Mason Miller lit up the NL Wild Card Series with a jaw-dropping 104.5 mph four-seam fastball, delivering the fastest postseason pitch on record and a string of whiffs that left Cubs hitters stunned. His 11 fastest pitches in Game 2 averaged about 103 mph, helping San Diego coast to a 3-0 win and extend the series. With back-to-back high-leverage appearances, Miller’s workload is under the spotlight as San Diego weighs using him again in a deciding Game 3.

Padres manager Mike Shildt emphasized smart usage, balancing Miller’s electric arm against long-term health as Miller is under team control through 2029. If he’s deployed again, expect a high-leverage, bullpen-leaning plan centered on aggressive strikeouts, setting up San Diego for a first World Series run while Cubs options pivot to a tougher path in Milwaukee.

Cleveland calls up Chase DeLauter for the wild-card against Detroit, hoping the injured rookie’s left-handed bat can inject life off the bench. He hit .278 with 5 homers in Columbus before injuries limited him to brief Triple-A stints, and his availability could tilt late-game matchups as Cleveland leans on 11 pitchers in the series.

Rosters across the league highlight depth, speed, and cross-team familiarity. New York carries 12 pitchers and 14 position players; Boston boosts speed with Eaton, Hamilton, Early, and Tolle while Giolito is sidelined; San Diego stacks catchers; Chicago adds Alcántara and Ballesteros while others are cut. These moves shape playoff lineups and fantasy upside in a tight best-of-three.

The Mets climbed back into the NL Wild Card hunt with an 8-5 win at Wrigley, riding Lindor and Baty homers, Nimmo’s 3-for-4 day with an RBI and two runs, and a clutch two-run double from Tyrone Taylor to cushion a late push by the Cubs. Seiya Suzuki slugged a pair of homers for Chicago, but McLean’s five earned in 5 1/3 and Diaz’s 28th save kept New York ahead. The win leaves NYM one game behind Cincinnati, while a rookie-award line for McLean could yield an extra draft pick for 2026.

Mets fall 10-3 to the Cubs in a game defined by early control issues and a brutal fifth inning that buried any comeback hopes. Tong never settled, getting knocked around after a shaky third as New York’s bullpen absorbed a heavy workload. Offensively, Francisco Alvarez and Mark Vientos managed late rallies, but the Cubs pulled away with a multi-run outburst and defensive miscues sealing the blowout.

Defensive miscues and wild pitches framed the Mets’ day, with a key error spurring Chicago’s eighth run and a misplayed ball on the bases helping extend the margin. The result matters for NL Wild Card positioning, but fantasy angles lean toward Cubs’ hitters in the right matchups and Mets arms needed to steady the rotation.

Bottom line: the Mets showed flashes late but couldn’t erase the early deficit, leaving fantasy managers weighing dry streaks against upcoming schedules and bullpen plans as the season winds down.