September 7, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect
Jose Urbina was promoted to High-A Bowling Green on Saturday after a strong season at Single-A Charleston. The Rays' 12th-ranked prospect made 19 starts for the RiverDogs, recording a 2.05 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 96 strikeouts in 92 1/3 innings pitched. It is the highest his K/9 has been thus far in his minor league career, and he showed solid improvement in his walk rate (8.2 percent), resulting in an 18.1 percent K-BB% this season. The 19-year-old will likely begin next year at High-A, but he has the stuff to move quickly through the organization. Even so, given his age, the 6-foot-3 Venezuelan is still likely a few years away from the majors, but has the makings of a potential solid starter in the big leagues.
--Jarod RuppSource: Charleston RiverDogs
September 7, 2025
Baltimore Orioles catcher
Samuel Basallo (hand) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was lifted in the fifth inning after taking a foul ball off his right hand. Basallo attempted to stay in the game, but had trouble throwing the ball. He underwent X-rays that came back negative for any fractures. That being said, Basallo appears to have avoided any serious injuries. For now, fantasy managers should consider Basallo as day-to-day. He'll likely sit out for a few days, which could result in more playing time for
Alex Jackson behind the plate.
--Andy WebbSource: Roch Kubatko
September 7, 2025
Chicago Cubs corner infield prospect Cole Mathis (undisclosed) was activated from the seven-day injured list for Single-A Myrtle Beach on Saturday. The Cubs' 17th-ranked prospect had been out since May 13, exiting the game that day prior to his third at-bat with an undisclosed injury. The team gets him back just in time for the Single-A postseason, with the 22-year-old having an impact in his first game back, going 1-for-3 with a walk, a double, an RBI, and a run scored on Saturday. In all, the 2024 second-rounder has slashed .215/.336/.402 with three home runs and a strong walk rate of 13.3 percent (22.7 percent K%) through 29 games, and will look to make some progress through the organization's ranks next season. He's got enough bat-to-ball skills and power that dynasty managers should keep tabs on his development.
--Jarod RuppSource: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
September 7, 2025
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Spencer Strider has been scratched ahead of his scheduled start against the Seattle Mariners. Instead,
Joey Wentz will take the mound for Sunday's contest. The plan is for Strider to be pushed back and start during the upcoming series versus the Chicago Cubs. This doesn't sound like it's injury related, but the Braves want to give Strider extra rest. Strider has struggled as he's allowed five runs or more in three of his last five starts. He gave up three runs and walked three batters during his most recent start against the Cubs. Strider is no longer a must-start fantasy option given his struggles this season.
--Andy WebbSource: Mark Bowman
September 7, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Framber Valdez will make the start against the Texas Rangers on Sunday. Previously,
Luis Garcia was scheduled to start, but will have his outing pushed back. Now, Valdez is slated to take the mound for this important divisional matchup. Garica isn't dealing with an injury, so this move was either matchup related or to give Garcia extra rest. The expectation is that Garcia will move into Valdez spot in the rotation which was Tuesday versus the Toronto Blue Jays. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly.
--Andy WebbSource: Brian McTaggart
September 7, 2025
Seattle Mariners infield prospect
Michael Arroyo exited Friday's game at Double-A Arkansas with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. The Mariners' sixth-ranked prospect suffered the injury attempting to beat out a grounder in the fourth inning of that contest. He has yet to be placed on the injured list, however, he was absent from the lineup on Saturday. If the injury requires an IL stint, it would likely end his season at this point. The 20-year-old began the year at High-A and earned a promotion to Double-A in June, where he hit just .255, but he lowered his strikeout rate from 21.1 percent to 15.6 percent while drawing walks at a 12.0 percent rate, allowing him to boast a .376 OBP. The 5-foot-10 Colombian also stole nine bases in 56 games for the Travelers, finishing with a .349 wOBA and 123 wRC+ at that level. Hitting .313 over his last nine games, the arrow is still pointing up for Arroyo, who has looked like a solid under-the-radar stash in dynasty formats and could be in the big leagues as early as late next season.
--Jarod RuppSource: MLB.com
September 7, 2025
Kansas City Royals shortstop
Bobby Witt Jr. (back) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's game. As a result, Witt sat out of Saturday's game due to back spasms. Luckily, the MRI showed no structural damage, so Witt isn't dealing with anything too serious. For now, fantasy managers should consider Witt as day-to-day. It wouldn't be shocking to see Witt miss a handful of games. Right now, it doesn't sound like this issue will force Witt onto the injured list. In his absence,
Maikel Garcia and
Nick Loftin should help try to fill the void at shortstop.
--Andy WebbSource: Anne Rogers
September 7, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Luis Garcia won't make his scheduled start against the Texas Rangers on Sunday. Garcia is healthy, but the team has decided to push him back in the rotation. Instead,
Framber Valdez will get the ball versus the Texas Rangers on Sunday. It sounds like Garcia will probably be pushed back until the Toronto Blue Jays series next week. Garcia tossed six innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out six batters during his season debut last Monday. The expectation is that the Astros are going to be careful with Garcia down the stretch of the season. Fantasy managers who have Valdez rostered should get him starting on Sunday.
--Andy WebbSource: Chandler Rome
September 7, 2025
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Dean Kremer (forearm) is not expected to miss significant time. He was forced to make an early exit from Friday's start due to forearm discomfort. The right-hander was lifted after three scoreless innings, but doesn't appear to be dealing with anything serious. The MRI came back clean and didn't show any signs of structural damage. The O's plan to have Kremer skip his next turn in the rotation in order to rest. It sounds like the O's want to avoid placing Kremer on the injured list. The O's aren't in the playoff race and there's only three weeks left in the regular season. That being said, it's unclear if Kremer will actually take the mound again this season. The O's haven't said who will take over the vacant spot in the rotation.
--Andy WebbSource: Danielle Allentuck
September 6, 2025
Houston Astros ace right-hander
Hunter Brown (11-7) earned his 11th win of the season with a lights-out performance against the Texas Rangers on Saturday. The Astros cruised to an 11-0 victory behind Brown, who threw six scoreless, four-hit innings and recorded eight strikeouts against three walks. The 27-year-old hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in a game since July 20 - an eight-start span - and has yielded just eight ER in 48 2/3 innings since July 26. Brown now boasts a 2.25 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP and 190:52 K:BB over 167 2/3 frames this season. He'll have a good chance to stay on a roll against a middling Atlanta Braves offense on Sept. 13.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
September 6, 2025
Seattle Mariners outfielder
Julio Rodriguez starred in a 10-2 blowout of the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. Rodriguez finished 3-for-5 with team highs in homers (two), RBI (four), and runs scored (three) to continue an early September power surge. The 24-year-old has gone deep four times in five games this month and has now reached the 30-HR mark for the second time in four major league seasons. Rodriguez has added 86 RBI, 90 runs scored, and 24 stolen bases for good measure. The three-time All-Star is also slashing a solidly above-average .265/.317/.375 over 628 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
September 6, 2025
San Francisco Giants closer
Ryan Walker had an outing to forget in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. After Giants hurlers
Justin Verlander,
Joey Lucchesi, and
Jose Butto combined for eight scoreless innings, Walker entered in the ninth to preserve a two-run lead. He wasn't up to the task. The right-hander faced five hitters and failed to retire any of them. Along with hitting a batter, he gave up four hits - including a walk-off double by
Jordan Walker - en route to his fifth loss and sixth blown save of the season. The 29-year-old entered the game having surrendered just four earned runs since the start of July, but he nearly matched that total on Saturday. Walker now has a 3.93 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP, 55:14 K:BB, and 14 saves in 2025.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
September 6, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was brilliant on Saturday in a 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Yamamoto came within one out of a no-hitter, throwing 8 2/3 near-spotless innings before
Jackson Holliday spoiled his bid for history with a solo home run. That was the 112th pitch of the night for Yamamoto, whom the Dodgers immediately removed from the game. The 27-year-old left in position to collect his 12th win of the season, but the Dodgers' bullpen melted down in a shocking defeat. Yamamoto finished the night with 10 strikeouts and two walks in his second straight start with double-digit punchouts. He has now recorded four quality starts in a row and dropped his ERA to 2.72 with a 1.05 WHIP, 177 strikeouts, and 50 walks in 155 1/3 innings. The ace hurler will make his next start against the San Francisco Giants on Sept. 13. Yamamoto fired seven shutout innings against the Giants on July 13, but they teed off on him for five earned runs in 4 2/3 frames on June 13.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
September 6, 2025
New York Yankees reliever
David Bednar looked sharp in closing out a 3-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Bednar entered with two down and a man on second in the top of the eighth, and he put out the fire with a strikeout of
Nathan Lukes. The right-hander stayed in for the ninth and retired the side in order, striking out
Isiah Kiner-Falefa and
Alejandro Kirk along the way. It took Bednar 21 pitches to collect his 21st save of the season and his fourth since the Yankees acquired him from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the July 31 trade deadline. Bednar has given up a mere four runs in 14 2/3 innings as a Yankee and has logged a 2.52 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, and 76:16 K:BB in 53 2/3 frames this season.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
September 6, 2025
Boston Red Sox outfielder
Wilyer Abreu (calf) ran for the first time in more than a week on Friday and did so again Saturday, manager Alex Cora told reporters. "He feels OK," Cora said. "It wasn't full speed, but better than last time he tried." Cora didn't indicate when Abreu could return from the 10-day injured list. The 26-year-old has been on the shelf with a right-calf injury since Aug. 18, and the hope then was that he would only require a minimum stay on the IL. Unfortunately for the Red Sox and fantasy managers, Abreu's absence is nearing the three-week mark with no clear end in sight. Abreu has set career highs in homers (22) and RBI (69) while slashing .253/.325/.486 with 52 runs scored and six stolen bases in 395 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: Tim Healey - Boston Globe
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