MLB Player News

Lux was removed from the lineup against the Mets with a hip flexor issue in Game 1 and didn’t play Game 2, but with right-hander Luis Severino on the mound, he’s back at the keystone for the pivotal Game 3. The full lineup for Los Angeles: DH Shohei Ohtani, RF Mookie Betts, 1B Freddie Freeman, 3B Max Muncy, LF Teoscar Hernandez, 2B Lux, C Will Smith, SS Tommy Edman and CF Enrique Hernandez.

Alonso’s home run was his fourth of the postseason. He hit a three-run home run off Jack Flaherty in the first inning and the Mets never gave back the lead. Alonso’s time with the Mets could be coming to an end as he’ll hit free agency this offseason, but he’s certainly provided Mets fans with some good playoff memories of big hits this October.

Flaherty gave up eight hits, four walks and struck out none. Flaherty allowed three runs in the first inning on a Pete Alonso three-run home run. In the third inning, he walked Alonso and Jesse Winker to start the inning. Starling Marte followed with a two-run double. With two outs, Francisco Alvarez drove in Marte with a single to make it 6-1 Mets. Then Francisco Lindor hit an RBI triple and Brandon Nimmo knocked him in with an RBI single. It was easily Flaherty’s worst start of the postseason and it seems like he won’t pitch again in this series.

Peterson gave up six hits, walked four and struck out three. It wasn’t a great start, but Peterson escaped a jam in the first inning that allowed the Mets to take control of the game. After a Shohei Ohtani single and Mookie Betts double, the Dodgers had runners on second and third with nobody out. Peterson retired Teoscar Hernandez, Freddie Freeman and Tommy Edman in order to get out of the inning without allowing any runs. The Mets would take the lead in the bottom of the first inning and didn’t look back. Peterson left the game in the fourth inning, but the Mets had an 8-2 lead at that point. He could be used out of the bullpen as the series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 6 and 7 if necessary.

Schneemann got his first start of the playoffs in Game 3 and went 0-for-4. The decision to start him gives Guardians manager Stephen Vogt the option to choose when to pinch hit Jhonkensy Noel, which was key in Cleveland’s comeback in Game 3. The lineup: LF Steven Kwan, DH Kyle Manzardo, 3B Jose Ramirez, 1B Josh Naylor, CF Lane Thomas, RF Daniel Schneemann, 2B Andres Gimenez, C Austin Hedges, SS Brayan Rocchio.

Wells and Rizzo started Game 3 on the bench with left-hander Matthew Boyd getting the start for Cleveland. Both entered Game 3 later on as pinch hitters. Jose Trevino didn’t exactly cover himself in glory in his first postseason start behind the dish so the decision to go back to Wells was an easy call. The lineup: 2B Gleyber Torres, RF Juan Soto, CF Aaron Judge, 3B Jazz Chisholm Jr., DH Giancarlo Stanton, 1B Anthony Rizzo, SS Anthony Volpe, C Austin Wells, LF Alex Verdugo.

Martinez spent the last three years as the team’s assistant pitching coach. The Giants opted to bring in Bryan Price rather than give Martinez a shot a year ago, but Price stepped down after just one season in San Francisco. Martinez, 42, pitched in the minors from 2004-08, mostly with the Twins, and he coached in the minors for the Twins from 2015-20.

Senga might come in if things go badly for David Peterson, but the Mets’ hope is to get four or maybe even five innings from Peterson and then ride the team’s best relievers the rest of the way. Mendoza said that Ryan Stanek and Edwin Díaz could pitch two innings apiece.

McNeil is playing second base over Jose Iglesias, who had been a lineup fixture this month. It’ll be McNeil’s first appearance since he suffered a fractured wrist on Sept. 6. The Mets are also playing Jesse Winker over J.D. Martinez today. The lineup: SS Francisco Lindor, LF Brandon Nimmo, 3B Mark Vientos, 1B Pete Alonso, DH Winker, RF Starling Marte, CF Tyrone Taylor, 2B McNeil, C Francisco Alvarez.

Freeman had last night off to rest his ailing ankle. The Dodgers are again holding Gavin Lux out of the lineup against a left-hander, but he should be available off the bench once David Peterson exits. The lineup: DH Shohei Ohtani, RF Mookie Betts, LF Teoscar Hernández, 1B Freeman, SS Tommy Edman, 2B Enrique Hernández, 3B Max Muncy, C Will Smith, CF Andy Pages.

The 31-year-old Cave played the hero in a few Rockies wins this year, but he wound up hitting a modest .251/.290/.396 in 346 plate appearances, leaving him with an 84 OPS+ that was below his career mark of 88. We imagine the club will offer him a minor league deal to come back and compete for a job next spring.