September 25, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Jose Berrios (elbow) is heading to the 15-day injured list on Thursday with right-elbow inflammation, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Berrios is en route to getting an MRI exam, which will determine if he'll be available for Toronto in the postseason next month. The 31-year-old veteran Puerto Rican hurler was recently moved from the starting rotation to a relief role, so if he's healthy enough to return if the Blue Jays make a deep run in the playoffs, he'll almost certainly be coming out of the bullpen. Berrios will finish his 2025 season (his fourth full year in Toronto) with a 9-5 record, 4.17 ERA (4.65 FIP), and 1.30 WHIP with 138 strikeouts and 56 walks in 166 innings over 31 appearances (30 starts). Toronto recalled pitcher
Paxton Schultz from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
September 25, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman/designated hitter
Yandy Diaz (groin) is being considered day-to-day after leaving Thursday's game against the Baltimore Orioles in the fifth inning with right-groin tightness, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Before leaving the eventual 6-5 loss, Diaz went 1-for-2 at the plate with a run scored. He was replaced at DH by
Hunter Feduccia. The 34-year-old's injury isn't considered serious, but with only three games left in the season this weekend in Toronto against the division-rival Blue Jays, it's possible we won't see Diaz again in 2025. It would be a disappointing end to a career year for the Cuban slugger. Diaz entered play on Thursday with a healthy .301 average (173-for-575) with a career-best 25 home runs and a career-high 83 RBI while adding 78 runs scored and three steals in 147 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
September 25, 2025
Cincinnati Reds left-hander
Nick Lodolo (groin) was downright dominant in a 2-1 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates in Thursday's series finale at Great American Ballpark, but it ended on a sour note after he was pulled early as a precaution with a right-groin injury, according to the team. Lodolo picked up his ninth win of the year by tossing 6 1/3 shutout innings with 12 strikeouts and only one walk. He gave up just two hits. The Reds think it's a minor injury for the 27-year-old southpaw, so hopefully he'll be available next week for the playoffs if Cincy can capture the final wild-card spot in the National League. With their win over the Bucs on Thursday, they're half a game behind the New York Mets for the final playoff spot in the NL. Lodolo continues to be injury-prone, but he finishes his 2025 season with a 3.30 ERA, 156 strikeouts, and only 29 walks in 28 starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Cincinnati Reds
September 25, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop
Trea Turner (hamstring) will not play on Friday and isn't guaranteed to come off the 10-day injured list for the final series of the regular season this weekend against the visiting Minnesota Twins at Citizens Bank Park, according to manager Rob Thomson. "Still not sure about the weekend, but we know that he'll be ready for the playoffs," Thomson said. Turner has faced live pitching and will add in some running and agility drills on Thursday. He's been out since straining his right hamstring on Sept. 7, but he's making progress and is on the cusp of a return. The Phillies are set to have a first-round bye in the postseason, so their first game in October won't come until Oct. 4 in Game 1 of the NLDS. The 32-year-old Turner is currently in line to win the NL batting title with a .305 average, and he also still leads the NL with 179 hits, so it's great news that the Phils will have him in the playoffs.
--Keith HernandezSource: Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
September 25, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman
Bryce Harper (illness) is starting at first base and is batting third in his return to the lineup on Thursday in the series finale against the division-rival Miami Marlins and right-hander
Janson Junk. Harper will be back in action after missing the last two games with an illness. Fantasy managers setting DFS lineups should feel comfortable including Harper in their lineups against a right-handed pitcher. The 32-year-old former MVP has hit .236 (17-for-72) with five home runs, three doubles, 12 RBI, and 10 runs in 19 games. Harper sports a .263/.358/.495 slash line on the season with an .853 OPS, 27 home runs, 75 RBI, 72 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 487 at-bats. The Phillies will be hoping he can finish the 2025 regular off on a high note as the Phils head into the postseason in October. Harper has never faced Junk.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 25, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays are still "taking it day to day" with first baseman
Jonathan Aranda (wrist), according to manager Kevin Cash. If the Rays activate Aranda from the 10-day injured list, it would require them to drop someone else from the active roster, which could still be in consideration. However, the minor league seasons are already over, notes Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger has been out since fracturing his left wrist in late July, and it remains to be seen if he'll actually return for the final series of the regular season this weekend in Toronto against the division-rival Blue Jays. The Mexican first baseman would finish with a .316/.394/.478 slash line, .871 OPS, 12 home runs, 54 RBI, and 53 runs scored in 358 at-bats this year if he's not activated from the IL. The All-Star will be a lock to open 2026 as Tampa's regular first baseman.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
September 25, 2025
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena (oblique) remains on the bench to start Thursday's series finale in Sacramento against the division-rival Athletics.
Mauricio Dubon will make another start at shortstop and will hit in the nine-hole against A's right-hander
J.T. Ginn. Pena is dealing with a strained left oblique that could cause him to miss the rest of the season. It's terrible timing for a struggling Astros team that finds itself a game out of the final wild-card spot in the American League entering play on Thursday. If this is the end of the 28-year-old's season, it would be a frustrating finish to what was a career year for the Dominican shortstop, as he's currently slashing .304/.363/.477 with a career-best .840 OPS, 17 home runs, 62 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases in 125 games. Dubon is a low-upside DFS sleeper on Thursday and is hitless in three career at-bats against Ginn.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 25, 2025
Atlanta Braves right-hander
Charlie Morton will now make the start in the regular-season finale on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with left-hander
Chris Sale following in relief, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. It will be the final start of his career for Morton, who has announced that he will retire following the season. The 41-year-old veteran was drafted by the Braves in the third round back in 2002, and he's spent five of his 18 MLB seasons in Atlanta. Morton spent the most years (seven) of his career with Pittsburgh, so it will be a fitting end for him this weekend. The two-time All-Star began the year with the Baltimore Orioles before joining the Detroit Tigers. Morton has struggled in his final professional season, going 9-11 with a 5.89 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and 148:71 K:BB in 140 2/3 innings. In his prime, Morton was a back-to-back All-Star in 2018 and 2019 with the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays, and he's won two World Series titles.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
September 25, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander
Sonny Gray said that he will consider waiving his no-trade clause in the offseason to open up the possibility of being traded elsewhere this winter. "Whether I do decide that I want to go somewhere - whether that actually happens - I don't have complete control of that," said Gray. The 35-year-old former first-rounder and three-time All-Star is nearing the end of his career, but he could attract interest on the offseason trade market for a team looking to improve its starting rotation depth. Gray finished his 13th year in the big leagues in 2025 (second year with St. Louis) by going 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA (3.39 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP with 201 strikeouts and 38 walks in 180 2/3 innings over his 32 starts. He now has back-to-back 200-strikeout seasons for the first time in his career, and he's made 30 starts in two of the last three years.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
September 25, 2025
Baltimore Orioles second baseman
Jackson Holliday (knee) remains out of the starting lineup on Thursday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays.
Jorge Mateo is at the keystone on Thursday for the series finale and will hit ninth against Rays right-hander
Drew Rasmussen. Holliday is undergoing an MRI exam on his knee on Thursday, which means we might not see the 21-year-old for the final series of the season this weekend. However, interim manager Tony Mansolino is optimistic that Holliday will be alright and that the issue is just day-to-day. Holliday's next chance to play will be for Friday's series opener in the Bronx against the division-rival New York Yankees. Mateo won't be a very attractive DFS sleeper in the nine-hole on Thursday, but he has hit .375 with a .944 OPS in eight career at-bats against Rasmussen.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 24, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Oneil Cruz (ankle) exited the team's game against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday with discomfort in his left ankle, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. Cruz suffered the injury when he collided with the wall in center field in the eighth inning, and the Pirates brought in
Jack Suwinski to replace him in the ninth. He ended the night 0-for-4 with three strikeouts to continue a prolonged slump. Cruz posted an unsightly .502 OPS in August and entered Wednesday's game with a .584 mark over 18 games in September. While Cruz has smacked 20 homers and totaled a career-high 38 stolen bases this season, he has registered a disappointing .201/.300/.381 line with 61 RBI and 62 runs scored in 540 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: Alex Stumpf - MLB.com
September 24, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
Luis Garcia (elbow) will undergo elbow surgery and miss the entire 2026 season, manager Joe Espada announced. It's unclear whether Garcia will require Tommy John surgery, which he previously underwent in 2023. Garcia, who took more than two calendar years to recover from that procedure, finally returned to take the mound for the Astros on Sept. 1. However, after just two starts in which he combined to throw 7 2/3 innings, elbow discomfort forced Garcia back to the 15-day injured list. The Astros transferred Garcia to the 60-day IL earlier this month, ending his season. It's devastating for Garcia and the Astros that elbow problems have thrown his career off course, as the 28-year-old has established himself as a quality starter when healthy. Since debuting in 2020, Garcia has gone 29-19 with a 3.60 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, 9.28 K/9, and 2.83 BB/9 across 71 appearances (65 starts) and 359 2/3 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: Chandler Rome - The Athletic
September 24, 2025
Minnesota Twins rookie second baseman
Luke Keaschall (thumb) will miss the rest of the season with a sprained left thumb. The 23-year-old will visit a specialist next week to determine whether he'll require surgery. A second-round pick in 2023, Keaschall rose quickly through the Twins' system and debuted with the club on April 18. Keaschall's career got off to a rough start, though, as he suffered a broken bone in his right arm in his seventh game and didn't return until the first week of August. Injuries aside, Keaschall's performance was one of the few positives to take from an awful season for the Twins. In 49 games and 207 plate appearances, he slashed an outstanding .302/.382/.445 with four homers, 28 RBI, 25 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases.
--Connor ByrneSource: Audra Martin - FanDuel Sports Network North
September 24, 2025
San Diego Padres outfielder
Ramon Laureano (finger) fractured his right index finger and will be out through at least the first round of the playoffs, manager Mike Shildt told reporters. Laureano suffered the injury during a 3-1 defeat against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, forcing him to exit after the second inning. The 31-year-old is a significant loss for the Padres heading into the playoffs, having hit .269/.323/.489 with nine homers, 30 RBI, 27 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 198 plate appearances since they acquired him from the Baltimore Orioles on July 31. In a combined 488 trips to the plate between the two teams, Laureano slashed a strong .281/.342/.512 with 24 HRs, 76 RBI, 72 runs, and seven steals. As long as Laureano is out,
Gavin Sheets should get the majority of playing time in left field for the Padres.
--Connor ByrneSource: Dennis Lin - The Athletic
September 24, 2025
The Chicago Cubs have activated closer
Daniel Palencia (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list and optioned left-hander
Jordan Wicks to their Arizona complex. Palencia is returning after missing a little over two weeks with a strained right shoulder. The 25-year-old will look to rebound after he was blown up for five earned runs while failing to record an out in his most recent appearance on Sept. 7. Despite that catastrophic outing, he still owns a 3.00 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP, 59:16 K:BB, and 22 saves over 51 innings. It's unclear if the Cubs will ease Palencia back in or immediately reinstall him as their closer as the playoffs approach.
Andrew Kittredge and
Brad Keller combined for five saves while Palencia was on the IL.
--Connor ByrneSource: Maddie Lee - Chicago Sun-Times
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