-
Sean Burke SP | CHW
White Sox's Sean Burke: Struggles with long ball
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.
-
Hunter Brown SP | HOU
Astros' Hunter Brown: Flounders in Game 2
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.
-
Cristopher Sanchez SP | PHI
Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez: Delivers quality start in Game 2
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.
-
Tyler Mahle SP | ATL
Braves' Tyler Mahle: Pitches through abdominal issue
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.
-
Matthew Boyd SP | CHC
Cubs' Matthew Boyd: Serves up three homers
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.
-
Aaron Nola SP | PHI
Phillies' Aaron Nola: Likely to start potential Game 3
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.
-
Payton Tolle SP | BOS
Red Sox's Payton Tolle: Pitches well in 4.2 frames
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.
-
Michael King SP | SD
Padres' Michael King: Flirts with no-hitter in Game 1
King earned the win in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Cubs on Tuesday. He gave up one hit with eight strikeouts and three walks over seven shutout innings.
The right-hander held Chicago without a hit until the seventh inning, when Nico Hoerner reached on an infield single down the third-base line. It was an electric performance from King, who threw 62 of his 97 pitches for strikes while generating 17 whiffs. The 31-year-old surrendered five runs against the Dodgers during his final start of the regular season, but it was still a productive campaign with a 3.21 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 159:70 K:BB across 185 innings. If the Padres can win one of the next two games to push past the Cubs, King likely lines up to start Game 2 of the NLDS in Milwaukee.
-
Cam Schlittler SP | NYY
Yankees' Cam Schlittler: Punches out 10 in Game 1
Schlittler (1-0) earned the win in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Red Sox on Tuesday. He struck out 10 and allowed two hits and one walk across 6.1 scoreless innings.
The right-hander registered 24 whiffs while throwing a career-high 117 pitches, 77 of which went for strikes. Schlittler prevented Boston from even reaching second base against him as he continued his September dominance, which saw him post a 1.20 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 38:7 K:BB in 30 frames over his last five starts of the regular season. If the Yankees can punch their ticket to the ALDS, Schlittler tentatively lines up to start Game 2 against the Rays.
-
Patrick Sandoval SP | BOS
Red Sox's Patrick Sandoval: Left off postseason roster
Sandoval wasn't included on the Red Sox's roster for their American League Wild Card Series with the Yankees that began Tuesday.
Boston's decision to keep Sandoval off the roster doesn't come as a major surprise, after he turned in a 5.15 ERA and 1.69 WHIP over 64.2 innings in 13 starts upon returning from the 60-day injured list shortly before the All-Star break. The veteran southpaw didn't fare much better while shifting to a relief role for the final week of the regular season, yielding three runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out six in 5.2 innings over two appearances. Sandoval is scheduled for free agency this offseason and will likely be donning a new uniform in 2027.