MLB Player News
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Available to pinch hit in WC round
Smith (hand) will be included on the Dodgers' wild-card roster but available only in a pinch-hitting capacity, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Smith has played just one game since Sept. 3 due to a fracture in his right hand but did some live hitting during Monday's team workout without issue. He apparently has not improved enough to catch, at least not on a full-time basis, and with Shohei Ohtani filling the designated-hitter spot, Smith will be used only as a pinch hitter. That leaves Ben Rorvedt and Dalton Rushing to serve as the Dodgers' catchers during the wild-card round.
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Thomas Harrington P | PIT
Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Battles groin injury down stretch
Harrington missed the final few weeks of the season for Triple-A Indianapolis due to a right groin injury, Dominic Campbell of SI.com reports.
It's the same injury that caused Harrington to go on the 7-day injured list Aug. 10, as he threw one inning Aug. 28 and aggravated the injury and had to exit the start early before being shut down for the season. Harrington, who was in the mix for a rotation spot during spring training, had poor overall results in the majors (15 earned runs in 8.2 innings) and minors (5.34 ERA at Triple-A) while tallying 104.2 total frames across the two levels. He shouldn't have any restrictions in spring training but will face an uphill battle in camp to make the big-league roster.
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Austin Hays LF | CHW
Reds' Austin Hays: Included on wild-card roster
Hays (back) is on the Reds' wild-card roster.
Hays hasn't started a game since Sept. 20 due to back spasms, but he made a pinch-hitting appearance during Sunday's regular-season finale in Milwaukee and came out of it well enough to be included on his club's wild-card roster. With lefty Blake Snell starting Game 1 for the Dodgers on Tuesday, there's a good chance the right-handed-hitting Hays will be in the lineup.
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Jose Iglesias SS | SD
Padres' Jose Iglesias: Absent from Game 1 lineup
Iglesias is not in the lineup Tuesday for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series versus the Cubs.
Iglesias started the last two games of the regular season, but he'll retreat to the bench for the first game of the postseason. Jake Cronenworth will occupy second base against lefty Matthew Boyd and the Cubs.
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Elias Diaz C | KC
Padres' Elias Diaz: Held off wild-card roster
Diaz (oblique) is not on the Padres' wild-card roster.
Diaz suffered a minor oblique strain during Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks and wasn't able to progress enough to be included on the team's wild-card roster. The Padres will carry three catchers, with Martin Maldonado and Luis Campusano behind starter Freddy Fermin.
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Andrew Abbott SP | CIN
Reds' Andrew Abbott: Lining up for Game 3
Abbott will start Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Dodgers, if necessary, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Cincinnati is set to deploy Hunter Greene in Game 1 and Zack Littell in Game 2, setting up Abbott to pitch in Game 3 if the series goes beyond two matchups. The 26-year-old southpaw put together a solid finish to the 2025 regular season, turning in a 2.78 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 19 strikeouts over 22.2 frames during his final four starts.
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Roki Sasaki SP | LAD
Dodgers' Roki Sasaki: Earns spot on wild-card roster
Manager Dave Roberts stated Monday that Sasaki will be on the roster for the team's National League Wild Card Series against the Reds, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Sasaki has looked sharp since his return from a right shoulder impingement, racking up four strikeouts in two scoreless relief appearances (two innings) during the final week of the regular season. Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia and Blake Treinen may be LA's top options in high-leverage situations heading into the postseason, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Sasaki called upon in a key scenario or two given his electric stuff.
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Zack Littell SP | WAS
Reds' Zack Littell: Taking ball for Game 2
Littell will start Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Dodgers on Wednesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Littell hadn't been particularly effective down the stretch of the regular season, accruing a 4.91 ERA over 25.2 frames during his final five appearances, but he'll toe the rubber in LA for Game 2. He found success in his last start against the Dodgers on July 30, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out four across five scoreless innings.
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Nick Lodolo SP | CIN
Reds' Nick Lodolo: Set for bullpen role
Lodolo will be available out of the bullpen during the National League Wild Card Series against the Dodgers, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
This news comes after the club announced Zack Littell will start Game 2, and Andrew Abbott would be deployed for a Game 3 start if necessary. Lodolo's lone relief appearance took place in the final game of the regular season Sunday against Milwaukee, when he allowed one run on two hits and two walks over one inning.