Ryan Braun Dealing With Oblique Strain

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Ryan Braun (oblique) provided additional clarity on the malady that has sidelined him Thursday versus Los Angeles, saying that he is dealing with a left oblique strain. Due to the nature of the injury, it would be highly surprising if Braun is available off the bench for Game 2 or at all in […]

Ryan Braun Not Among Starting Nine For Game 2 Thursday

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Ryan Braun (back) is being held out of Game 2’s starting lineup Thursday in the wild-card series versus the Dodgers and left-hander Clayton Kershaw. Braun was deemed day-to-day after exiting early Wednesday with back stiffness, with his absence confirmed by the presence of Ryon Healy at the DH slot Thursday with […]

Mitch Moreland Returns To DH Spot For Game 2 Thursday

San Diego Padres first baseman/designated hitter Mitch Moreland will take over DH duties for Game 2 of Thursday’s wild-card series versus the Cardinals and right-hander Adam Wainwright. While Moreland delivered an .894 OPS during the regular season overall, he had just a .609 mark in 20 contests after being acquired by the Padres at the […]

Ryon Healy, Tyrone Taylor Enter Starting Lineup For Game 2

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/designated hitter Ryon Healy and outfielder Tyrone Taylor are stepping into the starting nine for Game 2 of Thursday’s wild-card series versus the Dodgers and left-hander Clayton Kershaw. Healy has not started since Aug. 5, having played in just four games during the regular season while spending most of the year at the […]

Giancarlo Stanton Homers In Second Consecutive Game

New York Yankees outfielder and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton went 1-for-2 and walked twice against the Indians on Wednesday, including a 420-foot blast for his second home run in as many games. Injuries have held Stanton to a combined 41 games over the past two seasons, but the 30-year-old is still one of the game’s […]

Joc Pederson Presents Upside Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/designated hitter Joc Pederson is not among the starting nine for Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus Milwaukee. That’s primarily due to the fact that Pederson has become strictly a platoon option for LA this season, but fortunately his platoon opportunity should come Thursday when the Brewers send righty Brandon Woodruff […]

Daniel Vogelbach Not At Full Strength Ahead Of Game 1

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach (quad) is batting cleanup for Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus Los Angeles and right-hander Walker Buehler, but manager Craig Counsell indicated that Vogelbach is far from 100 percent entering the series. Having battled a quad injury since Sunday, Vogelbach is healthy enough to swing the bat […]

Nelson Cruz Hopes To Return In 2021 After MVP-Like Campaign

Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz was one of the Majors’ preeminent power threats for the entirety of the 2020 season. Finishing the year with the eighth-highest OPS in the bigs (.992), Cruz said following his club’s elimination from the postseason Wednesday that he hoped to be back next season. The veteran turns 41 next […]

Jesus Aguilar Goes Yard In Wednesday's Playoff Win

Miami Marlins first baseman/designated hitter Jesus Aguilar hit a home run in Wednesday's wild-card playoff win. He ended up 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, hitting the homer and a double as well. Aguilar had an outstanding bounce-back campaign for the Marlins and should be a key piece in the postseason lineup, likely […]

Edwin Encarnacion Back In Lineup At Designated Hitter

Chicago White Sox designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion is back in the lineup and hitting fifth in Game 2 of the White Sox wild-card series against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. Encarnacion sat out Game 1 of the wild-card series, but will get the start against right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt. Encarnacion struggled greatly at the plate […]

Matt Davidson, Travis Jankowski Make Wild-Card Series Roster

Cincinnati Reds first baseman/designated hitter Matt Davidson and outfielder Travis Jankowski have been selected for the club’s wild-card series roster against Atlanta prior to Game 1 on Wednesday. Both have a very specific role, with Davidson likely to be utilized as a reserve bat against left-handed pitching, with three of his four regular-season hits versus […]

Aristides Aquino, Kyle Farmer Draw Starts In Game 1 Wednesday

Cincinnati Reds outfielder/designated hitter Aristides Aquino and infielder Kyle Farmer are both among the starting nine for Wednesday’s Game 1 of the wild-card series versus Atlanta and left-hander Max Fried. The duo enter the lineup due to the platoon nature of the Cincinnati order, with both having DFS upside due to their low price tags; […]

Michael Brantley Extends Lead in Astros Win

Houston Astros designated hitter Michael Brantley went 2-for-5 with two runs batted in as the Astros edged the Twins 4-1 in Game 1 of the wild-card round. After teammate Jose Altuve walked in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, Brantley lined a single that plated two Astros to extend the lead for Houston. Brantley […]

Miguel Andujar Not On Club’s Wild-Card Series Roster

New York Yankees utilityman Miguel Andujar was not included on the team’s wild-card series roster versus Cleveland. Andujar has struggled to see playing time throughout the 2020 season due to the depth that New York possesses, with his latest absence also due to a lack of potential at-bats. In the 21 regular season games that […]

Alejandro Kirk Draws Start At Designated Hitter For Game 1

Toronto Blue Jays catcher/designated hitter Alejandro Kirk will start Game 1 of the wild-card series against Tampa Bay and left-hander Blake Snell, drawing the start at DH with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Kirk, the Blue Jays No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline, excelled in a nine-game stint to close the regular season, slashing .375/.400/.583. […]

Pete Alonso Clubs Two Homers In Season Finale

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso went 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in the Mets' 15-5 brutal loss to the Nationals on Sunday in their season finale. Alonso's performance was one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise embarrassing and fitting end to the Mets' horrid 2020 season. He finished […]

Dominic Smith Sits Out Final Two Games Of Season

New York Mets outfielder/first baseman Dominic Smith sat out the final two games of the 2020 season after he barreled into the outfield fence attempting to make a play in the first game of a doubleheader against the Nationals on Saturday. Smith finished his impressive 2020 breakout season with a .316/.377/.616 line, 10 home runs, […]

Franmil Reyes Crushes Three Run Home Run In Finale

Cleveland Indians designated hitter Franmil Reyes went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a sacrifice fly in Sunday's 8-6 win over the Pirates. Reyes brought the Indians within a run with his sixth-inning blast. He also added an insurance run by knocking Carlos Santana in with the sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. Reyes […]

Giancarlo Stanton Sitting Out Season Finale

New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton is not in the lineup for the team's season finale against the Miami Marlins on Sunday. Luke Voit is getting the start at designated hitter in the game. Stanton managed to play just 23 games this year and slashed .250/.387/.500 with four home runs, 11 RBI and 12 […]

Pete Alonso With Three Hits Including A Homer On Saturday

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso went a combined 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in the Mets' doubleheader against the Nationals on Saturday. After his day on Saturday, Alonso now owns a .222/.321/.453 line with 14 home runs and 32 RBI on the season. It was a disappointing sophomore season for […]

George Springer, Michael Brantley, Carlos Correa Sit Saturday

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer, outfielder/designated hitter Michael Brantley and shortstop Carlos Correa are all sitting to begin Saturday’s contest versus Texas and right-hander Kyle Gibson. Having assured themselves a spot in the 2020 postseason, Springer, Brantley, and Correa are merely getting a day of rest ahead of the Wild Card series opener Tuesday. Myles […]

Shin-Soo Choo Eyes Return In 2021, Will Prepare To Play

Texas Rangers outfielder/designated hitter Shin-Soo Choo is slated to become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2020 year. After signing a seven-year deal with the Rangers ahead of 2014, Choo will hit the free-agent market at 38 years old, yet he has made it clear that there is uncertainty surrounding ‘21, even as […]

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo Bats Cleanup Saturday, Nate Lowe Sits

Tampa Bay Rays utilityman Yoshitomo Tsutsugo returns to the starting lineup Saturday versus Philadelphia and right-hander Zack Wheeler, as he’ll hold down the cleanup spot while manning the hot corner. With Tsutsugo in the lineup, Nate Lowe heads to the bench, having gone 3-for-27 over his last seven games. Having hit just .199 through his […]

Giancarlo Stanton Opts Into Deal With Yankees

New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton will opt into the final seven years and $218 million remaining on his contract, making him a Yankee well into the remainder of the decade. With an uncertain offseason facing many top stars, and injuries riddling Stanton’s tenure in New York, there was literal reason to believe that […]

Mets-Nationals Postponed Friday Due To Inclement Weather

The New York Mets and Washington Nationals have had their contest scheduled for Friday wiped out due to weather concerns. The two clubs will now play a doubleheader on Saturday, with the Mets retaining a slight chance to make the postseason. With both Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom set to make their final starts of […]

Jose Martinez Optioned To Alternate Site Friday

Chicago Cubs first baseman/designated hitter Jose Martinez was optioned to the club’s alternate training site prior to Friday’s contest against the White Sox. Acquired at the Trade Deadline to serve as a DH option against left-handed pitching, Martinez has gone 0-for-21 with seven strikeouts since being acquired. With a -86 OPS+, it’s unlikely that the […]

Howie Kendrick Weighs Retirement Choice Ahead Of 2021

Washington Nationals first baseman/designated hitter Howie Kendrick revealed Friday that he is mulling retirement at the conclusion of the 2020 season. Already done for the year due to a hamstring injury, Kendrick revealed that in a non-COVID-19 circumstance, this would have been his last year; but now? The decision is up in the air. Kendrick […]

Jorge Soler, Greg Holland Land On Injured List, Ending Year

Kansas City Royals outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler (oblique) and right-handed pitcher Greg Holland (oblique) were both placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Friday’s contest against Detroit, ending their respective 2020 campaigns. Soler played in 43 games and was unable to reclaim his epic power display from 2019, finishing the year with eight home […]

Albert Pujols Slugging .480 In September

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols will try and finish the season with a bang against the Dodgers on Friday. The numbers for the 40-year-old continue to decline, as he is posting a .689 OPS in 37 games as the future Hall of Famer is mostly a part-time player now. The 2020 season, however, […]

Dominic Smith With Two More Doubles On Thursday

New York Mets outfielder/first baseman Dominic Smith went 3-for-5 with two doubles in the Mets' 3-2 win over the Nationals on Thursday. Smith continues to build on what has become a bona fide breakout season for the 25-year old. He is now fourth in the National League with a 1.009 OPS and his 21 doubles […]