MLB Player News

Smith was designated for assignment by Tampa Bay on Sunday, having appeared in just three games at the major league level this season for the Rays. The 32-year-old will add some depth at the catcher position for the Braves, who are probably going to be without Travis d’Arnaud (thumb) until at least mid-to-late August.

It’s Dylan Cease against TBD. The Dodgers will have all hands on deck in a must win Game 4 in San Diego. Most of the Dodgers’ important relievers haven’t pitched much since the bullpen threw six scoreless innings in Game 1. If Los Angeles is going to force a Game 5, they might need to repeat that performance.

Cease will be pitching on three days’ rest. Even though he allowed five runs in Game 1 of the series, this allows the Padres to come back with Yu Darvish in Game 5 in Los Angeles if necessary. If San Diego can win Game 4 at home, it’s likely Darvish would pitch Game 1 of the NLDS.

Hernandez’s home run was his first of the playoffs. Down 6-1 in the third inning, Hernandez seemed to give the Dodgers life with a grand slam off Michael King. Instead, Los Angeles had one baserunner for the rest of the game. Hernandez had one of his best seasons this year while on a one-year deal and figures to have earned himself a nice payday this offseason.

Peralta got another big hit for the Padres in the NLDS. He followed up his two-run home run in Game 2 with a two-run double in Game 3. Peralta came around to score on a Kyle Higashioka sacrifice fly to give the Padres a 4-1 lead. Peralta joined the Padres in midseason when Fernando Tatis Jr. was out and the team was wise to keep him around given his solid at-bats this postseason.

Tatis Jr. hit his fourth home run of the playoffs so far. He crushed a pitch that was right down the middle from Walker Buehler in the second inning. Tatis Jr.'s home run capped a six-run second inning. He’s hitting .556 with a 1.969 OPS and seven RBI in 18 at-bats in the postseason so far.

Suarez retired all four batters he faced and recorded two strikeouts. The Padres bullpen took over the game in the sixth inning and the only base runner came on a ground ball single by Freddie Freeman off Tanner Scott in the eighth inning. It was Suarez’ second save of the postseason. He blew away Gavin Lux with a high fastball to end the game.

Buehler gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out none. Buehler was done in by a six-run second inning that started out with some cheap hits and ultimately was capped off by a Fernando Tatis Jr. two-run home run that gave the Padres a 6-1 advantage. From there, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts somewhat curiously stuck with his starter, but Buehler gave Los Angeles three more scoreless innings. With the Dodgers potentially looking at a bullpen game in Game 4, he did well to keep some of the Dodgers’ fresh for game that will require all hands on deck.

King gave up five hits, walked one and struck out three. King allowed a home run to Mookie Betts in the first inning that was almost robbed by Jurickson Profar, which would’ve been the second time he robbed Betts of a home run in two games. Staked to a 6-1 lead in the third inning, King then gave up a grand slam to Teoscar Hernandez on a hanging breaking pitch. King settled down to get through five innings without any further damage and turned the game over to the Padres bullpen to preserve his second win of the postseason so far.

Rojas was visited in the field by the Dodgers trainer in the bottom of the second inning, but stayed in the game. After a single and advancing to third base in the top of the third inning, Andy Pages pinch ran for Rojas. Pages stayed in the game to play center field while Tommy Edman moved to shortstop. Rojas has been playing through a torn adductor muscle and will need surgery this offseason.

Vientos has been the Mets’ best hitter in the playoffs. He added another two hits against the Phillies in Game 3 Tuesday. The 24-year-old third baseman is hitting .417 with a 1.148 OPS and seven RBI in 24 at-bats this postseason.