Chris Taylor Earns Start In Game 1, Joc Pederson On Bench

Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman Chris Taylor will start Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus Milwaukee and left-hander Brent Suter at second base. Taylor gets the nod over Enrique Hernandez and Gavin Lux, as Edwin Rios will serve as the designated hitter in place of Joc Pederson. Taylor produced an .842 OPS during the regular […]

Edwin Rios Draws First Playoff Start In Game 1 Wednesday

Los Angeles Dodgers first/third baseman Edwin Rios will serve as the designated hitter for Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus Milwaukee and left-hander Brent Suter. Rios’ start will mark the first of his postseason career, and may also be an indication that manager Dave Roberts isn’t starting purely right-handed bats in response to Suter’s […]

Keston Hiura Drops To Eighth In Order For Game 1 Wednesday

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Keston Hiura will bat eighth for just the second time in his Major League career during Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus the Dodgers and right-hander Walker Buehler. Hiura was ice cold down the stretch of the regular season, last producing an extra-base hit back on Sept. 16. Hiura struck […]

Christian Yelich Moves To Leadoff Spot For Game 1 Wednesday

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich has been slotted into the leadoff spot for Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus the Dodgers and right-hander Walker Buehler. Yelich has not batted leadoff since 2018, with manager Craig Counsell significantly shaking up the lineup. Yelich finished the regular season in a malaise, going 2-for-21 with eight strikeouts […]

Nelson Cruz Hopes To Return In 2021 After MVP-Like Campaign

Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz was one of the Majors’ preeminent power threats for the entirety of the 2020 season. Finishing the year with the eighth-highest OPS in the bigs (.992), Cruz said following his club’s elimination from the postseason Wednesday that he hoped to be back next season. The veteran turns 41 next […]

Brett Gardner Starts Over Clint Frazier Again Wednesday

New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner will remain in the starting lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus Cleveland, leaving Clint Frazier on the bench. Gardner went 3-for-5 with a home run during Game 1, unlikely to lose his spot after such a performance. Despite manager Aaron Boone talking up Frazier as of […]

Gary Sanchez Returns To Lineup For Game 2 Wednesday

New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez is back among the starting nine for Game 2 of Wednesday's wild-card series versus Cleveland and right-handed pitcher Carlos Carrasco. Sanchez will bat in the No. 9 spot for the first time in his Major League career amidst having hit .147 during 49 regular-season contests. With Kyle Higashioka having […]

Nick Senzel Bats Leadoff For Game 1 Wednesday

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Senzel has become the team’s preferred center field option against left-handed pitching down the stretch, but he was shifted to the leadoff spot for the first time since Aug. 11 for Game 1 of the wild-card series versus Atlanta and left-handed pitcher Max Fried on Wednesday. Senzel’s spot atop the lineup […]

Jose Urquidy Officially Tabbed As Game 2 Starter Wednesday

Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Jose Urquidy will start Game 2 of the club’s wild-card series versus Minnesota on Wednesday. Urquidy made just five starts during the regular season, but amassed a 2.73 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. With the remainder of the Houston rotation behind Zack Greinke in flux, Urquidy’s presence likely confirms that Lance McCullers […]

Chad Wallach Starts Game 1 Wednesday, Jorge Alfaro Sits

Miami Marlins catcher Chad Wallach will be behind the dish to catch right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcantara for Game 1 of the wild-card series versus the Cubs. Wallach appeared in 15 games during the regular season and produced a .640 OPS, with manager Don Mattingly opting for his defensive abilities over those of Jorge Alfaro, whose […]

Yandy Diaz Returns To Lineup, Bats Cleanup In Game 2

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Yandy Diaz (hamstring) is officially back among the starting nine for Game 2 on Wednesday of the wild-card series versus Toronto and left-handed pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu. Diaz’s start will mark his first since Aug. 31, having been sidelined due to a strained right hamstring. Having delivered a .428 on-base percentage […]

Matt Davidson, Travis Jankowski Make Wild-Card Series Roster

Cincinnati Reds first baseman/designated hitter Matt Davidson and outfielder Travis Jankowski have been selected for the club’s wild-card series roster against Atlanta prior to Game 1 on Wednesday. Both have a very specific role, with Davidson likely to be utilized as a reserve bat against left-handed pitching, with three of his four regular-season hits versus […]

Kris Bryant Returns To No. 3 Slot For Game 1 Wednesday

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is back to batting in the top third of the order for Game 1 of the wild-card series Wednesday versus Miami and right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcantara. Bryant had been shifted to the Nos. 5 and 4 slots for the final three games of the regular season, where he ended […]

Cristian Pache, Pablo Sandoval Join Wild-Card Series Roster

Atlanta Braves outfielder Cristian Pache and first/third baseman Pablo Sandoval were both added to the club’s wild-card series roster prior to Game 1 on Wednesday. Pache, Atlanta’s top prospect and the No. 10 overall prospect in the Majors, received just four regular-season at-bats, but figures to be utilized for his defensive acumen and baserunning abilities. […]

Alex Kirilloff Makes MLB Debut In Game 2

Minnesota Twins outfielder Alex Kirilloff will make both his Major League debut and postseason debut Wednesday against Houston and right-hander Jose Urquidy in Game 2 of the wild-card series. Kirilloff, Minnesota’s No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, enters the lineup in place of Byron Buxton, with the rookie batting sixth. Never having played above Double-A, […]

Aristides Aquino, Kyle Farmer Draw Starts In Game 1 Wednesday

Cincinnati Reds outfielder/designated hitter Aristides Aquino and infielder Kyle Farmer are both among the starting nine for Wednesday’s Game 1 of the wild-card series versus Atlanta and left-hander Max Fried. The duo enter the lineup due to the platoon nature of the Cincinnati order, with both having DFS upside due to their low price tags; […]

Steelers Defense Could Face Titans After Hectic Week

The Pittsburgh Steelers Defense was going to enter Week 4 as a premier unit no matter the circumstances. But after a COVID-19 outbreak within the Tennessee organization where multiple players and personnel tested positive (but were asymptomatic), Pittsburgh will face an offense that likely won’t be able to practice for the entire week. Titans running […]

Chris Herndon Could See Increased Role In Week 4

New York Jets tight end Chris Herndon has fluctuated between being a critical component in the team’s offense and disappearing from the gameplan. Heading into Week 4, Herndon may be relied upon more than usual with all three of New York’s top receivers carrying questionable designations as of Tuesday night. Their respective statuses for Thursday […]

Dede Westbrook Firmly Supplanted As Key Cog In Jaguars Offense

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Dede Westbrook has hauled in just one reception for four yards this season, with the time that he has seen due primarily to DJ Chark Jr.’s absence last Thursday versus Miami. After back-to-back seasons with 66 receptions, Westbrook will have an uphill battle to that level of production in 2020 due […]

49ers Defense Still High-End Season-Long Option

The San Francisco 49ers Defense may have sustained significant blows by losing Nick Bosa (knee) and Solomon Thomas (knee) for the remainder of the season in Week 2, but that didn’t stop them from looking strong against the Giants in Week 3. Looking ahead, they’ll face a rocky Eagles offense that has had to answer […]

Allen Lazard Holds Considerable Flex Appeal In Week 4

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard benefited greatly from Davante Adams’ (hamstring) absence during Week 3, amassing six receptions for a career-high 146 receiving yards and a touchdown. Should Adams continue to be sidelined this Sunday against Atlanta, Lazard would track up the board as a premier WR option due to the Falcons’ propensity […]

Giants Add Alfred Morris To Practice Squad

The New York Giants have inked veteran running back Alfred Morris to the team’s practice squad in a continued attempt to bolster their backfield situation in light of Saquon Barkley’s (knee) season-ending injury. Morris last appeared in 2019 in one game for the Cardinals, receiving just one carry for four yards. His best days came […]

Earl Thomas' Workout With Houston Postponed

Free-agent safety Earl Thomas was set to have a workout with the Houston Texans on Tuesday, but COVID-19-related protocol scuttled that meeting. Things had advanced between the two sides to the point that Thomas had already taken a physical with the organization. Released by Baltimore during training camp following an altercation with a teammate, the […]

Masahiro Tanaka Eyes First Career Win In Cleveland Wednesday

New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will make his fourth career start at Progressive Field on Wednesday during Game 2 of the club’s wild-card series versus Cleveland. While Tuesday’s result dictates if the Yankees’ season will be on the line, Tanaka will be eyeing his first win in Cleveland for his career, having posted […]

Chris Bassitt Tabbed With Keeping A’s Season Alive Wednesday

Oakland Athletics right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt will get the start in Game 2 of the wild-card series versus the White Sox, with his club needing to win to force a decisive Game 3. After Chicago hammered a trio of home runs in Game 1 -- two coming off left-hander Jesus Luzardo -- the Majors’ second-best […]

Walker Buehler Has No Blister Concerns Ahead Of Game 1

Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler enters his Game 1 start of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus Milwaukee with no blister concerns, saying that the ailment is “fine.” Buehler was limited to just eight starts during the regular season due to recurring blister problems, but when on the mound, he has shown the flashes of […]

Texas Not Planning On Releasing Rougned Odor, Elvis Andrus

The Texas Rangers have a financial conundrum in the form of their middle infield duo of Rougned Odor and Elvis Andrus, as both are under contract for at least the next two years, with Odor having a team option and Andrus having a vesting option in 2023. But general manager Jon Daniels revealed Tuesday that […]

Chris Paddack Will Start Game 1 Wednesday

San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Chris Paddack has been tabbed as the team’s starter for Game 1 of the wild-card series versus St. Louis on Wednesday. With righties Mike Clevinger (biceps) and Dinelson Lamet (biceps) still working their respective ways back, the club has made the call to tab Paddack, who produced a 4.73 ERA […]

Terrance Gore Likely To Be On Wild-Card Roster

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Terrance Gore has a “good chance” of making the club’s wild-card series roster versus Milwaukee, which will officially be released Wednesday, per manager Dave Roberts. Gore appeared in two games for the Dodgers during the regular season, once as a pinch-runner and once as a defensive replacement. He offers little by […]

Corey Kluber Unlikely To Have 2021 Option Picked Up

Texas Rangers right-handed pitcher Corey Kluber is not likely to have his $18 million team option picked up for the 2021 season, per general manager Jon Daniels. While it’s possible that Kluber could return on a lesser contract, Daniels’ approach to free agency indicates that the club will not go out of it’s way to […]