October 9, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed reliever
Tanner Scott (lower body) was removed from the team's roster during the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies after having a lower-body abscess procedure, according to manager Dave Roberts. Scott, who had not appeared out of L.A.'s bullpen at all during the postseason, will be replaced on the roster by
Justin Wrobleski. Roberts did not rule out Scott's availability if the Dodgers advance to a second straight World Series. Given Scott's struggles at the back end of the bullpen in his first year with the team in 2025, it's probably unlikely that he 31-year-old southpaw would be back on the World Series roster if they advance. Scott went 1-4 during the regular season with an elevated 4.74 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 23 saves, and 60 K's in 57 innings. Rookie right-hander
Roki Sasaki saved the first two wins in the series against Philly and is now the favorite for saves the rest of the playoffs.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
October 9, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman
Max Muncy will take a seat again with a left-hander on the mound in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Thursday against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies and southpaw
Cristopher Sanchez.
Enrique Hernandez will make the start at the hot corner and will hit eighth against Sanchez. Muncy, who really struggled in lefty-lefty matchups in 2025, also started on the bench in two games earlier this series against lefty starters. The 35-year-old veteran is a good bet to come on late in the game as at least a pinch-hitter, though, as the Dodgers look to finish off the series and advance to the NL Championship Series against either the Milwaukee Brewers or Chicago Cubs. Hernandez has extensive postseason experience in his career and has gone 6-for-18 (.333) with two doubles and four RBI in five playoff games this year. He has three hits in 11 career at-bats against Sanchez, including a double, a home run, five RBI, and two walks.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
October 9, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Freddy Peralta will start Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Thursday at Wrigley Field against the division-rival Chicago Cubs, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Peralta will hope to close out the series with a win to send the Brew Crew to the NL Championship Series this weekend against either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Philadelphia Phillies. The 29-year-old is the right man for the job and pitched well in the Game 1 win in Milwaukee on Saturday against the Cubbies, allowing two runs while punching out nine batters in 5 2/3 innings of work. The Dominican hurler was quietly one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in 2025, going 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 204 K's in 33 starts. Peralta made four starts against Chicago during the regular season, posting a 3-1 record, 3.43 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 22:10 K:BB in 21 innings pitched.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
October 9, 2025
Chicago Cubs left-hander
Matthew Boyd is expected to start Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Thursday at Wrigley Field against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. Boyd will be hoping to bounce back on Thursday and send the NLDS to a fifth and deciding game back in Milwaukee on Saturday. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw was Chicago's most consistent starter all year long, but he allowed six runs (two earned) and recorded just two outs in the first inning in his disastrous Game 1 start last weekend. The good news is that Boyd has pitched much better at the friendly confines of Wrigley this year than on the road. Boyd didn't fare well against the Brew Crew in his two regular-season starts against them, either, giving up nine earned runs on 12 hits (two homers) while walking eight and striking out only five in 10 1/3 total innings.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
October 9, 2025
New York Yankees right-handed reliever
Devin Williams is eligible to become a free agent at the conclusion of this year's World Series, and it's unclear whether he'll be an option to re-sign. "I'm definitely open to that. Takes two parties for that, but I would definitely be open to it," Williams said when asked if he was open to coming back to the Bronx in 2026 and beyond. The 31-year-old's first season in pinstripes in 2025 didn't go as planned. The two-time All-Star and former National League Rookie of the Year finished the regular season with a career-worst 4.79 ERA (2.68 FIP) and 1.13 WHIP with 18 saves, 90 strikeouts, and 25 walks in 62 innings out of the bullpen. Williams was eventually replaced in the closer's role in the Bronx, but his 2.68 FIP shows that his surface numbers in 2025 were a bit unlucky. He could bounce back in 2026, but Williams' fantasy appeal as a closer might be better off if he signs elsewhere.
--Keith HernandezSource: Newsday Sports - Anthony Rieber
October 9, 2025
When asked about the injured elbow he dealt with this year, New York Yankees outfielder
Aaron Judge (elbow) said, "We'll definitely do some work on it and get it right." When asked if that could mean having offseason surgery, Judge added, "I'm not a doctor. I don't know." Judge went on the 10-day injured list in late July due to a flex strain in his right elbow, but he spent the minimum number of days on the IL and returned to a designated hitter role in New York. The 33-year-old former MVP didn't return to right-field duties for a month, but he was able to play defense in the final few weeks of the regular season and for the two postseason series. Now that the Bombers are eliminated from the playoffs, Judge will focus on getting his elbow right for 2026. If he does go under the knife, the elite fantasy asset could be in danger of not being ready for Opening Day.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
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
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