MLB Player News

Montero is not on the Tigers' roster for the American League Wild Card Series against the Astros, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

The Tigers' starting pitching plans beyond Tarik Skubal in Game 1 are cloudy, but Montero didn't make the cut despite a 3.79 ERA over 10 starts and two relief appearances from August on. He could potentially be added to the ALDS roster, if the Tigers advance.

Keith is not in the lineup Tuesday for Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Astros.

It's left-hander Framber Valdez on the mound for the Astros, so the lefty-hitting Keith will begin this one on the bench. Andy Ibanez is playing second base and batting cleanup for the Tigers.

Carpenter is absent from the lineup Tuesday for Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Astros.

The left-handed-hitting Carpenter doesn't typically start against lefties, so it's not a surprise to see him out of the lineup as the Astros send southpaw Framber Valdez to the hill. Justyn-Henry Malloy will be the Tigers' designated hitter and No. 2 hitter.

The Astros activated McCormick (hand) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

McCormick has been sidelined since mid-September with a small fracture in his right hand, but he's progressed enough to be included on the team's wild-card roster. While an option to get some reps versus lefties, McCormick is not in the Game 1 lineup against southpaw Tarik Skubal.

Verlander is not on the Astros' roster for the American League Wild Card Series versus the Tigers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Verlander's absence from the roster, while perhaps jarring, is not a surprise, as he wasn't going to make a start in the series and was unlikely to be carried as a reliever. Whether he's on the ALDS roster, should the Astros advance, is a bigger question. Ronel Blanco and Spencer Arrighetti will be available in relief for Houston in the wild-card series.

Alvarez (knee) will start at designated hitter and bat second Tuesday in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series versus the Tigers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez missed the final week of the regular season with a right knee sprain, but he's progressed sufficiently enough to be included on the Astros' wild-card series roster and in their Game 1 lineup. The 27-year-old slashed .308/.392/.567 with 35 home runs in 147 games this season.

Suarez is not on the Orioles' American League Wild Card Series roster.

Suarez is a candidate to potentially get a start in the ALDS, should the Orioles advance, but the club will need just a max of three starters during the wild-card series. Matt Bowman was also left off the Orioles' roster, with Colin Selby and Cade Povich capturing the final two spots in the bullpen.

The Royals activated Pasquantino (thumb) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.

Pasquantino was supposed to be sidelined for 6-to-8 weeks when he required surgery to repair a fractured right thumb in early September, but he's beat that timetable by a wide margin and will be part of the Royals' wild-card series roster. The expectation is that Pasquantino will be used at designated hitter, at least initially, which would free up at-bats at first base for Yuli Gurriel and/or Salvador Perez.

Valdez will start Game 1 of the wild-card series versus the Tigers on Tuesday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

How the Astros ultimately set up their full postseason rotation will be interesting, but there wasn't much question as to whom would take the ball in Game 1. After an inconsistent first half, Valdez held a 1.96 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 87:23 K:BB over 78 frames in 12 second-half starts. He'll be opposed by Tarik Skubal.

Skubal will start Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Astros on Tuesday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Skubal will square off against fellow southpaw Framber Valdez. The left-hander is the likely American League Cy Young winner after going 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 228:35 K:BB across 192 frames.