Left-handed pitcher Parker Messick will take the ball for Game 1 for the Cleveland Guardians as they take on the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS. Messick was 12-9 during the regular season with a 2.56 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 193 strikeouts in 186 1/3 innings. Messick will look to shut down a talented White Sox lineup that is very deep and can do damage from all thirds of the lineup. Messick will take the ball as the Guardians' ace and face an opener in Hagen Smith. The Guardians will hope to get some length from Messick to set up what is a good bullpen backed by quality closer in Cade Smith. Messick has good career numbers against the White Sox and will look to get settled in right from the start in Game 1 on Saturday afternoon.

Left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith will get the ball in Game 1 for the Chicago White Sox as they open their series against he Cleveland Guardians. Smith started a game in the opening series at Houston and pitched three quality innings with two hits allowed, no walks, and one strikeout. That's just about the perfect scenario for the White Sox as they are counting on Smith as an opener. Three strong inning would help get to the White Sox' bullpen and allow them to bridge the gap to the late innings. Smith was used mostly as a reliever during the regular season and only started one game. He pitched 28 innings and allowed 11 hits, walking 16 for a 0.96 WHIP to go with his 1.29 ERA during the regular season. Smith looks like a bonafide weapon for the White Sox in the postseason and they could vary how they use him. As the opener they will most likely look for 3+ strong innings once again in Game 1.

Trade deadline acquisition Tarik Skubal will get the ball in Game 1 of the NLDS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves today in L.A. Skubal, who was traded over to the Dodgers from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline, will be the starter in the first playoff game for the Dodgers this postseason. In 10 starts since coming over to Los Angeles this season, the left-handed ace is 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 70 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched. Skubal will get the nod in Game 1 and lead the postseason effort for the Dodgers. It doesn't come as much of a surprise. This is what the Dodgers made their trade for and gave up their quality prospects for. Skubal faces a good Braves lineup that can really hit with the likes of Ronald Acuna Jr. and Matt Olsen to name just a few. Look for Skubal to turn in a quality outing to get his postseason efforts underway with the Dodgers.

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola took the loss in his team's 6-2 defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Thursday. The 33-year-old lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one. It's the end of a frustrating year overall for Nola, who recorded a 7-12 record with a 4.67 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 177 strikeouts across 175 1/3 innings (33 starts). The veteran righty was better in the second half, logging a 3.33 ERA across 78 1/3 innings after the All-Star break. Still, Nola has now logged consecutive seasons with an ERA north of 4.60, an HR/9 above 1.70, and a WHIP of exactly 1.35. With four years and nearly $100 million remaining on the seven-year contract he signed with the Phillies ahead of the 2024 season, Nola will likely get a chance to bounce back in 2027. However, his viability as a fantasy starter is questionable.