MLB Player News

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker confirmed that Fried (illness) will start Game 1 of the team's National League Division Series with the Phillies on Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Fried exited his final start of the regular season Sept. 30 with an illness, but he likely would have been available to start last Wednesday if Atlanta needed him to take the hill for a potential division-clinching game. Atlanta ended up claiming the NL East crown last Tuesday, so the team opted to bypass him in the rotation in order to have him in optimal health for the start of the postseason. Fried shouldn't face any restrictions when he takes the hill Tuesday for his 10th career start in the playoffs.

Atlanta announced Monday that Strider (oblique) signed a six-year, $75 million contract extension that runs through the 2028 season. The contract includes a $22 million team option or a $5 million buyout for 2029.

Strider becomes the latest in a growing list of young, foundational pieces to come to terms with Atlanta on a long-term deal to buy out his arbitration years. Before a left oblique strain caused the 23-year-old to finish the regular season on the 15-day injured list, the rookie right-hander had arguably been Atlanta's top pitcher in 2022. After dazzling in relief to begin the season, Strider transitioned into the rotation in late May and finished with a 2.67 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 202:45 K:BB across 131.2 innings. Atlanta hopes to have Strider available for its upcoming National League Division Series with the Phillies that begins Tuesday, but he has yet to be formally activated.

Clevinger (illness) will start Game 1 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Tuesday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Clevinger landed on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday but was able to travel with the team for the NL Wild Card Series after testing negative for the virus. The right-hander was kept off the team's wild-card roster but will take the mound to begin the NLDS on Tuesday. Over his final six starts of the regular season, Clevinger posted a 6.52 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 29 innings.

Atlanta is optimistic about Strider's (oblique) chances of being ready for the NLDS against Philadelphia, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Strider has been on the 15-day injured list since suffering a left oblique strain in late September, but he's been ramping up his throwing of late. Per O'Brien, the team will watch him throw more over the next 48 hours before making a final decision on his NLDS roster status.

Walker was added to the Mets' wild-card roster Saturday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

Walker wasn't initially included on the series roster but will join it as Joely Rodriguez exits with a shoulder injury. Walker isn't expected to start either of the two remaining possible games, but he could be used in relief.

DeGrom (finger) will start Saturday's Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

This was always expected, though manager Buck Showalter briefly entertained the idea of saving deGrom for the NLDS. Any thought of that went out the window when Max Scherzer was rocked for seven runs -- including four homers -- in Friday's Game 1 loss. DeGrom left his final start of the regular season with a blister on his hand, but Showalter said Thursday that "we don't foresee it to be an issue."

Manager Buck Showalter downplayed deGrom's blister Thursday and said, "we don't foresee it to be an issue," Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The veteran right-hander dealt with the blister across his final two starts of the regular season, but it appears it won't affect his outlook for the start of the playoffs. Max Scherzer is pitching Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series versus the Padres on Friday, and deGrom is expected to take the mound either Saturday or Sunday, depending on the outcome of the series opener.

Clevinger (illness) was left off the wild-card roster Friday, Kyle Glaser of Baseball America reports.

Clevinger has been battling a non-COVID illness this week and will not be a part of the Padres' active roster as they take on the Mets in the wild-card round. The right-hander could join the active roster again if the Padres advance to the next round.

Williams wasn't included on the Mets' roster for the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Friday, Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports reports.

Williams delivered a quality start in the regular-season finale but unsurprisingly won't be in the rotation for the wild-card round. The 30-year-old had a 3.21 ERA and 84:23 K:BB over 89.2 innings this year and could receive roster consideration in later rounds as both a starter and long-relief option should the Mets advance.

Carrasco wasn't included on the Mets' roster for the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Friday, Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports reports.

Carrasco posted a 4.21 ERA in six starts after returned from the injured list in early September, and he unsurprisingly isn't among New York's top-three rotation options for the wild-card series. The 35-year-old isn't guaranteed to be added to the roster later on should the Mets advance with Taijuan Walker and Trevor Williams also in the mix to start in a longer series.