Jose Urquidy Officially Tabbed As Game 2 Starter Wednesday

Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Jose Urquidy will start Game 2 of the club’s wild-card series versus Minnesota on Wednesday. Urquidy made just five starts during the regular season, but amassed a 2.73 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. With the remainder of the Houston rotation behind Zack Greinke in flux, Urquidy’s presence likely confirms that Lance McCullers […]

Chad Wallach Starts Game 1 Wednesday, Jorge Alfaro Sits

Miami Marlins catcher Chad Wallach will be behind the dish to catch right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcantara for Game 1 of the wild-card series versus the Cubs. Wallach appeared in 15 games during the regular season and produced a .640 OPS, with manager Don Mattingly opting for his defensive abilities over those of Jorge Alfaro, whose […]

Yandy Diaz Returns To Lineup, Bats Cleanup In Game 2

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Yandy Diaz (hamstring) is officially back among the starting nine for Game 2 on Wednesday of the wild-card series versus Toronto and left-handed pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu. Diaz’s start will mark his first since Aug. 31, having been sidelined due to a strained right hamstring. Having delivered a .428 on-base percentage […]

Matt Davidson, Travis Jankowski Make Wild-Card Series Roster

Cincinnati Reds first baseman/designated hitter Matt Davidson and outfielder Travis Jankowski have been selected for the club’s wild-card series roster against Atlanta prior to Game 1 on Wednesday. Both have a very specific role, with Davidson likely to be utilized as a reserve bat against left-handed pitching, with three of his four regular-season hits versus […]

Kris Bryant Returns To No. 3 Slot For Game 1 Wednesday

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is back to batting in the top third of the order for Game 1 of the wild-card series Wednesday versus Miami and right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcantara. Bryant had been shifted to the Nos. 5 and 4 slots for the final three games of the regular season, where he ended […]

Cristian Pache, Pablo Sandoval Join Wild-Card Series Roster

Atlanta Braves outfielder Cristian Pache and first/third baseman Pablo Sandoval were both added to the club’s wild-card series roster prior to Game 1 on Wednesday. Pache, Atlanta’s top prospect and the No. 10 overall prospect in the Majors, received just four regular-season at-bats, but figures to be utilized for his defensive acumen and baserunning abilities. […]

Alex Kirilloff Makes MLB Debut In Game 2

Minnesota Twins outfielder Alex Kirilloff will make both his Major League debut and postseason debut Wednesday against Houston and right-hander Jose Urquidy in Game 2 of the wild-card series. Kirilloff, Minnesota’s No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, enters the lineup in place of Byron Buxton, with the rookie batting sixth. Never having played above Double-A, […]

Aristides Aquino, Kyle Farmer Draw Starts In Game 1 Wednesday

Cincinnati Reds outfielder/designated hitter Aristides Aquino and infielder Kyle Farmer are both among the starting nine for Wednesday’s Game 1 of the wild-card series versus Atlanta and left-hander Max Fried. The duo enter the lineup due to the platoon nature of the Cincinnati order, with both having DFS upside due to their low price tags; […]

Steelers Defense Could Face Titans After Hectic Week

The Pittsburgh Steelers Defense was going to enter Week 4 as a premier unit no matter the circumstances. But after a COVID-19 outbreak within the Tennessee organization where multiple players and personnel tested positive (but were asymptomatic), Pittsburgh will face an offense that likely won’t be able to practice for the entire week. Titans running […]

Chris Herndon Could See Increased Role In Week 4

New York Jets tight end Chris Herndon has fluctuated between being a critical component in the team’s offense and disappearing from the gameplan. Heading into Week 4, Herndon may be relied upon more than usual with all three of New York’s top receivers carrying questionable designations as of Tuesday night. Their respective statuses for Thursday […]

Dede Westbrook Firmly Supplanted As Key Cog In Jaguars Offense

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Dede Westbrook has hauled in just one reception for four yards this season, with the time that he has seen due primarily to DJ Chark Jr.’s absence last Thursday versus Miami. After back-to-back seasons with 66 receptions, Westbrook will have an uphill battle to that level of production in 2020 due […]

49ers Defense Still High-End Season-Long Option

The San Francisco 49ers Defense may have sustained significant blows by losing Nick Bosa (knee) and Solomon Thomas (knee) for the remainder of the season in Week 2, but that didn’t stop them from looking strong against the Giants in Week 3. Looking ahead, they’ll face a rocky Eagles offense that has had to answer […]

Allen Lazard Holds Considerable Flex Appeal In Week 4

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard benefited greatly from Davante Adams’ (hamstring) absence during Week 3, amassing six receptions for a career-high 146 receiving yards and a touchdown. Should Adams continue to be sidelined this Sunday against Atlanta, Lazard would track up the board as a premier WR option due to the Falcons’ propensity […]

Giants Add Alfred Morris To Practice Squad

The New York Giants have inked veteran running back Alfred Morris to the team’s practice squad in a continued attempt to bolster their backfield situation in light of Saquon Barkley’s (knee) season-ending injury. Morris last appeared in 2019 in one game for the Cardinals, receiving just one carry for four yards. His best days came […]

Earl Thomas' Workout With Houston Postponed

Free-agent safety Earl Thomas was set to have a workout with the Houston Texans on Tuesday, but COVID-19-related protocol scuttled that meeting. Things had advanced between the two sides to the point that Thomas had already taken a physical with the organization. Released by Baltimore during training camp following an altercation with a teammate, the […]

Masahiro Tanaka Eyes First Career Win In Cleveland Wednesday

New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will make his fourth career start at Progressive Field on Wednesday during Game 2 of the club’s wild-card series versus Cleveland. While Tuesday’s result dictates if the Yankees’ season will be on the line, Tanaka will be eyeing his first win in Cleveland for his career, having posted […]

Chris Bassitt Tabbed With Keeping A’s Season Alive Wednesday

Oakland Athletics right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt will get the start in Game 2 of the wild-card series versus the White Sox, with his club needing to win to force a decisive Game 3. After Chicago hammered a trio of home runs in Game 1 -- two coming off left-hander Jesus Luzardo -- the Majors’ second-best […]

Walker Buehler Has No Blister Concerns Ahead Of Game 1

Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler enters his Game 1 start of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus Milwaukee with no blister concerns, saying that the ailment is “fine.” Buehler was limited to just eight starts during the regular season due to recurring blister problems, but when on the mound, he has shown the flashes of […]

Texas Not Planning On Releasing Rougned Odor, Elvis Andrus

The Texas Rangers have a financial conundrum in the form of their middle infield duo of Rougned Odor and Elvis Andrus, as both are under contract for at least the next two years, with Odor having a team option and Andrus having a vesting option in 2023. But general manager Jon Daniels revealed Tuesday that […]

Chris Paddack Will Start Game 1 Wednesday

San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Chris Paddack has been tabbed as the team’s starter for Game 1 of the wild-card series versus St. Louis on Wednesday. With righties Mike Clevinger (biceps) and Dinelson Lamet (biceps) still working their respective ways back, the club has made the call to tab Paddack, who produced a 4.73 ERA […]

Terrance Gore Likely To Be On Wild-Card Roster

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Terrance Gore has a “good chance” of making the club’s wild-card series roster versus Milwaukee, which will officially be released Wednesday, per manager Dave Roberts. Gore appeared in two games for the Dodgers during the regular season, once as a pinch-runner and once as a defensive replacement. He offers little by […]

Corey Kluber Unlikely To Have 2021 Option Picked Up

Texas Rangers right-handed pitcher Corey Kluber is not likely to have his $18 million team option picked up for the 2021 season, per general manager Jon Daniels. While it’s possible that Kluber could return on a lesser contract, Daniels’ approach to free agency indicates that the club will not go out of it’s way to […]

St. Louis Expects Chris Paddack To Start Game 1 Wednesday

The San Diego Padres have not yet announced a starter for Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series, but Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said Tuesday that the team anticipates facing right-hander Chris Paddack. Both Mike Clevinger (biceps) and Dinelson Lamet (biceps) are attempting to work their way back to make starts in the three-game series, although […]

Sandy Alcantara Headlines Marlins Wild-Card Series Staff

The Miami Marlins have officially unveiled the trio that will start during the club’s wild-card series versus the Cubs, which is headlined by right-hander Sandy Alcantara on Wednesday. Alcantara delivered a 3.00 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in seven regular-season starts, and he will be followed by rookie fireballer Sixto Sanchez in Game 2 and righty […]

Mike Clevinger Throws Tuesday, Unlikely To Start Game 1

San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger played what was initially described as “aggressive catch” on Tuesday in an attempt to ramp up to pitch during the wild-card series versus St. Louis. But the nature of what he did at Petco Park makes it highly unlikely that he would return to the mound to start […]

J.A. Happ Trends Toward Being Named Game 3 Starter

New York Yankees left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ is moving toward being named the club’s starter for a potential Game 3 of the wild-card series versus Cleveland. Manager Aaron Boone conceded “it’s looking like” Happ would be the name, with right-handed rookies Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt having made their case over the past month. Happ […]

Julio Rodriguez Joins Mariners Prospects At Development Camp

Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez (wrist) has been cleared to join the club’s developmental Fall League in Arizona. Rodriguez, the club’s No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has been sidelined since fracturing his left wrist back in July. The organization is expected to play 24 games during its time in Arizona, giving Rodriguez ample exposure […]

Brett Gardner Draws Game 1 Start Tuesday Over Clint Frazier

New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner will start Tuesday’s Game 1 of the wild-card series versus Cleveland and right-hander Shane Bieber with Clint Frazier heading to the bench. Frazier finished the final week of the year with just a .167 BA and .292 SLG, so despite his reverse splits (.912 OPS vs. RHP), the team […]

Trevor Bauer Rolls Into Game 1 Start Versus Braves

Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Trevor Bauer may win the National League Cy Young Award on the back of the strikeouts that he compiled in droves this season. With five of his 11 starts seeing him accumulate double-digit punchouts, even more swings and misses could be in order Wednesday for Game 1 of the wild-series versus […]

Chas McCormick Joins Wild-Card Series Roster, Joe Biagini DFA’d

Houston Astros outfielder Chas McCormick has a chance at making his Major League debut as part of the team’s wild-card series roster versus Minnesota. Ranked as the club’s No. 24 prospect per MLB Pipeline, McCormick has combined to steal 35 bases over the past two years, making him a late game pinch-runner option for manager […]