MLB Player News

Boyd didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Padres, giving up one earned run on four hits and a walk while striking out two batters across 4.1 innings.

Back-to-back doubles from Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts in the second inning allowed the Padres to plate their lone run of the game. Boyd likely would have conceded a few more runs if it weren't for Dansby Swanson's defense, and consistent hard contact from San Diego's offense led to the southpaw's removal in the fifth inning after just 58 pitches. If the Cubs manage to advance to the NLDS, Boyd would likely be called upon to start Game 2 in Milwaukee on Monday.

Kittredge will serve as the opening pitcher in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Wednesday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.

Kittredge turned in a 3.32 ERA and 0.83 WHIP across 21.2 innings in the regular season with the Cubs while serving primarily as a high-leverage reliever. The 35-year-old righty will now be tasked with securing the first few outs of Wednesday's contest before presumably handing the game over to Shota Imanaga for bulk-relief work.

Hernandez will start in left field and bat eighth Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series versus the Reds.

Michael Conforto was not included on the Dodgers' wild-card roster, and it's Hernandez who will get the first opportunity in left field against Hunter Greene and the Reds. Hernandez posted a .975 OPS with two home runs over his final eight regular-season contests and is a career .278/.353/.522 with 15 homers in 86 playoff games.

Hays (back) will start in left field and bat cleanup Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series versus the Dodgers.

It's Hays' first start since Sept. 20, as he's been battling back spasms. He was able to see action as a pinch hitter in the final game of the regular season Sunday and will hit in the middle of the lineup against Blake Snell in the Dodgers as the Reds kick off postseason play.

Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Tuesday that releasing Arenado is "not an option," Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The Cardinals will do their best to trade Arenado this offseason, and Arenado has said he's willing to expand the list of teams to which he would approve a deal. However, if the club is unable to find a trade partner, it will hang on to Arenado as its starting third baseman. Arenado -- who turns 35 in April -- slashed just .237/.289/.377 with 12 home runs over 436 plate appearances in 2025 and is owed roughly $40 million over the next two seasons.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Tuesday that Contreras is still dealing with a nagging left hand injury but will be ready to go for the NLDS, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Contreras injured the hand on Sept. 20 when he was struck by an opposing hitter's swing. He started only three of the final seven regular-season contests after that and went 0-for-11 with a 1:4 BB:K. However, while Contreras is not 100 percent healthy, he will do his best to play through the injury once the Brewers open up postseason play.

Conforto is not included on the Dodgers' wild-card roster.

Conforto was the team's regular left fielder against right-handed pitching throughout the season, but he finished with a .199/.305/.333 batting line in 138 games and the Dodgers have finally decided to pull the plug on him as a starter. The Dodgers could shift Andy Pages to left field, put Tommy Edman in center field and install Hyeseong Kim and/or Miguel Rojas at second base.

Manaea will be evaluated soon to determine whether he will need surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.

Manaea was diagnosed with loose bodies in his pitching elbow in June, which set back his rehab from an oblique strain at the time. He made his season debut just before the All-Star break, stayed off the injured list from that point forward and finished the year with the elbow feeling well. However, Manaea posted a 5.64 ERA over 12 starts and three relief appearances, and it's possible the elbow was a factor in his struggles. More should be known about Manaea's status in the coming weeks.

Strahm's $7.5 million option for 2026 has vested after he passed a physical, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The option increased from $4.5 million to $7.5 million after Strahn reached an innings-pitched threshold in 2025, and it became guaranteed after the reliever passed a physical. Strahm held a 2.74 ERA and 70:20 K:BB over 62.1 innings this season and will fill a high-leverage role in the Phillies' bullpen again in 2026.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday that Rojas is recovering from a quad injury and will not be on the NLDS roster, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Rojas spent the final two months of the regular season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but he was under consideration for an NLDS roster spot as a reserve due to his defensive and baserunning prowess. Dombrowski noted that Rojas could be ready to play in time for the NLCS, should the Phillies advance.