Pirates announce Gerrit Cole will start NL Wild Card game - MLB

Per Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle announced that Gerrit Cole will start the National League Wild Card game against the Cubs. Neither National League Wild Card has been officially claimed yet, though the two teams are known. The Pirates lead the Cubs by two games with two games remaining, so they will earn the right to host with a win or a Cubs loss in either of the two games.

The winner of the NL Wild Card game will move on to face the Cardinals in the NL Division Series.

Cole, 25, turned in a fantastic season for the Pirates, finishing the regular season with a 19-8 record, 2.60 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 202/44 K/BB ratio in 208 innings. Cole was taken by the Pirates first overall in the 2011 draft.

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LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Tommy Kahnle were activated by the New York Yankees ahead of their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York cleared three roster spots after a 1-0 loss at Seattle, optioning infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook.

Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.

Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.

Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.

Aaron Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.

New York is missing centerfielder Harrison Bader, who strained his right hamstring against the Mariners and went on the injured list the next day.

Left-hander Carlos Rodón, sidelined since spring training by a sore left forearm and an ailing back, was transferred to the 60-day injured list.