September 3, 2025
It wasn't pretty, but Chicago Cubs closer
Daniel Palencia earned his 22nd save of the season in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Braves. Palencia came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by one. He got the first out on a strikeout, allowed a single, got the second out on a fly-out, allowed another single, and left the tying run stranded on third with a fly-out. The 25-year-old hasn't been the most consistent lately, but he has put together a solid season overall. He has converted 22 of 24 save opportunities with a 2.16 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, and a 10.26 K/9 rate in 50 innings of work. Palencia should continue to provide plenty of fantasy value for the rest of the season as the Cubs push towards the playoffs.
--Connelly DoanSource: MLB.com
September 3, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher
JoJo Romero picked up his sixth save of the season in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Athletics. Romero came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by one and delivered a 1-2-3 outing with a strikeout. The 28-year-old has been in the mix for save opportunities since the team traded away
Ryan Helsley and he has pitched well, converting all three of his opportunities without allowing a run in the last 15 days. He has now converted all but one of his save opportunities this season with a 2.13 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, and an 8.17 K/9 rate in 50 2/3 innings of work. He is worth a look in at least deep roto leagues at this time for fantasy managers still in need of saves.
--Connelly DoanSource: MLB.com
September 3, 2025
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher
Ryan Walker picked up his 13th save of the season in Tuesday's eventful 7-4 win over the Rockies. Walker came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by three and provided a 1-2-3 outing with a strikeout to end the game. The 29-year-old started the season as the team's closer and lost the role. However, he has found himself back in it recently and has converted all three of his save opportunities without allowing a run in the last 15 days. Overall, Walker has converted 13 of 17 save opportunities with a 3.48 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and an 8.94 K/9 rate in 54 1/3 innings of work. The Giants have picked things up lately, so Walker could have more opportunities to provide fantasy value down the stretch.
--Connelly DoanSource: MLB.com
September 3, 2025
The Los Angeles Angels will start right-handed rookie
Caden Dana in Wednesday's matchup against the Royals. The 21-year-old, who is the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, made one appearance with the Angels in April and another at the end of May with a combined 7.50 ERA. Things haven't been much better at Triple-A Salt Lake, as he has accumulated a 5.93 ERA, a 1.59 WHIP, and a 23.0% strikeout rate in 18 starts. The Royals are a decent matchup, but Dana has not shown enough this season for fantasy managers to put their trust in him.
--Connelly DoanSource: MLB.com
September 3, 2025
Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher
Michael Soroka (shoulder) threw a live batting practice at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, per Marquee Sports Network's Andy Martinez. Soroka made just one appearance with the Cubs after being traded before landing on the 15-day injured list at the beginning of August with a right-shoulder strain. Soroka's peripheral numbers with the Nationals and Cubs weren't great with a 3-8 record, a 4.86 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and a 25.6% strikeout rate in 17 starts and 83 1/3 innings pitched. However, his underlying metrics were more encouraging, and he was a useful fantasy streamer before getting injured. It remains to be seen when he may return to the Cubs and what his role will be, so his fantasy value is still in question the rest of the way.
--Connelly DoanSource: Andy Martinez - X.com
September 3, 2025
The Boston Red Sox promoted left-handed pitcher
Kyle Harrison from Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, per Worcester T&G Sports' Tommy Cassell. Harrison joined the Red Sox earlier in the season in a trade for
Rafael Devers and has been at Triple-A since. The 24-year-old has had mixed results, going 4-2 with a 3.65 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP, and a 21.5% strikeout rate in 49 1/3 innings pitched. The Red Sox recently released
Walker Buehler but called up pitching prospect Peyton Tolle, so it remains to be seen what Harrison's role will be. Brennan Bernadino has been announced as the team's starter on Wednesday against the Guardians, but he has pitched at most 2 1/3 innings in his outings this season, so it is possible Harrison could pitch in bulk relief. At this point in the season, fantasy managers may want to be conservative with Harrison, given his unknown role and his results at Triple-A.
--Connelly DoanSource: Tommy Cassell - X.com
September 3, 2025
Boston Red Sox outfielder
Wilyer Abreu (calf) said on Tuesday that he has not yet started running, but that he is feeling better, per Elemergente.com's Marcos Grunfeld. The 26-year-old was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to August 18 with a right calf strain. He said he expects to begin running this week and is waiting for a progress update from his trainers. Abreu was continuing to provide the power he showed in 2024 this season, slashing .253/.325/.486 with 22 home runs, 69 RBI, and six stolen bases in 395 plate appearances. Fantasy managers should keep an eye out for more news, but Abreu is running out of time to provide any additional fantasy value.
--Connelly DoanSource: Marcos Grunfeld - X.com
September 2, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman
Max Muncy (oblique) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City this week, according to manager Dave Roberts, and he could be an option to return for next week's short homestand from Monday through Wednesday against the division-rival Colorado Rockies. Muncy is rehabbing from a right-oblique strain and also had his rehab paused for a bit last week due to an illness. Barring a setback with his oblique later this week and into the weekend, Muncy could be back in L.A.'s starting lineup early next week. The first-place Dodgers could ease Muncy back, though, after he also missed extended time on the IL this year with a deep bone bruise in his knee. The 35-year-old veteran left-handed slugger is running out of time to make an impact in fantasy after hitting .258/.389/.491 with 17 homers and 64 RBI in his first 89 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Times - Jack Harris
September 2, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder
Tommy Edman (ankle) was scheduled to start a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday with Triple-A Oklahoma City as the designated hitter while batting second. If Edman avoids any setbacks with OKC, he'll be a candidate to to come off the injured list to rejoin the big-league squad for the start of their next homestand early next week. The 30-year-old utility man is working his way back from a sprained right ankle, but the first-place Dodgers have no reason to rush him back in the final month of the regular season. Their main goal will be to have Edman 100 percent for the start of the playoffs in October. When Edman returns, there's no guarantee he'll be an everyday player for L.A., as he was hitting just .228 (69-for-303) with 12 home runs, 44 RBI, 43 runs and three steals in 86 games before his injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: Alex Freedman
September 2, 2025
Boston Red Sox left-hander
Brennan Bernardino will serve as the team's opener for Wednesday's contest against the visiting Cleveland Guardians at Fenway Park, according to Mass Live's Chrisopher Smith. Although Bernardino has pitched well this year, he's unlikely to go more than an inning or two on Wednesday, which means fantasy managers should ignore him as a streamer. Fellow left-hander
Kyle Harrison is being called up from Triple-A Worcester and is likely to serve in a bulk-relief role against the Guards. In 52 appearances (two starts), Bernardino has pitched to a career-best 3.14 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP his first career save, 41 strikeouts and 25 walks in 48 2/3 innings pitched. Right-hander
Dustin May could also be an option to come in out of the bullpen after Bernardino departs.
--Keith HernandezSource: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
September 2, 2025
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Kyle Tucker (calf) left Tuesday night's contest early against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field with left-calf tightness, according to the team. Before leaving the eventual 4-3 win over the Braves, Tucker went 2-for-3 at the plate with the 22nd home run of the season and three RBI. He was replaced in right field by
Willi Castro. It's unclear how serious the 28-year-old slugger's calf injury is, but if Tucker were to miss extended time, Castro and
Kevin Alcantara would be the candidates to gain playing time in right field for the Cubbies. Tucker was in the midst of an extended slump before getting a few days off to clear his head. Since then, he has picked things back up offensively, going 14-for-41 (.341) with three home runs, four doubles and eight RBI in 11 games since Aug. 21. There should be an update on the severity of Tucker's calf injury by Wednesday morning.
--Keith HernandezSource: Watch Marquee - Taylor McGregor
September 2, 2025
Washington Nationals right-hander
Josiah Gray (elbow) threw 30 pitches over two "innings" during live batting practice on Tuesday in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN. Gray has yet to pitch all year after having Tommy John with an internal brace in July of last year. While the 27-year-old is ramping up, he's probably going to need a minor-league rehab assignment before being a realistic candidate to come off the 60-day injured list. There is no guarantee that Gray will be able to make a cameo for Washington in the big leagues before the end of September, and even if he does, the Nationals will likely be very careful with his pitch count. Gray was lit up for 13 earned runs in just 8 1/3 innings in his two starts last year before going under the knife, but he did have an ERA under 4.00 with 143 K's in 30 starts for the Nats as a first-time All-Star in 2023.
--Keith HernandezSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
September 2, 2025
Washington Nationals left-hander
MacKenzie Gore (shoulder) played catch Tuesday as part of his rehab throwing program and remains optimistic about returning this season. The 26-year-old was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to August 27 with left shoulder inflammation. Before the injury, Gore posted a 4.15 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 173 strikeouts in 147 1/3 innings. He has been a steady presence in the Nationals rotation for four years and remains an important arm for the team's future as they continue their rebuild.
--Julian BrookeSource: Mark Zuckerman
September 2, 2025
Washington Nationals catcher
Keibert Ruiz (concussion) has begun a rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg after being sidelined since July 5 with a concussion. Ruiz went 0-for-2 in his first game Tuesday with one strikeout, one walk, and one run scored. He is expected to DH tomorrow. The 27-year-old has no set return timeline, and with the Nationals out of contention, there is little reason to rush him back. Ruiz was slashing .247/.277/.318 with a .595 OPS across 68 games before the injury.
--Julian BrookeSource: Spencer Nusbaum
September 2, 2025
Cincinnati Reds catcher
Tyler Stephenson (thumb) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday as he recovers from a left thumb fracture. The 29-year-old was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 17 and appears on track to return within the next couple of weeks. Stephenson caught two innings of
Chase Burns' simulated bullpen Tuesday and has also been taking batting practice and working additional bullpen sessions. He is slashing .226/.313/.393 with a .706 OPS and nine home runs in his sixth season. The Reds hope his return can spark their push in the NL Wild Card race.
--Julian BrookeSource: Charlie Goldsmith
RADIO
