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Catcher Will Smith will hit ahead of Shohei Ohtani in the Los Angeles Dodgers' batting order for Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. Manager Dave Roberts has restructured the top of the lineup, placing Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández, and Smith ahead of Ohtani as the Dodgers look to spark their offense in a crucial postseason matchup.
Ha-Seong Kim is back in the starting lineup at shortstop for the Atlanta Braves as they face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. The defensive shift moves Mauricio Dubón back to left field and leaves Lane Thomas out of the starting lineup, part of manager Walt Weiss's tactical roster deployment against left-handed pitching.
Former Colorado Rockies Gold Glove center fielder Brenton Doyle was traded to the Chicago White Sox before the trade deadline following a turbulent 2026 season marred by a May outfield injury and a subsequent groin issue. After stellar rehab stints, Doyle returned in July but found top prospect Cole Carrigg had taken over center field. With the White Sox, Doyle has thrived in a platoon and defensive specialist role, improving his OPS to .720 across 94 plate appearances.
Free-agent-to-be Kevin Gausman presents a reliable rotation option after completing a 2026 season split between the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs. Despite posting a 4.51 ERA, the 35-year-old durable right-hander has thrown at least 170 innings in six straight full seasons. Supported by strong underlying metrics including high-percentile walk, chase, and whiff rates, Gausman offers the durability and command that teams seeking a veteran workhorse anchor for their starting rotation require.
Brooklyn-born Richie Palacios laced a crucial two-run single to cap a four-run fifth inning, propelling the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-2 victory and a 2-0 series lead over the New York Yankees in the ALDS. Batting against reliever Brent Headrick with a green light on a 3-0 count, the 29-year-old second baseman delivered his second major hit of the series. Palacios rewarded the Rays' confidence after batting .235 with 10 homers and 17 steals during the regular season.
Boston Red Sox outfield prospect Roman Anthony will not require surgery on his mysteriously strained hand following a lost season that saw him exit the playoff opener early. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow stated the team did not even know what surgery to perform. Anthony's health and productivity in 2027 remain a vital priority for the Red Sox as the front office addresses the team's ongoing need for added home run power after finishing 26th in MLB with 163 homers.
Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has been named Baseball America's MLB Player of the Year and is a finalist for the Hank Aaron Award. PCA led all MLB hitters with 45 home runs, 119 runs, 84 extra-base hits, and 357 total bases, while pacing the National League with a .570 slugging percentage, .943 OPS, and 157 wRC+. He played in all 162 games, stole 41 bases, and posted a 9.8 bWAR in a historic breakout season for the franchise.
Acquired by the Washington Nationals in a trade for Jake Bennett, flame-throwing RHP Luis Perales struggled significantly in his first MLB action following Tommy John surgery. Across 6 major league appearances and 11 innings, Perales posted a disastrous -0.5 fWAR, surrendering 14 runs, 15 hits, and 5 homers with 13 walks. While his triple-digit fastball and nasty splitter show raw potential, his severe control issues have made him a major early question mark.
Acquired by the Boston Red Sox in a December trade for Luis Perales, LHP Jake Bennett enjoyed a stellar rookie campaign after dominating in AAA. Stepping up amid rotation injuries, Bennett posted a 9-7 record, 3.65 ERA, and 1.10 WHIP over 113.1 innings. Backed by elite command, a 4.6% walk rate, and a 37.4% chase rate, Bennett proved to be a major success and cemented himself as a reliable mid-rotation starter.
Atlanta Braves outfield prospect Isaiah Drake started in left field for the Glendale Desert Dogs, going 1-for-4 with a stolen base in an 8-7 loss to the Surprise Saguaros. Drake reached base via an error in the second inning before stealing his second base of the Arizona Fall League season, later adding an infield single off the third baseman in the eighth inning to round out a productive outing.
As the New York Mets enter the offseason, the future of first baseman Mark Vientos remains uncertain following consecutive disappointing seasons. Vientos batted .212 with a .652 OPS and struggled defensively with -9 OAA in 87 games this past year. Although arbitration-eligible at $2.4 million with elite exit velocities and power potential, a crowded roster and subpar metrics could prompt the Mets to trade or non-tender him before the 2027 campaign.
Acquired by the Baltimore Orioles, Blaze Alexander transformed from a utility man into an offensive powerhouse during the first half of the season. After a slow start, Alexander tore through May and June with stellar batting averages before suffering a non-displaced hand fracture when hit by a pitch from Royals reliever Lucas Erceg. He returned in August but later hit the injured list with back spasms, concluding a resilient campaign where he established his value.
Jazz Chisholm expressed no regrets regarding his wild off-balance throw from second base during the Yankees' 5-2 Game 2 loss to the Rays in the ALDS. Chisholm's errant throw contributed to a disastrous first inning featuring four errors by the Yankees. Finishing a difficult season with 19 home runs and 41 stolen bases while leading second basemen with nine errors, Chisholm is slated for free agency, making Wednesday's game potentially his final one in pinstripes.
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement experienced a stark contrast in his 2026 campaign, enjoying a stellar first half before struggling severely down the stretch to finish with a 1.1 bWAR. Clement batted .284 with an 80 wRC+, playing primarily at second base and shortstop while committing 9 errors. General manager Ross Atkins noted that Clement is not guaranteed the starting second base job heading into the 2027 season.
Atlanta Braves standout Matt Olson has been officially named the team's finalist for the prestigious Hank Aaron Award following another strong campaign. As the Braves prepare for Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Olson remains a central pillar of the team's offensive firepower alongside teammates like Ronald Acuna Jr.
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect JT Quinn displayed strong mid-rotation upside in his debut professional season, logging a 3.39 ERA and 129 strikeouts over 116.2 innings across High-A Frederick and Double-A Chesapeake. Drafted in the second round of 2025 out of Georgia, Quinn relies on an electric 95-97 mph fastball and a sharp slider. Despite questions about his command and third pitch, he stayed healthy and projects to return to Double-A in 2027.
With their backs against the wall and facing a deficit in the NLDS, the San Diego Padres are looking to their biggest star, Fernando Tatis Jr., to ignite a postseason comeback. The team recognizes that his perseverance and performance on the field will dictate their offensive success as they attempt to battle back in the series and mirror his intensity against stiff postseason competition.
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm is featured in recent team evaluations as the organization assesses roster decisions and upcoming arbitration estimates following the conclusion of their season. Key decisions lie ahead for Philadelphia's front office as they evaluate which players to keep, with Bohm's arbitration eligibility forming a crucial part of their offseason salary projections and roster construction.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams delivered a high-strikeout performance in the ALDS, fanning 11 batters over five innings of work against the Chicago White Sox. Despite his dominant strikeout total, the White Sox mounted a three-run rally in the sixth inning after his departure to secure a come-from-behind victory. With the loss, Williams and the Guardians head to Chicago facing postseason elimination.
New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice provided the team's sole offensive highlights in a 5-2 ALDS Game 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, launching two solo home runs and drawing a walk. The performance follows his recognition as a finalist for the prestigious Hank Aaron Award after a stellar season. Despite Rice's pair of homers, the Yankees now face a 0-2 deficit in the series and need three straight wins to avoid elimination.
