September 9, 2025
Cleveland Guardians reliever
Cade Smith notched his 12th save of the season in his team's 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday. Smith pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing a hit and striking out two. In 64 2/3 innings this season, Smith has converted 12 out of 17 save chances while pitching to a 3.20 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 90 strikeouts. The hard-throwing right-hander has been prone to the occasional blowup outing since taking over as Cleveland's closer, but he remains one of the better strikeout-generating relievers in baseball.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
September 9, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Luis Garcia (elbow) left in the second inning of his start on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays due to right elbow discomfort, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. It's an ominous sign for Garcia, who was making just his second big-league start since returning from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in May 2023. Now facing yet another setback, it's possible that the 28-year-old does not make another start for Houston this season. Until Garcia proves he can stay healthy for an extended stretch of time, he will be a difficult player for fantasy managers to rely on.
--Will BradySource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
September 9, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) will undergo surgery this Thursday to fix the torn ACL in his knee, according to Francys Romero. Gurriel is expected to be facing a nine- to 10-month recovery, which means he's not going to be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. Depending on how his rehab goes, the 31-year-old veteran might be able to return just before the All-Star break in mid-July next year. He injured his knee back on Sept. 2 while trying to avoid a collision in the left-center gap with
Blaze Alexander and had to be carted off the field. The Cuban outfielder was once again a solid source of power in 2025 in his third year in the desert before getting hurt, slashing .248/.295/.418 but with a career-low .713 OPS, 19 homers, 80 RBI, a career-high 10 steals, and 52 runs in 129 games played.
Jake McCarthy should see most of the starts in left in Arizona the rest of the way.
--Keith HernandezSource: Francys Romero
September 9, 2025
Boston Red Sox rookie left-hander
Payton Tolle will make the start on Wednesday in Sacramento against the hosting Athletics, according to manager Alex Cora. It will be Tolle's first time pitching on four days of rest this year, so Cora said the team will limit his pitch count. Left-hander Kyle Harris is also expected to join the BoSox and make his debut with the club on Wednesday, possibly as the bulk reliever behind Tolle. The 22-year-old southpaw will be making only his third major-league start and will not be a recommended streamer after surrendering five earned runs on five hits (two homers) while walking four and striking out two in just three innings in his latest start in Boston against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 5. MLB Pipeline has Tolle ranked as the team's No. 2 prospect, behind only shortstop
Franklin Arias.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
September 9, 2025
The Chicago Cubs recalled catching prospect
Moises Ballesteros from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and placed outfielder
Kyle Tucker (calf) on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move with a left-calf strain, according to Taylor McGregor of Watch Marquee Sports. This will be the 21-year-old's fourth time coming up from the minors in his rookie season, but he has appeared in only six games while going 4-for-18 at the plate with six RBI and three runs scored. He is considered the team's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and was hitting an impressive .316/.385/.473 with an .858 OPS, 13 home runs, 76 RBI, 62 runs scored, and five steals in 114 games at Iowa. Ballesteros is considered the future at the position in Chicago, but he's unlikely to see much playing time down the stretch and isn't a realistic option to replace Tucker in right field.
--Keith HernandezSource: Watch Marquee - Taylor McGregor
September 9, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher
Will Smith (hand) is doing the catching for right-hander
Emmet Sheehan on Tuesday and will hit cleanup in his return against the division-rival Colorado Rockies and right-hander
German Marquez. Smith was hit by a pitch on his right hand last Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates and missed the following five games with a contusion. The 30-year-old All-Star should now be returned to all starting fantasy lineups on Tuesday, even though he has hit only .211 with a .618 OPS, one home run, and two RBI in 19 career at-bats against Marquez. Fantasy managers will be hoping that the former first-rounder can pick up right where he left off before his hand injury, as he had gone 4-for-12 with a home run, two runs, and two RBI in the five games right before his injury. Smith is hitting just under .300 on the season with 17 homers and 61 RBI in 109 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 9, 2025
The San Diego Padres announced on Tuesday that they have officially activated right-hander
Michael King (knee) from the 15-day injured list and optioned right-handed reliever
Alek Jacob to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move. King will make his return from the IL to face the Reds at Petco Park on Tuesday evening and will have much more risk than normal in starting fantasy lineups. The 30-year-old was San Diego's best pitcher to close out last season, but he's made only 11 starts in 2025 due to shoulder and knee injuries, including just one start since May 18. The Padres believe that four starts to close out the regular season for King will be enough for him to give them what they want if they make it to the postseason, but that doesn't mean he'll be very efficient in his first big-league start since Aug. 9. Tread carefully with King.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Diego Padres
September 9, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Spencer Arrighetti (elbow) is scheduled to get a second opinion on his elbow later this week. It was announced last week that Arrighetti wouldn't require surgery on his injured elbow. It sounds like he'll avoid surgery, but the course of treatment seems unclear at the moment. Arrighetti hasn't pitched this month and is not expected to be back before the end of the regular season. The hope is that Arrighetti is ready for the beginning of the 2026 campaign. At this point, it seems safe for fantasy managers to drop Arrighetti and get another arm to help them.
--Andy WebbSource: Ari Alexander
September 9, 2025
Miami Marlins outfielder
Kyle Stowers (oblique) has been shut down after suffering a setback during his minor-league rehab assignment. Stowers underwent additional imaging after dealing with some general soreness over the weekend. It has been announced that Stowers suffered a strained right side during a rehab game. The hope was that Stowers could return this week, but that seems unlikely now. The Marlins haven't given another timetable on his return, but it wouldn't be shocking to see Stowers be done for the season. The Marlins season isn't going anywhere, so they have little incentive to rush Stowers back to the field. For now, fantasy managers can continue to hold Stowers on their IR until the Marlins give an official timeframe on his return.
--Andy WebbSource: Steven Gorten
September 9, 2025
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher
Michael Wacha (concussion) was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list on Tuesday. Wacha was scheduled to take the ball for Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians, but that won't happen anymore. Wacha was involved in an off-the-field incident which will force him to miss some time. The right-hander is eligible to return on September 16. The Royals didn't announce who is going to take over his spot in the starting rotation. Fantasy managers should slide Wacha onto the IR and check back to see who will take the mound on Wednesday.
--Andy WebbSource: Anne Rogers
September 9, 2025
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Kyle Tucker (calf) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, retroactive to September 6. Finally, the Cubs placed Tucker on the shelf after he missed the last five games due to a left-calf strain. Tucker has been banged up with injuries throughout the second half of the season. At this point, it's the best decision to place Tucker on the shelf and give him time to get healthy before the postseason in October. In a corresponding move, catching prospect
Moises Ballesteros has been recalled to take over the active roster spot. The Cubs are likely to employ a committee approach to fill the void in the outfield.
Willi Castro,
Kevin Alcantara, and
Seiya Suzuki figure to all see time in right field.
--Andy WebbSource: Taylor McGregor
September 9, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman
Rhys Hoskins (thumb) has been activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers. Hoskins is back in the mix after missing over two months of action due to a left thumb sprain. This season, Hoskins is slashing .242/.340/.428 with 12 home runs and 42 RBI across 82 games. It'll be interesting to see how the Brewers handle first base with
Andrew Vaughn playing well right now. The Brewers could use both of them and have one serve as the designated hitter. However,
Christian Yelich would likely be pushed back into the outfield if they do that. Hoskins could lose some playing time down the stretch, but isn't worth rostering in anything more than deep leagues anyway.
--Andy WebbSource: Brewers
September 9, 2025
Kansas City Royals shortstop
Bobby Witt Jr. (back) is returning to the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. Witt is back in the mix after missing three games due to lower back spasms. He underwent an MRI which didn't reveal any structural damage. That being said, Witt should be back to his normal MVP-type self here soon. He'll cover shortstop and bat second versus left-hander
Joey Cantillo on Tuesday. Fantasy managers should make sure to check their lineups and get Witt in there ahead of first pitch.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
September 9, 2025
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Kyle Tucker (calf) remains sidelined for Tuesday's game at Truist Park against the Atlanta Braves.
Willi Castro will make the start in right field and will hit seventh against Braves right-hander
Spencer Strider. Left-calf tightness will sideline the left-handed hitting All-Star for the sixth straight game, and while the 28-year-old is still considered day-to-day, he could also land on the 10-day injured list any day now. Chicago's main priority at this point is to have Tucker be 100 percent healthy for the start of the postseason in October. If he cannot play by Friday's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays after a scheduled day off on Thursday, an IL stint will be much more likely. The switch-hitting Castro has modest power/speed skills with 11 homers and 10 steals in 375 at-bats in 2025, but he's also hitting just .229.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 9, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder
Brandon Marsh (illness) remains under the weather and is out of Tuesday's starting lineup at Citizens Bank Park against the division-rival New York Mets. Marsh will miss his second straight game due to illness after sitting out the series-opening win on Monday.
Weston Wilson will make the start in right field for the Phils and will bat seventh versus Mets left-hander
Sean Manaea. With a right-hander scheduled to be on the mound on Wednesday, Marsh should be back in action if he's feeling better. The right-handed-hitting Wilson will be a deep DFS sleeper with limited upside on Tuesday's slate. The 30-year-old is batting only .219 (16-for-73) in limited action for the Phillies this year and has four homers, 13 RBI, and 10 runs. He's hitless in four career at-bats against Manaea.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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