1 month agoTexas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia (knee) is undergoing an MRI exam on his left knee, and the Rangers are hopeful he can avoid offseason surgery. A year after leading the Rangers to their first-ever World Series, Adolis is out of the postseason altogether and is now managing a knee ailment heading into the offseason. If the 31-year-old veteran were to go under the knife, it's unknown if it would affect his availability for the start of spring training in February or the beginning of the 2025 regular season. Garcia suffered his knee injury in the final week of the regular season. The two-time All-Star wasn't quite as impressive in 2024 in his fifth year in Texas, slashing .224/.284/.400 with a below-average .684 OPS. After setting career-highs in home runs (39) and RBI (107) in 2023, Garcia produced 25 home runs, 85 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 154 games for the Rangers. He'll be hoping to bounce back in 2025.Source: RangersToday.com - Jeff Wilson
1 month agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said there is no update on who will start in left field to begin the American League Division Series this Saturday at Yankee Stadium against either the division-rival Baltimore Orioles or Kansas City Royals. The Yankees expect rookie outfielder Jasson Dominguez to be a big part of their playoff run this year, but it remains to be seen if he'll get the starting nod in left field to open the series over Alex Verdugo or Trent Grisham. The 21-year-old Dominican made another late-season appearance with the Yankees this year after dealing with injuries in the minors for most of the season. The young switch-hitter they call the Martian played in only 18 games in the big leagues and went 10-for-56 (.179) with two home runs, four RBI, five steals and 19 strikeouts. Dominguez doesn't have much big-league experience and has never played in the postseason, but he has the most pure upside over Verdugo and Grisham.Source: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
1
month
agoAtlanta
Braves
left-hander
Max
Fried
has
been
tabbed
to
take
the
ball
in
Game
2
of
the
wild-card
series
versus
the
San
Diego
Padres
on
Wednesday
at
Petco
Park.
The
Braves
decided
to
go
with
right-hander
AJread more...
1 month agoAtlanta Braves right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver has been named the starter for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Tuesday night. The Braves didn't have ideal options to choose from to start against a strong Padres offense to kick off the three-game series, as Smith-Shawver got the nod over Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder. The 21-year-old made his big-league debut in 2023 but pitched in just six games (five starts). His lone MLB start in 2024 came back on May 23, when he threw 4 1/3 shutout innings in a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs. The former seventh-rounder didn't do great in the minors, posting a 4.85 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 108 K's and 40 walks in 89 innings over 21 starts with Triple-A Gwinnett and High-A Rome. Needless to say, Smith-Shawver won't be a recommended DFS play for the first day of playoff action.Source: The Athletic - David O'Brien
1 month agoNew York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil (wrist) will start ramping up his baseball activities soon and an improved X-ray. McNeil's availability for later in October if the Mets advance past the San Diego Padres in the wild-card round this week is questionable. The 32-year-old former National League batting champion is recovering from a fractured right wrist that has kept him out since Sept. 6. McNeil is not the hitter he once was, as evidenced by his .238/.308/.384 slash line with a below-average .692 OPS, 12 home runs, 44 RBI, five stolen bases and 57 runs scored in 424 at-bats. Veteran Jose Iglesias will most likely see most of the starts at second base for the Mets as long as they remain in the postseason. The 34-year-old Cuban has very little power or speed but is hitting a very strong .337 (91-for-270) in 85 games for the Mets in 2024.Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
1 month agoNew York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (calf, triceps) threw a 25-pitch live batting practice session on Monday, but there's no word on his availability for future playoff rounds. Senga is making progress, but he wasn't included on the team's roster for the wild-card series against the San Diego Padres that begins on Tuesday at Petco Park. If the Mets pull the upset and advance past the Padres, the 31-year-old Japanese hurler could have a shot to join New York's bullpen in a relief role for the NLDS versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has made just one start for the Mets this year after recovering from a shoulder injury in the first half of the season. Senga suffered a calf strain in his lone start and later felt tightness in his triceps while making a rehab appearance in late September. His only chance to return in the playoffs will be as a reliever.Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
1
month
agoNew
York
Mets
left-hander
Sean
Manaea
will
get
the
nod
for
Game
2
of
the
wild-card
series
versus
the
Milwaukee
Brewers
at
American
Family
Field
on
Wednesday.
Right-hander
Luis
Severino
will
kick
off
the
three-game
seriesread more...
1
month
agoNew
York
Mets
outfielder
Jesse
Winker
(back)
was
included
on
the
team's
wild-card
roster
this
week
versus
the
Milwaukee
Brewers
at
American
Family
Field
and
he's
starting
in
Game
1
versus
right-hander
Freddy
Peralta
on
Tuesday.read more...
1
month
agoMilwaukee
Brewers
outfielder
Sal
Frelick
(hip)
was
included
on
the
team's
roster
for
the
wild-card
series
against
the
New
York
Mets
at
American
Family
Field
this
week
and
is
starting
in
Game
1
on
Tuesday.
Manager
Pat
Murphy
said
the
team
willread more...
1
month
agoAtlanta
Braves
left-hander
Chris
Sale
(back),
the
favorite
to
win
the
National
League
Cy
Young
award
in
2024,
is
officially
out
for
the
wild-card
series
against
the
San
Diego
Padres
at
Petco
Park
this
week,
as
he
was
left
off
the
team'sread more...
1 month agoThe Baltimore Orioles left right-hander Albert Suarez off the roster for the wild-card series this week against the Kansas City Royals at Camden Yards. During a three-game series, the O's won't need Suarez. But if they advance past the Royals and to the ALDS versus the division-rival New York Yankees, Suarez could be called upon as a starter. The 34-year-old Venezuelan hurler made a career-high 32 appearances (24 starts) for the O's in 2024, going 9-7 with a 3.70 ERA (4.24 FIP), a 1.29 WHIP, a career-high 108 strikeouts and 43 walks in 133 2/3 frames. The Orioles are starting right-hander Corbin Burnes in Game 1 on Tuesday, and Colin Selby and Cade Povich were chosen as the last two pitchers for Baltimore in relief roles. Suarez has been impressive this year, considering 2024 was his first year in the big leagues since 2017.Source: Baltimore Orioles
1
month
agoBaltimore
Orioles
first
baseman
Ryan
O'Hearn
and
outfielder
Austin
Slater
are
not
included
in
the
starting
lineup
for
Game
1
of
the
wild-card
series
against
the
Kansas
City
Royals
at
Camden
Yards
on
Tuesday.
In
addition,read more...
1
month
agoBaltimore
Orioles
rookie
infielder
Jackson
Holliday
is
not
in
the
starting
lineup
for
Game
1
of
the
wild-card
series
on
Tuesday
against
the
Kansas
City
Royals
at
Camden
Yards
with
a
lefty
on
the
mound.
Jordanread more...
1 month agoNew York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker (back) didn't play in the last four regular-season games and had his back taped up on Monday. If he's unavailable to play in the wild-card series this week against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field, the Mets have an opening for a left-handed hitter. As such, third baseman Brett Baty is currently on the taxi squad and could be added to the playoff roster if Winker isn't included. It sounds as though the 31-year-old Winker won't be available against Milwaukee. It would mean more action for veteran designated hitter J.D. Martinez against the Brewers, with Baty likely just filling a bench role for the Mets. After being acquired in a trade from the Washington Nationals at the deadline, Winker hit .243 (28-for-115) in New York with three homers, five doubles and 13 RBI in 44 games played.Source: Newsday - Tim Healey
1 month agoNew York Mets right-hander Tylor Megill was excluded from the roster for the wild-card series this week against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. The Mets added right-hander Max Kranick instead. Megill tossed 100 pitches over his 5 2/3 innings during Game 1 of the doubleheader against the division-rival Atlanta Braves on Monday in which the Mets punched their ticket to the 2024 postseason, so he was not going to be available to pitch in the three-game wild-card series this week anyway. However, if the Mets upset the Brew Crew and advance to the NLDS to face the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies, the 29-year-old Megill will most likely be added to the roster as a starter. In his 16 outings (15 starts) in his fourth year in New York, Megill went 4-5 with a career-best 4.04 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 91:32 K:BB in 78 innings. Kranick will serve in a long-relief role.Source: New York Post - Mike Puma