MLB Player News
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Justin Verlander SP | HOU
Astros' Justin Verlander: Excluded from wild-card roster
Verlander is not on the Astros' roster for the American League Wild Card Series versus the Tigers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Verlander's absence from the roster, while perhaps jarring, is not a surprise, as he wasn't going to make a start in the series and was unlikely to be carried as a reliever. Whether he's on the ALDS roster, should the Astros advance, is a bigger question. Ronel Blanco and Spencer Arrighetti will be available in relief for Houston in the wild-card series.
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Albert Suarez SP | BAL
Orioles' Albert Suarez: Not part of wild-card roster
Suarez is not on the Orioles' American League Wild Card Series roster.
Suarez is a candidate to potentially get a start in the ALDS, should the Orioles advance, but the club will need just a max of three starters during the wild-card series. Matt Bowman was also left off the Orioles' roster, with Colin Selby and Cade Povich capturing the final two spots in the bullpen.
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Bryce Elder SP | ATL
Braves' Bryce Elder: Could make Game 1 start
Elder is a candidate to start Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver and Ian Anderson have all been named as options for Tuesday's game, and the club doesn't appear to be in a hurry to name a starter. Elder struggled to find his footing in the big leagues during the regular season, accruing a 6.52 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with 46 strikeouts across 49.2 innings (10 starts).
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A.J. Smith-Shawver SP | ATL
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Option for Game 1
Smith-Shawver could start Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Bowman notes that Bryce Elder and Ian Anderson are two other options for Atlanta in Game 1, and it seems the club is content with keeping its pitching plans behind closed doors until closer to first pitch. Smith-Shawver made one start during the regular season, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings May 23 against the Cubs.
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Ian Anderson SP | ATL
Braves' Ian Anderson: In mix for Game 1 start
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).
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Chris Sale SP | ATL
Braves' Chris Sale: Status for wild-card round in doubt
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.
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Luis Severino SP | NYM
Mets' Luis Severino: Starting Game 1 vs. Milwaukee
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.
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Yu Darvish SP | SD
Padres' Yu Darvish: Expected to operate as bullpen arm
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.
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Michael King RP | SD
Padres' Michael King: Getting nod in Game 1
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.
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Luis Severino SP | NYM
Mets' Luis Severino: Held back for wild-card series
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.