MLB Player News

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Early would likely start a potential Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series versus the Yankees, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Early became the most likely candidate to take the ball in Game 3 after Lucas Giolito (elbow) went down, and Cora has confirmed it will indeed be the lefty, barring something unforeseen. The rookie collected a 2.33 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 29:4 K:BB across 19.1 innings covering four September starts for the Red Sox.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that while Giolito's right elbow injury is not as bad as the team feared it might be, the hurler is unlikely to be available at any point during the postseason, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Giolito seems to have been cleared of any structural damage after a visit with Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, but the right-hander needs extended rest, so he's done for the season even if the Red Sox make a deep postseason run. It's poor timing for the Red Sox and also Giolito, who will enter free agency this winter. Giolito had a nice bounce-back 2025 campaign, posting a 3.41 ERA and 121:56 K:BB over 145 frames, but he'll head into the free-agent market with health questions.

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.

Yoshida is absent from the lineup Tuesday in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Yankees.

It will be lefty Max Fried on the bump for the Yankees, so the left-handed-hitting Yoshida will retreat to the bench to begin the contest. Rob Refsnyder is starting at designated hitter and batting leadoff for the Red Sox.

McMahon is not in the lineup Tuesday for Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Red Sox.

With tough southpaw Garrett Crochet on the hill for the Red Sox, the lefty-swinging McMahon will grab a seat. Jose Caballero will play third base and bat ninth for the Yankees.

Chisholm is absent from the lineup Tuesday for Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series versus the Red Sox.

The left-handed-hitting Chisholm was an everyday player for the Yankees this season, but with tough southpaw Garrett Crochet on the bump for the Red Sox, Chisholm will yield to Amed Rosario at second base. For what it's worth, Chisholm is 0-for-4 with a 1:3 BB:K in his career versus Crochet.

Lowe is not in the lineup Tuesday for Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series versus the Yankees.

It's southpaw Max Fried on the bump for the Yankees, so the left-handed-hitting Lowe will begin the festivities on the bench. Romy Gonzalez will handle first base and bat cleanup for the Red Sox.

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

With lefty Max Fried drawing the start for the Yankees, the left-handed-swinging Abreu will yield to Nate Eaton in right field. Abreu went just 3-for-21 with eight strikeouts down the stretch of the regular season after returning from a calf injury.

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.