MLB Player News

DeGrom (finger) will start Saturday's Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

This was always expected, though manager Buck Showalter briefly entertained the idea of saving deGrom for the NLDS. Any thought of that went out the window when Max Scherzer was rocked for seven runs -- including four homers -- in Friday's Game 1 loss. DeGrom left his final start of the regular season with a blister on his hand, but Showalter said Thursday that "we don't foresee it to be an issue."

Manager Buck Showalter downplayed deGrom's blister Thursday and said, "we don't foresee it to be an issue," Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The veteran right-hander dealt with the blister across his final two starts of the regular season, but it appears it won't affect his outlook for the start of the playoffs. Max Scherzer is pitching Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series versus the Padres on Friday, and deGrom is expected to take the mound either Saturday or Sunday, depending on the outcome of the series opener.

Clevinger (illness) was left off the wild-card roster Friday, Kyle Glaser of Baseball America reports.

Clevinger has been battling a non-COVID illness this week and will not be a part of the Padres' active roster as they take on the Mets in the wild-card round. The right-hander could join the active roster again if the Padres advance to the next round.

Williams wasn't included on the Mets' roster for the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Friday, Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports reports.

Williams delivered a quality start in the regular-season finale but unsurprisingly won't be in the rotation for the wild-card round. The 30-year-old had a 3.21 ERA and 84:23 K:BB over 89.2 innings this year and could receive roster consideration in later rounds as both a starter and long-relief option should the Mets advance.

Carrasco wasn't included on the Mets' roster for the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Friday, Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports reports.

Carrasco posted a 4.21 ERA in six starts after returned from the injured list in early September, and he unsurprisingly isn't among New York's top-three rotation options for the wild-card series. The 35-year-old isn't guaranteed to be added to the roster later on should the Mets advance with Taijuan Walker and Trevor Williams also in the mix to start in a longer series.

Liberatore was not selected for the Cardinals' 26-man wild-card roster.

Liberatore was called to start Wednesday's regular season finale versus the Pirates, but the left-hander won't be a part of the Cardinals' postseason roster. The 22-year-old produced a 5.97 ERA and 1.73 WHIP with 28 strikeouts over 34.2 innings in nine appearances, including seven starts, in the regular season.

Walker wasn't included on the Mets' roster for the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Friday, Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports reports.

The veteran right-hander made his final start of the regular season during Tuesday's twin bill and delivered 4.1 scoreless frames, but he won't be needed during the series versus San Diego, which will be at most three games. Walker could factor into the Mets' rotation should the team advance to the NLDS, but for now Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom (blister) and Chris Bassitt line up as the starting pitchers.

Megill (undisclosed) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday and was included on the Mets' roster for the NL Wild Card series against the Padres, Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports reports.

Megill landed on the COVID-19 IL on Wednesday but quickly cleared the necessary protocols and is back on the active roster. The 27-year-old had a 5.13 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 51:13 K:BB over 47.1 innings this year and is likely to be a low-leverage option out of the bullpen this weekend.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expects May (back) to be on the NLDS roster, though it's not yet determined what the right-hander's role and availability will be, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

May was placed on the 15-day injured list due to lower-back tightness Sept. 24, but he was able to toss two simulated innings Wednesday and will throw another sim game Sunday, per MLB.com. Assuming he doesn't suffer any setbacks, May is expected to be on the NLDS roster, though he's not expected to work as a starter. The right-hander logged only 30 innings this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2021.

Snell will start Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series on Saturday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Yu Darvish is getting the starting nod for Friday's series opener, and Snell will draw the Game 2 start over Joe Musgrove, who is a likely candidate to start Game 3 if needed. Snell was dominant over his final four regular-season starts, posting a 0.72 ERA, 32:6 K:BB and 0.64 WHIP in 25 innings over that stretch. He last pitched Sunday, so he'll be fully rested for Saturday's matchup.