Brandon Woodruff Will Not be on NLCS Roster
Brandon Woodruff (lat) will not be on the National League Championship Series roster. NLCS Game 1 is on Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Milwaukee, but the right-hander has yet to begin playing catch, so there is no need to include him. The 32-year-old is working his way back from a right-lat strain and hasn't pitched since September 17. While it seems like a long shot, the veteran hurler has not ruled out the possibility of pitching in the World Series if the Brewers are able to advance past the Dodgers, although he could end up coming out of the bullpen rather than starting games after such a long layoff.
Source: Adam McCalvy
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Source: Adam McCalvy
Blake Snell Named Game 1 Starter for NLCS
Blake Snell has been named the starting pitcher for Monday's Game 1 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers. The southpaw finished the regular season strong, allowing one earned run over his final three starts (19 innings pitched), allowing a total of nine hits and five walks while striking out 28. The 32-year-old has carried that momentum into the postseason, allowing two earned runs over two starts (13 IP), yielding five hits and six walks while striking out 18. The 2x Cy Young winner did not face the Brewers during the regular season, but Milwaukee had the highest batting average (.286) and the third-highest wRC+ (118) versus left-handed pitchers from August 1 through the end of the season, so it should prove to be a challenging lineup for the veteran hurler.
Source: Jon Heyman
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Source: Jon Heyman
Chris Bassitt Joins ALCS Roster
Chris Bassitt (back) joins the roster ahead of the upcoming ALCS versus the Seattle Mariners. Bassitt was left off the ALDS roster while he nursed a back injury he suffered in the middle of September. He appears to be healthy now and ready to help this team in the postseason. It's unclear if he'll be used as a traditional starter or out of the bullpen. Bassitt posted a 3.96 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 166/52 K/BB ratio across 31 starts in the regular season. The 36-year-old isn't an elite pitcher, but certainly does give this pitching staff a boost for this series.
Source: Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Source: Toronto Blue Jays
Max Scherzer Added to ALCS Roster
Max Scherzer has been added to the roster ahead of the upcoming ALCS versus the Seattle Mariners. Scherzer was left off the ALDS roster, but figures to be needed for this upcoming best of seven series. The 41-year-old posted a 5.19 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 83/23 K/BB ratio across 17 starts in the regular season. Clearly his best days are behind him, but Scherzer can still be an asset to this roster. It's unclear if he'll be a traditional starter or be used in the bullpen. His postseason experience and presence is a good thing to have on this roster.
Source: Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Source: Toronto Blue Jays
Bryan Woo Makes ALCS Roster
Bryan Woo (pectoral) has made the ALCS roster against the Toronto Blue Jays in the upcoming best-of-seven series that starts in Toronto on Sunday night. Woo is back after missing the ALDS due to a pectoral issue. His return is a huge lift for this pitching staff in this seven-game series. Woo posted a 2.94 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and a 198/36 K/BB ratio across 30 starts in the regular season. It's unclear when he'll take the ball for Seattle or in what role, but having Woo on this roster is a significant boost for a Mariners team that already has a pretty solid pitching staff all the way around.
Source: Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Source: Seattle Mariners
Bo Bichette Won't Make ALCS Roster
Bo Bichette (knee) won't be on the ALCS roster for their series against the Seattle Mariners due to a knee sprain that has kept him out since early September. Bichette recently faced live pitching and was able to run the bases on Saturday. However, Bichette reportedly said he felt discomfort when running the bases. That being said, the Jays have decided to hold Bichette off the roster. Bichette has been sidelined since early September due to a right knee sprain. Hopefully, he'll be available for the World Series if the Jays manage to advance. Andres Gimenez has been filling in at shortstop for Bichette.
Source: Hazel Mae
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Source: Hazel Mae
Bo Bichette Resumes Running Ahead of ALCS
Bo Bichette (knee) faced live pitching on Friday and resumed running the bases on Saturday, according to manager John Schneider. That being said, Bichette remains questionable for the upcoming ALCS versus the Seattle Mariners. He's currently sidelined with a sprained knee, but appears to be making good progress. The Jays are likely going to wait until the last second before making their decision on Bichette. If he returns, Bichette would likely be limited to pinch-hitting or serving as the designated hitter. It doesn't sound like he's 100 percent healthy, so the Jays would likely try to limit him if he's active for the series.
Source: Ben Nicholson-Smith
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Source: Ben Nicholson-Smith
Kyle Tucker Unsure About Returning to Chicago
Kyle Tucker said he's unsure if he'll re-sign with the organization this offseason. As expected, Tucker is expected to head to free agency after his one season on the North Side. He was able to help the Cubs win a postseason series, but they ultimately fell short to the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. This season, Tucker slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 136 games. The left-handed slugger saw his numbers take a dive in the second half due to injuries. Despite that, Tucker will be one of the most coveted free agents this winter. Wherever he lands, Tucker is going to be an early round fantasy option next season.
Source: Jesse Rogers
Chicago Cubs outfielder Source: Jesse Rogers
Jordan Lawlar to Play Winter Ball
Jordan Lawlar is expected to switch positions this upcoming season. He came up as a shortstop, but that position is currently held by Geraldo Perdomo. The D-Backs attempted to put Lawlar at third base this past season, but he struggled defensively. The 23-year-old is at the point in his development where he should be contributing everyday at the MLB level. He has struggled during his brief time in the MLB, but hasn't been given a long look yet. Lawlar is set to play both third base and center field during winter ball this month. It'll be interesting to see which position he ends up settling in ahead of the 2026 season.
Source: mlb.com
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Source: mlb.com
Bryce Miller Named Game 1 Starter for ALCS
Bryce Miller has been named the Game 1 starter for the ALCS against the Toronto Blue Jays. The team has made it official that Miller will take the ball for the first game of the series on Sunday. Miller tossed 4.1 innings on Wednesday, so he'll be pitching on short rest. The right-hander did only throw 44 pitches during his latest outing, but figures to still have an abbreviated start. It's unclear who will follow Miller, but he'll at least get the first chance at it during Sunday's contest.
Source: Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Source: Seattle Mariners
Trevor Megill Starting Game 5 on Saturday
Trevor Megill has been named the opener for Saturday's Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the division-rival Chicago Cubs. It appears Megill will start in what will be a bullpen game for the Brewers in this elimination contest. The All-Star closer missed time down the stretch, but he has recorded some big outs for the Brewers in this series. It's unclear who is going to follow Megill, but the right-hander will likely only pitch the first inning.
Source: Adam McCalvy
Milwaukee Brewers right-handed relief pitcher Source: Adam McCalvy
Drew Pomeranz Named Opener for Game 5
Drew Pomeranz has been named the opener for Saturday's Game 5 of the NLDS versus the Milwaukee Brewers. It looks like the Cubs are using a bullpen game in this elimination contest. The veteran left-hander has been solid for the Cubs both in the regular season and postseason. So far, Pomeranz has allowed only one run across five innings this postseason. It's unclear who will follow Pomeranz, but the veteran southpaw figures to only pitch the opening frame.
Source: Maddie Lee
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Source: Maddie Lee
Miguel Rojas Planning to Retire Following 2026 Season
Miguel Rojas said that he plans to retire after the 2026 season, per Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation. Rojas also said he is hoping to finish his career with one more season of playing for the Dodgers. The 36-year-old slashed .262/.318/.397 with seven home runs, 27 RBI, 35 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 317 plate appearances this season for Los Angeles. He's been a useful utility infielder off the bench for the Dodgers since 2023, but is currently playing out his final season under contract with the team. Given Rojas' solid production for a bench player and his defensive versatility, it seems likely he'll find a home for the 2026 season.
Source: Dodgers Nation - Doug McKain
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Source: Dodgers Nation - Doug McKain
Kyle Finnegan Hoping to Return to Detroit in 2026?
Kyle Finnegan said he "loved every second of his time" in Detroit and hopes "the feeling is mutual," per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. The Tigers acquired Finnegan from the Washington Nationals in a mid-season deal. In 18 innings (16 games) for Detroit, the 24-year-old pitched to a 1.50 ERA and 0.72 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and four saves. Finnegan's season-long numbers are not as impressive, as he recorded a 3.47 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 57 combined innings with the Nationals and Tigers. Still, he will enter free agency as an experienced closer who has logged 112 saves since the start of the 2021 season.
Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
Detroit Tigers right-hander Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
Kevin Gausman Listed as Blue Jays' ALCS Game 1 Starter
Kevin Gausman is listed as the team's starting pitcher for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Gausman and the Blue Jays will take on the Seattle Mariners starting on Sunday. The 34-year-old went 10-11 with a 3.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 189 strikeouts in 193 innings (32 starts) for Toronto this season. He was excellent in one appearance in the ALDS against the New York Yankees, pitching 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball and recording the victory. In his lone start against Seattle this season, Gausman earned a win by pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing seven hits and three earned runs while walking none and striking out three.
Source: Sportsnet - Shi Davidi
Toronto Blue Jays veteran starting pitcher
Source: Sportsnet - Shi Davidi