Troy Johnston fans four times versus Cardinals

This is a surprise, but Nick Martinez did leave his ALDS start after taking an Anthony Volpe liner off his lower back. Jax will be making his first ever postseason start. He allowed one run and struck out four over two innings in his one relief appearance last week against the Yankees. Jax had a 2.41 ERA and a 39/9 K/BB over 37 1/3 innings in his final eight starts of the regular season.

Peralta allowed four hits, walked two and struck out six while topping out at 99.4 mph on the radar gun tonight. His 96.9 mph average with his fastball was 2.6 mph better than his mark from the regular season. Including his two postseason outings, he’s gone eight straight starts without allowing more than one run. The ALCS will resume in Cleveland on Wednesday, with Griffin Jax — not Nick Martinez — and Gavin Williams slated to start.

Baker has yet to allow a hit while pitching four scoreless innings and earning for saves this postseason. That his velocity is down about two mph just hasn’t mattered yet.

All of the runs came after a José Ramírez error in the fourth. Even before the error, Messick barely missed out on a double play ball from the second batter of the inning — Victor Mesa Jr. was originally called out at first but it was overturned on replay — and then got another chopper that would have resulted in an out if it wasn’t Chandler Simpson running. The error scored one run and then a single from Liam Hicks plated two. It’s Messick’s second loss in three postseason starts, though this was his best performance of the three.

Hicks made it a 3-0 game with his two-run single off Parker Messick in the fourth. Hicks usually sits against lefties and didn’t start Game 1 against Foster Griffin, but he delivered in a rare opportunity tonight. He was 4-for-24 with one extra-base hit versus southpaws over the final two months of the regular season after being acquired from the Marlins.

Woodruff, who is trying to make his way back from another round of shoulder issues, said his stuff today was “pretty good.” He’s aiming to contribute if the Brewers advance to the World Series.

Ohtani is working on some mechanical tweaks and is hoping he’s figured something out. Even with Josue De Paula waiting in the wings, the Dodgers don’t really have much choice other than to stick with the four-time MVP, even if he is 3-for-20 in the postseason and looking just as bad as the line suggests.

Hedges is behind the plate, meaning Patrick Bailey will begin Tuesday’s contest on the bench. That’s the only player change for the Guardians as they look to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The full lineup behind Parker Messick: Steven Kwan LF, Jose Ramirez 3B, Chase DeLauter DH, Jo Adell RF, Travis Bazzana 2B, Petey Halpin CF, Hedges C and Brayan Rocchio hitting ninth at shortstop.

Even with another left-hander on the mound for the Guardians, the Rays will have Simpson play left field after he sat in the Game 1 loss. Ryan Vilade will open the game on the bench, but likely be used before Tuesday’s game comes to a close, if needed. The full lineup as Tampa Bay looks to avoid an 0-2 hole with Freddy Peralta on the mound for the Rays: Yandy Diaz DH, Jonathan Aranda 1B, Junior Caminero 3B, Victor Mesa Jr. RF, Jonny DeLuca CF, Simpson LF, Ben Williamson 2B, Liam Hicks C and Taylor Walls at shortstop.

Vallimont, 29, worked mostly as a starter for Double-A Wichita this year, posting a 4.33 ERA and a 68/23 K/BB in 70 2/3 innings. He’s made one major league appearance in his career, getting two outs without allowing a run in a game for the Orioles in 2023.