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
September 9, 2025
Cleveland Guardians infielder
Gabriel Arias (wrist) is being held out of the starting lineup on Tuesday against the division-rival Kansas City Royals after he left Monday's game early with right-wrist inflammation.
Brayan Rocchio is starting at short and will bat seventh against Royals left-hander
Noah Cameron. Arias is considered day-to-day for now and could be able to rejoin the lineup for the continuation of the series at Progressive Field on Wednesday.
Daniel Schneemann is starting at the keystone and is batting eighth in the order. Neither Arias nor Rocchio is much to look at for fantasy purposes, so managers should have better sleeper options at shortstop for Tuesday's slate. The 24-year-old Rocchio is a switch-hitting, glove-first infielder who is batting .236 (67-for-284) on the season with a weak .635 OPS, four homers, 40 RBI, and six steals.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 9, 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Tuesday that they placed shortstop
Bo Bichette (knee) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 7) with a left-knee sprain and recalled outfielder
Joey Loperfido from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Bichette injured his knee while sliding on Saturday against the New York Yankees and then didn't play in the series finale on Sunday. The 27-year-old All-Star will now miss at least the next 10 days, although he might not be ready to return when eligible on Sept. 17. Losing Bichette down the stretch is a tough blow as the Jays try to win the American League East. With Bichette missing some time, expect the contact-oriented
Ernie Clement to work as the regular shortstop in Toronto. He's at the 6 for Monday's series opener against the visiting Houston Astros and is hitting seventh in the batting order.
--Keith HernandezSource: Toronto Blue Jays
September 9, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Liam Doyle has been promoted to Double-A Springfield, skipping over High-A after just one start at Single-A. The fifth overall pick in this year's MLB Draft pitched to a 3.20 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and struck out 164 batters in 95 2/3 innings pitched (42.6 percent K%, 15.43 K/9) for the University of Tennessee this year before going in the first round. In his lone appearance at Single-A Palm Beach, the southpaw allowed one hit (a home run) and walked two batters while striking out three in 1 2/3 innings pitched. The Cards' second-ranked prospect will get a chance to test his mettle against Double-A hitters, and with his big-time strikeout stuff, don't be surprised if he makes quick work of the minors and debuts in the majors at some point in 2026. Even if it doesn't happen next season, he's a top pitching prospect to stash in dynasty for whenever he debuts.
--Jarod RuppSource: MLB Pipeline
September 9, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies outfield prospect
Justin Crawford (concussion) was placed on Triple-A Lehigh Valley's 7-day injured list with a concussion, retroactive to September 5, after colliding with third baseman
Otto Kemp. The Phils' third-ranked prospect was having an excellent season for the Iron Pigs, slashing .334/.411/.452 with a .392 wOBA, 133 wRC+, and 46 stolen bases in 112 games. If he returns when first eligible, he could play an additional handful of games at Triple-A before the season is out, and could also join the Phillies for their stretch run. If he does not debut this year, it's a good bet he'll be in the majors in 2026, and he'll bring excellent bat-to-ball skills and a ton of speed with him, which will make him very intriguing for fantasy.
--Jarod RuppSource: Matt Gelb
September 9, 2025
Chicago White Sox outfield prospect
Braden Montgomery (foot) was placed on Double-A Birmingham's 7-day injured list on Monday. Chicago's top-ranked prospect was hit by a pitch in the second inning of Saturday's contest, resulting in a small fracture in his right foot. The injury will end what was otherwise a good season for the 2024 first-rounder, who began at Single-A and earned two promotions to get to Birmingham. In all, the 22-year-old slashed .270/.360/.444 with 12 home runs and 14 steals in 121 games played. The switch-hitter is still expected to participate in the Arizona Fall League (AFL). If he continues to progress, he should see Triple-A next year and could even see a late season debut in the majors. With solid hit and run tools along with some plus power, he's the type of prospect dynasty managers should be stashing away.
--Jarod RuppSource: James Fegan
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