MLB Player News

Anderson is a candidate to start Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Bowman stated that AJ Smith-Shawver and Bryce Elder are also in the mix, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the club wait until closer to first pitch to announce who will get the start. Anderson hasn't pitched in the big league since 2022 but has impressive postseason numbers, as he's posted a 1.26 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with a 40:17 K:BB across 35.2 innings (eight starts).

Manager Brian Snitker doesn't believe Sale (back) will be available to pitch during the team's upcoming wild-card series against the Padres, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Sale was scratched from the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Mets due to back spasms, and the issue could force the southpaw to miss the entire first round of the postseason. Snitker notes that Sale hasn't officially been ruled out just yet, but this isn't promising news for Atlanta, which may be forced to rely more upon Max Fried, Reynaldo Lopez and Charlie Morton.

Severino will start Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Brewers on Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Severino was held out of Monday's twin bill against Atlanta, so he'll be fresh for the beginning of the wild-card round. He accrued a 3.64 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 30 strikeouts in his last five appearances of the regular season, and the Mets would surely appreciate some length out of Severino on Tuesday after some of the club's high-leverage relief arms were forced into action Monday to secure a place in the postseason.

Darvish is expected begin the postseason as a bullpen arm for the Padres, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Darvish will be left out of the starting rotation as the Padres begin their best-of-three Wild Card Round series with Atlanta on Tuesday. San Diego will go with Michael King, Joe Musgrove and Dylan Cease as its starters in the series. Darvish finished the 2024 regular season with a 3.31 ERA and 78 strikeouts over 81.2 innings in 16 starts with the Padres. Additionally, the right-hander owns a 4.19 ERA with 54 punchouts over 58 innings in 11 career postseason appearances.

King will start Game 1 of the wild-card series against Atlanta on Tuesday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

The Padres will ride the hot hand and deploy King in their first postseason action, as he posted a 2.11 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 40 strikeouts in his last seven starts of the regular season (38.1 innings). Joe Musgrove will get the call in Game 2 and Dylan Cease would draw the start in Game 3 if necessary.

Severino's next start will come during the wild-card series after the Mets called up Joey Lucchesi to start the second game of Monday's doubleheader in Atlanta, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Severino would have started the second game had the Mets lost the first contest. However, since they won, they can afford to hold Severino back for the wild-card round, likely for a Game 1 start. Severino made 31 regular-season starts for the Mets, posting a 3.91 ERA and 161:60 K:BB over 182 innings.

The Mets transferred Scott (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Monday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Joey Lucchesi, who is making a spot start Monday in Atlanta. Scott will likely be sidelined until 2026 after requiring a hybrid Tommy John surgery and internal brace procedure on his pitching elbow.

The Mets selected Lucchesi's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

With the Mets having already clinched a playoff spot in winning the first game over Atlanta on Monday, they will turn to Lucchesi in the second contest and save Luis Severino for the wild-card series. Lucchesi has made one start for the Mets this season, allowing five runs over 4.1 frames.

Sale has been scratched from Monday's start against the Mets due to back spasms, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Atlanta is facing a must-win game after losing the first game of Monday's doubleheader, and they will no longer have their ace available after he felt back spasms Sunday. It will be Grant Holmes starting in Sale's place. When or if Sale might be ready for the wild-card series, should Atlanta qualify, is uncertain. General manager Alex Anthopoulos noted that Sale's injury is a day-to-day situation, which would seem to offer hope he could pitch at some point during the wild-card series, should Atlanta qualify.

Peralta will start Game 1 of the wild-card series for the Brewers on Tuesday, Stephen Watson of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.

The Brewers don't know their opponent yet, but Peralta is going to get the ball Tuesday regardless of who they play. Peralta collected a 3.68 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 200:68 K:BB over 173.2 innings covering 32 starts this season. The Brewers have not yet revealed any of their starting pitchers beyond Game 1.