Postseason Notes: Wild Card, Brewers, Dodgers – MLB Trade Rumors, Mlbtraderumors.com

As twenty teams prepare to pack it in for the offseason, a few odds and ends concerning those still remaining in the battle for a World Series crown…

• The 2019 playoff picture is officially set. TheRayswill head to Oakland for the AL Wild Card game on Wednesday, Oct. 2, with first pitch at 8: 09 pm EST. Earlier this week, Rays managerKevin Cashappeared on MLB Network Radio, where he made comments indicating thatCharlie Mortonwould take the ball on Wednesday for Tampa. No official word has come from theAthleticsregarding their own one- game stopper, butBilly Beanehinted to the San Francisco Chronicle thatSean Manaeamay have the“inside track”to tackle the opportunity.
  TheNationalsandBrewerswill do battle on Tuesday at 8: 08 pm EST in Washington DC for the NL play-in spot, whereMax Scherzeris expected to take the ball for the Nationals. Meanwhile, Tom Haudricort of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel relays thatBrandon Woodruffwill be trusted by managerCraig Counsellto best Scherzer in the winner-moves-on affair (link). Woodruff may not carry the imposing resumé of Scherzer (nor does he possess a rare genetic variation that endows him with transfixing, multi-colored eyes), but he has looked the part of a frontline starter when healthy in 2019, with A3. (ERA) 3. (FIP) in
  
  .2 innings this season.
• In otherBrewers– related news, outfielderRyan Braunexpects to play in that Tuesday tilt against DC Haudricort also relays that outfielderLorenzo Cainis “hopeful” for the game (link). Braun is dealing with a calf issue, while Cain has a gimpy ankle.As previously noted here, the Brewers may be limited toTrent GrishamorTyrone Taylorin center if Cain is indeed too hindered to give it a ‘go’ on Tuesday night.
• DodgersmanagerDave Robertshasn’t yet announced the full pitching lineup for the NLDS, but he tellsJorge Castilloof the Los Angeles Time that he is “feeling really good” about trustingRich Hill(with potential Game 4 duties) (link) ). Hill was only activated from the IL on September 24 th but did strike out five Padre hitters in just two innings of work in that appearance. As the number-one seed in the National League, the Dodgers will host the winner of the Nats-Brewers Wild Card play-in matchup. The Dodgers, in fact, will play at home throughout the postseason, unless they face the Astros in the World Series – by posting an MLB-best 107 – 55 record, Houston clinched homefield advantage through the Fall Classic.