Adam Wainwright Aims To Send Cardinals To NLDS On Thursday

St. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitcher Adam Wainwright will be tasked with starting Game 2 of Thursday’s wild-card series versus San Diego. He will take the ball at Petco Park for the seventh time (sixth start) in his career, looking for his first win at the yard since 2013. As has been the case for many […]

Yu Darvish Seeks Continued Wrigley Field Success In Game 2

Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher Yu Darvish will get the ball for Game 2 of Thursday’s wild-card series versus Miami, needing a win to keep his club alive in the postseason. He made nine starts at Wrigley Field during the regular season and struck out fewer than seven batters just once; during September, he averaged nine […]

Luis Castillo Should Benefit From Game 2’s Early Start Time

Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo will be tasked with keeping his club alive in the postseason for Game 2 on Thursday against Atlanta. While he has amassed a 4.12 ERA across seven starts on the road this year, the shadows that descended upon Truist Park may play the biggest factor. With Atlanta striking out […]

Clayton Kershaw Aims To Shake Postseason Bugaboo Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw is set to start Game 2 of the club’s wild-card series versus Milwaukee on Thursday. Whether it’s an elimination game for the Dodgers, or an attempt to send the club to the NLDS, Kershaw will be looking to flip the narrative around his postseason performance. His 2.16 ERA […]

Chris Paddack Shelled In Postseason Debut

San Diego Padres starter Chris Paddack was walloped for six earned runs over just 2 1/3 innings in a Game 1 wild-card series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Paddack unraveled immediately, serving up five knocks and four runs to start the game before being yanked after yielding eight total hits two frames later. Earning […]

Brett Anderson Misses Wild-Card Series

Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitcher Brett Anderson (finger) was removed from his final start of the regular season Sunday due to a blister issue, which manager Craig Counsell said has not improved. Anderson has still been unable to throw since his 38-pitch outing, putting him in jeopardy of being unavailable should the club advance to the […]

Daniel Vogelbach Not At Full Strength Ahead Of Game 1

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach (quad) is batting cleanup for Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus Los Angeles and right-hander Walker Buehler, but manager Craig Counsell indicated that Vogelbach is far from 100 percent entering the series. Having battled a quad injury since Sunday, Vogelbach is healthy enough to swing the bat […]

Starling Marte Sustains Pinkie Fracture Wednesday

Miami Marlins outfielder Starling Marte (pinkie) is dealing with a fractured pinkie finger on his left hand after being hit by a pitch during Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus the Cubs. Marte exited the game after being hit, and an X-ray revealed the damage, although there is optimism that Marte could attempt to […]

David Dahl Confirms He’ll Be Ready For Spring Training

Colorado Rockies outfielder David Dahl (shoulder) had his 2020 campaign prematurely ended due to surgery on his injured right shoulder. Dahl tweeted Wednesday that he came out of surgery unscathed and that he plans to return to the diamond in time for the opening of Spring Training next February. Not much went right this past […]

Dallas Keuchel Roughed Up In Game 2

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel picked up the loss in Game 2 versus the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. Keuchel got burned by some bad defense, but still struggled outside of that. The lefty only lasted 3 1/3 innings and allowed six hits, five runs (three earned), zero walks and four strikeouts. The White […]

Chris Taylor Earns Start In Game 1, Joc Pederson On Bench

Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman Chris Taylor will start Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus Milwaukee and left-hander Brent Suter at second base. Taylor gets the nod over Enrique Hernandez and Gavin Lux, as Edwin Rios will serve as the designated hitter in place of Joc Pederson. Taylor produced an .842 OPS during the regular […]

Yasmani Grandal Goes Yard In Game 2 Loss

Chicago White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal hit his second home run in as many games on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics. It was his only hit in four at-bats on Wednesday. Grandal is now 2-for-7 with a pair of walks so far in the wild-card series. Grandal came into the playoffs in a slump, but […]

Edwin Rios Draws First Playoff Start In Game 1 Wednesday

Los Angeles Dodgers first/third baseman Edwin Rios will serve as the designated hitter for Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus Milwaukee and left-hander Brent Suter. Rios’ start will mark the first of his postseason career, and may also be an indication that manager Dave Roberts isn’t starting purely right-handed bats in response to Suter’s […]

Keston Hiura Drops To Eighth In Order For Game 1 Wednesday

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Keston Hiura will bat eighth for just the second time in his Major League career during Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus the Dodgers and right-hander Walker Buehler. Hiura was ice cold down the stretch of the regular season, last producing an extra-base hit back on Sept. 16. Hiura struck […]

Christian Yelich Moves To Leadoff Spot For Game 1 Wednesday

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich has been slotted into the leadoff spot for Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus the Dodgers and right-hander Walker Buehler. Yelich has not batted leadoff since 2018, with manager Craig Counsell significantly shaking up the lineup. Yelich finished the regular season in a malaise, going 2-for-21 with eight strikeouts […]

Nelson Cruz Hopes To Return In 2021 After MVP-Like Campaign

Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz was one of the Majors’ preeminent power threats for the entirety of the 2020 season. Finishing the year with the eighth-highest OPS in the bigs (.992), Cruz said following his club’s elimination from the postseason Wednesday that he hoped to be back next season. The veteran turns 41 next […]

Kyle Hendricks Suffers Game 1 Loss

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks picked up the loss in Game 1 of the Cubs wild-card series against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday. Hendricks got out of some trouble between the fourth and sixth innings, but manager David Ross elected to bring him out for the seventh inning. Hendricks allowed back-to-back singles and then […]

Jesus Aguilar Goes Yard In Wednesday's Playoff Win

Miami Marlins first baseman/designated hitter Jesus Aguilar hit a home run in Wednesday's wild-card playoff win. He ended up 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, hitting the homer and a double as well. Aguilar had an outstanding bounce-back campaign for the Marlins and should be a key piece in the postseason lineup, likely […]

Brett Gardner Starts Over Clint Frazier Again Wednesday

New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner will remain in the starting lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus Cleveland, leaving Clint Frazier on the bench. Gardner went 3-for-5 with a home run during Game 1, unlikely to lose his spot after such a performance. Despite manager Aaron Boone talking up Frazier as of […]

Gary Sanchez Returns To Lineup For Game 2 Wednesday

New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez is back among the starting nine for Game 2 of Wednesday's wild-card series versus Cleveland and right-handed pitcher Carlos Carrasco. Sanchez will bat in the No. 9 spot for the first time in his Major League career amidst having hit .147 during 49 regular-season contests. With Kyle Higashioka having […]

Corey Dickerson Hits A Three-Run Shot On Wednesday

Miami Marlins outfielder Corey Dickerson hit a huge three-run home run in Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Chicago Cubs. Dickerson ended up 1-for-4 with a walk, three RBI and a run scored. Dickerson's blast came in the seventh inning to open the scoring for the Marlins, who would score five in the […]

Sandy Alcantara Shines In His First Playoff Start

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara was excellent in his first playoff appearance on Wednesday. He earned the win, pitching 6 2/3 innings while allowing just one run on three hits and three walks. He struck out four and allowed the run on a solo shot off the bat of Ian Happ. Alcantara did not […]

Kyle Tucker Drives In Two As Astros Sweep

Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in as the Astros beat the Twins 3-1 to sweep them out of the playoffs. The young slugger drove in his first career RBI in the fourth inning and then tacked on an RBI single in the ninth inning to extend the Astros lead […]

Carlos Correa's Home Run Breaks Tie

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa went 2-for-4 with a 430-foot home run in the Astros 3-1 win over the Twins in the wild-card round on Wednesday. The Astros advance to the ALDS thanks to an absolute bomb by Correa in the seventh inning to unlock a 1-1 tie at the time. It was a mediocre […]

Devin Williams Left Off Brewers Wild-Card Roster

Milwaukee Brewers right-handed reliever Devin Williams has been left off of the Brewers' roster for their wild-card series against the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers. He is reportedly dealing with an arm issue. This is a brutal blow to the Brewers and their chances in the postseason. In 2020, Williams broke out to the tune of […]

Manuel Margot Batting Fifth For Rays On Wednesday

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Manuel Margot will be batting fifth and playing left field in Game 2 of the Rays-Blue Jays wild-card series. Margot went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Game 1 of the series. The Rays are looking to take advantage of Margot's hot bat by moving him up in […]

Fernando Tatis Jr. Makes His Playoff Debut On Wednesday

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. is batting leadoff against the Cardinals on Wednesday in Game 1 of the Padres-Cardinals wild-card series. Tatis will be making his major league baseball postseason debut against his father's former team and left-hander Kwang Hyun Kim. Tatis had a breakout 2020 in which he hit .277/.366/.571 with 17 […]

Trent Grisham Batting Ninth On Wednesday

San Diego Padres outfielder Trent Grisham is in the starting lineup for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Grisham will be batting ninth and playing center field against left-handed starting pitcher Kwang Hyun Kim on Wednesday. Grisham had a breakout 2020, slashing .251/.352/.456 with 10 home runs, 26 RBI, 42 […]

Mike Clevinger Left Off Wild-Card Roster

Following up on a prior report, San Diego Padres starter Mike Clevinger (biceps) has been left off of the Padres' wild-card series roster due to his biceps injury. After a bullpen session Tuesday, concerns remain about Clevinger’s health, and, even beyond the wild-card series, it remains possible Clevinger misses the entire playoffs. Acquired at the […]

Edwin Encarnacion Back In Lineup At Designated Hitter

Chicago White Sox designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion is back in the lineup and hitting fifth in Game 2 of the White Sox wild-card series against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. Encarnacion sat out Game 1 of the wild-card series, but will get the start against right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt. Encarnacion struggled greatly at the plate […]