15 hours agoThe Arizona Diamondbacks included rookie shortstop Jordan Lawlar on their roster for the wild-card series this week against the Milwaukee Brewers. Arizona's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was called up from Triple-A Reno on Sept. 7 and went just 4-for-31 (.129) with no home runs or RBI, one stolen base, 11 strikeouts and two runs scored in his first 34 plate appearances over 14 games. The 21-year-old is plenty talented, though, so the Diamondbacks will include him as a potential spark off their bench on the road in Milwaukee this week. In 105 games on the farm before his call-up this year, Lawlar had 20 home runs and 36 stolen bases.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Diamondbacks Twitter

15 hours agoMinnesota Twins infielder Royce Lewis (hamstring) was included on the team's roster for the wild-card series and is serving as the designated hitter and batting third on Tuesday against Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman. Lewis hasn't played since Sept. 19 due to a mild left-hamstring strain and isn't quite 100 percent, but he was good enough to be included on the postseason roster and will likely serve exclusively as Minnesota's DH in this series against Toronto. The 24-year-old missed extensive time due to injury this year, but he was great when on the diamond, slashing .309/.372/.548 with a .921 OPS, 15 home runs, 52 RBI, six stolen bases and 36 runs scored in 217 at-bats. Lewis has two hits and an RBI in his only two at-bats against Gausman.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

15 hours agoTexas Rangers outfielder Robbie Grossman is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third for the Rangers in Game 1 of the wild-card series on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Tyler Glasnow. Grossman, a switch-hitter, has fared much better against left-handers than righties this year, although he's never faced Glasnow in his career and faces a tough challenge to kick off the postseason. The 34-year-old veteran outfielder hit just .206 (50-for-243) with five of his 10 homers against right-handed pitching in 2023. Grossman is coming into this game on a cold streak, too, going 3-for-22 (.136) with no homers or RBI, eight strikeouts and no runs scored in his final nine games of the regular season.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

15 hours agoThe Philadelphia Phillies left All-Star right-hander Michael Lorenzen off the roster for the wild-card series against the Miami Marlins this week but included rookie reliever Orion Kerkering and rookie corner outfielder/infielder Weston Wilson. Kerkering, the team's No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline, struck out six in three scoreless innings of relief after being called up in late September. He gives the Phils yet another high-leverage strikeout arm for the back end of the bullpen after starting the 2023 season with Single-A Clearwater. Lorenzen made the All-Star team this year and threw a no-hitter on Aug. 9 for the Phillies, but he had a rough 8.01 ERA in his last 30 1/3 innings and had been moved to the bullpen to close out the regular season. Wilson had a career year in the minors and will give Philadelphia an extra right-handed bench bat.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Philadelphia - Corey Seidman

15 hours agoTexas Rangers right-hander Jonathan Hernandez (shoulder) was left off the roster for the wild-card series against the Tampa Bay Rays this week due to a shoulder injury. The 27-year-old reliever finished the 2023 regular season strong out of Texas' bullpen, but he was very inconsistent all year and finished with a 1-2 record, 5.40 ERA (4.55 FIP), 1.58 WHIP, 15 walks and 34 strikeouts in 31 2/3 relief innings in his fourth big-league season. The 27-year-old could be ready to return to the team's bullpen if they advance past the Rays and to the American League Division Series.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant

15 hours agoThe Milwaukee Brewers kept outfielder Garrett Mitchell off the roster for the wild-card series this week against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mitchell missed the vast majority of the 2023 regular season after having surgery to fix a subluxation in his shoulder, but he was able to return for the final four games of the regular season last weekend, going 1-for-7 with three walks and two strikeouts. Apparently the Brewers weren't sold that he was one of their best outfielders to begin the postseason, though. The 25-year-old will stay busy in the meantime and hope the team advances to the National League Division Series. Mark Canha, Sal Frelick, Blake Perkins, Tyrone Taylor, Joey Wiemer, Jesse Winker and Christian Yelich will be the team's outfielders for the wild-card series.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Brewers Twitter

16 hours agoAs expected, Minnesota Twins outfielder/designated hitter Byron Buxton (knee) did not make the team's roster for the wild-card series this week against the Toronto Blue Jays. Meanwhile, infielders Royce Lewis (hamstring) and Carlos Correa (foot) are on the roster. Buxton hasn't played in the big leagues since Aug. 1 due to a knee injury that he aggravated during a minor-league rehab assignment. The 29-year-old really hasn't been 100 percent all year and has yet to play the outfield for Minnesota in 2023. He'll have a chance to return if the Twins advance to the American League Division Series. It's been yet another injury-filled year for Buxton, as he played in just 85 games and hit .207/.294/.438 with 17 home runs, 42 RBI, nine stolen bases and 49 runs scored in 347 plate appearances.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Twins Twitter

16 hours agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder Jose Siri (hand) is on the roster for the wild-card series against the Texas Rangers and is starting in center field and hitting eighth on Tuesday against left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Meanwhile, Luke Raley (neck), who has been dealing with a cervical strain the last two weeks, will have to hope the team advances to the American League Division Series. Siri missed the last three weeks with a hairline fracture in his right hand, so it remains to be seen how effective he'll be at the plate in this series. The 28-year-old hit just .222 (75-for-338), but he did produce a career-high 25 home runs and also stole 12 bases for the Rays in the regular season in 101 games played.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Bally Sports Florida - Tricia Whitaker

1 day agoAtlanta Braves infielder/outfielder Ehire Adrianza elected free agency on Monday after clearing waivers and being removed from the team's 40-man roster last week. Because of elbow and shoulder injuries, Adrianza missed most of the 2023 season and managed to play in only five games for Atlanta, going hitless in 11 plate appearances with a walk and four strikeouts. In 15 games for Triple-A Gwinnett and High-A Rome, he went 10-for-47 (.213) with no home runs, four RBI, a steal and four runs scored. The 34-year-old veteran utilityman will likely have to settle for a minor-league deal on the free-agent market this winter.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano

1 day agoToronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Chris Bassitt will get the ball for Game 3's wild-card series game against the Twins if the series goes that far, per Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale. Bassitt would be opposed by Joe Ryan. The 34-year-old had an up-and-down season but finished well overall, going 16-8 with a 3.60 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 22.5% strikeout rate in 33 starts over exactly 200 innings pitched. Bassitt only faced the Twins once during the regular season and got shelled, allowing seven runs on nine hits (including two home runs) and two walks with five strikeouts in just four IP.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Bobby Nightengale - Twitter.com

1 day agoMinnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan will start Game 3 of the wild-card series against the Blue Jays if the series lasts that long, per Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale. Ryan would face Chris Bassitt on the other side. The 27-year-old had a very strong start to the season but was once again plagued by home runs issues and finished with an 11-10 record, a 4.51 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, a 29.3% strikeout rate, and a 1.78 HR/9 rate in 29 starts over 161 2/3 innings pitched. Ryan only faced the Blue Jays once during the regular season, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk with four strikeouts over six IP.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Bobby Nightengale - Twitter.com

1 day agoPhiladelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (elbow) participated in the wild-card pre-series workout Monday and is ready to play on Tuesday against the Marlins, per The Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber. Turner was hit by a pitch in Saturday's game against the Mets, but manager Rob Thomson said Monday, "He's fine, he'll be in the lineup." The 30-year-old relied on a strong second half to bring his total slash line to a respectable .266/.320/.459 with 26 home runs, 76 RBI, and 30 stolen bases in 691 plate appearances.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Scott Lauber - MLB.com

1 day agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly is in line to start Game 3 of the wild-card series on Thursday on the road against the Brewers if it is needed. His potential opposing starter has not yet been named. The veteran compiled his second consecutive strong season, going 12-8 with a 3.29 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 25.9% strikeout rate in 30 starts over 177 2/3 innings pitched. Kelly faced the Brewers twice during the regular season, allowing four runs in 13 IP with 14 strikeouts and five walks.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

1 day agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola will start Game 2 against the Marlins in Wednesday's wild-card matchup. Braxton Garrett will oppose him on the mound. The 30-year-old continued his string of inconsistent seasons in 2023, going 12-9 with a 4.46 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 25.5% strikeout rate in 32 starts over 193 2/3 innings pitched. He faced the Marlins three times during the regular season and did not fare well, allowing 13 runs (12 earned) in 16 IP with 18 strikeouts, no walks, and five home runs.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

1 day agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen is slated to start Game 2 of the wild-card series on Wednesday on the road against the Brewers. His opposing starter has not yet been named. The 28-year-old had a solid season overall, going 17-9 with a 3.47 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 26.0% strikeout rate in 34 starts over 210 innings pitched. However, his second half was not as strong with a 4.03 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 25.4% ERA in 15 starts. Both of Gallen's starts against the Brewers in the regular season came in the first half, in which he allowed a single run over 14 IP with 15 strikeouts and two walks.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com