MLB Baseball: News, Videos, Stats, Highlights, Results & More - NBC Sports

MLB: Wildcard-Toronto Blue Jays at Minnesota Twins

MLB Playoffs Live Blog: Wednesday, October 4th

The Rotoworld baseball crew keeps you up to date on everything happening in today’s playoff action

05:41

Breaking down MLB World Series betting odds

05:30

Phillies ‘clear favorites’ in Wild Card vs. Miami

02:59

Skubal, Abrams lead 2023’s fantasy rebound players

02:32

Fantasy Cy Young candidates 2023: Snell, Eflin

10:23

LAD’s Roberts: New rules making game more dynamic

08:58

Will Ohtani’s injury affect contract value?

Twins advance for 1st time in 21 years with 2-0 win to sweep Blue Jays behind Gray, Correa

Rangers beat Rays 7-1 for Wild Card Series sweep behind Garcia and Carter home runs

Twins stop record 18-game postseason skid on strength of Royce Lewis home runs

Montgomery sparkles, Rangers beat sloppy Rays 4-0 in AL Wild Card Series opener

MLB Playoffs 2023: How to Bet

Phil Nevin won’t return as Angels’ manager after 2nd losing season

Latest Player News

All Player News

Carlos Correa

MIN Shortstop #4

Carlos Correa told reporters after Wednesday’s victory over the Blue Jays that he underwent X-rays on his hand which came back negative for any fractures.

The 29-year-old shortstop was drilled in the hand by a fastball from Jordan Romano in the eighth inning on Wednesday, but fortunately he avoided any structural damage. He’ll deal with a bit of pain and swelling, but he should be ready to go for the start of the ALDS against the Astros over the weekend.
Gabriel Moreno

ARI Catcher #14

Gabriel Moreno was removed from Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the Brewers on Wednesday after being hit in the head by the backswing of Brice Turang in the second inning.

Moreno was hit square in the back of the head by Turang’s follow through as he went down swinging against Zac Gallen in the second inning. He finished the inning — after a lengthy consultation with the team’s training staff — but he was ultimately replaced by Jose Herrera when the Diamondbacks took the field for the third inning. It’s a brutal blow for the Diamonbacks on many levels, as Moreno is an elite offensive and defensive backstop and is a tremendous on-field leader for the Snakes as well. He’ll presumably be put through the concussion protocol.
Max Fried

ATL Starting Pitcher #54

Max Fried (blister) is expected to be ready to start in Game 2 of the NLDS.

Fried made it through five innings in a simulated game without issue on Tuesday, and Braves’ manager Brian Snitker told reporters on Wednesday that it had healed up nicely. Expect to see Spencer Strider take the ball in Game 1 for the Braves with Fried taking the mound in Game 2. All that’s left to decide now, is who they’ll be facing.
Carlos Correa

MIN Shortstop #4

Carlos Correa went 2-for-3 and drove in a run on Wednesday as the Twins triumphed over the Blue Jays 2-0 in Game 2 of their Wild Card Series to advance to the ALDS to face the Astros.

Correa broke a scoreless tie as he grounded a single through the left side of the infield with the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth inning. He also reached on a two-out single in the second inning but wound up stranded there. The 29-year-old shortstop also took a pitch off of his hand in the eighth inning and will likely head for X-rays after the game just to ensure that nothing was fractured. After snapping an unbelievable 18-game postseason losing streak on Tuesday night, the Twins have now won two straight and will be riding high into their ALDS matchup against the Astros in Houston.
Jorge Polanco

MIN Shortstop #11

Jorge Polanco went 2-for-3 and swiped a base as the Twins completed their sweep of the Blue Jays in their Wild Card Series on Wednesday.

Polanco reached on a one-out single off of José Berríos in the first inning, but was quickly erased as Royce Lewis bounced into a double play. The 30-year-old infielder then singled off of Yusei Kikuchi with two outs in the fifth inning and deftly swiped second base, but the Twins were unable to cash him in. He also walked in the seventh inning but was stranded there as well. The next assignment for Polanco and the Twins will be taking on the defending World Champion Astros in the ALDS.
Jhoan Duran

MIN Relief Pitcher #59

Jhoan Duran closed out the Blue Jays in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series on Wednesday night, preserving a two-run lead to close the book on the Jays’ 2023 season.

Duran appeared to suffer some sort of hand injury while warming up prior to the start of the inning, but the Twins stuck with him after a visit from the training staff. He responded in kind, striking out Alejandro Kirk on an unhittable splitter to start the frame. He did allow a one-out single to Santiago Espinal, but fought back to get Matt Chapman on a swinging-third strike for the second out. He then punched out Daulton Varsho on three straight swinging strikes on 100+ mph fastballs. The Twins are officially heading to the ALDS to take on the Astros.
Sonny Gray

MIN Starting Pitcher #54

Sonny Gray was outstanding in Wednesday’s victory over the Blue Jays in Game 2 of their Wild Card Series, scattering five hits and two walks over five shutout innings.

The 33-year-old hurler racked up six strikeouts on the afternoon. All five of the hits that he allowed in the ballgame were singles. Perhaps his biggest play of the night came on the final out that he recorded — picking off Vladimir Guerrero Jr. from second base when the Jays had two runners in scoring position and Bo Bichette at the dish in the fifth inning. Gray generated 11 swings and misses on 85 pitches on the afternoon, registering a CSW of 28 percent. The next time he takes the hill will be against the Astros in the ALDS.
Yusei Kikuchi

TOR Starting Pitcher #16

Yusei Kikuchi struggled out of the Blue Jays’ bullpen in Game 2 of their Wild Card series against the Twins on Wednesday, giving up one run on three hits over his 1 2/3 innings of work.

The 32-year-old left-hander walked one and didn’t record a strikeout. Kikuchi was called upon in a scoreless game in the fourth inning after Jose Berrios had allowed a leadoff walk to Royce Lewis. He then allowed an infield single to Max Kepler, a walk to Donovan Solano and a run-scoring single to Carlos Correa. He recorded a pair of outs on a double play ball off the bat of Willi Castro, but that also forced home an additional run. That was more than enough damage to doom the Blue Jays in this one. Kikuchi remains under contract with the Blue Jays through the 2024 season.
Jose Berrios

TOR Starting Pitcher #17

José Berríos was saddled with an unfortunate loss as the Blue Jays’ season came to an end on Wednesday, giving up just one run on three hits over his three-plus innings of work.

The 29-year-old right-hander racked up five strikeouts on the afternoon while issuing just one free pass. He completely dominated the Twins through the first three innings, then was lifted after issuing a leadoff walk to Royce Lewis to begin the fourth inning. While it’s easy to second guess the decision based on Yusei Kikuchi’s failures, it was an extremely bold and questionable call by Jays’ skipper John Schneider and ultimately cost them the ballgame. Berríos got eight whiffs on just 47 pitches in the ballgame — five of those on his slurve — while registering a CSW of 32 percent. Berríos should be awfully proud of his performance on Wednesday.
Eric Haase

FA Catcher #13

Eric Haase has elected free agency.

The 30-year-old backstop entered the 2023 campaign expected to function in at least a half-time role with the Tigers, but he stumbled to a miserable .201/.247/.281 slash line with four homers, 26 RBI, four stolen bases and an 81/17 K/BB ratio over 293 plate appearances between them and the Guardians. He’ll almost assuredly have to settle for a minor league deal elsewhere this winter.

MUST-SEE CLIPS

Breaking down MLB World Series betting odds

October 2, 2023 02:52 PM

D.J. Short, Eric Samulski, George Bissell and Brad Thomas analyze the MLB World Series odds and which teams are worth a bet to win the Commissioner's Trophy.

Up Next

5:41

Breaking down MLB World Series betting odds

Now Playing

5:30

Phillies ‘clear favorites’ in Wild Card vs. Miami

Now Playing

2:59

Skubal, Abrams lead 2023’s fantasy rebound players

Now Playing

2:32

Fantasy Cy Young candidates 2023: Snell, Eflin

Now Playing

10:23

LAD’s Roberts: New rules making game more dynamic

Now Playing

8:58

Will Ohtani’s injury affect contract value?

Now Playing

9:35

Passan expects Ohtani to pitch again after surgery

Now Playing

4:00

Pitchers to look for at the end of fantasy season

Now Playing

3:55

Ohtani’s 2024 fantasy value as an exclusive hitter

Now Playing

8:35

Can Strider pay off as a top-five fantasy pick?

Now Playing

MLB Fantasy and Betting

MLB Team Roundup: Colorado Rockies

Matthew Pouliot doesn’t see things getting much better for the Rockies, but at least some of the players are interesting.

Matthew Pouliot,

Matthew Pouliot,

MLB Team Roundup: Kansas City Royals

Matthew Pouliot looks at the Royals’ 106-loss season and what’s in store for Bobby Witt. Jr and Cole Ragans next year.

Matthew Pouliot,

Matthew Pouliot,

MLB Wild Card Best Bets for Game 1: Blue Jays vs Twins and Rays vs Rangers

Vaughn Dalzel breaks down how he’s backing the Toronto Blue Jays ace, Kevin Gausman against the Minnesota Twins, plus who wins Game 1 between the Rays and Rangers.

Vaughn Dalzell
,

Vaughn Dalzell
,

MLB: Oakland Athletics at Los Angeles Dodgers

MLB Team Roundup: Oakland Athletics

George Bissell breaks down the carnage that was the Oakland Athletics’ 2023 season and outlines their potential pathway to relevancy again.

George Bissell,

George Bissell,

CIRCLING THE BASES

D.J. Short and a revolving cast of fantasy analysts provide top-notch fantasy baseball analysis covering draft strategy, waiver wire pickups, the latest injury news and more.