Matt Chapman Hopes To Shake Off Poor September

Oakland Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman will hit third against the Rays in the AL Wild Card play-in game. Chapman hit 36 home runs this season but slashed only .178/.315/.389 in September and .222 overall since the All-Star break. Despite the recent struggles, Chapman will be counted on to produce in this crucial matchup. Chapman […]

Ender Inciarte Likely Done For The Season

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte (quadriceps) is dealing with a right quadriceps strain and is likely done for the rest of the season. Inciarte last played on Aug. 16 and played in only 65 games this year due to injuries. He posted a slash line of .246/.343/.397 with five home runs, 24 RBI and seven […]

Ramon Laureano Takes White-Hot Second Half Into Playoffs

Oakland Athletics outfielder Ramon Laureano will start and hit second against the Rays in the Wild Card play-in game on Wednesday. Few hitters have been as hot as Laureano in the second half, posting an eye-popping 1.090 in the second half of the season. He has raised his batting average 22 points during a 39-game […]

Marcus Semien Has Recent Success Against Charlie Morton

Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien will hit leadoff as the team takes on the Rays in the AL Wild Card play-in game. Semien has put together another fantastic season and enters postseason play swinging a hot stick. Semien slashed .347/.441/.693 in the month of September with eight home runs, nine doubles, 19 runs batted in […]

Kevin Kiermaier Slumping Heading Into Postseason

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier will start and hit eighth Wednesday against the A's in the Wild Card play-in game. It has been a tough month of September for Kiermaier, who is slashing only .144/.222/.256 over his last 90 at-bats. In fact, it has been a dismal second half of the season for the […]

Willy Adames Hitting .303 Away From Tropicana

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Willy Adames will hit seventh against the A's Wednesday in the AL Wild Card play-in game. The 24-year-old has emerged as a reliable starting shortstop this season, raising his .681 OPS in the first half of the season by posting an .807 OPS after the All-Star break. Adames has done his […]

Avisail Garcia Hitting .329 From Six-Spot In Lineup

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Avisail Garcia will start and hit sixth against the A's in the AL Wild Card play-in game Wednesday. Garcia has enjoyed a solid second half of his season, slashing .293/.330/.497 over his last 48 games with eight home runs, 11 doubles and 29 runs batted in. When healthy, Garcia can be […]

Justin Verlander Starting Game 1 Of ALDS

The Houston Astros set their starting rotation for the American League Division Series against either the A's or Rays, which begins on Friday. Justin Verlander will go in Game 1, followed by Gerrit Cole and Zack Greinke. No surprise here. The Astros have the best starting rotation in baseball, hands down. Verlander led baseball in […]

Matt Duffy Enters Postseason Trending Up

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Matt Duffy will hit fifth against left-handed starter Sean Manaea and the A's in the AL Wild Card play-in game. Duffy is trending in the right direction heading into postseason play, slashing .359/.458/.513 over his last 39 at-bats. He also has shown an ability to produce on the road, hitting […]

Carlos Correa Expected To Play Friday

Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch said that shortstop Carlos Correa (back) is expected to play in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against either the A's or Rays on Friday. Correa hit, threw and took swings against reliever Will Harris on Wednesday and reported feeling great. The 25-year-old has battled injuries again this […]

Travis D'Arnaud Slugging .552 Against Lefties

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Travis D'Arnaud will start and hit cleanup in the AL Wild Card play-in game against the A's on Wednesday. D'Arnaud will hit in the meat of the lineup thanks to posting a .552 slugging percentage against left-handed pitching this season. The veteran seems to finally have found a home after years […]

Austin Meadows Hopes Torrid Hitting Carries Into Playoffs

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Austin Meadows will start in left field and hit third Wednesday against the A's for the American League wild-card game. Meadows has been absolutely on fire heading into the playoffs, slashing .378/.472/.744 with six doubles, nine home runs, 20 runs batted in and 24 runs scored spanning 24 September games. Meadows […]

Tommy Pham Hitting .340 Against Left-Handed Pitching

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Tommy Pham will start and hit second against the A's in the Wild Card play-in game Wednesday. Pham has struggled with injuries throughout the second half of the season, nursing hand and elbow ailments. But he has a solid matchup against A's projected starter, left-hander Sean Manaea. Pham has torched […]

Charlie Morton Hopes To Dominate A's Once Again

Tampa Bay Rays starter Charlie Morton will take the ball Wednesday against the A's in the American League Wild Card elimination game. Morton has been an excellent addition for a young Rays team this season, going 16-6 with a 3.05 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP with 240 strikeouts through 194 2/3 innings this season. Morton has […]

Yordan Alvarez Ready For National Spotlight

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez will get his first taste of the playoffs when the team opens up their postseason on Friday. The rookie has come out of relative obscurity to absolutely throttle opposing pitchers all season long and has a strong chance at the AL Rookie of the Year award. From the moment […]

Kyle Tucker Has Strong Chance To Make Roster

Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker's strong showing in September has given him a strong chance to make the postseason roster. Tucker went only 3-for-19 to finish the season but slashed .269/.319/.537 in the month of September with four home runs, six doubles and 11 runs batted in spanning 67 at-bats. Tucker has been atop the […]

Jack Flaherty To Start Game 2 Of NLDS

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty will start Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Braves on Friday. Flaherty was outstanding this year, going 11-8 with a 2.75 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 231 strikeouts in 196 1/3 innings over his 33 starts for the Red Birds. As good as he was […]

Josh Reddick Enters Postseason Hot At The Plate

Houston Astros outfielder Josh Reddick heads into postseason play slashing .320/.374/.515 over his last 97 at-bats with 19 runs batted in. It has been a solid season for the veteran, slashing .275/.319/.409 with 14 home runs, 19 doubles, 56 runs batted in through 141 games and 501 at-bats. It has been a bounce back for […]

George Springer Has Sparkling Career Postseason Numbers

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer is on a power surge at the plate heading into the postseason that will begin Friday for the Astros. Springer smacked four home runs in his final seven regular season games and has 13 home runs over his last 107 at-bats. Now he will lead the charge at the top […]

Michael Brantley Hopes To Bust Slump In Postseason

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley will head into the postseason in the worst offensive slump of his season. All season Brantley has been as consistent as they come but is hitting only .154 over his last 26 at-bats and is slashing only .213/.283/.343 over his last 108 at-bats. The 32-year-old has worn down as the […]

Austin Riley Not On NLDS Roster

Atlanta Braves outfielder Austin Riley is not on the roster for the National League Division Series against the Cardinals. Instead, Rafael Ortega will serve as the extra position player. The Braves will use Ortega as a left-handed bat off the bench and he won't have any fantasy appeal in the postseason. Riley finished his rookie […]

Robinson Chirinos Slugging .528 At Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros catcher Robinson Chirinos will play in his first postseason games since 2016 when the team begins their playoff run on Friday. Chirinos has been a solid addition to a powerful Astros lineup this season and has thrived offensively playing at Minute Maid Park. The veteran backstop posted only a .673 OPS on the […]

Yandy Diaz Leading Off Against A's

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Yandy Diaz (foot) is starting at first base and hitting leadoff against A's lefty Sean Manaea in the American League wild-card game on Wednesday. Diaz only played in 12 games in the second half because of a fractured foot, and he hit a weak .213/.275/.447 in 47 second-half at-bats with three […]

Yuli Gurriel Takes Career Year Into Postseason

Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel has enjoyed the best season of his career and will look to keep it going when the team begins their playoff push this Friday. Gurriel posted a career-high 73 extra-base hits and drove in 104 runs. He raised his OPS from .751 last season to .884 this season thanks […]

Kolten Wong Says He's Ready

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong (hamstring) said he's "game-ready" for the National League Division Series against the Braves, which starts on Thursday. Wong missed the last 10 days of the regular season with a hamstring strain, but it looks like he'll be in the lineup in Game 1 against Braves lefty Dallas Keuchel. […]

Alex Bregman Ready To Lead Playoff Push

Houston Astros infielder Alex Bregman will be at the forefront of a powerful Astros lineup when the team begins their playoff push on Friday. Bregman last season slashed .292/.553/.625 with two doubles, two home runs, five runs batted in, eight runs scored and 11 walks through eight postseason games. Bregman also is heading into the […]

Braves Set NLDS Rotation, Julio Teheran Left Off Roster

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel will go in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Cardinals on Thursday, followed by Mike Foltynewicz in Game 2 and Mike Soroka in Game 3. Atlanta will leave starter Julio Teheran off the roster and go with a six-man bench and 11-man pitching staff. Josh […]

Jose Altuve Sports Impressive Postseason Resume

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is healthy, hitting and back in the postseason, a place that he has thrived over the past few seasons. Altuve was unstoppable in the 2017 playoffs and is hitting .295 with four doubles, eight home runs, 18 runs batted in and 22 runs scored over his last two playoff […]

Freddie Freeman Feeling Good Heading Into NLDS

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (elbow) said he felt good after taking part in a simulated game on Tuesday. "I didn’t feel my elbow at all. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow because I think I’m gonna be 100 percent," Freeman said. The All-Star first baseman missed time down the stretch due to bone […]

Ronald Acuna Expects To Be 100 Percent For NLDS

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna (groin) took part in a simulated game on Tuesday and ran the bases without any issues with his groin. Manager Brian Snitker expects that Acuna will be 100 percent for the start of the National League Division Series against the Cardinals on Thursday. The superstar outfielder was limited down the […]