September 18, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
Sal Frelick is headed to the bench ahead of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. This seems like purely a matchup decision with left-hander
Yusei Kikuchi on the mound for the Halos. Frelick has been impressive with the bat lately as he carries a six-game hitting streak into this contest. He mashed a big three-run home run during Wednesday's contest. He figures to be back in the mix for Friday's contest. Frelick is someone that has hit well enough this season to warrant rostering in most formats for the fantasy playoffs.
Isaac Collins,
Blake Perkins, and
Jackson Chourio will cover the outfield for the Brewers on Thursday.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
September 18, 2025
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher
Jose Soriano (forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Thursday. Soriano was hit in the forearm by a line drive during his start on Wednesday. Luckily, the X-rays came back negative, so Soriano is only dealing with a contusion. Despite that, Soriano is going to miss the rest of the regular season. He'll finish the 2025 campaign with a 4.26 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and a 152/78 K/BB ratio across 31 starts. In a corresponding move, left-hander
Sam Aldegheri has been recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake. Aldegheri has pitched well in the minors this season and figures to take over Soriano's spot in the rotation for the rest of the season.
--Andy WebbSource: Rhett Bollinger
September 18, 2025
Baltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle (finger) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the New York Yankees. It was recently revealed that Mountcastle missed the last two games due to a minor finger injury. He appears to be fine now, so he won't require a stint on the injured list. He'll bat leadoff and serve as the designated hitter versus left-hander
Max Fried on Thursday. Mountcastle has seen his playing time dip down the stretch of the season. The O's seem committed to
Coby Mayo at first base, so Mountcastle could be a trade candidate this winter. At the moment, Mountcastle is nothing more than a deep league option.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
September 18, 2025
New York Yankees infielder
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is out of the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. This appears to be a rare rest day for Chisholm who last sat out on August 23. Chisholm has been a solid contributor lately, slashing .259/.283/.414 with three home runs, eight RBI, and five steals in September. The expectation is that he'll be back in the lineup on Friday. In the meantime,
Amed Rosario will take over at second base and bat fifth on Thursday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
September 18, 2025
Los Angeles Angels catcher
Logan O'Hoppe is out of the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. O'Hoppe made his return to the lineup on Tuesday after missing some time due to a concussion. He went hitless during his return and is now set to miss his second straight game on Thursday. There is no word on O'Hoppe still dealing with any lingering symptoms. This sounds like a matchup decision based on O'Hoppe's struggles against right-handed pitching this season.
Sebastian Rivero will bat eighth and do the catching versus right-hander
Quinn Priester on Thursday.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
September 18, 2025
Baltimore Orioles second baseman
Jackson Holliday (undisclosed) has been nicked up and will sit out of Thursday's game against the New York Yankees, according to interim manager Tony Mansolino. With Holliday out,
Ryan Mountcastle (finger) will return to the lineup in the leadoff spot and will serve as the designated hitter against Yankees left-hander
Max Fried.
Luis Vazquez is manning the keystone and will hit in the nine-hole for the O's. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried about Holliday returning during the series against New York this weekend. The 21-year-old former first overall pick in 2022 is in his first full MLB season and is currently slashing .250/.321/.390 with a .711 OPS, 17 home runs, 55 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases in 142 games. He's been caught stealing a league-high 11 times. Vazquez is not a realistic DFS sleeper against Fried.
--Keith HernandezSource: BaltimoreBaseball.com - Rich Dubroff
September 18, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays rookie right-handed pitching prospect
Trey Yesavage will take the ball and start on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals, according to manager John Schneider. The skipper mentioned previously that Yesavage would pitch at some point during the weekend series in KC, and now we know that it will come in the series finale. In his major-league debut on Monday versus the Tampa Bay Rays, he showed why he's one of the higher-ceiling pitching prospects in the game, fanning nine batters while giving up just one run in five innings. The 22-year-old former 20th overall pick in 2024 out of East Carolina went 5-1 with a 3.12 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 160:41 K:BB in 25 outings (22 starts) over 98 innings at four different minor-league levels this year before recently getting called up to the big leagues for the first time. Yesavage will have a favorable matchup in his second MLB start and should be able to rack up more K's, although he might be on a short leash.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Shi Davidi
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
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