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Max Scherzer SP | TOR
Rangers' Max Scherzer: Not included on wild-card roster
Scherzer (shoulder) isn't included on the Rangers' roster for their AL Wild Card Series versus the Rays that begins Tuesday.
Scherzer's absence doesn't come as a surprise, considering he recently had to pause his throwing program after not feeling as well as he had hoped during a light bullpen session. Working his way back from a teres major muscle strain in his right shoulder, Scherzer still hopes to be available at some point during the playoffs. It's not a guarantee that it will happen, however, and it might require the Rangers to make a deep postseason run.
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Chris Bassitt SP | BAL
Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Not a lock to start Game 3
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Tuesday that while Bassitt is probably the leading candidate to start a potential Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series, he's not locked in, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Kevin Gausman will take the hill for Game 1 on Tuesday, while Jose Berrios gets the ball for Wednesday's Game 2. While Bassitt represents the logical choice to start Game 3, Schneider didn't rule out using the righty in relief in the first two games or perhaps taking a different approach to Game 3. Bassitt comes into the playoffs riding high, having struck out 12 over 7.2 scoreless frames in his final regular season start.
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Alex Cobb SP | DET
Giants' Alex Cobb: Getting second opinion on hip
Cobb will get a second opinion on his troublesome left hip in the coming weeks, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Cobb battled hip discomfort throughout the second half and finished the regular season on the 15-day injured list with what was diagnosed as a left hip impingement. He's trying the rest-and-rehab route at the moment but will seek out other possible treatment options. San Francisco holds a $10 million club option (or $2 million buyout) on the 35-year-old right-hander for the 2024 campaign.
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Johnny Cueto SP | LAA
Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Not on wild-card roster
Cueto is not on the Marlins' roster for their NL Wild Card Series matchup against the Phillies that begins Tuesday.
Cueto logged only 52.1 innings (10 starts, three relief appearances) for Miami during the 2023 regular season while struggling to a 6.02 ERA. The 37-year-old right-hander carries a $10.5 million club option (or $2.5 million buyout) for the 2024 campaign.
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Hyun-Jin Ryu SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Hyun Jin Ryu: Excluded from wild-card roster
Ryu is not on the Blue Jays' AL Wild Card Series roster, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.
Ryu wasn't going to get a start in the series and has made just one relief appearance in his entire career, so his exclusion from the roster isn't a surprise. He could potentially be added should the Jays advance to the ALDS.
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Colin Rea SP | CHC
Brewers' Colin Rea: Gets spot on wild-card roster
Rea has made the Brewers' roster for their NL Wild Card Series matchup against the Diamondbacks.
The 33-year-old is essentially replacing Brandon Woodruff, who is in danger of missing the entire postseason because of a capsular injury in his right shoulder. Rea was terrific in a swingman role down the stretch for Milwaukee, delivering a 2.22 ERA and 25:6 K:BB over his final three starts and three relief appearances covering 24.1 innings.
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Michael Lorenzen RP | TOR
Phillies' Michael Lorenzen: Excluded from Phillies' WC roster
Lorenzen is not on the Phillies' NL Wild Card Series roster, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Lorenzen twirled a no-hitter for the Phillies back on Aug. 9 but posted an 8.01 ERA and 18:15 K:BB over his final 30.1 innings. He would seem to have a shot to be added to the team's NLDS roster should they advance, but the Phils decided he wouldn't be needed for their series against the Marlins.
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Taj Bradley SP | MIN
Rays' Taj Bradley: Won't be on WC roster
Bradley will not be part of the Rays' AL Wild Card Series roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays need only three starting pitchers for the series and plan to carry 15 position players, so Bradley isn't going to make the cut. They will have the ability to reset their roster prior to the ALDS, if they advance, and it's possible Bradley could be added on then.
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Jose Berrios SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jose Berrios: Confirmed starter for Game 2
Berrios will start Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series on Wednesday against the Twins, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet reports.
The Blue Jays confirmed earlier in the day that Kevin Gausman will take the ball for Game 1, and it'll be Berrios who gets a shot in the second game of the series. The right-hander gave up four runs in each of his last two starts of the regular season, so he'll look for a better result in Wednesday's outing.
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Kevin Gausman SP | CHC
Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman: Officially tapped for Game 1
Gausman will start Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series for the Blue Jays on Tuesday versus the Twins, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com.
Once the Blue Jays clinched a playoff spot and were able to scratch Gausman from his scheduled start in their regular season finale, it was obvious they were doing it in order to set him up for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. Gausman finished the regular season on a high note, tossing a combined 13 shutout frames in his last two starts. He'll be opposed by Pablo Lopez on Tuesday.