Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts delivered a clutch bases-loaded double to put Game 1 of the NLCS out of reach on Sunday. Betts big hit put a cap on a 9-0 onslaught over the New York Mets. He finished the day 1-for-4 with a walk, a double, a run scored, and three RBI. He was somehow the only player on either team to collect an extra-base hit, even though there were 12 hits in total. The 32-year-old has had a solid postseason, hitting two homers, driving in six, and posting a .891 OPS in 22 at-bats. He will look to keep it rolling against Sean Manaea in Game 2 on Monday.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty was at his best on Sunday, tossing seven shutout frames against the New York Mets in Game 1 of the NLCS. Flaherty allowed just two hits (both singles) and two walks while punching out six Mets. The 28-year-old was electric in this one, which is surely a huge relief for him after a subpar outing in the NLDS against the San Diego Padres. Flaherty would be on full rest for Game 5 on Friday and will likely get the ball for that game if necessary.

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (fingers) is a candidate to be added to the ALCS roster ahead of Game 1 on Monday. Rizzo is working his way back from fractures in multiple fingers after being hit by a pitch on the final weekend of the regular season, and he appears to be nearly ready to return. The Yankees would love to have him back, as they have been using a combination of Jon Berti and Oswaldo Cabrera to fill in for the lefty and could use a boost. He would likely slot into the back half of the lineup if he returns Monday.

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux left Game 1 of the NLCS early on Sunday due to a flare-up in his right hip flexor. Lux lobbied to stay in, but the Dodgers elected to play things safe with the game already 6-0 in the seventh inning. The 26-year-old is unlikely to play in Game 2 even if he is healthy as lefty Sean Manaea is tabbed to start. Lux has a good chance to return on Wednesday in Game 3 or even as a pinch-hitter on Monday.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitchers Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) and Joe Kelly (shoulder) will not be available to pitch in the NLCS, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Graterol has been on the injured list since the end of September with right-shoulder inflammation. Kelly suffered a shoulder injury during a simulated game and has not taken the mound since Sept. 27. However, both pitchers could be in the mix to return in the World Series. The Dodgers will also likely be without Alex Vesia (back) in this series. As a result, DFS managers should expect Blake Treinen to see a majority of the save opportunities after picking up two in the NLDS, with Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips, and Michael Kopech also having high-leverage roles.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia (ribs) is unlikely to be available for the NLCS due to a intercostal injury, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Vesia suffered an injury in Game 5 of the NLDS and will now face an uphill battle to pitch in the NLCS. DFS managers should monitor the official roster later this evening. The 28-year-old logged three innings of relief during the NLDS and allowed just one hit and one walk without surrendering a run. He struck out four. During the season, the southpaw posted a strong 1.76 ERA and 0.99 ERA across 66 1/3 innings of work. Under the hood, he boasted a 33.1% strikeout rate and 2.81 xERA, both well above the average marks. If he is unavailable to pitch, Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips, and Michael Kopech will handle the high-leverage work for Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty will get the starting nod in Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday evening, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Flaherty got the nod in Game 2 of the NLDS and struggled, as he allowed five hits, a walk, and four earned runs across 5 1/3 frames of work. Since joining the Dodgers at the trade deadline, the 28-year-old held a 3.58 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and a 19:61 BB:K. Through 162 total innings this summer, the right-hander posted a solid 3.17 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Flaherty will face a tough Mets lineup but will likely be the pitcher to target in DFS given that he will face Kodai Senga, who made only one regular-season start in 2024 due to injuries.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kike Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a solo shot in their Game 5 victory over the San Diego Padres. Hernandez broke the stalemate in the second frame by hitting a solo home run off Yu Darvish. This was the eventual game-winning run. Through the playoffs, the 33-year-old has gone 3-for-9 at the plate. Hernandez appeared in three games during the NLDS. DFS players should expect Hernandez to split time in center field through the remainder of the postseason with Chris Taylor and Tommy Edman and could be worth a look as a value option when he is in the starting nine.

San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) underwent his Tommy John surgery on Friday with Dr. Keith Meister. Musgrove felt tightness in his elbow in his start in Game 2 of the Wild-Card Series against the Atlanta Braves on Oct. 2 and needed TJ surgery, which will keep him out for the entire 2025 season. Elbow issues -- he also dealt with a bone spur in his right elbow -- sent the 31-year-old to the injured twice in 2024, but this elbow issue is obviously much more serious. Musgrove looked off early on in 2024 but bounced back to finish with a decent 3.88 ERA (3.96 FIP), a 1.17 WHIP and a 101:23 K:BB in 99 2/3 innings over his 19 starts. It's now back-to-back injury-plagued seasons for the veteran right-hander, and his fantasy stock will surely be depressed when he returns to the mound in 2026 after a year off. The good news is his strikeout rate was basically the same this year as it was in his All-Star season of 2022.

Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that left-handed reliever Alex Vesia's back flared up on him, which is why he was pulled during the Game 5 win over the division-rival San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Vesia will be further evaluated, but at this time it's uncertain if he'll be healthy enough to be included on the roster for the NL Championship Series against the New York Mets, which begins on Sunday in LA. The 28-year-old came in to get the final out of the seventh inning on Friday but was then pulled while warming up to pitch the eighth inning. Vesia has been a key late-inning setup main out of the Dodgers' bullpen this year, so not having him in the NLCS would be notable. In his three appearances in the NLDS against SD, Vesia tossed three shutout frames with one walk and four strikeouts.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Braxton Garrett (elbow) was diagnosed with a left elbow impingement on Friday. Garrett had been undergoing further evaluation last week after suffering a setback during a bullpen session in mid-September. He will be continuing a throwing progression program at the Marlins' player development complex in Jupiter, FL. The lefty's last start was on June 17th and he only made seven starts in 2024. He started the season on the IL with a shoulder impingement that held him out of major league action until May and then experienced elbow discomfort prior to his scheduled start on June 23rd. The 27-year-old has shown promise when healthy, posting a 3.58 ERA in 2022 and a 3.66 ERA in 2023. But with injuries piling up, fantasy managers may start to wonder how much value he can have going forward. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his progress going into spring training and take caution if he's on their roster in 2025.

Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Enrique Hernandez will get the start in center field and will bat seventh on Friday for the deciding Game 5 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium against the division-rival San Diego Padres and right-hander Yu Darvish. Tommy Edman is making another start at shortstop in place of the injured Miguel Rojas (groin). It will be Hernandez's second straight start in the series after he played third base and went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the Game 4 victory. He also appeared in the Game 2 loss on Sunday and went 0-for-2 at the plate. Hernandez only has two hits (one triple) in 11 career at-bats against Darvish with an RBI, one walk and four strikeouts. In his extensive postseason career covering 208 plate appearances, the Puerto Rican native has hit a nice .276 (51-for-185) with 13 home runs, 29 RBI and 27 runs scored.

As expected, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (ankle) is back at first base and is hitting third against San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish in the deciding Game 5 of the National League Division Series on Friday. Freeman aggravated an ankle injury in Game 3 of the NLDS that has been bothering him since the last week of the regular season, and he was scratched from the lineup for the Game 4 win as a result. The 35-year-old All-Star slugger will try to give it a go in the winner-take-all showdown against the Friars despite being well below 100%. He's gone 3-for-11 with a stolen base and two strikeouts in three games played in the NLDS and has hit .250 (10-for-40) in his career off Darvish with three home runs, three doubles, four RBI, four walks and 10 strikeouts. DFS gamers will probably be looking to avoid Freeman because he's basically playing on one leg right now.

New York Yankees closer Luke Weaver was back at it again on Thursday, shutting down the Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning of Game 4 to send the Yankees to the ALCS with a 3-2 win. Weaver threw a perfect frame with two strikeouts. The 31-year-old pitched in all four games of this series, allowing no runners to cross the plate and surrendering only two hits and zero walks over 4 IP in total. He has been excellent as the Yankees closer, and they will continue to use him heavily during this postseason run.

The Athletic's Matt Gelb thinks it's unlikely that the Philadelphia Phillies look to move third baseman Alec Bohm this offseason, especially since he still has two years left of club control. Bohm had a career-high 117 OPS+ in 2024, but he struggled down the stretch and after suffering a hand injury. The Phillies also like Aidan Miller, a 20-year-old prospect who reached Double-A at the end of the year. If Miller continues to progress, the Phillies could be content to let Bohm walk after the 2026 campaign. Manager Rob Thomson benched Bohm in Game 2 of the National League Division Series because of disappointment about his attitude. "I mean, I definitely wasn't my best self," Bohm said. "And it doesn't feel good. But it is what it is. It's a hard game. You're not always going to be getting hits and doing all those things. There's other ways to help the team win, and it just didn't happen."

The Athletic's Matt Gelb writes that the Philadelphia Phillies will be connected to New York Yankees impending free-agent superstar outfielder Juan Soto all winter. The Phillies' outfield was one of their biggest weaknesses in 2024. However, one of the New York teams will be the favorite to sign Soto to what will be a massive contract. Soto has kept a close relationship with Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long, and in a worst-case scenario for the Phils, they could at least raise the price for a rival to sign Soto. The team might not move on from either Brandon Marsh or Johan Rojas, but both could become trade candidates. Nick Castellanos remains entrenched in right field with two years and $40 million left on his contract. Soto had a phenomenal first year in the Bronx with a career-high 41 home runs, 109 RBI and a league-high 128 runs scored and would certainly make Philly even more of a force to be reckoned with if they could manage to sign him.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he doesn't expect shortstop Miguel Rojas (groin) to be in the starting lineup for Game 5 of the National League Division Series on Friday against the division-rival San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Rojas aggravated a groin injury rounding third base in the Game 3 loss in San Diego and had to be removed from the game. If the Dodgers advance to the NL Championship Series, it's unknown if the 35-year-old veteran would even be on the roster. Since he got hurt, Tommy Edman has moved from center field to the 6, and he should be there again to start Friday's win-or-take-all contest. Rojas has never been known as much of an offensive threat and went 2-for-8 in three Division Series games against the Padres. The move to Edman at the premium position with Rojas injured is definitely a downgrade defensively for the Blue.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that first baseman Freddie Freeman (ankle) is expected to return to the starting lineup for the deciding Game 5 of the National League Division Series on Friday at Dodger Stadium against the division-rival San Diego Padres. Freeman has been battling an ankle injury since the last week of the regular season and had to be scratched from the lineup for Game 4 of the NLDS on Wednesday. The 35-year-old almost certainly won't be anywhere near 100% for the remainder of the postseason, but he's going to tough it out for a winner-take-all game on Friday. The eight-time All-Star and former NL MVP has gone 3-for-11 with three singles, a steal and two strikeouts in the three NLDS games he's played in. Freeman's return will be a big boost to LA's already potent offense and will allow Max Muncy to head back to the hot corner.

Milwaukee Brewers general manager Matt Arnold hinted that the team would be open to trading closer Devin Williams as he enters the final year of club control in 2025. "We have to stay open-minded. We're the smallest market in the league, so that's something that's required in this," Arnold said. The GM also said that Williams was "unbelievable" in the second half of the season and shouldn't be defined by one bad pitch in the Game 3 loss to the New York Mets in the Wild-Card Series. The two-time All-Star didn't make his 2024 debut until July 28 due to a back injury, but Williams was once again on point in the second half once he returned, posting a 1.25 ERA (2.06 FIP), 0.97 WHIP, 14 saves, 38 strikeouts and 11 walks in 21 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. He went out on a sour note in the Game 3 loss, though, yielding four earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning in a blown save to end the season.

Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (knee) was playing through a minor knee sprain during the Wild-Card Series against the New York Mets, according to general manager Matt Arnold. The Brewers revised their Game 3 lineup last week as a result to move Contreras from catcher to the designated hitter spot. In the three-game Wild-Card Series, Contreras went 2-for-12 with two RBI and three strikeouts while grounding into a double play. He also hit .257 (19-for-74) with three home runs, three doubles, 12 RBI, 16 walks and 22 strikeouts in 23 games in the final month of the regular season in September. The good news is that the 26-year-old Venezuelan backstop won't require surgery on his knee and should be a full-go for the start of spring training next February. Contreras has become one of the better hitting catchers in the big leagues.