MLB Player News
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Brad Keller SP | PHI
Cubs' Brad Keller: Four-out save in Game 3
Keller issued a walk and struck out two batters over 1.1 scoreless innings to pick up a save in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Brewers on Wednesday.
Keller walked Caleb Durbin on four pitches to load the bases upon entering the game before striking out Jake Bauers to pick up the final out of the eighth inning. The 30-year-old reliever then retired the side in order during the ninth to pick up his second save of the postseason and give the Cubs their first win of the NLDS.
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Jameson Taillon SP | CHC
Cubs' Jameson Taillon: Lasts four innings in Game 3
Taillon took a no-decision against the Brewers in Game 3 of the NLDS on Wednesday after giving up two earned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three batters over four innings.
The Brewers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly courtesy of Sal Frelick, but a four-run outburst from the Chicago's offense in the first inning gave Taillon and the Cubs all the runs they would need to prevail in Wednesday's contest. The right-hander's pitch count had climbed to 75 by the end of the fourth, so manager Craig Counsell pulled the plug early on his start, preventing him from leaving the ballpark with a win. If the Cubs are able to complete the series comeback, Taillon would likely be granted another start during the NLCS.
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Quinn Priester SP | MIL
Brewers' Quinn Priester: Unable to escape first inning
Priester took the loss in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Cubs on Wednesday after giving up four earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one batter over two-thirds of an inning.
Although he took the mound in the first inning with a 1-0 lead, Priester was never able to settle into Wednesday's contest. He coughed up a leadoff homer to Michael Busch before allowing three of the next four batters he faced to reach base. A Pete Crow-Armstrong single brought in two more runs for Chicago and forced Brewers manager Pat Murphy to turn to Nick Mears, who allowed an inherited runner to score. Milwaukee's offense was unable to close the gap over the next eight frames, so the two sides will play another game at Wrigley Field on Thursday. Meanwhile, Priester will likely be kept off the mound for the remainder of the series.
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Tanner Scott RP | LAD
Dodgers' Tanner Scott: Wasn't available Wednesday
Manager Dave Roberts said after Wednesday's loss against Philadelphia in Game 3 of the NLDS that Scott wasn't available due to personal reasons, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Roberts didn't provide any details on when Scott may return, so it seems the Dodgers' bullpen will have to work around being slightly shorthanded for the time being. The 31-year-old lefty gave up six earned runs over 8.1 innings across the final month of the regular season and has yet to appear in a game this postseason.
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Harrison Bader CF | PHI
Phillies' Harrison Bader: Absent from Game 3 lineup
Bader (groin) isn't in the lineup for Game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Wednesday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Bader was a game-time decision heading into Game 3 due to a groin injury he suffered in Game 1, and the Phillies have officially decided to keep the speedy outfielder on the bench for another day. He picked up a single off the bench in Game 2 and will likely be available to serve as a pinch hitter again Wednesday.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: In Game 3 lineup
Smith (hand) will start at catcher and bat fifth against the Phillies in Game 3 of the NLDS on Wednesday.
Smith's fractured right hand kept him on the bench for the Dodgers' first four postseason games, though he was able to deliver a two-run single off the bench in Game 2 on Monday. He'll now return to the starting nine and provide the Dodgers with another power bat while the team looks to punch its ticket to the NLCS.
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Roki Sasaki P | LAD
Dodgers' Roki Sasaki: Gets endorsement as team's closer
Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Sasaki is "definitely the primary option now" to close games for the Dodgers, though the skipper noted that the rookie's availability will be contingent on his workload, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. "We have to win X amount of games [to secure a championship], and he's not going to close every game," Roberts said of Sasaki. "It's just not feasible, so, you've got to use other guys."
Sasaki struggled to a 4.72 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 24:22 K:BB in 34.1 innings over eight starts with the Dodgers to begin the season before he landed on the injured list May 13 due to a right shoulder impingement, but he's proven to be a dynamic weapon out of the bullpen since being reinstated Sept. 24. After collecting two holds and striking out four batters over two scoreless frames in two relief outings to close out the regular season, Sasaki retired the side on 11 pitches in his lone appearance against the Reds in the wild-card round, and he's converted a pair of save chances with ease in the first two games of the NLDS versus the Phillies. Given that the bullpen had been a relative weakness for the Dodgers down the stretch, it's not too surprising that Sasaki has quickly emerged as Los Angeles' most trusted reliever after he pitched effectively in his initial appearances following his return from the IL. With Clayton Kershaw headed for retirement following the playoffs, the Dodgers presumably still envision Sasaki getting stretched back out over the winter and settling into the vacated rotation spot in 2026, but the rookie right-hander looks like he'll rank as the preferred choice for ninth-inning duties for the duration of the team's postseason run.
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Jake Bauers RF | MIL
Brewers' Jake Bauers: Drawing Game 3 start at first base
Bauers will start at first base and bat seventh Wednesday in Game 3 of the NLDS versus the Cubs.
Bauers was limited to just one pinch-hitting appearance in the first two games of the series, drawing a walk in that trip to the dish. He'll get a chance to start Wednesday against Cubs righty Jameson Taillon as the Brewers look to advance to the NLCS.
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Blake Perkins RF | MIL
Brewers' Blake Perkins: Taking seat in Game 3
Perkins is absent from the lineup Wednesday for Game 3 of the NLDS against the Cubs.
Perkins started in center field in Games 1 and 2, reaching base three times and driving in a run, but he'll begin Wednesday's festivities on the bench. Brandon Lockridge is starting in center field and batting eighth for the Brewers.
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Andrew Vaughn 1B | MIL
Brewers' Andrew Vaughn: Absent from Game 3 lineup
Vaughn is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 3 of NLDS versus the Cubs.
Vaughn started at first base in each of the first two games of the series, hitting a home run in Game 2 and reaching base four times across the two contests. However, he will begin Wednesday's game on the bench as the Brewers give a start to Jake Bauers at first base.