October 8, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder
Harrison Bader (groin) is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's Game 3 versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bader was a game-time decision coming into this game after suffering a groin injury in Game 1. As a result, Bader was out of the starting lineup in Game 2 and will begin this contest on the bench. The expectation is that Bader will be available off the bench once again as a pinch-hitter. In his absence,
Brandon Marsh will cover center field and bat fifth versus right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
October 8, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher
Will Smith (hand) is in the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's Game 3 of the NLDS versus the Philadelphia Phillies. This marks the first time this postseason that Smith has been in the starting lineup. Smith has been sidelined lately due to a fractured hand. Despite that, Smith was able to deliver a clutch hit off the bench in Game 2. He's feeling good enough to start behind the plate and will bat fifth versus right-hander
Aaron Nola.
Ben Rortvedt will head to the bench with Smith resuming his starting catching duties.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
October 8, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Anthony Santander will remain in the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's Game 4 versus the New York Yankees. Santander will stick in the lineup after going 1-for-4 with two RBI during Game 3. He'll cover right field and bat seventh versus right-hander
Cam Schlittler on Wednesday. Santander does have good pop with the bat, but Schlittler is a tough pitcher to hit. The right-hander is coming off eight shutout innings and 12 strikeouts during the Wild Card round. The Jays will take the defensive downgrade with Santander and hope he's able to do something with his power upside.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
October 8, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Davis Schneider will head to the bench ahead of Wednesday's Game 4 of the ALDS versus the New York Yankees. Schneider will find himself out of the lineup after going 2-for-6 with two walks during two games during this series. This seems like more of a matchup decision to get the left-handed hitting
Nathan Lukes in the lineup against right-hander
Cam Schlittler. Lukes will bat second and play left field during Wednesday's contest. He won't be much of a DFS option here given how well Schlittler has been pitching lately.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
October 8, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman
Addison Barger is in the starting lineup for Wednesday's Game 4 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees. It has been a quiet series for Barger who is currently 1-for-7 during his two games in this series. He'll get a chance to snap out of his slump during Wednesday's contest. Barger will bat cleanup and play third base versus right-hander
Cam Schlittler. This won't be an ideal matchup for Barger against Schlittler who tossed eight shutout innings during the Wild Card round.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
October 8, 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays are going with a bullpen game on Wednesday against the division-rival New York Yankees in Game 4 of the American League Division Series in the Bronx, and rookie right-hander
Trey Yesavage will be available out of the bullpen, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Toronto is using right-hander
Louis Varland as its opener and will piece things together from there as they look to clinch the series and advance to the AL Championship Series. In the Game 2 win on Sunday, the 22-year-old Yesavage was dominant, fanning 11 batters in 5 1/3 hitless innings with 78 pitches thrown. Yesavage will probably only enter Wednesday's game if the Jays have a lead in the latter portion of the contest. If necessary, right-hander
Kevin Gausman would likely start a deciding Game 5 back in Canada on Friday. Per MLB Pipeline, Yesavage is the No. 4 right-handed pitching prospect in baseball.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
October 8, 2025
Colorado Rockies interim manager Warren Schaefer revealed that right-hander
Antonio Senzatela will be "viewed as a reliever" going into the 2026 season, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. After having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2023, Senzatela struggled in 2025, going 4-15 with a 6.65 ERA in 30 appearances (23 starts). The 30-year-old battled an ongoing blister issue on his right middle finger and had a rough 7.42 ERA as a starter, which led Colorado to move him to the bullpen in late August. He was much better as a reliever, posting a 2.86 ERA with 14 strikeouts and nine walks in seven appearances out of the bullpen. In his career as a reliever, Senzatela has a 3.86 ERA in 33 appearances. Senzatela also threw the five fastest pitches of his career in a Sept. 7 relief appearance against the Padres. A return to the rotation may not be out of the question, but for now, it looks like Senzatela has become a long reliever for one of the worst teams in baseball.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Thomas Harding
October 8, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop
Bo Bichette (knee) is in New York and was seen jogging without a brace on his knee in the Yankee Stadium outfield on Wednesday before Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Bichette jogged three times in the outfield for about 50 yards and then slowly walked back to the team's trainers. Bannon writes that Bichette "still seems to have a limp when walking." The 27-year-old All-Star is not on the roster for the ALDS due to a left-knee sprain that has kept him out since Sept. 6, but he's trying to make himself available for the AL Championship Series if Toronto advances. Running full speed without pain is the last box he needs to check to be cleared to return to the field. Getting Bichette back for a playoff run would be a massive boost to a Blue Jays team that has still been putting up runs in bunches so far without him.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
October 8, 2025
New York Yankees first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt is making the start at first base on Wednesday over
Ben Rice in Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays, with right-hander
Louis Varland serving as an opener in what will be a bullpen game for the Jays. Manager Aaron Boone explained that he wanted more balance in the lineup in Toronto's bullpen game. Goldy is batting sixth against Varland as the Yanks look to stave off elimination for a second straight day. This will be the 38-year-old's first start in the ALDS and his second of the 2025 playoffs. In his eight plate appearances over five games in the postseason so far this year, Goldschmidt has been hot, with four hits, a run scored, and a strikeout. He did not record a hit in his only career plate appearance against Varland.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Greg Joyce
October 8, 2025
Chicago Cubs rookie right-hander
Cade Horton's (rib) light bullpen session went "really well" on Tuesday, according to manager Craig Counsell. Horton is now scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Friday, per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. The 24-year-old suffered a fractured right rib at the very end of the regular season and wasn't included on the playoff roster for the wild-card series against the San Diego Padres or for the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. It's possible that Horton could be available for the Cubbies later this month, but they first have to climb out of a 2-0 hole in a best-of-five series against Milwaukee. The former first-rounder looked great in his first 23 MLB games (22 starts) during the regular season, going 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 97:33 K:BB in 118 innings. Horton should be guaranteed a rotation spot going into the 2026 season, which will be his first full year in the Show.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chicago Sun-Times - Maddie Lee
October 8, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
Jackson Chourio (hamstring) is starting in left field and is hitting second for Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday at Wrigley Field against the division-rival Chicago Cubs and right-hander
Jameson Taillon. Chourio was pulled from the Game 1 win on Saturday with right-hamstring tightness, and he left the contest early again in the Game 2 win in Milwaukee on Monday. It has helped that the 21-year-old has had a day off between each game of the series, which will allow him to return for Game 3 as he looks to continue swinging a hot bat against Chicago. Through the first two games, Chourio has gone 5-for-7 with a home run and six RBI. Chourio has swung the bat well in his career against Taillon, too, going 7-for-13 against him with a home run and four RBI. Another big game could be coming.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
October 8, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that rookie right-hander
Roki Sasaki is "definitely the primary option" in save situations moving forward in the playoffs, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. Roberts added that he initially didn't go to Sasaki in the Game 2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series on Monday night because the team is still "being mindful of his workload." "There's a component that we still have to win X amount more games. And he's not gonna close every game. It's just not feasible. So you've got to use other guys. But if it makes sense, he'll definitely be finishing games," Roberts said. The 23-year-old struggled early on in his first MLB season and then missed most of the year with an injury, but Sasaki has transitioned well to a relief role for the playoffs and has the most trustworthy stuff right now for a Dodgers 'pen that has been by far their weakness in 2025. Sasaki has saved both of the team's NLDS wins to this point.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Times - Jack Harris
October 8, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Louis Varland will make the start in Game 4 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday against the division-rival New York Yankees in the Bronx, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. It is a bullpen game for Toronto as they try to close out the series in New York and head to the AL Championship Series against either the Seattle Mariners or Detroit Tigers. Varland has pitched in each of the first three games of the ALDS against the Yankees and has allowed two earned runs on three hits while striking out three in 2 2/3 relief frames. The 27-year-old will be one to avoid in DFS on Wednesday, as he likely will only go an inning or two. Varland began the year with Minnesota before joining Toronto at the trade deadline. He had a 4.94 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 28:9 K:BB in 23 outings (one start) for the Jays after joining them at midseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
October 7, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop prospect
Aidan Miller will not play in the Arizona Fall League due to "some nagging things physically," according to farm director Luke Murton. The Phillies are choosing rest for Miller after a long season that ended with him at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Per MLB Pipeline, Miller is Philly's No. 2 prospect, behind only right-hander
Andrew Painter. The 21-year-old former 27th overall pick in 2023 played for Double-A Reading and Lehigh Valley this year and hit a combined .264/.392/.433 with an .825 OPS, 14 home runs, 42 RBI, 82 runs scored, and a whopping 59 stolen bases in 116 games. He only spent eight games at Triple-A. It's unclear if Miller will stick at shortstop in the long run or eventually move to third base, but either way, he's a pure hitter with elite speed. If he shows well at Lehigh Valley early in 2026, Miller should be on track to make his big-league debut next season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
October 7, 2025
Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian said over the weekend that left-hander
Reid Detmers (elbow) will move back into the team's starting rotation next season, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Detmers ended the 2025 campaign on the 60-day injured list due to a left-elbow injury, but he's expected to be recovered by the start of next year and will be stretched out as a starter after spending all of 2024 in a relief role. The 26-year-old southpaw bounced back nicely in 61 relief appearances (63 2/3 innings), posting a 3.96 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 80 strikeouts, 25 walks, and his first three career saves. It was good to see after Detmers had a bloated 6.70 ERA in 17 starts for the Halos in 2024. The former first-rounder has had trouble with the long ball and has been very inconsistent in Anaheim, but his strikeout upside will make him a starting pitcher sleeper in fantasy drafts next spring.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
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