MLB Player News
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Bryson Stott 2B | PHI
Phillies' Bryson Stott: Not starting Game 1
Stott will be on the bench for Game 1 of the NLDS against Atlanta.
Stott started four of the last five times faced a lefty in the regular season, but he'll sit here against Max Fried. Edmundo Sosa will start at shortstop in his place.
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Ozzie Albies 2B | ATL
Braves' Ozzie Albies: Ditches cast, likely out for NLDS
Albies is no longer sporting a cast to protect his fractured right pinkie finger and is scheduled to join Atlanta for its upcoming National League Division Series with the Phillies, though he's not expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list for this round of the postseason, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.
Rather than gearing up for a potential return to the lineup during the upcoming week, Albies will turn his focus to regaining strength and full range of motion in his hand after it was immobilized for the past three-plus weeks while he donned the cast. Depending on how Albies checks out during his return to on-field workouts over the next several days, he could be an option to rejoin the roster if Atlanta advances to the NL Championship Series.
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Brandon Drury 2B | KC
Padres' Brandon Drury: Back on bench for Game 3
Drury is out of the lineup for Sunday's Game 3 matchup with the Mets in the wild-card round.
Drury will sit for the second time in the wild-card series, with Wil Myers replacing him once again at first base. Myers closed the regular season by going 8-for-22 with four extra-base hits over his final eight games, and that appears to have given him the edge on playing time over Drury thus far in the postseason.
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Whit Merrifield 2B | ATL
Blue Jays' Whit Merrifield: Exits after pitch hits head
Merrifield left Saturday's game against Seattle after taking a pitch off his helmet, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.
Merrifield initially stayed in the game to run the bases but was replaced by Raimel Tapia when the Blue Jays took the field. The fact that the team was leading by seven runs and inserted one of its better outfield defenders suggests that the move may have been at least somewhat tactical rather than purely injury-related.
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Brandon Drury 2B | KC
Padres' Brandon Drury: On bench Game 1
Drury is out of the lineup for Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Mets on Friday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Drury went 2-for-13 with two walks and a run over his final four games of the regular season, and he's not in the lineup for San Diego's postseason opener. Wil Myers will man first base and bat sixth versus New York righty Max Scherzer.
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Nolan Gorman 3B | STL
Cardinals' Nolan Gorman: Added to wild-card roster
Gorman is back with the active roster ahead of the NL Wild Card Series with the Phillies.
As expected, Gorman will join the Cardinals' postseason for their series against Philadelphia. The 22-year-old will replace Alec Burleson on the roster and will likely operate in a utility role for St. Louis in the wild-card round.
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Santiago Espinal 2B | LAD
Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Returns from IL for postseason
Espinal (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list and included on the Blue Jays' wild-card roster, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.
Espinal will return to the active roster just in time for the Blue Jays' wild-card series with the Mariners, which starts Friday. The 27-year-old missed the last couple weeks of the season while dealing with an oblique issue, but he'll now operate in a utility role for Toronto in the postseason. Espinal produced a .267 average with seven homers, 51 RBI, 51 runs and six stolen bases over 135 games during the regular season.
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Vidal Brujan 2B | NYM
Rays' Vidal Brujan: Smacks pinch-hit homer
Brujan went 1-for-2 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Red Sox.
Brujan was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Monday and appeared in all three of the Rays' games to close the regular season. He entered the game Wednesday in the fifth inning as a pinch runner and then remained in the contest to take Ryan Brasier yard to tally his third homer of the season. Brujan struggled across 162 plate appearances this year, maintaining just a .163/.228/.259 line with five stolen bases.
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Nolan Gorman 3B | STL
Cardinals' Nolan Gorman: Available to begin postseason
Manager Oliver Marmol confirmed Thursday that Gorman will be included on the Cardinals' wild-card roster, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Gorman was sent to the minors for the final few weeks of the regular season, but he'll be included on the team's wild-card roster due to his power and versatility. He should play a bench role to begin the playoffs, while Alec Burleson will be left off the roster against the Phillies.
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Nolan Gorman 3B | STL
Cardinals' Nolan Gorman: Expected to make postseason roster
Gorman will likely be included on the Cardinals' wild-card roster, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Gorman finished the regular season with a .720 OPS, but a .529 OPS in September had him sent down to Triple-A to close the year. If he does end up making the postseason roster, he figures to provide some power off the bench for St. Louis.