September 5, 2025
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Dean Kremer (forearm) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kremer was pulled after three innings due to right forearm discomfort. It's a shame because Kremer tossed three scoreless innings, allowing one walk while striking out four batters before exiting. The expectation is that Kremer will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. At this point in the season, Kremer landing on the injured list would probably mean he's done for the season. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update on Kremer.
--Andy WebbSource: Jacob Calvin Meyer
September 5, 2025
Kansas City Royals left-hander
Cole Ragans (shoulder) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Sunday, according to MLB.com's Anne Rogers. Ragans is scheduled to throw two innings with Triple-A Omaha, according to manager Matt Quatraro. It's been pretty much a lost year for Ragans in 2025 due to multiple injuries, but it's been a rotator-cuff strain in his left shoulder that has kept him on the 60-day injured list since the middle of June. It's good to hear that he's close to throwing in real games again, and Ragans is hoping to rejoin the Royals before the end of September. However, for fantasy purposes, the ship has pretty much already sailed this year. Ragans was a first-time All-Star in 2024 but has made only 10 starts this year and has posted a bloated 5.18 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, although he did have a nice 76:16 K:BB in 48 2/3 frames.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
September 5, 2025
The Texas Rangers are moving right-hander
Jon Gray (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Friday, which will officially end his 2025 season, according to Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports. Gray initially went on the shelf in the middle of August with a right-shoulder injury, and we won't see him again until 2026. It was yet another disappointing campaign in 2025 in the 33-year-old veteran's fourth year in Texas, as he only appeared in six games (all in relief) while allowing 12 earned runs on 15 hits (five homers) with 12 strikeouts and six walks in 14 innings pitched. Gray just has not lived up to expectations in his time with the Rangers after spending the first seven years of his MLB career with the Colorado Rockies. After his injury-plagued 2025 campaign, fantasy managers will be avoiding him in mixed leagues next year.
--Keith HernandezSource: DLLS Sports - Jeff Wilson
September 5, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that catcher
Will Smith (hand) is dealing with a bone bruise in his right hand that he will likely have to manage for the rest of the season, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya. Smith was hit by a pitch on his hand earlier this week in Pittsburgh and is unlikely to return to the lineup until next week. The good news, though, is that a CT scan on the 30-year-old All-Star catcher's injured hand showed no fractures. The Dodgers won't push Smith and will just hope that his hand will be feeling better for another potential deep playoff run in October. In the meantime, rookie backstop
Dalton Rushing will get more opportunities behind the plate for the first-place Dodgers.
Ben Rortvedt will back Rushing up. Smith has once again been one of the best hitting catchers in baseball in 2025 in one of the best lineups in the league.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
September 5, 2025
The Texas Rangers are placing outfielder
Adolis Garcia (quadriceps) on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a right-quad strain and will recall outfielder
Dustin Harris from Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move, according to Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports. Manager Bruce Bochy said the team is optmistic that Garcia will be able to return after a minimal stay on the IL after missing the last three games. With Garcia sidelined,
Ezequiel Duran is manning right field on Friday and will hit seventh against the visiting Houston Astros and left-hander
Colton Gordon. Fantasy managers won't get much from the 32-year-old Garcia the rest of the way, but it's possible he will return for the final few weeks of the season for a final playoff push. The Cuban outfielder is two homers shy of the 20-homer mark with 73 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 125 total games for Texas.
--Keith HernandezSource: DLLS Sports - Jeff Wilson
September 5, 2025
Updating a previous report, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander
Tyler Glasnow (back) was scratched from his scheduled start in Friday's series opener against the hosting Baltimore Orioles due to back tightness. The Dodgers' plan is to push Glasnow back "a few days" and have him start "early next week" in a home series against the division-rival Colorado Rockies. In Glanow's place on Friday, two-way star
Shohei Ohtani will take the mound after he had his start earlier this week scratched in Pittsburgh due to a minor illness. If the 32-year-old Glasnow is feeling better by early next week, it will definitely be an upgrade in opponent against the worst team in baseball. Glasnow didn't allow more than three earned runs in his five August starts, but he's been a bit wild in his last two outings before his back issues cropped up on Friday.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
September 5, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Tyler Glasnow (undisclosed) has been scratched from his scheduled start in Friday's series opener at Camden Yards against the Baltimore Orioles for undisclosed reasons. Manager Dave Roberts should provide clarity on Glasnow when he speaks with the media before Friday's contest. Two-way star
Shohei Ohtani, who was scratched from his start earlier this week in Pittsburgh due to an illness, will now make his return to the mound. It's possible that Glasnow isn't dealing with an injury at all, which is what fantasy managers are hoping for, and that the Dodgers just wanted to get Ohtani back on the bump with him feeling better. If that's the case, the hard-throwing 32-year-old could pitch in Game 2 of the series on Saturday. Glasnow didnt' give up more than four earned runs in his five starts in August, but he's struggled with command in his last two starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: 570 LA Sports - David Vassegh
September 5, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter
Christian Yelich (back) remains out of the team's starting nine for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
Jake Bauers will serve as the DH and will hit seventh against Pirates right-hander
Johan Oviedo. Yelich was scratched from Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies and also sat out in the series finale on Thursday, so this will be his third straight missed game. While the 33-year-old veteran is considered day-to-day for now, fantasy managers should be a little worried given his lengthy history with back injuries. If Yelich can't get back on the field soon, don't rule out a stint on the injured list as Milwaukee looks to get him fully healthy for what they hope will be a lengthy playoff run. An extended absence for Yelich would give Bauers a path to regular playing time.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 5, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani (illness) will make his return to the mound for Friday's series opener in Baltimore against the Orioles at Camden Yards after the Dodgers scratched previously scheduled starter
Tyler Glasnow for undisclosed reasons. Ohtani was scratched from his previously scheduled start this week in Pittsburgh because he was feeling under the weather. The Dodgers announced on Thursday that the 31-year-old three-time MVP would make his next start on Monday against the Colorado Rockies, but he'll now be moved up with Glasnow out. Ohtani will also serve as the designated hitter in his usual leadoff spot on Friday. Even though the O's are coming off a sweep of the Padres, Ohtani should be started in his return to the bump. He went a season-high five innings his last time out against the Reds and had a season-high nine strikeouts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
September 5, 2025
The Detroit Tigers placed right-handed reliever
Kyle Finnegan (groin) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 1) on Friday with a right-adductor strain and reinstated outfielder
Parker Meadows (quadriceps) from the IL in a corresponding move, according to Evan Woodbery of MLive. Finnegan will miss at least the next two weeks after injuring himself on Wednesday while warming up in the bullpen. It's a tough loss for the first-place Tigers, as the 34-year-old veteran had not allowed a run for Detroit since they acquired him in a deadline deal from the Washington Nationals. Now that Finnegan is on the shelf,
Will Vest should have closing duties all to himself in Motown, with
Tommy Kahnle and
Tyler Holton serving in late-inning setup roles. In 14 1/3 innings with Detroit, Finnegan had 19 K's, three walks and four saves to bring his season saves total to 24.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLive - Evan Woodbery
September 5, 2025
New York Yankees outfielder
Aaron Judge (elbow) is making the start in right field on Friday against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander
Kevin Gausman in the Bronx and is hitting third in the batting order. This will be the first time that Judge has handled outfield duties since late July when he went down with a flexor strain in his right elbow. The 33-year-old reigning MVP has been working through a throwing program for a while, but the Yankees were never in a rush to get him back on defense until he was fully ready. Now that Judge is able to play defense again, it will open up the designated hitter spot for right-handed slugger
Giancarlo Stanton. Judge should obviously be in all starting fantasy lineups on Friday, and he's hitting a robust .356 with a 1.322 OPS, six home runs and 12 RBI in 45 career at-bats against Gausman.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 5, 2025
Chicago White Sox pitching prospect Grant Umberger was promoted to High-A Winston-Salem after having a terrific season at Single-A Kannapolis. The 23-year-old appeared in 24 games for the Cannon Ballers (17 starts), where he pitched to a 2.56 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and struck out 113 batters in 102 innings pitched, which was the second-most in the Carolina League. The 6-foot-4 southpaw recorded a 19.5 percent K-BB% and astoundingly only allowed one home run all season. Umberger is not currently listed in Chicago's top 30 prospects, but could find himself in there at some point next season.
--Jarod RuppSource: Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
September 5, 2025
Atlanta Braves pitching prospect Cam Caminiti put an exclamation point on his 2025 season on Thursday, tossing six innings of shutout ball for Single-A Augusta. The southpaw allowed two hits and three walks while striking out seven in the contest. The Braves' top-ranked prospect will finish the year with a 2.08 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 20.9 percent K-BB%, striking out 75 batters in 56 1/3 innings pitched (11.98 K/9). The 19-year-old will surely get a shot at High-A hitters next year and could even get to Double-A if he has continued success. The 6-foot-2 hurler should be stashed away as soon as possible in dynasty leagues, as he also pitches for an organization that isn't shy about bringing pitchers up from Double-A if they believe they are ready, although he'll still be 19 for most of next season, so perhaps 2027 is a more reasonable ETA.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
September 5, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect
Kendall George went 3-for-4 at the plate on Thursday, and he also walked once. Reaching base four times was not the most impressive feat he accomplished during the game, though, as he also stole four bases in the contest. That put him over 100 steals for the season, giving him 101 steals in 111 games at High-A Great Lakes. The Dodgers' 25th-ranked prospect has been wreaking havoc on the basepaths all season, recording six steals in a single game earlier this year, and he swiped 15 bags in just his last five games alone. However, the 20-year-old is not just a one-trick pony, as he is also batting .295 with a phenomenal .409 OBP, which is partially propped up by a 16.3 percent walk rate that is also better than his strikeout rate of 15.2 percent. The former first-round draft pick will be running wild at the upper levels of the minors next year and could be in the majors by 2027. With his ability to put the bat on the ball, keen eye, and lightning speed, he's a name dynasty managers should consider stashing away.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
September 5, 2025
Per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, it sounds as though St. Louis Cardinals first baseman
Willson Contreras' six-game suspension has been reduced to four games. Contreras will begin serving his four-game suspension on Friday night and will not be available for the series opener versus the visiting San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium. He will not be eligible to return to the field until the second game of the series next Tuesday in Seattle against the Mariners. The 33-year-old veteran was tossed out of a game on Aug. 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates when he tossed his bat, which ended up hitting the home-plate umpire.
Alec Burleson (wrist) is currently on the injured list, so it's possible we'll see
Nolan Gorman shift to first base, with
Cesar Prieto or
Jose Fermin starting at third this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
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