October 31, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers struggling shortstop
Mookie Betts is being moved from the two-hole in the batting order to cleanup for a must-win Game 6 of the World Series on Friday night in Toronto against the Blue Jays and right-hander
Kevin Gausman. Catcher
Will Smith will occupy the No. 2 spot behind
Shohei Ohtani. Although Betts managed 20 homers during the regular season, he hit just .258 (152-for-589), a stark dropoff after he batted .289 in 2024. The 33-year-old eight-time All-Star and former MVP has hit only .234 (15-for-64) in 15 postseason games this year and is still searching for his first home run. In five World Series games against Toronto, he's gone just 3-for-23 with no extra-base hits, a run, three walks, and five K's. The Dodgers will be hoping the lineup shakeup will get Betts going. In 54 career at-bats against Gausman, Betts has hit a strong .296 with three homers, a double, and eight RBI.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
October 31, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter
George Springer (side) is back at DH and as the leadoff hitter on Friday night for Game 6 of the World Series against Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Springer injured his right side on a swing late in the loss on Monday night in Game 3 of the Fall Classic, and he was held out of the team's wins in both Game 4 and 5. With an off day on Thursday, Springer is feeling better and will return as the club's leadoff hitter as they seek their first World Series title in over 30 years on Halloween. It's definitely a boost to Toronto's lineup, as the veteran outfielder/DH has four homers and an .884 OPS through 14 postseason games this October. Yamamoto has been one of the toughest pitchers to hit in this year's playoffs, although Springer did go 1-for-3 against him with a double and a run scored in Game 2 of this series last Saturday.
--Keith HernandezSource: Toronto Blue Jays
October 30, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Thursday that they re-signed infielder
Luis Vazquez to an undisclosed one-year major-league contract for the 2026 season. Vazquez will return to Baltimore next year after playing in 32 games with the O's in his second major-league season. In 53 plate appearances with Baltimore, he went just 8-for-50 (.160) with his first career home run, three RBI, six runs scored, and two stolen bases. In his first MLB season the year prior with the Chicago Cubs, Vazquez went 1-for-12 with an RBI in just 11 games played. The Puerto Rican middle infielder looked better at the plate in his time at Triple-A Norfolk last year, but he'll be nothing more than infield depth for the O's in 2026 and will probably begin the regular season back in the minors.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baltimore Orioles
October 30, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter
George Springer (side) came close to starting in the Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series on Wednesday night, according to manager John Schneider. The skipper added that Springer has "checked every box physically so far." Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling writes that it "sounds like a strong possibility" that Springer returns to the lineup for Game 6 back in Toronto on Halloween night on Friday, "if he continues trending the way he has." The 36-year-old veteran injured his right side on a swing in the Game 3 loss on Monday night in L.A., causing him to miss Games 4 and 5 of the Fall Classic. If Springer returns to the lineup on Friday at the Rogers Centre, it will push infielder
Bo Bichette back to the keystone. Springer has been a key offensive force for the Jays all year and has hit .246 (14-for-57) with four homers and nine RBI in 14 postseason games this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
October 30, 2025
Seattle Mariners right-hander
Bryce Miller (elbow) said he doesn't expect to need surgery for a right-elbow injury that kept him out for half of the 2025 season. The same can be said for right-handed starters
George Kirby (shoulder) and
Logan Gilbert (elbow), who also missed around two months each in the first half of the season. Miller added that he has a follow-up exam with Dr. Keith Meister early this offseason to determine his next steps for a small bone spur in his right elbow. The 27-year-old had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow in early June and didn't return to the rotation until Aug. 19, making eight starts over the final eight weeks of the regular season. Miller may receive a cortisone injection early in the offseason, and then maybe another one at the start of spring training. But barring a setback, Miller should be ready for the start of 2026. Fantasy managers shouldn't forget that he ranked among the American League leaders in 2024 with a 2.94 ERA and 180 1/3 innings over 31 starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
October 30, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Thursday that they re-signed right-hander
Rico Garcia to an undisclosed one-year major-league deal for the 2026 season. The Orioles will have Garcia back next year after he finished up the year strong with Baltimore, posting a 2.84 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 20 strikeouts and six walks in 19 innings pitched over 20 appearances (one start). He also pitched with the New York Mets and New York Yankees in 2025, posting a combined 0-2 record, 3.15 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 38:10 K:BB in 34 1/3 big-league frames. The 31-year-old veteran will report to spring training next February, looking to win a middle-relief role for the O's out of spring training. Garcia is not on the fantasy radar at all and holds a career 5.27 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in his 70 big-league innings over five seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baltimore Orioles
October 30, 2025
The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal on Thursday to hire Blake Butera as their new manager, which would make him the youngest person to hold a managerial job in the big leagues in more than half a century, sources tell ESPN's Jeff Passan. Butera, who is 33, will be the youngest manager since Frank Quilici was hired by the Minnesota Twins in 1972. The Nationals fired both manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo in July. Former Boston Red Sox assistant GM Paul Toboni took over as the team's president of baseball operations in late September. Butera began his managerial career at 25 years old and has managed four minor-league seasons. He previously worked as the senior player development director for the Tampa Bay Rays. Butera was also drafted in the 35th round in 2015 out of Boston College. He played two seasons in the minors before transitioning to coaching.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
October 29, 2025
Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitching prospect
Rhett Lowder (forearm, oblique) missed the entire 2025 big-league season due to a right-forearm strain and a left-oblique strain, but he has been pitching for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League and has a 3.00 ERA with no walks and six strikeouts through six innings, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. The former first-round pick in 2023 gave up an earned run on two hits over two innings in his outing last Saturday. Lowder made his major-league debut at the end of the 2024 season and looked great, posting a tidy 1.17 ERA over his first six MLB starts. If he is fully healthy for spring training in 2026, the Reds will be hoping to put him in their Opening Day starting rotation. Lowder has four adequate pitches in his arsenal, but it wouldn't be a surprise if they take their time with him and start him in the minors to begin 2026, either.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Sheldon
October 29, 2025
The Minnesota Twins are hiring former Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton as their new manager on Wednesday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Shelton was fired as the Pirates' skipper back on May 8, but he has quickly landed a new managerial job and will replace Rocco Baldelli, who was fired by Minnesota on Sept. 29. The 55-year-old Shelton will be returning to the Twins organization after he served as their bench coach in 2018 and 2019. James Rowson, Scott Servais, and Ryan Flaherty were in the mix for the Twins job before they settled on Shelton. The Twins had a disappointing 2025 season and traded away 10 players at the deadline during the summer, ultimately going 23-43 after the All-Star break to finish last in the American League Central with a 70-92 record, the fourth-worst record in the majors and the Twins' worst mark since 2016.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
October 29, 2025
The San Diego Padres interviewed future Hall of Famer
Albert Pujols on Tuesday for a second time for their vacant managerial position, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Pujols, who was unable to agree on a deal to become the next manager of the Los Angeles Angels this offseason, is now one of the finalists for the Padres' job, along with pitching coach Ruben Niebla and bench coach Brian Esposito. The Padres are looking for new leadership after previous manager Mike Shildt stepped down following the team's loss to the Chicago Cubs in the National League wild-card series in early October. Pujols has no managerial experience, but he will serve as the manager for the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
October 29, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter
George Springer (side) is out of the starting lineup again on Wednesday night for Game 5 of the World Series against the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers and left-hander
Blake Snell. Although Springer has reportedly made good progress since injuring his right side on a swing in the loss in Game 3 on Monday night in L.A., he will miss his second straight game. Infielder
Bo Bichette is the DH and will bat third for Toronto, while
Isiah Kiner-Falefa will start at the keystone and hit in the eight-hole against Snell as the Blue Jays look to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Springer will be available off the bench for the second straight game, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to play again in the World Series. Bichette has gone just 2-for-11 in his career against Snell, while Kiner-Falefa is 0-for-3 with a walk and two K's against the lefty.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
October 29, 2025
Chicago White Sox first baseman
Tim Elko (knee) had successful surgery on Tuesday to fix a torn ACL in his right knee, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Elko is expected to be out for eight months, according to the team. The 26-year-old missed three weeks this summer with what was being called a right-knee sprain. He struggled at the plate in his debut season in the majors in 2025, going 9-for-67 (.194) with four home runs, eight RBI, five walks, and 30 strikeouts in 72 plate appearances over 23 games played, but his knee injury certainly played a part. Elko will now miss the first half of the 2025 season and can be ignored in redraft leagues next spring. Before getting the call to the big leagues, he hit .292/.357/.552 with a .910 OPS, 26 home runs, and 70 RBI in 96 games for Triple-A Charlotte.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
October 29, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Lars Nootbaar (heels) has been dealing with pain in both of his heels for the last two and a half years, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Nootbaar had surgery on both of his heels on Oct. 7 and hopes to put the issues in the past in 2026. The 28-year-old outfielder admitted that he was definitely affected by his foot problems again in 2025, in which he slashed .234/.325/.361 with a .686 OPS, 13 home runs, 48 RBI, 68 runs scored, and only four stolen bases in 509 at-bats over a career-high 135 games played. He may be able to rebound next year if the surgeries solve his problems, but fantasy managers won't be in a rush to find out, especially since he could be delayed beyond Opening Day. In his five MLB seasons, Nootbaar has been unable to clear the 14-homer mark and doesn't have more than 48 RBI in a single season.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
October 29, 2025
New York Mets right-hander
Christian Scott (elbow), who is over a year removed from Tommy John surgery and an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow, is nearing the end of his rehab process this year and is expected to be a full-go in spring training next year, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. The 26-year-old was scheduled to throw his final live bullpen session on Tuesday. He said the plan is to move to a "de-load" period before he ramps his throwing back up in January. Scott, who was the team's top pitching prospect in 2024, will be in the team's rotation picture next year if he's healthy, but he's unlikely to be in the Opening Day rotation. He had a 4.56 ERA in his first nine MLB starts in 2024 before having surgery, and he's been tinkering with his changeup while rehabbing. Don't forget about Scott as a potential post-hype prospect in fantasy baseball.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon
October 29, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers struggling outfielder
Andy Pages will retreat to the bench in Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays and rookie right-hander
Trey Yesavage.
Enrique Hernandez will make the start in center field and will hit eighth, with
Alex Call starting in left field and batting in the nine-hole. Catcher
Will Smith will move up to No. 2 in the batting order. Pages may not start another game in the Fall Classic after going just 4-for-50 with 11 strikeouts and no walks in 14 games during this year's playoffs. Call has appeared in six games this October with L.A. and has gone 4-for-9 with two walks and a strikeout in his first 12 playoff plate appearances. Call will have very little DFS appeal at the bottom of the batting order against an up-and-coming young pitcher whom he has never faced.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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