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Stats

O’s recall Heston Kjerstad from Triple-A

Heston Kjerstad

BAL Left Fielder #13

Player Stats

Orioles recalled OF Heston Kjerstad from Triple-A Norfolk.

Kjerstad joins Baltimore’s crowded outfield mix and is likely to be relegated to a bench role for the final couple weeks with Luis Robert Jr. coming over as a waiver claim. The 27-year-old was the second-overall pick in the 2020 draft and hasn’t been able to establish himself as an everyday option at the highest level after missing time for health reasons earlier in his career.

- George Bissell

Transaction

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Cubs stars struggle mightily in Wild Card round

James Schiano reviews the "disappointing" showing from the top of the Cubs lineup after getting swept by the Padres in the Wild Card round, particularly Pete Crow-Armstrong's

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Heston Kjerstad

BAL Left Fielder #13

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Heston Kjerstad will draw a start in right field for the Orioles in Sunday’s season finale against the Yankees.

Kjerstad was brought up from Triple-A Norfolk on September 23 but hadn’t drawn a start until now. The 27-year-old outfielder will bat eighth for the O’s against Yankees’ right-hander Elmer Rodriguez on Sunday afternoon in New York.
Heston Kjerstad

BAL Left Fielder #13

Orioles recalled OF Heston Kjerstad from Triple-A Norfolk

With Samuel Basallo (concussion) landing on the injured list, Kjerstad, who had been optioned to the minors four days ago, will come back up. The former top prospect is just 4-for-19 (.211) in 11 games with the Orioles this season and was hitting .287/.334/.456 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI in 79 games at Triple-A.
Samuel Basallo

BAL Catcher #29

Samuel Basallo (possible concussion) is not in the lineup for Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Blue Jays on Wednesday.

Basallo got hit in the catcher’s mark with a foul tip on Monday and left the game to be evaluated for a concussion. He’s not in the first game today, and Heston Kjerstad is with the team on the taxi squad. The Orioles are carrying three catchers, so Kjerstad could be the corresponding move if Basallo winds up having to go on the injured list.
Heston Kjerstad

BAL Left Fielder #13

Orioles optioned OF Heston Kjerstad to Triple-A Norfolk.

Kjerstad went 4-for-19 with nine strikeouts during a nearly three-week stint with Baltimore. He winds up back in the minors with rookie Christian Franklin back from the injured list. The 27-year-old former top prospect doesn’t seem like an essential part of the club’s core moving forward and seems like a logical offseason trade candidate.
Heston Kjerstad

BAL Left Fielder #13

Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner reports that the Orioles will call up Heston Kjerstad on Tuesday.

Just what the Orioles needed after claiming Luis Robert off waivers, another outfielder. Kjerstad deserves the chance. He has hit .289/.337/.462 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI in 79 games at Triple-A this season and has hit .301 since the start of July. That being said, it’s hard to see him getting anything more than the rare spot start and pinch-hit at-bats against righties. The Orioles outfield is a mess to predict right now.
Christian Franklin

BAL Left Fielder

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said the team is promoting OF Christian Franklin after acquiring him from the Nationals.

This is a bit of a surprise. The 26-year-old Franklin is hitting .249/.375/.360 in Triple-A with six home runs and 17 steals. Meanwhile, Heston Kjerstad is hitting .276/.309/.431 with eight home runs in 59 games in Triple-A for the Orioles. If he wasn’t going to get an opportunity, you wonder if the Orioles could have found any takers for him at the deadline.
Heston Kjerstad

BAL Left Fielder #13

Orioles activated OF Heston Kjerstad from the 60-day injured list; optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk.

Kjerstad had already been at Triple-A Norfolk on a minor league rehab assignment while recovering from his right hamstring strain. He’ll remain there in an everyday role until the O’s have a need for him at the big league level.
Dylan Beavers

BAL Right Fielder #12

Dylan Beavers recently had an MRI on his oblique and is not in the lineup on Wednesday against the Yankees.

The Yankees are throwing left-hander Max Fried, so it’s likely that Beavers would have sat anyway, but the team also sent him for an MRI on his oblique and is “going over the results.” That’s a bit of an ominous sign. Leody Taveras will start in centerfield and bat sixth on Wednesday, but there remains a possibility that Beavers could land on the IL. That would open up playing time for Colton Cowser or potentially Heston Kjerstad (hamstring), who is rehabbing in Triple-A right now.
Heston Kjerstad

BAL Left Fielder #13

Heston Kjerstad (hamstring) went 2-for-4 with a double on Tuesday in a minor league rehab game for Triple-A Norfolk.

Kjerstad will presumably get a chance to join Baltimore’s outfield mix at some point later this month. He’s eligible to return from the 60-day injured list next week. The 27-year-old former top prospect has been on the shelf recovering from a hamstring strain since spring training.
Heston Kjerstad

BAL Left Fielder #13

Orioles transferred OF Heston Kjerstad to the 60-day injured list.

The procedural move doesn’t adversely impact Kjerstad’s potential return timeline. The 27-year-old corner outfielder is currently on a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk working his way back from a hamstring strain. He won’t return to Baltimore until at least mid-to-late May.

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Lane Thomas

ATL Left Fielder #20
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Lane Thomas (intercostal) has been added to the NLDS roster by Atlanta.

Thomas was dealing with an intercostal strain and left off the Wild Card roster by Atlanta for their series against the Phillies. He, AJ Smith-Shawver and JR Ritchie are the new editions; while Dominic Smith, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Luke Williams have been taken off.
- Christopher Crawford

Transaction

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Aroldis Chapman

BOS Relief Pitcher #44
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Francys Romero reports that Aroldis Chapman passed his physical and his $13 million option for 2027 has vested.

Chapman will earn at least that $13 million, but could be in for more as he has 2026 Reliever of the Year bonus escalators that range from $100,000 to $1 million. The 38-year-old will again serve as the stopper for Boston in 2027.
- Christopher Crawford

Transaction

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Walker Buehler

SD Starting Pitcher #10
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Padres placed RHP Walker Buehler on the postseason paternity list.

The paternity list works the same as in the regular season; Buehler can be away from the team for up to three days as he awaits the birth of his second child. He could be an option to start Game 3 or 4 for the Padres in San Diego once back with the team against the Brewers. Randy Vásquez will be on the roster while Buehler is away.
- Christopher Crawford

Transaction

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Dylan Dodd

ATL Starting Pitcher #46
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Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that Dylan Dodd could be the opener for Game 1 of the NLDS against the Dodgers.

Dodd, 28, has worked multiple innings at times in 2026, but it seems unlikely he’d pitch more than one time through the order. It sounds like Game 1 will be a pure bullpen game for Atlanta on Saturday, and they’ll have to match Tarik Skubal in order to procure a win. Tough task.
- Christopher Crawford

Source: Mark Bowman

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Blake Snell

LAD Starting Pitcher #7
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Blake Snell will start Game 2 of the NLDS against Atlanta on Sunday.

A little bit of a surprise, but a pretty justifiable one. Tarik Skubal will get the ball for Game 1 against Atlanta, and they’ll have another southpaw hurl the second game in Los Angeles. That means Yoshinobu Yamamoto — one of the best starters in baseball in 2026 — will be the starter for Game 3 at home for the Dodgers on Tuesday.
- Christopher Crawford

Source: Jack Harris

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Garrett Cleavinger

TB Relief Pitcher #60
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Garrett Cleavinger and Tyler Wells are on the Rays’ roster for the ALDS.

Both finished the regular season on the IL with forearm tightness, but they’re ready to go now, giving the Rays their preferred setup duo in front of Bryan Baker. Casey Legumina was left off the roster to make room.
- Matthew Pouliot

Injury

Source: Tampa Bay Rays
Tyler Wells
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Aaron Judge

NYY Right Fielder #99
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Aaron Judge will not be on the Yankees’ roster for the ALDS.

It sounds like the Yankees weighed carrying Judge even though he wouldn’t start at the beginning of the series, but they decided against it. Judge has been sidelined since Sept. 16 by a calf strain.
- Matthew Pouliot

Injury

Source: Jack Curry

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Shohei Ohtani

LAD Designated Hitter #17
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Shohei Ohtani (biceps, knee) took batting practice once again on Friday without issue.

Ohtani hit a couple of balls off of the scoreboard during the session and will be in the Dodgers’ lineup for Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday. While he feels “really good” at the moment, the superstar slugger acknowledged that the injuries are something that he’s going to have to manage for the duration of the postseason.
- David Shovein

Source: Fabian Ardaya

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Andrew Vaughn

MIL 1st Baseman #28
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Brewers activated 1B Andrew Vaughn from the 10-day injured list.

Vaughn had been shelved since September 22 due to illness. He’ll rejoin the Brewers’ roster for the start of their NLDS series against the Padres on Saturday afternoon in Milwaukee.
- David Shovein

Transaction

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Michael King

SD Starting Pitcher #34
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Michael King will start Game 2 of the NLDS against the Brewers.

King was brilliant in a victory over the Cubs in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, allowing just one hit over seven innings of scoreless baseball. He’ll be on regular rest for Game 2 on Sunday and would also be lined up to pitch in Game 5 on regular rest if the series goes that long. The expectation is that Nick Pivetta will start Game 3 for the Padres.
- David Shovein

Source: Jeff Sanders
Nick Pivetta
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