.
Sale looked sharp once again in what was a tune-up start ahead of the playoffs. The southpaw fell a lone out shy of extending his streak of quality starts to 10, and he fanned double-digit hitters for the fifth time this year. He'll end the regular season with a 2.16 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 200:31 K:BB in 162.2 innings for the ninth 200-strikeout campaign of his decorated career.