Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) threw 31 pitches in a bullpen session at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday. According to Curt Hogg, a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Woodruff could be a long shot to be on the World Series roster should the Brewers make it that far. The right-handed pitcher is battling back from a right shoulder injury after exiting a July 4th start. Hogg said the intent is for Woodruff to work his way up to facing batters next. If Woodruff is deemed healthy for the World Series, it would be a big lift for the Brewers to get a pitcher of his experience back in the mix, but he will have to make it through a ton of checks to be considered healthy enough for the World Series roster.

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Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta threw six shutout innings on Tuesday night and kept the Cleveland Guardians in check on the way to evening up the ALCS at 1-1. Peralta scattered four hits and walked two, but struck out six batters in holding Cleveland off the scoreboard during his six innings of work. The talented right-hander threw 99 total pitches with 68 for strikes. Peralta then gave way to three Rays relievers in the 3-1 defeat of the Guardians. Peralta mixed his electric fastball with his dynamic changeup to keep the Cleveland hitters off balance and give the Rays their first win of the ALCS.

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Cleveland Guardians left-handed pitcher Parker Messick picked up the loss in Game 2 of the ALCS on Tuesday night despite not allowing an earned run to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays broke through with three runs in the fourth inning after an error from third baseman Jose Ramirez opened the floodgates. Messick, pitching in front of friends and family near his hometown, allowed six hits and walked two batters, but struck out three. It was clearly not Messick's sharpest outing of the postseason, as the rookie has been very good lately in the playoffs. Despite not having earned runs in his box score, Messick was not at his best over his 82 pitches with 47 for strikes.

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Tampa Bay Rays closer Bryan Baker was effective again in limiting the Cleveland Guardians in the ninth inning while picking up his fourth postseason save in Tuesday night's 3-1 victory in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. The right-hander did not allow a hit or a walk in a three-up, three-down ninth inning with one strikeout. The Rays have to feel comfortable turning to Baker in save situations, as he has come through all regular season long and now into the postseason. The two-run lead was plenty enough for Baker to protect as he helped the Rays even the ALCS at 1-1.

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San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta's $14 million team option for the 2027 season "would be risky (for the team) to exercise," per Dennis Lin of The Athletic. When healthy, the production Pivetta provides is worth well more than $14 million. Across 181 2/3 innings (31 starts) in 2025, the 33-year-old recorded a 13-5 record with a 2.87 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 190 strikeouts. However, Pivetta made just eight starts in 2026 due to issues with elbow inflammation and forearm tightness. While the veteran was able to make it back for the end of the regular season and San Diego's brief playoff run, injury concerns could cloud his outlook heading into 2027.

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San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France "seems most likely" of the team's key impending free agents to return in 2027, per Dennis Lin of The Athletic. France was an unlikely hero for San Diego in 2026 after signing a minor league deal last offseason, hitting .295/.363/.502 with 21 home runs, 72 RBI, 59 runs scored, and one stolen base across 500 plate appearances. The 32-year-old posted a 9.1% barrel rate and 47.2% hard-hit rate, both of which represented career highs. France is also widely considered to be one of the better defensive first basemen in MLB. Still, the veteran's age and lack of a proven track record as a high-level contributor could hold down his free agent market. San Diego will likely be facing significant payroll constraints this winter, so bringing back France at a reasonable price could be a priority.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that designated hitter Shohei Ohtani will be in the team's lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, per Jack Harris of the California Post. Ohtani played through knee and biceps issues for a significant portion of the second half of the regular season. The 32-year-old hit just .245 with eight home runs across 212 plate appearances after the All-Star break, and his struggles have continued into the postseason. Across 24 plate appearances in October, Ohtani has just three hits, none of which have gone for extra bases. With the Dodgers down two games to zero against Milwaukee, they will need more out of Ohtani to mount a comeback and continue their bid for a third straight World Series title.

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Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen allowed two earned runs on eight hits (two home runs) while walking none and striking out seven in six innings pitched in a no-decision on Monday night against the Cleveland Guardians in a 7-3 loss in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. Rasmussen was not quite as good as he was in his start in the AL Division Series against the division-rival New York Yankees, when he tossed eight shutout innings with just one hit and 10 strikeouts, but he did enough to put the Rays in position to take the first game of the best-of-seven series. Rasmussen allowed solo shots to outfielder Chase DeLauter in the sixth inning and to catcher Patrick Bailey in the seventh inning. He has been great for Tampa in his two starts so far this postseason, posting a 1.29 ERA with 17 strikeouts and only two walks in 14 innings. Rasmussen has only made five playoff appearances in his career, but he has allowed only five earned runs with two walks and 22 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings pitched.

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Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto did not have the kind of start that the Dodgers needed from him in the Game 2 loss to the hosting Milwaukee Brewers on Monday in the National League Championship Series. Yamamoto surrendered three earned runs on four hits while walking two and striking out only one in 2 2/3 innings pitched in a no-decision. It was one of the Japanese hurler's worst showings in his postseason career, especially after he threw a seven-inning gem with one walk, one run allowed, and 10 strikeouts in the Game 3 win over the Atlanta Braves in the NL Division Series on Oct. 6. Yamamoto did not have his swing-and-miss stuff working in this one, which was the shortest playoff outing of his career. He could certainly bounce back if the Dodgers extend the series, but they will certainly have to win Game 3 of the NLCS back in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Yamamoto now has a 2.47 career ERA in the playoffs with 59 strikeouts and 15 walks in 65 2/3 innings pitched in 12 outings (11 starts) for the Dodgers.

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Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras continued to be a star offensively for the Brew Crew in the team's Game 2 win over the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series on Monday. Contreras went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run, three RBI, and a walk to help Milwaukee take a commanding 2-0 series lead, with the teams heading to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Venezuelan backstop continues to be one of the best all-around catchers in the game, and he is showing the world this postseason. The three-time All-Star hit .270/.341/.417 with a .758 OPS, 18 home runs, a career-high 94 RBI, 82 runs scored, and a stolen base in 147 games and 640 plate appearances during the regular season. Contreras has been even better in the playoffs, going 9-for-23 (.391) with three home runs, five RBI, four runs scored, and four walks in six games against the Dodgers and San Diego Padres. He will look to keep it up in Game 3 in L.A. on Wednesday as the Brewers look to put a stranglehold on the Dodgers in the series.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers will contemplate benching two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, even with the team down two games to none, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal. "He doesn't feel great. I think for me, it's having a conversation with him tomorrow, kind of try to figure out what's best for him, what's best for us. He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it," manager Dave Roberts said. The four-time MVP has dealt with knee and biceps issues since the start of the second half of the regular season and has not looked like himself at the plate for a while now. If the Dodgers sit Ohtani on Wednesday, rookie outfielder Josue De Paula would be the top candidate to take his spot as the designated hitter. Ohtani went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the Game 2 loss to Milwaukee on Monday, lowering his playoff average to .150 and his postseason OPS to .411. He has not homered since Aug. 18 and has driven in just one run since Aug. 19, going 14-for-90 in that stretch. Ohtani has clearly not been himself and is still likely not 100% physically, but it is still unfathomable to think the Dodgers might actually bench the superstar for Game 3 in L.A. on Wednesday.

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Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that right-hander Freddy Peralta will start Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday night, with "the rest of the guys on call" out of the bullpen, according to Rays reporter Ryan Bass. Peralta will try to keep the Rays from falling into a 0-2 hole in the best-of-seven series. The 30-year-old Dominican hurler allowed an earned run on three hits while walking one and striking out three in 4 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the division-rival New York Yankees in Game 2 of the AL Division Series, and he has a 4.03 ERA (4.76 FIP) and a 44:14 K:BB in 38 career postseason innings. Peralta went 10-11 overall in 2026 with the Rays and New York Mets, posting a 4.42 ERA with a 1.32 WHIP and 156 strikeouts in 169 innings across 32 starts. He was a little better in Tampa, going 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 43:15 K:BB in his 10 regular-season starts. Peralta did not face Cleveland at all during the regular season.

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Cleveland Guardians left-hander Parker Messick has been tabbed to start Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday night on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. Messick is a Tampa Bay area native and went to high school around 45 minutes from Tropicana Field. The 25-year-old southpaw made his first start in Tampa for the Guardians last year and allowed just one run over six innings. In late July this year, Messick allowed just one run in his 7 2/3 innings pitched. "He's had two straight very good starts here in front of his family and friends. It's always a special boost when you get to play at home as a player," manager Stephen Vogt said. Messick was a first-time All-Star in 2026 and went 12-9 in the regular season with a 2.56 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 193:49 K:BB in 186 1/3 innings in 32 starts in his second year in the majors. Messick is hoping to turn things around in his first taste of the postseason after giving up four earned runs with six walks and 11 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings in two starts against the Chicago White Sox in the AL Division Series.

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Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said that right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) might return next year, but he cannot be counted on to be a regular starting-rotation member over a 162-game schedule, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. The same can be said for right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow). Schwellenbach was not able to pitch for the Braves at all in 2026 because of two surgeries on his right elbow -- the first to remove bone spurs in February, before he had another surgery in August to fix a fracture in the same arm. The 26-year-old former second-rounder from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln had a promising first two years in the majors in 2024 and 2025, combining to go 15-11 with a 3.23 ERA (3.27 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 235 strikeouts and only 41 walks in 234 1/3 innings over 38 starts for Atlanta. While he might not be ready for Opening Day in 2027, and he could have his workload managed all year, he definitely will be the more intriguing fantasy stash over Strider.

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Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said that right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) might return next year, but he cannot be counted on to be a regular member of the starting rotation for the entire 162-game schedule, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. In turn, fantasy managers should not really be seeking out Strider for their rosters because of his recent injury history. It has been all downhill for Strider after he won 20 games and struck out a league-high 281 batters in 32 starts in 2023 as a first-time All-Star. The 27-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2020 from Clemson made only two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He went 7-14 last year with a 4.45 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 131:51 K:BB in 23 starts, and then he was only able to make eight starts while posting an ERA over 5.00 in 39 innings for the Braves this year. He battled elbow and oblique injuries in 2026 and did not return after going on the injured list in mid-June. Since having TJ surgery, Strider's velocity has taken a big hit, wiping out his high-end swing-and-miss stuff pre-injury.

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Boston Red Sox veteran right-hander Sonny Gray said that he plans to continue his playing career in 2027, according to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. The 36-year-old and three-time All-Star will enter free agency this winter, but despite his age, he should have some suitors after a strong first season with the Red Sox. Gray led the league with 18 wins (five losses) while posting a 2.72 ERA (3.47 FIP) and a 1.15 WHIP, with 149 strikeouts and 46 walks in 169 innings across his 29 starts. He broke a streak of two straight 200-strikeout innings in 2026, but fantasy managers were not complaining about his production in his 14th year in the big leagues in the tough American League East. Teams looking for an experienced veteran starter on the open market will definitely be giving Gray a look this offseason as he looks to pitch a 15th MLB season in 2027.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Luis Lara came through with the biggest hit of his team's 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, notching a go-ahead RBI single off Dodgers left-hander Tarik Skubal in the fifth inning. It was Lara's lone hit in his three at-bats, but it obviously came at a key time for Milwaukee. The 21-year-old Lara earned a promotion to the big leagues in early July and hit .246/.311/.325 with one home run, 26 RBI, 25 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 212 plate appearances to finish the year. While Lara's numbers don't leap off the page, he hit .321 with 24 stolen bases across 346 plate appearances at Triple-A before getting called up. The Brewers have deployed Lara as a short-side platoon starter in right field against left-handed starting pitchers so far this postseason. If he can gain some confidence from his key hit off Skubal on Sunday, Lara could emerge as a bottom-of-the-order contributor in the NLCS.

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Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos had high praise for utility man Mauricio Dubon, saying that he "can't say enough good things about him" and that he feels "very comfortable with (Dubon) at short," per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Dubon emerged as a surprisingly critical component of Atlanta's lineup in 2026, hitting .276/.321/.399 with 12 home runs, 73 RBI, 66 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across 619 plate appearances. Dubon is now set to hit free agency as he enters his age-32 season in 2027. The veteran had mostly been used as a versatile bench piece throughout his career prior to 2026, as he's shown an ability to line up everywhere on the diamond other than behind the plate and on the mound. However, it appears as though Atlanta could be circling Dubon as a potential stopgap starter at shortstop. The Braves have struggled to fill the shortstop position since losing Dansby Swanson to the Chicago Cubs in free agency following the 2022 season.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal was handed the loss in his team's 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday. The star left-hander allowed five hits, two walks, and two earned runs while recording seven strikeouts across five innings of work. While Skubal was not able to pitch his team to a victory on Sunday, the 29-year-old has been rock solid to open the postseason for Los Angeles. Across two starts (11 innings), Skubal has posted a 2.45 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts. His next chance to make an impact in the NLCS will likely be in Game 5 next Friday, although he could potentially be available on three days' rest for Game 4 on Thursday if the Dodgers are desperate.

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Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang was one of the heroes of his team's 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, slugging a solo home run off of Dodgers left-hander Tarik Skubal in the fourth inning. Turang was one of Milwaukee's most important bats in the regular season, slashing .268/.366/.450 with 21 home runs, 100 RBI, 102 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases across 680 plate appearances. However, he struggled at the plate in Milwaukee's National League Division Series win over the San Diego Padres, logging just two singles and two walks in 18 plate appearances across four games. If Turang's big swing against Skubal on Sunday is a sign that he's coming around at the plate, he could be a major difference-maker for the Brewers in the remainder of the NLCS.

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