MLB Player News

Bauers went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Game 3 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

After working a 12-pitch walk to help chase Yoshinobu Yamamoto early in Game 2 on Monday, Bauers capped an 11-pitch at-bat with a two-run blast during the seventh inning Wednesday to erase a 2-1 deficit for Milwaukee. The first baseman's .261 average through seven playoff games this year doesn't jump off the page -- especially since Wednesday's homer was his first extra-base hit -- but he's also worked six walks and has delivered in key moments, especially in the NLCS.

Muncy is absent from the lineup Wednesday in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Brewers.

With left-hander Robert Gasser on the bump for the Brewers, the lefty-swinging Muncy will yield to Miguel Rojas at third base. Muncy -- who has three home runs in six games this postseason -- is a good bet to enter the game at some point after Milwaukee turns to its bullpen.

Smith will start at catcher and bat seventh Wednesday in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Brewers.

Smith has really been scuffling this postseason, going 1-for-23 with a 1:8 BB:K. As a result, he's been demoted to the bottom-third of the Dodgers lineup.

Ohtani will start at designated hitter and bat sixth Wednesday in Game 3 of the NLCS versus the Dodgers.

The Dodgers are sticking with Ohtani -- who is playing through multiple injuries -- in the lineup despite his .156/.283/.200 batting line with no home runs dating back to Aug. 19. However, they will push him down to the No. 6 spot, which is the lowest he's batted since joining the Dodgers.

Padres manager Craig Stammen said Wednesday that Estrada (shoulder) had resumed throwing off the mound and could have been added to the roster if his team advanced to the NLCS, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Estrada missed the final month-plus of the regular season and the playoffs with a right shoulder impingement. However, it sounds like the reliever should enter the offseason without any limitations. Injuries limited Estrada to 33 appearances in 2026, and he finished with a 3.48 ERA and 38:16 K:BB over 31 innings. Slated to turn 28 in November, Estrada will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason.

Padres manager Craig Stammen said Wednesday that Sheets is leaning toward not having surgery to combat plantar fasciitis in his left foot, Marty Caswell of Foul Territory reports.

Sheets missed about a month of action during the second half with his foot issue, though it's unclear when exactly it began bothering him. For now, Sheets is opting for rest rather than surgery, though it's possible he'll revisit the decision if the injury lingers. Sheets had a .748 OPS with 14 home runs in the first half but stumbled to a .580 OPS with only three long balls in the second half, and the foot problem might be partly to blame.

Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Ohtani will be in the lineup for Game 3 of the NLCS against Milwaukee on Wednesday, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Ohtani has been struggling mightily at the plate while playing through multiple injuries, slashing just .156/.283/.200 with one RBI and 36 strikeouts in 24 games (including the postseason) since Aug. 19. Between the 32-year-old's offensive woes and the Dodgers facing a 2-0 series deficit in the NLCS, the team was reportedly considering keeping Ohtani on the bench and deploying Josue De Paula as its DH in Game 3. However, Roberts said Ohtani was "adamant" that he is healthy enough to remain in the lineup and close to turning things around, so the Dodgers will stick with their franchise superstar and presumably keep him near the middle of their batting order. He will match up against southpaw Robert Gasser, against whom Ohtani is 0-for-6 in his career with a walk and three strikeouts.

Woodruff (shoulder) threw roughly 30 pitches during a bullpen session Tuesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Woodruff was cleared to begin throwing bullpen sessions over the weekend, and although he was a little sore after his first round of mound work, he said he was feeling good after Tuesday's session. The Brewers will likely aim for the veteran righty to face hitters within the next couple of days, which would keep the door open for him to pitch out of the bullpen if the Brewers advance to the World Series.

Ashby struck out two without allowing a baserunning in 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the save in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Monday.

The left-hander continued his dominant run this postseason, as he's given up just two hits and three walks while striking out eight across 9.1 frames through five appearances. Manager Pat Murphy continues to utilize Ashby as a Swiss-army knife, as he's already recorded a win, a hold and a save while working in every frame from the fifth through ninth innings. Milwaukee's bullpen has been dominant as a unit in October, with Ashby leading the charge.

Turang went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, an RBI and three runs in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Monday.

The second baseman never found his swing during the NLDS against the Padres, going 2-for-16 with two walks and a stolen base, but he's been a force through two games versus the Dodgers with three walks and two extra-base hits. Turang posted career bests during the regular season with 21 homers, 100 RBI, 102 runs and an .816 OPS in 151 contests, and his bat has quickly come alive after a slow start to the playoffs.