MLB News
Frankie Montas To Start Wild-Card Game 2 On Wednesday
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Frankie Montas will take the mound in Wednesday's must-win wild-card Game 2 against the Mets. He will be opposed by Sean Manaea. Montas had an inconsistent regular season with the Reds and Brewers, going 7-11 with a 4.84 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and a 22.6% strikeout rate in 30 starts and 150 2/3 innings pitched. The 31-year-old faced the Mets once this season in his last start, allowing two runs on two hits (including a home run) and three walks with six strikeouts through four innings. The Brewers kept Freddie Peralta on a short leash in Game 1's 8-4 loss, so it would not be surprising if they treated Montas the same.
3 hours ago
Tyler Holton To Open Wild-Card Game 2 On Wednesday
The Detroit Tigers announced on Tuesday that relief pitcher Tyler Holton will serve as the opener for Wednesday's wild-card Game 2 against the Astros. The 28-year-old made an appearance in Game 1's 3-1 win, recording a single out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Holton excelled as both an opener and late-inning reliever throughout the regular season, going 7-2 with eight saves and 14 holds with a 2.19 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP, and a 21.8% strikeout rate in 66 appearances (nine starts) and 94 1/3 IP. He offers intriguing fantasy value given his late-inning role, although that value will be capped in 2025 if he continues to serve part-time as an opener.
3 hours ago
Hunter Brown Starting Game 2 On Wednesday
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown will be called upon to keep the team's playoff hopes alive in Wednesday's wild-card Game 2 against the Tigers. The 26-year-old enjoyed a strong second half of the regular season, bringing his totals to 11-9 with a 3.49 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and a 25.1% strikeout rate in 31 appearances (30 starts) and 170 innings pitched. He owns a 1.69 post-season ERA in 10 2/3 IP, but this will be his first post-season start. Brown had two successful starts against the Tigers in the regular season, allowing just one run in 12 IP with 16 strikeouts.
3 hours ago
Luis Severino Tosses Quality Start For Wild-Card Game 1 Win
New York Mets starting pitcher Luis Severino got the job done in Tuesday's wild-card Game 1 8-4 win over the Brewers. Severino pitched six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts. He also hit a batter. The 30-year-old has changed his game approach from earlier in his career but had a successful regular season, going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and a 21.2% strikeout rate in 31 starts and 182 IP. He will turn things over to Sean Manaea for Wednesday's Game 2 with the opportunity to clinch a spot in the National Leagues Division Series with a road sweep.
3 hours ago
Fernando Tatis Jr. Powers Offense In Game 1 With Homer
San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. got things started in Tuesday's wild-card Game 1 4-0 win against the Braves. Tatis Jr. went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk. The 25-year-old wasted no time getting the offense going, launching a first-inning AJ Smith-Shawver first-pitch fastball deep into the left-field seats to ignite the Padres faithful. Tatis Jr. had another overall successful regular season, slashing .276/.340/.492 with 21 HR, 61 runs scored, 49 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 438 plate appearances. He has only reached 600 plate appearances once in his career, but there is no doubt that Tatis Jr. is one of fantasy's best offensive options on a game-by-game basis.
3 hours ago
Michael King Fans 12 In Wild-Card Game 1 Win
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King was locked in for Tuesday's wild-card Game 1 4-0 win over the Braves. King pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and no walks with 12 strikeouts. The 29-year-old's performance made him just the third pitcher ever to record at least 10 strikeouts with no walks in his first postseason start. King had a great first season with the Padres, going 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 27.7% strikeout rate. He should be a fantasy target in 2025, and his stock could jump even higher if he gets more post-season opportunities to impress.
4 hours ago
Tarik Skubal Tosses Six Scoreless Innings For Game 1 Wild-Card Win
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal dealt with several health scares but earned the win in Tuesday's Game 1 wild-card 3-1 game against the Astros. Skubal pitched six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk with six strikeouts. The 27-year-old lefty took a comebacker off the base of his glove hand in the second inning and worked through cramping in the sixth inning. Skubal became just the third pitcher in Tigers history to post a scoreless outing of six or more innings in his postseason debut. This followed a regular season where he led the American League in ERA, wins, and strikeouts. Skubal emerged as a fantasy ace this season and will look to continue into the playoffs.
4 hours ago
Zach Eflin To Start Game 2 For Baltimore
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin has been named the team's starter for Game 2 in a must-win contest on Wednesday at Camden Yards in the wild-card series versus the visiting Kansas City Royals. Baltimore's backs are against the wall in the three-game series after losing to the Royals 1-0 on Tuesday despite an excellent showing from right-handed starter Corbin Burnes. They'll now turn to Eflin, who allowed three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings for a no-decision in his last start of the year on Sept. 25 against the New York Yankees. The 30-year-old pitched well in nine starts for the O's, though, after being acquired from the Rays at the trade deadline in July, posting a 2.60 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 47 K's and 11 walks in 55 1/3 innings. Eflin's lone start against KC this year while with the Rays didn't go so well, as he allowed six runs (five earned) with a walk and three K's in five innings, although he recorded a win.
9 hours ago
Cole Ragans Pulled Early From Game 1 Start Due To Cramps
Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (calf) was pulled from his start early on Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards in Game 1 of the wild-card series with left-calf cramps. Ragans said his leg cramped up with two batters left in his final inning and could have gone back out. He will be ready to go in the ALDS against the New York Yankees if the Royals advance past the Orioles this week. Before departing, Ragans threw six shutout innings with four hits allowed, no walks and eight strikeouts to pick up the victory in the eventual 1-0 win. The 26-year-old southpaw was on his game on Tuesday and will now hope to pitch again versus the Yankees at some point next week. The former 30th overall pick of the Texas Rangers in 2016 was a first-time All-Star in 2024 and went 11-9 during 32 regular-season starts (186 1/3 innings) with a 3.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a career-high 223 strikeouts as KC's ace.
9 hours ago
Kevin Ginkel Pitches Through Fractured Leg
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo confirmed on Tuesday that right-handed reliever Kevin Ginkel (leg) fractured a bone in his left leg after taking a comebacker against the New York Mets on June 1. Ginkel was able to pitch through the injury but had to manage the pain. He was decent pitching through the injury, posting a 2.81 ERA with 16 runs (15 earned) allowed in 48 innings while striking out 57 and walking 10 over 49 appearances out of Arizona's bullpen. It's impressive that the 30-year-old never required a stint on the injured list. Ginkel will now have ample time to recover from his injury this offseason and should be ready to roll for the start of spring training in mid-February. Overall, Ginkel had an 8-3 record, 3.21 ERA (2.85 FIP), a 1.20 WHIP, a career-high five saves, a career-high 77 strikeouts and 15 walks in 70 innings pitched in 72 appearances out of the bullpen.
11 hours ago
Adolis Garcia Undergoing MRI On His Knee
Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia (knee) is undergoing an MRI exam on his left knee, and the Rangers are hopeful he can avoid offseason surgery. A year after leading the Rangers to their first-ever World Series, Adolis is out of the postseason altogether and is now managing a knee ailment heading into the offseason. If the 31-year-old veteran were to go under the knife, it's unknown if it would affect his availability for the start of spring training in February or the beginning of the 2025 regular season. Garcia suffered his knee injury in the final week of the regular season. The two-time All-Star wasn't quite as impressive in 2024 in his fifth year in Texas, slashing .224/.284/.400 with a below-average .684 OPS. After setting career-highs in home runs (39) and RBI (107) in 2023, Garcia produced 25 home runs, 85 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 154 games for the Rangers. He'll be hoping to bounce back in 2025.
11 hours ago
Max Fried Gets Game 2 Nod In Wild-Card Series
Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried has been tabbed to take the ball in Game 2 of the wild-card series versus the San Diego Padres on Wednesday at Petco Park. The Braves decided to go with right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver, who has made just one start in 2024, for Game 1 on Tuesday night. It will be a full-circle moment for Fried, as he was drafted seventh overall in 2012 by the Padres. The 30-year-old southpaw is now the team's ace with fellow left-hander Chris Sale (back) out for the wild-card series due to back spasms that cropped up on Sunday. Fried made his second All-Star team in 2024 and was solid for Atlanta, going 11-10 with a 3.25 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 166 strikeouts and 57 walks in 174 1/3 innings over 29 starts. He led the league with two complete games, including one shutout. Fried faced SD once, back on May 17, taking the loss while allowing three earned runs with three walks and two K's in 4 1/3 innings.
12 hours ago
AJ Smith-Shawver Starting Game 1 Against Padres
Atlanta Braves right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver has been named the starter for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Tuesday night. The Braves didn't have ideal options to choose from to start against a strong Padres offense to kick off the three-game series, as Smith-Shawver got the nod over Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder. The 21-year-old made his big-league debut in 2023 but pitched in just six games (five starts). His lone MLB start in 2024 came back on May 23, when he threw 4 1/3 shutout innings in a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs. The former seventh-rounder didn't do great in the minors, posting a 4.85 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 108 K's and 40 walks in 89 innings over 21 starts with Triple-A Gwinnett and High-A Rome. Needless to say, Smith-Shawver won't be a recommended DFS play for the first day of playoff action.
12 hours ago
Jeff McNeil To Start Ramping Up His Activities
New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil (wrist) will start ramping up his baseball activities soon and an improved X-ray. McNeil's availability for later in October if the Mets advance past the San Diego Padres in the wild-card round this week is questionable. The 32-year-old former National League batting champion is recovering from a fractured right wrist that has kept him out since Sept. 6. McNeil is not the hitter he once was, as evidenced by his .238/.308/.384 slash line with a below-average .692 OPS, 12 home runs, 44 RBI, five stolen bases and 57 runs scored in 424 at-bats. Veteran Jose Iglesias will most likely see most of the starts at second base for the Mets as long as they remain in the postseason. The 34-year-old Cuban has very little power or speed but is hitting a very strong .337 (91-for-270) in 85 games for the Mets in 2024.
12 hours ago
Kodai Senga Throws Live Batting Practice
New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (calf, triceps) threw a 25-pitch live batting practice session on Monday, but there's no word on his availability for future playoff rounds. Senga is making progress, but he wasn't included on the team's roster for the wild-card series against the San Diego Padres that begins on Tuesday at Petco Park. If the Mets pull the upset and advance past the Padres, the 31-year-old Japanese hurler could have a shot to join New York's bullpen in a relief role for the NLDS versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has made just one start for the Mets this year after recovering from a shoulder injury in the first half of the season. Senga suffered a calf strain in his lone start and later felt tightness in his triceps while making a rehab appearance in late September. His only chance to return in the playoffs will be as a reliever.
12 hours ago
Sean Manaea To Start Game 2 Against Brewers
New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea will get the nod for Game 2 of the wild-card series versus the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Wednesday. Right-hander Luis Severino will kick off the three-game series on Tuesday. Manager Carlos Mendoza wouldn't commit to left-hander Jose Quintana for a potential Game 3 on Thursday, but he would be on full rest. Manaea deserves the nod for the Mets after really stepping up in their rotation this year. The former first-rounder in 2013 by the Kansas City Royals out of Indiana State went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA (3.83 FIP), a 1.08 WHIP and a 184:63 K:BB in 181 2/3 innings over 32 starts. He only faced Milwaukee once, and it came in his final regular-season start on Sept. 27, when he was hit hard to the tune of six runs (five earned) with one walk and one strikeout in just 3 2/3 frames in Milwaukee. Manaea will be looking for revenge.
12 hours ago
Jesse Winker Starting In Game 1 Against The Brewers
New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker (back) was included on the team's wild-card roster this week versus the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field and he's starting in Game 1 versus right-hander Freddy Peralta on Tuesday. Winker had missed the last four regular-season games due to a back issue, but he was feeling good enough to give it a go for the start of the playoffs. The Mets have lefty-hitting Brett Baty on the taxi squad in case Winker has a setback and needs to be replaced on the roster. Winker is serving as the designated hitter and batting sixth, pushing veteran J.D. Martinez to the bench. The 31-year-old lefty-hitting Winker won't be a popular DFS play for Tuesday's slate after hitting .071 (3-for-42) with a homer, four RBI, seven walks and 10 strikeouts in 18 games in the month of September. However, the Mets are going to play the splits, with Winker batting .258 (88-for-341) with 13 of his 14 homers this year against righties.
12 hours ago
Sal Frelick In Game 1 Lineup For Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick (hip) was included on the team's roster for the wild-card series against the New York Mets at American Family Field this week and is starting in Game 1 on Tuesday. Manager Pat Murphy said the team will keep a close eye on Frelick, though, and if he's having trouble moving, they'll adjust. Frelick is in right field for Milwaukee and will hit eighth against Mets right-hander Luis Severino. The 24-year-old Frelick is returning to the lineup after suffering a bone bruise in his left hip last Saturday against these same Mets. He doesn't really scare opposing pitchers with a bat in his hand, as the former first-rounder hit .259 (123-for-475) with only two home runs and 32 RBI in 475 at-bats this year. Frelick is mainly a speed guy (18 steals) and is valuable to the Brewers for his ability to handle all outfield positions and even play some infield in a pinch. His presence on the playoff roster is bad news for Blake Perkins.
12 hours ago
Chris Sale Officially Out For Wild-Card Series
Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale (back), the favorite to win the National League Cy Young award in 2024, is officially out for the wild-card series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park this week, as he was left off the team's playoff roster. Sale was scratched from Game 2 of the doubleheader against the division-rival New York Mets in a must-win game on Monday. If the Braves pull the upset over the Padres in the wild-card series and advance to the NLDS to face the Los Angeles Dodgers, it's unknown if Sale would be able to make a return. Atlanta is going with AJ Smith-Shawver to start Game 1 against SD on Tuesday evening. Losing the NL's best pitcher at the most important time of the year is obviously really bad news for the Braves. Sale went 18-3 in 2024 with a 2.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 225 strikeouts and only 39 walks in 177 2/3 innings over his 29 starts in his first year with Atlanta.
13 hours ago
Albert Suarez Not Included On Wild-Card Roster
The Baltimore Orioles left right-hander Albert Suarez off the roster for the wild-card series this week against the Kansas City Royals at Camden Yards. During a three-game series, the O's won't need Suarez. But if they advance past the Royals and to the ALDS versus the division-rival New York Yankees, Suarez could be called upon as a starter. The 34-year-old Venezuelan hurler made a career-high 32 appearances (24 starts) for the O's in 2024, going 9-7 with a 3.70 ERA (4.24 FIP), a 1.29 WHIP, a career-high 108 strikeouts and 43 walks in 133 2/3 frames. The Orioles are starting right-hander Corbin Burnes in Game 1 on Tuesday, and Colin Selby and Cade Povich were chosen as the last two pitchers for Baltimore in relief roles. Suarez has been impressive this year, considering 2024 was his first year in the big leagues since 2017.
13 hours ago
