MLB Player News

Atlanta outrighted Vanasco to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.

Vanasco has been outrighted before, so he has the ability to decline the assignment and become a free agent. The 27-year-old was claimed off waivers by Atlanta in August but never made an appearance for them. Vanasco has permitted 15 runs (14 earned) over 10.1 career innings in the majors.

Sheets isn't in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Cubs.

Sheets will step out of the starting nine despite Chicago sending right-hander Kevin Gausman to the mound to begin Wednesday's contest. Sheets' absence will allow Austin Hays to work as San Diego's designated hitter while batting eighth.

Conforto isn't in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres.

Conforto will retreat to the bench for a second straight game as the Cubs use Alex Bregman as their designated hitter again, allowing Matt Shaw to start at the hot corner.

Sanchez didn't factor in the decision in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series in Atlanta on Wednesday. He gave up three runs on six hits with six strikeouts and five walks over 6.2 innings.

The left-hander locked in with five scoreless innings after giving up a run in the opening frame, but he then ran into trouble in the seventh. Sanchez surrendered two runs on two walks, a double, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly, though the two-bagger was a bit of a misplay Bryce Harper in right field. Regardless, the 29-year-old certainly wasn't at his best Wednesday as he tied a season high with five free passes. Sanchez would likely take the ball in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers next week, if the Phillies can get past Atlanta.

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said after Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Phillies on Wednesday that Mahle suffered an abdominal injury while warming up and nearly didn't start as scheduled, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports. The right-hander didn't factor in the decision, giving up one run on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk across seven innings.

Mahle fully downplayed the injury, but it makes the playoff performance even more impressive as he tied a season best for innings pitched. It continues a strong run of form for the 32-year-old, who posted a 1.99 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 48:9 K:BB in 54.1 frames across nine regular-season starts after being acquired from the Giants at the trade deadline. Should Atlanta advance to the NLDS, Mahle tentatively lines up to take the mound in Game 3 against the Dodgers next week.

Bohm went 2-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run during Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against Atlanta on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old ended the regular season without a home run in his final 21 games and went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in the series opener, but he came through in the clutch Wednesday with a 10th-inning homer to break a 3-3 tie. Bohm's .698 OPS over 155 regular-season games this year is the worst since his first full MLB season in 2021, but that performance would be quickly forgotten if he can produce during a playoff run.

Sosa was removed from Game 2 of the wild-card series versus Atlanta on Wednesday after aggravating his left groin injury, Cory Nidoh of Philly Sports Network reports.

Sosa first injured his groin during Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Athletics. He aggravated the injury further Wednesday while legging out an infield single in the ninth inning. If the Phillies are forced to remove Sosa from the roster, he would be ineligible for the NLDS.

Boyd (0-1) took the loss in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Tuesday. He gave up four runs on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk over four innings.

The left-hander didn't have trouble finding the zone with 42 of his 58 pitches going for strikes, but the Friars made plenty of hard contact with four extra-base hits, including three homers. The poor showing from Boyd was a departure from his recent form, as he surrendered just two earned runs across 12 frames in his final two starts of the regular season. The Cubs will need to salvage the next two games in San Diego for Boyd to get a chance at redeeming himself with another playoff start.

Nola is likely to start a potential Game 3 of the wild-card series against Atlanta on Thursday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Zack Wheeler will be on three days' rest Thursday and would be available out of the bullpen, but the Phillies are likely to turn to Nola on normal rest first if they're able to force a winner-take-all contest. The 33-year-old Nola was terrific down the stretch of the regular season for Philadelphia, collecting a 2.93 ERA and 61:20 K:BB over 61.1 innings covering 11 starts from Aug. 1 on.

King earned the win in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Cubs on Tuesday. He gave up one hit with eight strikeouts and three walks over seven shutout innings.

The right-hander held Chicago without a hit until the seventh inning, when Nico Hoerner reached on an infield single down the third-base line. It was an electric performance from King, who threw 62 of his 97 pitches for strikes while generating 17 whiffs. The 31-year-old surrendered five runs against the Dodgers during his final start of the regular season, but it was still a productive campaign with a 3.21 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 159:70 K:BB across 185 innings. If the Padres can win one of the next two games to push past the Cubs, King likely lines up to start Game 2 of the NLDS in Milwaukee.