The Boston Red Sox are removing outfielder Roman Anthony (hand) from the Wild-Card Series roster against the division-rival New York Yankees after he sustained "new strains to different muscles" in his right hand, manager Chad Tracy told Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. The team sent Anthony back to Boston on Tuesday night to get an MRI exam on Wednesday. Anthony will not be with the Red Sox for the remainder of the Wild-Card Series in the Bronx this week and is out for the foreseeable future. If the BoSox come back to beat the Yankees in the three-game series, it seems unlikely that he would be available for the American League Division Series against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays. Nate Eaton is starting in left field for Boston on Wednesday in Game 2 of the series against Yankees left-hander Max Fried with Anthony hurt again. The 22-year-old former top prospect has become injury-prone early on in his MLB career, as he also ended last year on the injured list. Anthony played in just 55 games for the Red Sox in 2026, slashing .245/.339/.396 with five home runs, 15 RBI, 24 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 242 plate appearances.

Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale put together his usual strong performance in his team's 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing four hits, a walk, and three earned runs while striking out nine across 6 1/3 innings of work. Sale exited the game in the seventh inning, having only surrendered one run, but Braves right-hander Didier Fuentes allowed both inherited runners to score and briefly put Sale on the hook for the loss. Sale was one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2026, recording a 14-9 record with a 2.16 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 200 strikeouts across 162 2/3 innings (27 starts). The 37-year-old's average fastball velocity of 96.2 miles per hour was the best of his career, and he posted an elite 26.1% strikeout rate. Atlanta's rotation depth behind Sale is questionable, so the veteran lefty will likely need to continue his dominance into the postseason for the Braves to make a deep playoff run.

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley was the hero of his team's 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series, hitting a go-ahead three-run home run off of Phillies closer Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning. It was Riley's lone hit in three plate appearances on Tuesday, but it obviously came at a key time for Atlanta. The 29-year-old battled through a frustrating year at the plate in 2026, hitting .219/.290/.364 with 19 home runs, 72 RBI, 64 runs scored, and nine stolen bases across 630 plate appearances. Riley's 31.9% strikeout rate was his worst since his rookie season in 2019. However, the righty slugger still maintained a solid 12.4% barrel rate during the regular season. If he can unlock some of his power in October, Riley could be an impact bat for the Braves in the postseason.

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells played a surprisingly key role in his team's 9-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series, going two-for-three with a sacrifice fly, two RBI, and a run scored. The 27-year-old had a down year at the plate in 2026, hitting .182/.292/.332 with 14 home runs, 32 RBI, 39 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 388 plate appearances. Wells' barrel rate dropped to a career-low 7.7%, while his strikeout rate increased to a career-worst 26.5%. However, Wells was significantly better in the second half of the season than he was in the first, hitting .229 with a 14.3% walk rate, .787 OPS, and eight home runs across 140 plate appearances after the All-Star break. If Wells can continue to provide solid production at the bottom of the Yankees lineup, he could be an X-factor for New York in the postseason.