Astros to start AJ Blubaugh against White Sox

He struck out against Ryan Weathers. Judge didn’t do any running during the live BP or afterwards. It seems like it would be quite the roll of the dice to put him on the Wild Card roster 13 days after he suffered a calf strain.

Smith started one of his 18 appearances after joining the White Sox in August, pitching two scoreless innings against the Pirates. He topped out at three innings in relief against the Twins on Sept. 6 and had a 1.29 ERA in 28 innings overall.

With Kevin Gausman’s status a little bit up in the air, Boyd seemed like the one certainty to get a start for the Cubs in the Wild Card. He’ll be pitching on four days’ rest after limiting the Marlins to one run over seven innings last time out. He also pitched Game 1 of last year’s Wild Card against the Padres, allowing one run over 4 1/3 innings in what turned into a 3-1 win for the Cubs.

Seager was limited to 102 games this year, but the elbow never kept him out. Still, it might have had something to do with his career worst .227/.312/.424 line. Seager could have surgery and still be ready in plenty of time for spring training.

There was little doubt Blubaugh would pitch tomorrow, but it’s a little surprising to see him get the ball first, just because that never happened all year. He led the majors with 96 relief innings, finishing with a 3.66 ERA in his 64 appearances. He’s been used in shorter stints lately than he was early on, so the Astros would be pushing it if they asked for more than two innings from him. The only two times he completed three innings both took place in May.

Thomas, trying to make his way back from an intercostal strain, resumed hitting last week and was seen running in the outfield today. Still, he won’t be activated prior to the NLDS.

Hampton was previously claimed off waivers from the Yankees a couple of weeks ago. He was regarded as one of that team’s top prospects before undergoing Tommy John surgery in Feb. 2025. He returned to the mound in May, but he struggled mightily in posting an 8.18 ERA in 55 innings, which is why he’s bouncing around like this.

The versatile Wade, 31, debuted in 2017 and spent parts of nine years in the majors with the Yankees, Angels, A’s and Padres, hitting .216/.294/.284 with seven homers and 51 steals in 992 plate appearances. He was with the Rangers this spring, but he failed to make the team, and he never signed with another club after being released in mid-April.

This is not a major surprise after Arraez sprained his ankle just this week. Phillies manager Don Mattingly said, “We still get improvement every day, but not enough. He was going to try to hit today and just wasn’t able to do it. So, we kind of crossed that bridge today.” There’s a chance that Arraez will be able to return for the NLDS, but, for now, Triple-A Lehigh Valley utility player Otto Kemp will take Arraez’s place on the roster. The Phillies figure to move Bryson Stott back to second base, but it remains to be seen if they move Alec Bohm back to third and Bryce Harper to first or if they just insert Edmundo Sosa into the lineup at third base.

Elder had knee surgery in early September and began throwing off the mound again on the 19th. He had previously stated that he planned to return for the postseason, but it remains to be seen if the Braves feel they need him for the Wild Card series or would wait until the Divisional round before thinking of activating him.