Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II put together a resurgent season in 2026, hitting .294/.321/.491 with 26 home runs, 87 RBI, 79 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases across 621 plate appearances. The 25-year-old remains one of the most aggressive hitters in baseball, logging just a 3.7% walk rate this year. However, Harris II's contact quality remains strong, as he posted a 10.3% barrel rate and a 47.6% hard-hit rate. Harris II also enters the postseason running hot, recording seven hits across his final 13 plate appearances of the regular season. If Harris II can continue his recent success in the playoffs, he could be one of the key players in Atlanta's National League Wild Card Series matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker helped power his team to the American League West title on Sunday, going 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two additional runs scored in his team's 9-0 win over the Athletics. Across 630 plate appearances in 2026, Walker hit .224/.295/.421 with 28 home runs, 86 RBI, and 70 runs scored. The 35-year-old largely struggled in the second half of the season, hitting .201 across 230 plate appearances after the All-Star break. However, Walker is entering the playoffs on a heater, as he hit .276 with four home runs and seven RBI over Houston's final six games of the regular season. If Walker can continue his recent hot hitting, he could be an impact power bat in the Astros Wild Card Series matchup against the Chicago White Sox.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that left-hander Carlos Rodon will pitch out of the bullpen in the American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox, per Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Rodon worked exclusively as a starting pitcher during the regular season and pitched well when healthy, recording a 7-3 record with a 2.67 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts across 84 1/3 innings (16 starts). However, the Yankees have a deep starting staff and currently have Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, and Gerrit Cole listed as their scheduled starters against Boston. Rodon could potentially be a difference-making arm out of the bullpen for the Yankees, particularly against left-handed hitters. For his career, left-handed batters have posted a .499 OPS with a 27.9% strikeout rate against Rodon.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler will start Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. Schlittler is the favorite to win the American League Cy Young Award after finishing the 2026 regular season with a 14-6 record, 1.95 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 239 strikeouts across 193 2/3 innings (33 starts). The Yankees have more established veterans who they could have given the ball to in Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, and Carlos Rodon, but Schlittler was the obvious choice based on his performance throughout the year. The 25-year-old averaged 98.0 miles per hour on his four-seam fastball and logged a 31.4% strikeout rate while walking just 6.4% of the batters he faced. Schlittler also pitched extremely well against Boston in last year's AL Wild Card Series, throwing eight scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts in New York's deciding Game 3 victory.