September 18, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Thursday that left-hander
Clayton Kershaw will retire as a player at the end of the 2025 season. The three-time National League Cy Young winner, 2014 NL MVP, and 11-time All-Star will make his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium on Friday night against the division-rival San Francisco Giants. It's the end of an era. The 37-year-old former first-rounder in 2006 will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he's eligible after posting a 2.54 career ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 222 wins, and 3,039 strikeouts in 2,844 2/3 regular-season innings. Even at the tail end of his career, Kershaw has held his own in L.A.'s starting rotation this year, pitching to a 3.53 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 71 strikeouts and 30 walks in 102 innings over 20 starts. His 2.54 career ERA leads all active players. Kershaw will be hoping to lead the Blue to a second straight World Series championship before walking off into the sunset.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
September 18, 2025
Cincinnati Reds catching prospect
Alfredo Duno has been named the Single-A Florida State League (FSL) Most Valuable Player for 2025. The Reds' third-ranked prospect led the FSL in most statistical categories, including home runs (18), doubles (18), RBI (81), runs scored (78), walks (95), OBP (.430), and SLG (.518). The 19-year-old's 95 walks were more than his 91 strikeouts, showing an advanced approach for such a young player. The 6-foot-2 Venezuelan was not on MLB.com's preseason Top 100 list, nor was he there when the list was refreshed in May, but he finally cracked it in July, coming in at No. 93 overall. He's vaulted all the way to No. 70 now, and he could be much higher next year. The right-handed slugger is quickly becoming a stash candidate in dynasty leagues, and his progress from here on out should be monitored.
--Jarod RuppSource: MLB.com
September 18, 2025
San Francisco Giants pitching prospect
Carson Whisenhunt (back) made his first rehab appearance at Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday. The Giants' seventh-ranked prospect allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out only one batter in 1 2/3 innings of work. Not only that, but the 24-year-old also threw two wild pitches in the outing. It's not clear if he'll get any more work down there before rejoining the big league club, but the Triple-A regular season ends on Sunday. The Giants could use the reinforcements as they are just two games back in the Wild Card, although the left-hander could be a risky proposition for the fantasy playoffs. The southpaw recorded a 5.01 ERA (6.92 FIP), 1.46 WHIP, and a 3.9 percent K-BB% in five starts for San Francisco before the injury.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
September 18, 2025
The Kansas City Royals expect left-hander
Bailey Falter (biceps) to start a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday night with Triple-A Omaha. It remains to be seen if Falter will be able to return to the big-league squad in the last week and a half of the season. The 28-year-old southpaw was placed on the 15-day injured list in late August and is trying to return after suffering a left-biceps contusion. Before his injury, the Royals had moved Falter into a relief role, killing what little fantasy value he had. In 26 appearances (24 starts) with the Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates this year, Falter has a 4.45 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 81:46 K:BB in 125 1/3 innings. He has appeared in only four games (two starts) with the Royals and has allowed 15 earned runs with seven walks and 11 punchouts in only 12 innings pitched.
--Keith HernandezSource: Kansas City Royals
September 18, 2025
Miami Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine (shoulder) is expected to stay with the club's Triple-A affiliate in Jacksonville for the remainder of the Triple-A regular season, according to manager Clayton McCullough, which wraps up this Sunday. After that, he could potentially rejoin the big league club for a series that begins Tuesday in Philadelphia, although the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are in the Triple-A playoffs, so he could log a few extra games there as well before rejoining the Marlins. The 28-year-old has been working his way back from surgery on his left shoulder and hasn't played in the big leagues since April. Through six rehab games at Triple-A, the former second-round pick is 5-for-16 (.313) with a double, two home runs, and a 5:7 BB:K. Whenever the left-handed slugger returns, though, he's not a realistic option in most leagues for the fantasy baseball playoffs.
--Jarod RuppSource: Isaac Azout
September 18, 2025
Boston Red Sox right-hander
Jordan Hicks (shoulder) has resumed playing catch, although manager Alex Cora acknowledged that he may have already run out of time to have a chance to return this year, according to Christopher Smith of Mass Live. Hicks is trying to work his way back from tendinitis in his right shoulder. The 29-year-old began the year with the San Francisco Giants in a starting role but was eventually moved to the bullpen after struggling. He has been worse since joining Boston in a trade, going 1-2 with an 8.20 ERA (6.20 FIP), two saves, 15 strikeouts, and 12 walks in 18 2/3 innings pitched. Even if Hicks were to make it back this year, the Red Sox would think twice before including him in their bullpen on a playoff roster in October.
--Keith HernandezSource: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
September 18, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks pitching prospect
Philip Abner has been called up from Triple-A Reno for what will be his major league debut whenever he enters a game. The 23-year-old began the season at High-A and earned a promotion to Double-A in mid-May, then made it to Triple-A at the end of August. The former sixth-round draft pick has pitched well overall, but has been impressive at Triple-A, not having allowed a run and just two hits with an 11:3 K:BB in 8 1/3 innings pitched in relief. The southpaw will likely join the D-backs in a middle relief role, however, that won't help fantasy managers much, and as such, he should be left on the waiver wire.
--Jarod RuppSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
September 18, 2025
Boston Red Sox right-hander
Dustin May (elbow) was able to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to Christopher Smith of Mass Live. May is "trending in the right direction," according to manager Alex Cora, but the skipper also acknowledged that the 28-year-old might be running out of time to make it back to help the team this year, including in the postseason if the team qualifies. May landed on the 15-day injured list last week with neuritis in his right elbow, making it unlikely that we'll see him again in 2025. If he were to return in October, he would almost certainly be used in a relief role out of the bullpen. Since coming over to Boston in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers in July, May has not been effective, sporting a 5.40 ERA and 1.69 WHIP with 26 strikeouts and 13 walks in 28 1/3 innings over six outings (five starts).
--Keith HernandezSource: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
September 18, 2025
Kansas City Royals outfielder
John Rave was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday after
Kyle Isbel (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list. The 27-year-old debuted with the team in late May, logging 156 plate appearances before being sent down in late August. During his time in the majors, the left-handed slugger hit just .199, but was able to walk at a 10.3 percent rate, hit four home runs, and steal seven bases in his limited action. Even so, the former fifth-round draft pick is not a viable fantasy option as he'll likely just get sporadic starts down the stretch, so he's best left on the waiver wire.
--Jarod RuppSource: Kansas City Royals
September 18, 2025
Detroit Tigers infielder
Colt Keith (back) left Thursday's game early against the Cleveland Guardians and appeared to be grabbing his lower-back area, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Keith immediately alerted manager A.J. Hinch before going down the tunnel with assistant athletic trainer Kelly Rhoades. The 24-year-old had an RBI double in his only plate appearance before being pulled from the game.
Zach McKinstry moved from shortstop to third base, while
Trey Sweeney entered the game to play shortstop. It's unclear what the severity of Keith's injury is, but the Tigers will likely play it safe with him in hopes that he'll be available for the start of the playoffs in October. Keith has been a lineup regular this year for the first-place Tigers and entered Thursday's game hitting .254 (105-for-413) with 13 home runs, 44 RBI, and 65 runs scored in 136 games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
September 18, 2025
Miami Marlins middle infielder
Xavier Edwards (wrist) remains sidelined for Thursday's contest against the hosting Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
Javier Sanoja will make the start at second base and will hit ninth against Rockies right-hander
Tanner Gordon. Right-wrist soreness will keep Edwards out for the fifth straight game. With the regular season winding down with just a week and a half of play left, it's possible we won't see Edwards again this year. The speedy switch-hitter and former first-round pick hasn't been quite as good as he was in 2024, but he's still been serviceable as a regular for Miami, slashing .280/.339/.353 with a .692 OPS, three home runs, 39 RBI, 73 runs scored and 24 stolen bases in a career-high 130 games in his third year in the big leagues. Stolen bases will always be the main fantasy draw with Edwards. Sanjoja will be a weak DFS sleeper, even at Coors Field.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 18, 2025
Boston Red Sox outfielder
Wilyer Abreu (calf) is finally nearing a return from the 10-day injured list. Abreu will work out in Boston on Friday, and if that goes well, he could join the team in Tampa Bay on Saturday or Sunday, manager Alex Cora told reporters. Abreu has been on the shelf since Aug. 18 with a strained right calf. The hope was that Abreu would miss a minimal amount of time, but his recovery hasn't gone as quickly as expected. He'll end up sitting out a little over a month if the Red Sox activate him this weekend. The 26-year-old has slashed a strong .253/.325/.486 with 22 homers, 69 RBI, 52 runs scored, and six stolen bases over 108 games and 395 plate appearances this season.
--Connor ByrneSource: Christopher Smith - MassLive.com
September 18, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Anthony Santander (shoulder) is "very likely" to continue his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo through the weekend, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet reports. Santander, who has been out since late May with an injured left shoulder, played the outfield with Buffalo for the first time on Wednesday. However, there were no balls hit to him in his seven innings of work in the grass. With Buffalo's season ending on Sunday, Santander should finally rejoin the Blue Jays next week. The ex-Baltimore Oriole, 30, has gone through a nightmarish first season with Toronto after joining the team in free agency. Before suffering the injury, Santander slumped to a .179/.273/.304 line with six homers, 18 RBI, and 14 runs scored over 50 games and 209 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: Arden Zwelling - Sportsnet
September 18, 2025
The Detroit Tigers have activated right-handed reliever
Paul Sewald (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list and optioned righty
Jose Urquidy to Triple-A Toledo. Sewald is ready to return after missing upward of two months with a shoulder strain. He spent the first few months of the season with the division-rival Cleveland Guardians, who traded him to the Tigers at the July 31 deadline. The 35-year-old is now set for his Detroit debut after recording a 4.70 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP, 18:4 K:BB, four holds, and two saves in 15 1/3 innings with Cleveland. Sewald hasn't pitched in the majors since July 11.
--Connor ByrneSource: Evan Woodbery - MLive.com
September 18, 2025
The Kansas City Royals announced that they have placed outfielder
Kyle Isbel (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring and recalled outfielder
John Rave from Triple-A Omaha. After suffering the injury and leaving early in a 7-5 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, Isbel's season will come to an end. The 28-year-old defensive wiz hit .255/.301/.353 with four homers, 33 RBI, 42 runs, and four stolen bases across 135 games and 409 plate appearances this season.
Mike Yastrzemski will move from left field to center to take Isbel's place on Thursday against the Mariners, while
Adam Frazier will play left.
--Connor ByrneSource: Jaylon Thompson - The Kansas City Star
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