The MLB has just announced the rosters for the upcoming Wild Card Series, and there are some big changes from the regular season. Most notably, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Michael Lorenzen, Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher David Hernández, and San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto have all been left off the roster. Meanwhile, Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, Texas Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras, and Chicago Cubs pitcher Zach Bush have all been added to the roster.
The decision to leave Lorenzen off the roster is a bit of a surprise, as he was one of the Reds’ best pitchers this season. He posted a 3.33 ERA in 32 appearances and had a WHIP of 1.18. He also had a solid strikeout rate of 10.2 K/9.
Buxton’s exclusion is also a bit of a shocker. He was one of the Twins’ best hitters this season, batting .254 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs. He also had a .795 OPS and an impressive .854 OPS against left-handed pitchers.
Hernández was another surprise omission. He was one of the Phillies’ most reliable relievers this season, posting a 3.84 ERA in 41 appearances. He also had a WHIP of 1.22 and a strikeout rate of 8.6 K/9.
Cueto’s absence is perhaps the most surprising of all. He was one of the Giants’ best pitchers this season, posting a 3.25 ERA in 24 appearances. He also had a WHIP of 1.17 and a strikeout rate of 8.1 K/9.
Correa’s inclusion is a welcome addition to the roster. He was one of the Astros’ best hitters this season, batting .285 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs. He also had an impressive .845 OPS and a .941 OPS against left-handed pitchers.
Taveras’ addition is also an exciting one. He was one of the Rangers’ best hitters this season, batting .269 with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs. He also had an impressive .814 OPS and a .902 OPS against left-handed pitchers.
Finally, Bush’s inclusion is a great move by the Cubs. He was one of their most reliable relievers this season, posting a 2.90 ERA in 35 appearances. He also had a WHIP of 1.09 and a strikeout rate of 10.7 K/9.
Overall, these changes to the Wild Card Series rosters should make for an exciting series of games. It will be interesting to see how these players perform in the postseason and if they can help their teams advance to the next round.
