September 4, 2025
Kansas City Royals closer
Carlos Estevez picked up his MLB-leading 37th save of the season on Thursday in his team's 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Estevez allowed one hit but worked around it and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning. In his first season with the Royals, the 32-year-old has converted 37 out of 43 save chances while pitching to a 2.54 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. With just a 22.4% K-BB ratio, Estevez does not have dominant underlying numbers. However, the veteran has now recorded at least 26 saves in each of the last three seasons and remains a must-start fantasy closer.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
September 4, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies closer
Jhoan Duran notched his 26th save of the season on Thursday in his team's 2-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Duran pitched a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout and did not allow a baserunner. The hard-throwing righty has been excellent since being acquired by Philadelphia from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline. In 10 2/3 innings with the team, he's pitched to a 1.69 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with nine saves and 13 strikeouts. Duran is a high-end, must-start closer option in fantasy.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
September 4, 2025
Minnesota Twins right-hander
Pablo Lopez (shoulder) is expected to return to the mound on Friday for a start against the Kansas City Royals, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Lopez suffered a teres major strain in his right shoulder and has not pitched in the big leagues since June 3. Before the injury, he was 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 61 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings (11 starts). Lopez worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his final rehab appearance with Triple-A St. Paul on August 31, so he could be close to full-go on Friday.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
September 4, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates ace right-hander
Paul Skenes (10-9) stymied the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 5-3 victory on Thursday to pick up his 10th win of the season. Skenes held the Dodgers scoreless over six innings of two-hit ball and registered eight strikeouts against one walk on 94 pitches (65 strikes). It was the 19th quality start this year for Skenes, who has limited the opposition to one earned run or fewer an incredible 18 times in 29 tries. The NL Cy Young front-runner now boasts a 1.98 ERA with a .94 WHIP, 195 strikeouts, and 39 walks in 173 innings. Skenes is scheduled to make his next start against the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 11.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
September 4, 2025
Houston Astros closer
Josh Hader (shoulder) underwent imaging this week that showed his injured left shoulder "is healing," according to manager Joe Espada. However, Hader is not ready to resume throwing. The star southpaw has been on the 15-day injured list with a capsule strain retroactive to Aug. 11. The Astros announced back then that they'd shut Hader down from throwing for roughly three weeks beginning Aug. 15. While they're just about at the end of that period, it's unclear when Hader will resume throwing. The 31-year-old has been considered a long shot to come back during the regular season since he went on the IL, but he and the Astros have held out hope for a return in the playoffs. The Astros have a four-game lead in the AL West thanks in part to Hader's brilliant work. Before landing on the shelf, he posted a 2.05 ERA with a .85 WHIP, 76:16 K:BB, and 28 saves in 29 changes over 52 2/3 innings.
Bryan Abreu has recorded four of the Astros' six saves in Hader's absence.
--Connor ByrneSource: Matt Kawahara - Houston Chronicle
September 4, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
Spencer Arrighetti (elbow) is unlikely to return during the regular season, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. The Astros are awaiting the results of an MRI after placing Arrighetti on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation on Wednesday. Manager Joe Espada revealed Thursday that the team is "going to have to shut (him) down for a bit," which means Arrighetti won't have enough time to return this month. It'll go down as an injury-ravaged regular season for Arrighetti, who was out from early April through early August with a fractured right thumb. He made seven starts this year and went 1-5 with a 5.35 ERA, a 1.42 WHIP, 31 strikeouts, and 20 walks in 35 1/3 innings. The Astros have yet to announce who will start in Arrighetti's place on Friday against the Texas Rangers.
--Connor ByrneSource: Matt Kawahara - Houston Chronicle
September 4, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop
Taylor Walls (groin) will undergo season-ending core muscle surgery. Walls has been on the 10-day injured list with a strained left groin since Aug. 12, and after visiting a specialist on Wednesday, the 29-year-old will shut it down for 2025. He should be ready for spring training next year. The slick-fielding Walls played in 101 games this season and hit .220/.280/.319 with four homers, 38 RBI, 36 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 317 plate appearances. Walls totaled a team-leading 94 appearances at shortstop, but prospect
Carson Williams has taken over as the starter since his debut on Aug. 22.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
September 4, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers closer
Trevor Megill (elbow) threw a successful bullpen session on Thursday and is on track to come off the 15-day injured list by Sept. 16, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. Megill has been on the IL retroactive to Aug. 25 with a Grade 1 flexor strain in his right elbow, leaving
Abner Uribe as the Brewers' primary choice for saves. A first-time All-Star this season, Megill has converted 30 of 36 save chances and pitched to a 2.54 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP, 58 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 46 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: Adam McCalvy - MLB.com
September 4, 2025
New York Mets catcher
Francisco Alvarez (thumb, pinkie) will come off the 10-day injured list on Friday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports. Alvarez will return after missing a little over two weeks with multiple injuries. He went on the IL on Aug. 18 with a sprained UCL in his right thumb before suffering a fractured left pinkie in his first Triple-A rehab game on Aug. 29. If Alvarez is healthy and able to swing the bat without issues, he could give the Mets a sizable upgrade at catcher over
Luis Torrens and
Hayden Senger as the team charges toward the playoffs. The 23-year-old has slashed .265/.349/.438 with seven homers, 24 RBI, and 24 runs scored in 209 plate appearances this season.
--Connor ByrneSource: Mike Puma - New York Post
September 4, 2025
New York Yankees second baseman
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (knees) exited their game against the Houston Astros on Thursday with contusions on both knees, according to the Yankees. Chisholm suffered the injuries on different plays. He appeared to injure his left knee when applying a tag to
Jose Altuve in the bottom of the third inning. The 27-year-old stayed in to hit in the top of the fourth, but after he struck out, the Yankees brought in
Jose Caballero to man the keystone in the bottom half of the inning. Chisholm missed all of May because of an oblique strain, but he has been an integral part of the Yankees' lineup when healthy. Over 108 games and 449 plate appearances, Chisholm has slashed .242/.339/.499 with a career-high 28 homers, 70 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 26 stolen bases. He's not someone the Yankees or fantasy managers can afford to lose down the stretch.
--Connor ByrneSource: Greg Joyce - New York Post
September 4, 2025
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher
Stephen Kolek was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday. Kolek made a spot start on Saturday versus the Tigers and now he's back again. He figures to stick around this time with
Seth Lugo (back) heading to the injured list. During his last start, Kolek tossed six innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out three batters. He's currently scheduled to take the ball against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. Kolek owns a 3.99 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 59/26 K/BB ratio across 85.2 innings with the San Diego Padres and Royals this season. He should offer some low-end streaming appeal for that game.
--Andy WebbSource: Anne Rogers
September 4, 2025
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher
Seth Lugo (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Thursday. At first, Lugo had his start pushed back to the weekend due to a back issue. However, Lugo didn't feel any improvements after playing catch on Thursday, so the team decided to place him on the shelf. He has been awful with the ball lately as he's allowed 10 earned runs over his last two starts. Hopefully, Lugo can get back on track in a couple of weeks. The assumption is that Lugo will be able to return by mid or late September. In the meantime,
Stephen Kolek will be recalled and take the ball for the Royals on Saturday. He'll offer some low-end streaming appeal versus the Minnesota Twins.
--Andy WebbSource: Anne Rogers
September 4, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder
Josh Lowe is out of the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. This appears to be a rare off day for Lowe who has started in each of the last 13 games. This is a good time to sit him against left-hander Logan Allen. The Rays will go the matchup route and have the switch-hitting
Jake Mangum in his place in right field and batting sixth on Thursday. Lowe figures to be back in the starting lineup following this contest.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
September 4, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher
Will Smith (hand) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Smith was removed from Wednesday's contest after getting hit in the hand by a foul tip. Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts said Smith will undergo a CT scan and is unlikely to play this weekend. It sounds like the team is trying to avoid a stint on the injured list, but that could happen depending on the results of the imaging.
Dalton Rushing figures to do a majority of the catching while Smith is out.
Ben Rortvedt has been added to the roster as a backup option. Fantasy managers should plan to be without Smith this weekend.
--Andy WebbSource: Fabian Ardaya
September 4, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani (illness) is scheduled to make his next start against the Colorado Rockies on Monday, according to manager Dave Roberts. Ohtani was scratched from his scheduled start versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday due to illness. It's worth noting that Ohtani has still been serving as the designated hitter, which he'll continue to do on Thursday. Ohtani hasn't been great on the mound with a 4.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a 44/7 K/BB ratio across 11 starts. Despite that, Ohtani still should be rostered and started in most fantasy formats. It's unclear if the Dodgers will stick with a six-man rotation or have
Emmet Sheehan move to the bullpen.
--Andy WebbSource: Fabian Ardaya
RADIO
