#pitching-rotation

#pitching-rotation

The Reds and right-hander Brady Singer are in agreement on a $12.75MM salary for the 2026 campaign, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. It's the final year of arbitration for Singer, who is set to hit free agency next offseason. The contract is slightly above MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz's projection of $11.9MM. Singer is represented by Excel Sports Management. Cincinnati acquired Singer in a November 2024 trade that sent Jonathan India and Joey Wiemer to Kansas City.

Imai was one of the top pitchers in free agency this offseason after spending eight seasons with the Seibu Lions in NPB. Across 159 outings, Imai authored a 3.53 ERA and a 1.267 WHIP across 963 2/3 innings, striking out opponents at an 8.5 K/9 clip. The right-hander turns 28 later this year and is coming off one of his best seasons in 2025, tossing a 1.92 ERA across 163 2/3 innings.

The Red Sox already boast one American League Cy Young Award finalist on their roster in Garrett Crochet. But could Boston have both Crochet and the likely 2026 Cy Young frontrunner in Detroit's Tarik Skubal in their rotation next season? ESPN's Buster Olney believes that the Red Sox have the resources in place to make a legitimate run at the reigning Cy Young Award winner this winter if Detroit dangles him out on the trade market.

The Dodgers' interest in keeping Buehler is understandable, as he showed up during both of the Dodgers' World Series runs in 2020 and 2024. During the 2020 postseason, he made five starts and posted a 1.80 ERA through 25 innings and struck out 39 batters. He spearheaded a hobbled Dodgers rotation during the 2024 postseason, posting a 3.60 ERA through four appearances.

"It sucks to say right now that we're looking forward. But ultimately, that's our reality," said Garett Crochet. "Right now, it's kind of that, 'So what? Next pitch' mentality. Next pitch for us is in five months."

The Guardians have transformed into some kind of unkillable movie monster. They just cannot be stopped. The good thing for the Red Sox, though, is that they don't need to worry about the Guards if they keep winning. With the non-Crochet portion of the rotation looking shaky, last night felt like a must-win and the Sox got it done, even if Crochet didn't quite look like his best and the bullpen made it hairy at the end.

The team will need to construct its best possible 26-man roster to survive the first two rounds of the playoffs, which are best-of-three and best-of-five, respectively. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani have to be the top rotation candidates for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, which doesn't leave room for Kershaw to contribute as a starting pitcher in the first two rounds at least.

Flaherty, at his best, is a perfectly viable Game 2 starter. But his performance this season has fluctuated as wildly as it did for the Los Angeles Dodgers in last year's playoffs, when he followed his two best starts with poor ones. He warrants only so much trust. With the emerging Melton, Holton and perhaps Brant Hurter, who is currently on the injured list with back soreness at Triple A, the Tigers will not lack for bulk-inning candidates.

Rookie righty Brad Lord has emerged as a reliable player for the Washington Nationals, boasting a 3.46 ERA and 1.246 WHIP in 35 appearances this season.

Clarke Schmidt likely has a UCL tear in his right elbow and is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery, which will sideline him for the rest of 2025 and possibly all of 2026.

Sean Manaea is expected to make his final rehab start from a strained oblique on Tuesday with Double-A Binghamton, throwing between 45 and 50 pitches.

Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right foot sprain, further complicating the team's pitching depth.

Zach Plesac, after a challenging 2024 season, has signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals, looking to revive his baseball career with Triple-A Memphis.

Nothing in Chad Patrick's performance this season indicates a need for demotion, yet the impending return of injured pitchers complicates roster decisions for the Brewers.