MLB Player News

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.

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.

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.

Thomas (intercostal) will take batting practice at Truist Park on Wednesday, Jesus Cano of The Athletic reports.

Thomas is just under three weeks removed from suffering a left intercostal strain. He's responded well to increased workouts and will have a big test Wednesday in taking batting practice on the field. If Thomas proves his health, he'll be a candidate to be added to Atlanta's roster for the NLDS, should his team advance.

Gausman will start Game 2 of the wild-card series versus the Padres on Wednesday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Gausman will be tasked with helping to stave off elimination after the Cubs were shut out in the Padres' 8-0 Game 1 victory. The right-hander injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder in his final regular-season start one week ago, but he feels well enough to take the ball in Game 2's win-or-go-home scenario.

General manager Brandon Gomes said Tuesday that Henriquez (back) is "trending really well" after throwing an encouraging round of live batting practice, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Henriquez ended the regular season on the injured list due to a low-grade back strain, but because the Dodgers have a bye during the wild-card round, he'll have time to heal before the team begins its postseason run. The 24-year-old righty still has a few boxes left to check off, but assuming he doesn't suffer any setbacks during his remaining workouts, he'll likely be included in the Dodgers' NLDS roster.

Bregman is starting as the designated hitter and batting second Tuesday for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Padres.

Bregman is not in the field Tuesday since it is the "safest way to make sure he gets at-bats" according to Cubs manager Craig Counsell, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. With the 32-year-old starting as the designated hitter, Pedro Ramirez enters the lineup as the third baseman and Michael Conforto exits to the bench.

Conforto is not in the lineup Tuesday for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Padres.

Alex Bregman has the start as the designated hitter instead of Conforto on Tuesday and is batting second. With Bregman not in the field, Pedro Ramirez is taking over at the hot corner.

Duran (0-1) was charged with a blown save and the loss in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against Atlanta on Tuesday. He allowed three runs on two hits with one strikeout and no walks over two innings.

Manager Don Mattingly called upon his closer to begin the seventh inning with the Phillies leading 3-2, and Duran delivered a clean frame on 17 pitches. The right-hander returned for the eighth and retired the first two batters he faced, but an infield single and a hit-by-pitch set the table for Austin Riley to launch a three-run homer. Duran recorded more than three outs in just one of his 61 appearances during the regular season, so the multi-inning usage by Mattingly will likely be scrutinized heavily. The Phillies are now facing elimination after having their closer throw 27 pitches in Game 1.

Luzardo didn't factor in the decision Tuesday in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against Atlanta. He gave up a run on three hits and one walk while striking out six across five innings.

Luzardo fired one scoreless inning out of the bullpen Sunday versus the Rays as he returned to a big-league mound after missing most of September due to shoulder inflammation, so it was quite impressive to see him in such strong form Tuesday while making his first start in three weeks. The left-hander threw 77 pitches (48 strikes) and generated 11 whiffs in what was the best playoff start of his big-league career. Luzardo closed the regular season with a 2.86 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 221:52 K:BB across 179.2 innings. The Phillies will need to win the next two games for him to make another start this year.