MLB Player News

Machado went 1-for-5 with a solo homer in Thursday's NL Wild Card Series Game 2 win over the Cardinals.

Machado went back-to-back with Fernando Tatis Jr. in the sixth inning as both San Diego stars homered off Giovanny Gallegos to bring their team from down by four to tied. Machado is still searching for success in the postseason, as he owns a career .212/.262/.394 slash line in 25 games, though he does have five homers in those contests.

Urshela went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and an additional run scored in Wednesday's Game 2 series-clinching victory over Cleveland.

He also flashed the leather with some good plays in the field. Urshela's fourth-inning blast put the Yankees up 5-4, but each team went on to score five more runs in the 10-9 game.

The Cubs outrighted Wisdom to their alternate training site Monday.

Wisdom went unclaimed off waivers after being designated for assignment last weekend, so he'll stick around in the Cubs' organization for now. Assuming Wisdom joins the Cubs for spring training, he'll realistically be competing for a roster spot at Triple-A Iowa rather than with the big club.

The Cubs activated Vargas (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The utility man will be up with the Cubs for their wild-card series with the Marlins, which begins Wednesday. Before his regular season came to an end when he was placed on the IL on Sept. 21 with a right hamstring strain, Vargas slashed .196/.222/.314 in 54 plate appearances across stints with the Diamondbacks, Twins and Cubs.

Riley (quadriceps) will start at third base and bat ninth Wednesday in Game 1 against the Reds.

We already knew that he was going to be in the Game 1 lineup, despite the fact he is not fully healthy. Riley will have his work cut out for him facing righty Trevor Bauer, who has held same-handed hitters to a .146/.205/.220 line this season.

Senzel is starting in center field and leading off Wednesday in Game 1 against the Braves.

Senzel hit .074 in 30 plate appearances against lefties this season, but he only struck out four times over that tiny sample, so the Reds are showing confidence in their young outfielder by starting him against southpaw Max Fried. "We're going with our best lineup, everything that's happened in the past is behind us," Bell told C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. "We knew Nick had a tough challenge this season, since then he's gotten more at-bats."

Vargas (hamstring) could be included on the Cubs' postseason roster, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Vargas was sidelined for the final week of the regular season, but manager David Ross said Tuesday that he could return for the postseason. If Vargas is included on the roster, he'd serve as middle-infield depth after slashing .196/.222/.314 with three RBI over 51 at-bats with the Diamondbacks, Twins and Cubs during the regular season.

Riley (quadriceps) isn't 100 percent but will be in the in lineup Wednesday against the Reds for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Quadriceps tightness has kept Riley off the field since Friday, the only time he's played in the past week. Given that we're now in the playoffs, however, teams will be more willing to risk players who are less than 100 percent, so it's no surprise that Riley is expected to play.

The Twins recalled Astudillo from their alternate site Monday and added him to their postseason roster.

Astudillo is one of four catchers on the playoff roster, though he's at least capable of providing the Twins with some depth at multiple infield spots, if needed. So long as Minnesota's position players stay relatively healthy during the postseason, however, Astudillo likely won't be in line for much action.

Donaldson (calf) is not on the Twins' AL Wild Card Round roster, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.

Calf issues, which are hardly something new for the veteran third baseman, limited Donaldson to just 28 games this season. The issue returned during the final series of the campaign and evidently hasn't subsided to the point that the Twins feel comfortable with him playing at any point in the next three days. Marwin Gonzalez will be the third baseman in Game 1 against the Astros.