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Gavin Williams SP | CLE
Guardians' Gavin Williams: Punches out 11 in Game 2
Williams didn't factor into the decision in Game 2 of the ALDS against the White Sox on Monday. He struck out 11 and gave up two runs on four hits and three walks.
After firing a clean top of the first frame, the Guardians handed Williams a 2-0 lead, which he maintained through five innings. The right-hander was pulled at 98 pitches (59 strikes) after surrendering a leadoff single to begin the sixth, and that runner came around to score as Chicago took a 3-2 advantage in the frame. Williams now lines up to start a potential Game 5, but Cleveland will need to win the next two games on the road to get there.
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Nick Martinez SP | TB
Rays' Nick Martinez: Getting ball for Game 3 of ALDS
Martinez will start Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Martinez will make his 2026 postseason debut in what figures to be a hostile environment in New York. The crafty right-hander posted arguably the best regular season of his big-league career with the Rays, accruing a 3.10 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with a 109:26 K:BB across 180.0 innings, and he'll look to carry that momentum into the playoffs.
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Carlos Rodon SP | NYY
Yankees' Carlos Rodon: Lined up for Game 4
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Rodon is lineup up to start potential Game 4 of the ALDS versus the Rays on Thursday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
The Yankees will turn to Max Fried in Game 3, leaving Rodon to take the ball in Game 4 in what would be his first start this postseason. Gerrit Cole would be on regular rest in Game 4 and could be used in relief that day, but otherwise he'll be lined up for a possible Game 5. Rodon's last start came on Sept. 22 against the Rays, and he struck out eight over eight shutout innings.
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Walker Buehler SP | SD
Padres' Walker Buehler: Back from paternity leave
The Padres activated Buehler from the paternity list Monday.
Buehler was away for the first two games of the series but will be back on the roster as the series shifts to San Diego for Game 3 on Tuesday. The veteran right-hander is a candidate to start Game 4, if needed. Buehler logged a 4.63 ERA and 131:57 K:BB over 153.2 innings covering 32 starts this season for the Padres.
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Brandon Clarke SP | STL
Cardinals' Brandon Clarke: Undergoes minor elbow surgery
Clarke recently underwent surgery to remove a loose body from his left elbow.
Clarke had been slated to play in the Arizona Fall League, but he'll have to rehab instead. The southpaw is expected to be recovered in time to pitch in instructional camp in January. It's the second surgery in less than a year for Clarke, who had an operation in January to address an aneurysm in his left arm. In between those two procedures, the lefty held a 3.34 ERA and 44:17 K:BB over 29.2 innings across four minor-league stops, showcasing his electric stuff but also his control issues.
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Blake Snell SP | LAD
Dodgers' Blake Snell: Lasts 3.2 frames in Game 2
Snell didn't factor in the decision in Game 2 of the NLDS against Atlanta on Sunday. He gave up a run on three hits with five strikeouts and five walks over 3.2 innings.
The left-hander certainly wasn't at his best and needed 90 pitches to record just 11 outs, but he was able to limit the damage to one run in vintage Snell fashion. The 33-year-old made just nine starts during the regular season due to shoulder and elbow issues, but he was effective when healthy with a 1.90 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 55:16 K:BB across 42.2 innings. Snell's next start isn't likely to come until the NLCS, should the Dodgers advance, since Tarik Skubal is lined up for a potential Game 5 versus Atlanta.
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Logan Henderson SP | MIL
Brewers' Logan Henderson: Settles down in first playoff start
Henderson didn't factor in the decision after giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits over five innings during Game 2 of the NLDS against the Padres on Sunday. He struck out four and walked three.
The rookie right-hander struggled a bit with his command early Sunday, as he issued three free passes and a wild pitch across the first two frames. However, Henderson mostly settled in from there and retired the next eight batters, though San Diego scratched across an unearned run in the fifth on a single and two infield errors. The 24-year-old illustrated strong command all year with just 19 walks across 98.1 regular-season innings, but it took him a bit to find his footing during his first postseason appearance. It was still a strong performance from Henderson, whose next start doesn't line up to come until the NLCS, should Milwaukee progress past San Diego.
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Michael King SP | SD
Padres' Michael King: Fires five strong frames
King didn't factor into the decision in Game 2 of the NLDS versus the Brewers on Sunday. He struck out six, allowing one run on three hits and no walks over five-plus innings.
After carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning during his wild-card start against the Cubs on Tuesday, King continued that dominance Sunday by retiring the first 14 batters he faced. Christian Yelich broke the seal with a two-out double in the fifth frame, which was followed by two additional singles and Milwaukee's first run. King escaped that inning without further damage but was pulled after a hit-by-pitch to begin the sixth. The right-hander has surrendered just one run on four hits with a 14:3 K:BB across 12 innings through his first two postseason starts. If San Diego can win the next two contests to force a decisive Game 5, King tentatively lines up to start on regular rest.
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Chris Sale SP | ATL
Braves' Chris Sale: Lined up for Game 3
Sale is expected to start Game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
The veteran left-hander made a surprise appearance out of the bullpen to close out the Phillies in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series on Thursday, which will end up pushing back his first start of the NLDS. Sale covered 7.2 frames between his two wild-card appearances versus Philadelphia, striking out 12 with three runs allowed on five hits and one walk.