Vaughn Grissom swats fifth homer in win vs. Twins

Matthews is expected to be ready for the start of next season, but it’s a variable that could potentially impact his availability. The 26-year-old continues to show flashes of fantasy potential, but struggled to an inflated 4.90 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 116/39 K/BB ratio across 130 1/3 innings over 23 starts this past season.

One of the top prospects in baseball, Jenkins hit just .226/.293/.393 with four homers, 10 RBI and one steal in 93 plate appearances over 26 games after receiving a late-season promotion to Minnesota. The 21-year-old former top-five pick should be a full-go at the start of spring training given the nature of the procedure, but fantasy managers should monitor his status throughout the offseason to ensure that he’s on track for the outset of the regular season.

The biggest surprise here is sparkplug Samad Taylor getting a chance to face Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd in the second spot in the order with Dustin Harris presumably set to come off the bench in his place once Chicago goes to the bullpen. Here’s the full lineup as San Diego kicks off the postseason at Petco Park with Michael King on the hill: Tatis Jr. (RF), Taylor (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Austin Hays (DH), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Jake Cronenworth (2B) and Luis Campusano (C).

Mahle was phenomenal for Atlanta, compiling a microscopic 1.99 ERA across 54 1/3 innings over nine starts after coming over from the Giants as an under-the-radar trade-deadline pickup. The 32-year-old will be making his first career postseason start when he gets the ball with a chance to eliminate the division-rival Phillies.

Sánchez will attempt to keep Philadelphia’s postseason hopes alive after Atlanta rallied for a comeback win during the late stages of Tuesday’s series opener at Truist Park. The odds are stacked against the Phillies since teams that win the opening contest in the best-of-three Wild Card Series era have gone on to win 21 of 24 times. The 29-year-old lefty rapped up another phenomenal regular season with a 2.91 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 231/45 K/BB ratio across 207 innings of work. This will be one of the biggest spots of his career.

Pivetta looked sharp in four late-season starts, posting a sparkling 1.45 ERA across 18 2/3 innings, after missing nearly five months with a flexor strain in his elbow. The 33-year-old veteran allowed two runs over five innings against the Cubs last postseason. This will be his third career playoff start.

Boone added that the determination to leave Judge off the club’s AL Wild Card Series roster was made after meeting with trainers following a live batting practice session at Yankee Stadium on Monday. The 34-year-old franchise cornerstone told reporters last week that he was planning to be ready for the start of the postseason, but that always felt a bit unrealistic after he suffered a calf strain back on September 16. It sounds like there’s a decent chance that Judge returns for the AL Division Series, if New York manages to get past the Red Sox. There should be some additional clarity on his next steps later this week.

Albies just missed a homer, but Derek Hill was able to keep the ball in the park. The 29-year-old also drew a walk, and scored on Austin Riley’s go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning.

Realmuto lined a ball into the right-field corner off Didier Fuentes that scored a pair of runs in the seventh that gave Philadelphia a 3-2 lead. Unfortunately for Realmuto and the Phillies, that lead would not last. The 35-year-old will be behind the plate in a must-win Game 2 against Atlanta on Wednesday.

Duran came in to pitch the seventh and eighth as interim manager Don Mattingly looked to cement a Game 1 win. He did the job in the seventh, but the 28-year-old gave up a hit and a hit-by-pitch before leaving a pitch in the middle of the plate to Austin Riley that Riley hit out to right field. Duran also threw 27 pitches, so while he’ll likely be available for Wednesday’s must-win game, it’s not a guarantee. Duran is one of the best relievers in the sport, but it wasn’t his day, and it’s fair to wonder if his manager put himself in the best position to succeed Tuesday.