Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that catcher Will Smith (hand) will be available to catch in the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to David Vassegh of 570 LA Sports. However, Roberts failed to disclose if Smith would return to catch in Game 1 of the series at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday. Smith's return will be a big boost to an already strong Dodgers team as they look to repeat as World Series champions this year. With the 30-year-old three-time All-Star sidelined late in the regular season and in the wild-card series against the Cincinnati Reds, Ben Rortvedt served as the Dodgers' primary backstop. Smith had yet another solid campaign in 2025, hitting a career-best .296 (107-for-362) with 17 long balls, 61 RBI, and 64 runs in 110 games played. He hasn't played since Sept. 9, though, so there could be a rust factor offensively for Smith as he returns for the NLDS.

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Given the Los Angeles Dodgers' struggles out of the bullpen this year, left-hander Clayton Kershaw will pitch in a relief role in the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to manager Dave Roberts. It's unclear exactly what role Kershaw will have coming out of the 'pen, but he will give L.A. some flexibility as either a bulk reliever or late-inning, high-leverage arm, depending on what they need that day. The 37-year-old future Hall of Famer already announced that he will hang up his cleats and retire following this season. His final start came in the regular-season finale against the Seattle Mariners, and he didn't disappoint, tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. The three-time Cy Young winner definitely isn't as dominant as he once was, but he still managed to win half of his 22 starts and post an ERA under 4.00 in his 18th and final big-league season.

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New York Yankees right-hander Luis Gil will make the start in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday in Toronto against the division-rival Blue Jays, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. "He's ready for this," manager Aaron Boone said. Gil was left off the playoff roster for the wild-card series against the Boston Red Sox, with the Yankees rolling with lefties Max Fried and Carlos Rodon and rookie-right-hander Cam Schlittler to start three games. With the Yankees advancing past Boston, they'll use Gil to kick things off in the ALDS. The 27-year-old Dominican only made 11 starts in 2025 due to injury, but he was good when he pitched, going 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and a 41:33 K:BB in 57 innings. He led the league with 77 walks last year, so Gil is going to need to display better command in the ALDS to avoid getting a quick hook. In a start against Toronto on Sept. 6 at home, Gil picked up the win, allowing just one earned run in six innings, although he walked four and only struck out one.

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Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler (knee) had successful surgery on his right patellar tendon on Friday, according to the team. Dr. Mike Banffy performed a partial tendon repair and debridement of chronic scar tissue in Butler's knee. Additionally, Butler also received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his left patellar tendon to address chronic tendonitis. He will now rehab during the offseason and hopes to be ready for the start of spring training in 2026. The 25-year-old hit just .234 (133-for-569) in his second full MLB season, but he was also able to obtain his first 20-20 season with 21 home runs and 22 stolen bases in 152 games. Butler added a career-high 63 RBI and also set a new career high with 83 runs scored for a young, up-and-coming A's ballclub. It's a bit worrisome that Butler is dealing with issues to both of his knees, but you can't deny his 20-20 potential in fantasy.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (lat) will not pitch in the National League Division Series against the division-rival Chicago Cubs that start on Saturday in Milwaukee, according to manager Pat Murphy. The good news is that Woodruff's lat injury is a separate issue from his right-shoulder surgery that was responsible for his late start to the 2025 season. The Brewers are not ruling out Woodruff being available if they advance past Chicago to the NLCS, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. The 32-year-old veteran is trying to recover from a right-lat strain that landed him on the 15-day injured list two weeks ago, but the fact that he has yet to resume throwing doesn't bode well for his chances of pitching in the NLCS if the Brew Crew advance. The two-time All-Star was limited to only 12 starts this year, but when available, he was solid, posting a 3.20 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 83:14 K:BB in 64 2/3 innings. Woodruff's best bet to return later in October might be in a relief role.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that right-hander Kevin Gausman will make the start in Game 1 of the American League Division Series in Toronto against the division-rival New York Yankees on Saturday, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Gausman will be pitching on five days of rest and will be facing a familiar foe in the Yanks, whom he faced four times in 2025. In those four starts, Gausman went 2-1 with a 3.97 ERA, allowing 17 hits (two homers), walking 12, and striking out 18 in 22 2/3 innings pitched. The 34-year-old veteran went 10-11 with a 3.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 189:50 K:BB in 193 innings over his 32 starts in his fourth year in Toronto. The good news is that Gausman performed much better in the second half of the season with an ERA under 3.00. However, he was slightly worse at the Rogers Centre, and he'll be facing a Yankees lineup with plenty of slug.

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New York Yankees' SP Cam Schlittler recorded 12 strikeouts in 8 innings collecting the win in a 4-0 win over the Red Sox on Thursday, Oct. 2.

Arizona Diamondbacks first base prospect Tyler Locklear (elbow, shoulder) will have surgeries on both his elbow and shoulder on Oct. 16 after he was involved in a collision in early September, a source told The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro. It's a worst-case scenario for the young first baseman after he joined the Snakes at midseason in the trade that sent Eugenio Suarez to the Seattle Mariners in July. Locklear suffered a torn ligament in his left elbow and also needs the labrum in his left shoulder fixed. The good news is that both injuries are to his non-throwing arm. The bad news is that Locklear probably will not be ready to go for the start of the 2026 regular season. The D-backs are hoping that he will make it back at some point next year, but there's no current timetable on when that might be. The 24-year-old played in only 31 big-league games in Arizona after the trade and struggled before his injury, going 18-for-103 (.175) with three homers and 43 strikeouts.

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New York Yankees rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler did much more than anyone expected of him in a 4-0 win over the division-rival Boston Red Sox in the Bronx on Thursday in Game 3 of the wild-card series to help the team advance to take on the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series. Schlitter was a force, going eight shutout innings with five hits allowed, no walks, and 12 strikeouts. The 24-year-old was missing bats on the regular, getting 18 swings and misses in the outstanding and clutch performance. He got the best of fellow Red Sox lefty Connelly Early, who gave up four runs (three earned) in just 3 2/3 frames while striking out six. With the dominant performance, Schlitter became the first rookie hurler to strike out over 10 hitters since Livan Hernandez did it in 1997. Not only was it the first time Schlittler had double-digit K's, but it was the most ever strikeouts for a Yankees rookie pitcher in a playoff game. It's going to be a tough act to follow in his second postseason start in the ALDS against Toronto.

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman/designated hitter Ty France (oblique) played first base in Thursday's intrasquad game and is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list before the start of the American League Division Series on Saturday against the division-rival New York Yankees, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. France reportedly has made good progress from a late-season oblique injury that landed him on the IL, but he remains on the bubble for the ALDS roster. He has been out since late September with inflammation in his left oblique. If he's activated before Game 1 in Toronto on Saturday, France will be an option for the Blue Jays at the DH spot in the postseason. The 31-year-old veteran began the year with the Minnesota Twins before joining Toronto for 37 games. France hit .277 (26-for-94) in limited time with the team, but it came with only one homer in 103 plate appearances. He had seven total long balls on the year.

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Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida is serving as the designated hitter and will bat cleanup in the deciding Game 3 of the wild-card series on Thursday in the Bronx against the division-rival New York Yankees and right-hander Cam Schlittler. Yoshida did not start either of the first two games of this series, but he did come off the bench in Game 1 on Tuesday to deliver a big two-RBI hit late in the game in what ended up being a one-run victory. The 32-year-old Japanese native got a late start to the year in 2025 while recovering from an injury and was limited to a career-low 55 games. In those 55 games in the regular season, he hit .266 (50-for-188) with four home runs and 26 RBI for the BoSox. Masataka has never been a big power bat in his three years in the majors in the States, but he has hit .295 in his career against righties with 24 of his 29 home runs against them.

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In a winner-take-all Game 3 of the wild-card series on Thursday against the division-rival Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt will take a seat despite a left-hander being on the mound. Ben Rice is starting at first base and will bat fifth against Red Sox rookie left-hander Connelly Early. The Yankees are also starting left-handed-hitting infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. after he started on the bench in Game 1 of the series against a lefty. Goldy typically starts against lefties, but with everything on the line to advance to the American League Division Series to face the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays, manager Aaron Boone is changing it up. Goldy got off to a good start in the Bronx before quickly showing his age. Rice has been the more consistent bat for the Yanks for most of the year. In the Game 2 win on Wednesday, Rice went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI.

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Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy has said that it's unlikely right-handed pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski will make a start in the National League Division Series against either the division-rival Chicago Cubs or San Diego Padres, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Since the start of August, Misiorowski had an ERA over 6.00 in his first MLB season, but his fastball also reaches triple digits, which is even more useful in postseason play. Misiorowski is a special talent on the mound, as evidenced by his 11-inning hitless streak to begin his career in Milwaukee when he was initially called up this year. He was never really the same late in the season after going on the injured list after he was hit on the shin by a comebacker. Misiorowski is going to need to throw strikes in whatever bullpen role he's in, whether it be a multi-inning reliever or more of a hammer in high-leverage situations.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows has been dropped to ninth in the batting order on Thursday for the deciding Game 3 of the wild-card series against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians. Meadows will patrol center field and will face Guardians right-hander Slade Cecconi. The 25-year-old will drop all the way from leadoff to the nine-hole after going 1-for-8 with a walk and three strikeouts in the first two games of the series. With Parker moving to the bottom of the order, second baseman Gleyber Torres will move from the two-hole to leadoff for the Tigers as they look go advance to face the Seattle Mariners in the American League Division Series this weekend. Against right-handed pitchers during the regular season in 2025, Meadows hit only .220 with all four of his home runs on the year. He will obviously be much less attractive in playoff DFS formats in the nine-hole.

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Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (foot) is starting at first base and will hit cleanup for Thursday's deciding Game 3 of the wild-card series against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Slade Cecconi. X-rays came back negative on Torkelson after he fouled a ball off his foot in the Game 2 loss at Progressive Field on Wednesday. The former first-rounder was also hit by a pitch on his hand/wrist, but he's all good and will hit in the heart of the batting order as the Tigers look to vanquish the Guards and advance to the American League Division Series to face the Seattle Mariners. In the first two games of the wild-card series, Tork has one hit in six at-bats with an RBI, a walk, and three strikeouts. The 26-year-old will be looking for a big hit in the winner-take-all game on Thursday, and he'll be a more risky DFS pick while potentially being at less than 100% with his foot.

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Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (triceps) is expected to be "fully ready" for the start of spring training in mid-February of 2026, according to president of baseball operations Erik Neander. McClanahan was expected to be a full-go going into spring training this year, too, after having Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in 2023. However, the talented southpaw suffered a left triceps nerve injury in spring training and did not pitch at all for the team in 2025. He made two rehab starts in the minors before eventually going under the knife in August. The Rays have similar optimism that McClanahan will be good to go next year, but at this point, despite the high upside, fantasy managers should be wary of spending too much on the oft-injured Rays ace. Remember, McClanahan has not pitched in the big leagues since August of 2023, so he's sure to have restrictions if he's healthy in 2026, at least early on.

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Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (knee) seems unlikely to be ready to play for the start of the American League Division Series against either the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees on Saturday, according to Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun. Bichette has been limited in his baseball activities, and he has yet to resume running, which will likely be the last step he needs to take to be cleared. "I hope we win this series and he comes back for the next one," first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said. Vlad's comments seem like a pretty good indicator that Bichette won't be on the roster for the ALDS. Manager John Schneider left the door more open for Bichette to return, but he also didn't exude much confidence that Bichette would be ready. It will be a big loss if Bichette cannot play in the ALDS, with the light-hitting Andres Gimenez likely to continue to man the 6 in his absence.

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Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (knee) has not been able to resume running yet, according to manager John Schneider, who added, "Hopefully soon." Bichette has been hitting on the field and throwing, but he may still not be ready for the ALDS, which starts this Saturday against either the Yankees or the Red Sox in Toronto. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said that he hopes the team can win this series so Bichette can return "for the next one," which seems to indicate Bichette is unlikely to play this weekend. Nothing is official yet until the Blue Jays release their roster with or without their starting shortstop on it, but it seems to be trending towards him being sidelined. Bichette has been sidelined since September 6 with a PCL sprain after hitting .311 with 18 home runs, 94 RBI, and 78 runs scored in 139 regular-season games. If Bichette isn't ready to return, Andres Gimenez will continue to fill in at shortstop.

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Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (foot) was sent for a precautionary X-rays on his right foot after fouling a ball off it in the fourth inning of Game 2 against the Guardians. The X-rays returned negative for any fractures, and manager A.J. Hinch said that he thinks Spencer Torkelson will be good to go for Game 3. In a rough day for Torkelson, he went 0-for-3 with a walk, and he was also hit by a pitch on the hand in the ninth inning. He'll hope for a better and less painful result to Thursday's decisive Game 3, as he and the Tigers look to advance to face the Mariners in the ALDS.

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Cincinnati Reds first baseman/third baseman Sal Stewart went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a stolen base in his team's 8-4 loss to the Dodgers. While the loss ended the Reds' season, fans have to be excited about what they saw from Stewart, who made a great first impression in the majors after his September call-up. He hit .255 in his 18 games in the regular season with five homers, a .355 wOBA, and a 52.5% hard-hit rate. The 21-year-old lefty came off the bench and walked as a pinch-hitter in Game 1 of the series before his big game Wednesday night. He'll be a key part of the Reds' future plans and has a good shot of filling an everyday role out of Spring Training next year.

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