MLB Player News

Nola will start Thursday in Game 3 of the wild-card series in Atlanta, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Nola will take the ball on regular rest Thursday, and the Phillies will also have Zack Wheeler and Jesus Luzardo available out of the bullpen in the winner-take-all game. The 33-year-old Nola has posted a 2.93 ERA and 61:20 K:BB over 61.1 innings covering 11 starts since the beginning of August.

Gray was charged with the loss in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Yankees on Wednesday. He gave up two runs on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks over 4.2 innings.

Gray started off with three scoreless frames but surrendered a solo homer to Luis Garcia in the fourth and was pulled with two on and two out in the fifth at 70 pitches. One of the inherited runners came around to score, and New York erupted for six runs the following inning. It was the veteran right-hander's shortest outing since late May, as he had covered at least five frames in 20 consecutive starts. Though the early playoff exit leaves a sour taste, it was still one of the best regular seasons of Gray's career with a 2.72 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 149:46 K:BB over 169 innings.

Fried earned the win in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Red Sox on Wednesday. He struck out six and allowed one run on three hits and one walk over six innings.

The veteran left-hander was working on a shutout until Willson Contreras launched a two-out, solo homer during the top of the sixth inning, which spelled an end to his day after the Yankees erupted for six runs in the bottom of the frame. It's the second straight season Fried shut down Boston in the wild-card round, as he fired 6.1 scoreless frames in Game 1 of that series last year. He missed time in 2026 due to elbow issues but still made 20 regular-season starts and had a 2.80 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 104:33 K:BB across 112.2 innings.

Burke didn't factor in the decision in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Astros on Wednesday. He struck out eight, giving up three runs on four hits and no walks over four innings.

Burke looked dominant at times with 14 whiffs on 72 pitches while punching out half of the batters he faced, but three solo homers prevented him from working deeper into the contest. The eight strikeouts tied a season high, and it was the seventh time in 33 appearances this year that he issued no free passes. With the White Sox advancing past the Astros, Burke could next take the mound as early as Game 2 of the ALDS against the Guardians on Monday.

Brown took the loss in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the White Sox on Wednesday. He allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits with two strikeouts and a walk over two-thirds of an inning.

It was a disastrous showing from the right-hander in an elimination game for the Astros, as he delivered his shortest outing of the year while retiring just two of the nine batters he faced. The ugly performance comes on the heels of a strong finish to the regular season that saw Brown surrender just two earned runs with 24 strikeouts in his last three outings. He was limited to 20 regular-season starts due to a shoulder strain but was effective when available with a 3.19 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 124:55 K:BB across 107.1 innings.

Sanchez didn't factor in the decision in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series in Atlanta on Wednesday. He gave up three runs on six hits with six strikeouts and five walks over 6.2 innings.

The left-hander locked in with five scoreless innings after giving up a run in the opening frame, but he then ran into trouble in the seventh. Sanchez surrendered two runs on two walks, a double, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly, though the two-bagger was a bit of a misplay Bryce Harper in right field. Regardless, the 29-year-old certainly wasn't at his best Wednesday as he tied a season high with five free passes. Sanchez would likely take the ball in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers next week, if the Phillies can get past Atlanta.

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said after Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Phillies on Wednesday that Mahle suffered an abdominal injury while warming up and nearly didn't start as scheduled, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports. The right-hander didn't factor in the decision, giving up one run on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk across seven innings.

Mahle fully downplayed the injury, but it makes the playoff performance even more impressive as he tied a season best for innings pitched. It continues a strong run of form for the 32-year-old, who posted a 1.99 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 48:9 K:BB in 54.1 frames across nine regular-season starts after being acquired from the Giants at the trade deadline. Should Atlanta advance to the NLDS, Mahle tentatively lines up to take the mound in Game 3 against the Dodgers next week.

Boyd (0-1) took the loss in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Tuesday. He gave up four runs on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk over four innings.

The left-hander didn't have trouble finding the zone with 42 of his 58 pitches going for strikes, but the Friars made plenty of hard contact with four extra-base hits, including three homers. The poor showing from Boyd was a departure from his recent form, as he surrendered just two earned runs across 12 frames in his final two starts of the regular season. The Cubs will need to salvage the next two games in San Diego for Boyd to get a chance at redeeming himself with another playoff start.

Nola is likely to start a potential Game 3 of the wild-card series against Atlanta on Thursday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Zack Wheeler will be on three days' rest Thursday and would be available out of the bullpen, but the Phillies are likely to turn to Nola on normal rest first if they're able to force a winner-take-all contest. The 33-year-old Nola was terrific down the stretch of the regular season for Philadelphia, collecting a 2.93 ERA and 61:20 K:BB over 61.1 innings covering 11 starts from Aug. 1 on.

Tolle (0-1) took the loss in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Yankees on Tuesday. He gave up one run on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk over 4.2 innings.

It was a solid showing from Tolle in his first postseason start, but he was saddled with the loss since the Red Sox managed just three hits in the shutout defeat. After struggling in his first taste of the big leagues with a 6.06 ERA seven appearances last year, the left-hander shined as a rookie during the 2026 regular season, making 26 starts and finishing with a 3.03 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 171:40 K:BB across 148.2 innings.