Keller tossed a perfect ninth inning to record the save in Tuesday's 3-1 victory over the Padres.

Daniel Palencia, the Cubs' regular-season saves leader, had already exited Tuesday's contest by the seventh inning, leaving Keller as the best available option to pitch the ninth. He froze Xander Bogaerts with a called third strike to collect his first career postseason save and put the finishing touches on a perfect 4.2-inning performance from Chicago's bullpen. Keller will likely continue to see regular high-leverage action for the duration of the Cubs' postseason run.

Pivetta took the loss in Tuesday's game against the Cubs after surrendering two earned runs on three hits and no walks while striking out nine batters across five innings.

The right-hander allowed just one baserunner through the first four innings of Tuesday's contest, but a pair of solo homers from Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly to lead off the fifth put Chicago in front. Pivetta struck out the next three batters he faced to finish his start; however, a shutdown performance from the Cubs' bullpen kept the Padres behind for the rest of the game. It was a reassuring performance from the 32-year-old after he finished the regular season by giving up six runs in 10.1 frames, but San Diego will now need to win two straight games at Wrigley Field for Pivetta to have any chance of facing the Brewers in the NLDS.

Boyd didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Padres, giving up one earned run on four hits and a walk while striking out two batters across 4.1 innings.

Back-to-back doubles from Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts in the second inning allowed the Padres to plate their lone run of the game. Boyd likely would have conceded a few more runs if it weren't for Dansby Swanson's defense, and consistent hard contact from San Diego's offense led to the southpaw's removal in the fifth inning after just 58 pitches. If the Cubs manage to advance to the NLDS, Boyd would likely be called upon to start Game 2 in Milwaukee on Monday.

Perez elected free agency Tuesday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Perez took a major step back in 2025, posting an 8.31 ERA and 2.12 WHIP across 21.2 innings with the Orioles, leading to his removal from the 40-man roster in late May. His performance didn't improve much after he moved to Triple-A (6.85 ERA, 2.22 WHIP, 22.1 IP), so he'll likely have to settle for a minor-league deal in free agency.

Kittredge will serve as the opening pitcher in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Wednesday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.

Kittredge turned in a 3.32 ERA and 0.83 WHIP across 21.2 innings in the regular season with the Cubs while serving primarily as a high-leverage reliever. The 35-year-old righty will now be tasked with securing the first few outs of Wednesday's contest before presumably handing the game over to Shota Imanaga for bulk-relief work.

Hernandez will start in left field and bat eighth Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series versus the Reds.

Michael Conforto was not included on the Dodgers' wild-card roster, and it's Hernandez who will get the first opportunity in left field against Hunter Greene and the Reds. Hernandez posted a .975 OPS with two home runs over his final eight regular-season contests and is a career .278/.353/.522 with 15 homers in 86 playoff games.

Hays (back) will start in left field and bat cleanup Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series versus the Dodgers.

It's Hays' first start since Sept. 20, as he's been battling back spasms. He was able to see action as a pinch hitter in the final game of the regular season Sunday and will hit in the middle of the lineup against Blake Snell in the Dodgers as the Reds kick off postseason play.

Vest pitched around one hit over 1.1 scoreless frames to notch a save in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Guardians.

Vest entered the game in the eighth inning with a runner on second base, two out and the Tigers clinging to a one-run lead. He finished off that frame with a groundout but immediately was back in hot water in the ninth when Jose Ramirez reached on a leadoff infield single and advanced to third base on a two-base error. However, Vest also managed to extinguish that rally with a strikeout, a fielder's choice and a popout. Vest picked up the final five traditional saves down the stretch of the regular season for the Tigers and has now registered their first postseason save. However, while Vest will be the favorite to close games for Detroit, manager A.J. Hinch's propensity to mix and match means Vest could also be used earlier in games if the situation calls for it.

Williams permitted just two unearned runs on five hits and one walk over six-plus innings but was saddled with a loss in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to the Tigers. He struck out eight batters.

The Tigers plated their first run in the top of the first inning thanks to a pair of two-out singles and an error, and they added another in the top of the seventh on a squeeze bunt after Williams was pulled from the game. That turned out to be enough, as Tarik Skubal and the Tigers' bullpen kept the Guardians in check. Williams accrued up 19 whiffs on his 88 pitches, picking up where he left off after closing out the regular season on a high note. He would likely pitch Game 2 of the ALDS versus the Mariners on Sunday, should the Guardians advance.

Skubal yielded only one run on three hits and three walks while striking out 14 over 7.2 innings to pick up the win in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Guardians.

The Guardians managed to scratch together a run in the bottom of the fourth inning despite not hitting the ball out of the infield, and Skubal also walked the light-hitting Austin Hedges twice. He was otherwise in complete control, regularly topping 100 mph with his fastball and inducing 26 swinging strikes on 107 pitches. The left-hander's 14 strikeouts tied a Tigers postseason record. If the Tigers advance to the ALDS to play the Mariners, Skubal would likely start Game 2 on Sunday.