With three of the 4 Wild Card Collection determined, listed here are three issues we’ll be watching round baseball as we speak:
1. Brewers pressure Recreation 3:
After dropping Recreation 1 of the Wild Card Collection on Tuesday, the Brewers got here again to beat the Mets 5-3 on Wednesday, tying the best-of-three collection up at one recreation apiece. With the opposite three Wild Card Collection already determined, the Brewers-Mets matchup would be the solely recreation on the docket as we speak, kicking off at 6:08pm CT.
Milwaukee will ship rookie Tobias Myers (3.00 ERA, 3.99 SIERA in 138 IP) to the mound, whereas New York is about to counter with the veteran Jose Quintana (3.75 ERA, 4.58 SIERA in 170 1/3 IP). Myers has loved the higher general season, however Quintana has been lights-out over his final six begins (0.74 ERA). The Mets even have a extra rested bullpen at their disposal; Mets relievers have thrown six innings up to now this collection, whereas the Brewers bullpen has been tasked with 10 1/3.
The winner of tonight’s contest will head to Philadelphia to face the Phillies within the NLDS.
2. Elbow tightness for Joe Musgrove:
Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove exited his Recreation 2 begin on Wednesday with tightness in his pitching elbow. Whereas his teammates went on to win the sport and safe a matchup with the Dodgers within the NLDS, this could possibly be a tricky blow for San Diego.
Preliminary assessments got here again unfavourable, however the 31-year-old is about to endure additional testing as we speak (per Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune). The extent of his harm can be unclear till then. For what it’s value, Musgrove didn’t attempt to underplay it after the sport: “Going out for that fourth inning,” he stated, “Nothing felt proper” (per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com). Musgrove missed about half of the 2024 season with elbow irritation associated to bone spurs. He has seemed wonderful since his return from the IL (2.15 ERA in 9 begins), however for sure, one other elbow harm is rarely signal – though Musgrove believes this newest harm is “very totally different” from the problem that bothered him earlier this 12 months (per Sanders).
Fortunately for the Padres, they nonetheless have loads of beginning depth to depend on. Along with Michael King and Dylan Stop, Yu Darvish, Martín Pérez, and Matt Waldron can be found to start out within the NLDS.
3. Freddie Freeman making progress
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman is making progress as he rehabs from the sprained ankle that stored him out for the ultimate few video games of the common season. He’s anticipated to face reside pitching both as we speak or tomorrow (per Invoice Plunkett of the Orange County Register). Supervisor Dave Roberts has maintained his optimism that the eight-time All-Star can be within the lineup in opposition to the Padres on Saturday. Nevertheless, Roberts additionally admitted that Freeman received’t be at 100%, and it stays unclear how considerably his ankle will have an effect on his protection and baserunning through the NLDS.
In extra Dodgers information, shortstop Miguel Rojas can be anticipated to be within the lineup for Recreation 1 of the NLDS (per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Occasions). He has been nursing an adductor pressure. Like Freeman, Rojas won’t be at full energy, however he appears to have made good progress in his restoration and can try to play via any discomfort.
