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Miguel Rojas Suffers Back Injury in Game 3 of NLDS
Los Angeles Dodgers veteran infielder Miguel Rojas (back) injured himself on a swing in the eighth inning and left Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves in the middle of his at-bat on Tuesday night, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Rojas was reaching towards his lower back with his left arm after a swing. He was making the start at second base against Braves left-hander Chris Sale, and he went 0-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout before being replaced at the keystone by Tommy Edman. The 37-year-old Venezuelan infielder is a bench player for the Dodgers at this point in his career, but despite not playing all that much anymore, he saved the Dodgers' season in last year's World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the series. Rojas hit .267 (60-for-225) during the regular season with only four home runs, 23 RBI, 23 runs scored, and a stolen base. If Rojas' injury is serious enough for the Dodgers to remove him from the NLDS roster, he would be unable to return for the NL Championship Series if the team advances.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Ernie Clement Not Assured of Blue Jays Second Base Job Entering 2027
Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said that infielder Ernie Clement "will have to earn" the team's starting second base job in 2027, per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. After being one of the heroes of Toronto's run to a World Series appearance in 2025, Clement's numbers regressed in 2026. Across 621 plate appearances this past season, the 30-year-old hit .259/.285/.364 with nine home runs, 48 RBI, 60 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. Perhaps most concerningly for Toronto, his defensive metrics plummeted after he graded out as a plus defender in 2025. Clement rarely strikes out (9.3% strikeout rate) and can line up all over the diamond, which makes him a valuable piece for the Blue Jays. However, the 30-year-old may be best suited for a utility role in Toronto going forward.
Source: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
Source: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
Austin Riley Powers Braves to Game 1 Victory with Late Home Run
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley was the hero of his team's 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series, hitting a go-ahead three-run home run off of Phillies closer Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning. It was Riley's lone hit in three plate appearances on Tuesday, but it obviously came at a key time for Atlanta. The 29-year-old battled through a frustrating year at the plate in 2026, hitting .219/.290/.364 with 19 home runs, 72 RBI, 64 runs scored, and nine stolen bases across 630 plate appearances. Riley's 31.9% strikeout rate was his worst since his rookie season in 2019. However, the righty slugger still maintained a solid 12.4% barrel rate during the regular season. If he can unlock some of his power in October, Riley could be an impact bat for the Braves in the postseason.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Manny Machado Powers Padres to Game 1 Victory on Tuesday
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado helped lead his team to an 8-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series on Tuesday, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored. Machado battled through a bit of a slump at the plate to end the regular season, hitting just .200 across 99 plate appearances in September. The 34-year-old's overall numbers were also below his usual standard, as he hit just .217/.303/.407 in 677 trips to the plate. Still, Machado remained an excellent run producer, slugging 30 home runs and logging 91 RBI. The veteran also has plenty of experience in the playoffs, as he's hit 13 home runs across 222 career postseason plate appearances. Machado could be a player to watch in Game 2 on Wednesday, as he's hit .360 with two home runs in 25 career plate appearances against Cubs starting pitcher Kevin Gausman.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Sitting Against Lefty in Wild-Card Opener
New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of the Wild-Card Series on Tuesday against the division-rival Boston Red Sox with a left-hander on the mound, per MLB.com. Anthony Volpe is making the start at the keystone and will hit seventh against Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle. Chisholm has never faced the tough lefty, and he has hit just .218 (32-for-147) with five of his 19 home runs, 21 RBI, 11 walks, and 56 strikeouts in 160 plate appearances against southpaws in 2026. The talented power/speed infielder has hit the ball well in September, albeit in just eight games, going 8-for-28 (.286) with a homer, an RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base for the Yankees. With right-handed veteran hurler Sonny Gray set to start for Boston in Game 2 of the series in the Bronx on Wednesday, Chisholm will be back in the starting nine a day from now. Like Chisholm, Volpe has never faced Tolle in his big-league career.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Andrew Fischer Named Minor-League Player of the Year
Baseball America announced on Monday that Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Andrew Fischer is their minor-league Player of the Year, according to Jim Bowden. The 22-year-old former 20th overall pick in 2025 from the University of Tennessee crushed the baseball this year at High-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi, hitting .273/.413/.654 with a 1.066 OPS, 48 home runs, 114 RBI, 107 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 126 games across 560 plate appearances. He led the minor leagues in home runs, slugging percentage, and total bases in what was an incredible year for Fischer, who is ranked at MLB Pipeline as the Brewers' No. 5 overall prospect. The 6-foot, 210-pounder hits from the left side of the plate and is strong, with plenty of lift and raw power. At the major-league level, Fischer could be a 30-homer guy with the ability to play both first and third base, even though he saw most of his playing time in left field as a Volunteer in college. Fischer has an above-average arm, and the Brewers are hoping that he will eventually stick at third base.
Source: Jim Bowden
Source: Jim Bowden
Josh Jung Has Fractured Hand
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (hand) suffered a fractured right hand, according to X-rays after an early removal from Friday's game. A pitch hit the 28-year-old in the first inning of a pivotal game against Minnesota, and the testing later confirmed the injury. He will miss time while he heals, ending his 2026 season on a sour note. Still, despite battling multiple injuries all season, he will finish with a .299 batting average and 12 home runs over 104 games. While nothing has been confirmed, it would appear that he will be ready for Spring Training next season. He remains in the mix for late-round fantasy upside heading into 2027, with the potential for more should he be able to stay healthy. That said, his draft price will surely take his extensive injury history into account.
Source: Evan Grant
Source: Evan Grant
Josh Jung Removed After Getting Hit by a Pitch
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (hand) was removed from Friday's game against the Minnesota Twins. Jung was taken out of the game after getting hit by a pitch on the hand, Kennedi Landry reports. He remained in the game to run the bases and play the field, but Jung was removed for a pinch-hitter once his spot in the batting order came up again. Before being removed, Jung went hitless with a run scored. The assumption is that Jung will undergo X-rays to determine the severity of the injury. Cody Freeman would likely see more starts at third base if Jung is forced to miss any time. Fantasy managers should check back on Saturday for another update on Jung.
Source: Kennedi Landry
Source: Kennedi Landry
Alex Bregman Returns as DH on Friday
Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman (face) is back in the starting lineup on Friday and will serve as the designated hitter and bat third in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox, per MLB.com. Bregman is back for the first time since he suffered multiple facial fractures on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds when he was hit by a foul ball in the on-deck circle. Bregman did not need surgery, though, and he has been cleared to hit only in the series opener against his former team after the swelling around his left eye went down. The 32-year-old will now look to get his timing back down in the final weekend series of the regular season before the Cubs start a wild-card series in the playoffs next week. Bregman has bounced back in 2026 in his first year in Chicago with 26 home runs and 89 RBI while slashing .262/.352/.452 in 153 games. He also hit .296 (34-for-115) in 28 games in August and is currently hitting .295 (18-for-61) in 18 games in September. The Cubs are hoping Bregman can stay hot heading into the postseason next week.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Austin Riley Has Been a Disappointment for Fantasy Managers in 2026
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley has had a disappointing year in 2026, hitting .223/.294/.371 with 19 home runs, 72 RBI, 64 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. The 29-year-old has struck out in 31.6% of his plate appearances, his highest rate since his rookie year in 2019. While Riley's 12.4% barrel rate and 44.2% hard-hit rate remain above-average, they are a notch below the marks he posted on his way to three consecutive 30-homer, 90-RBI seasons from 2021 through 2023. Riley has been a bit better in the second half of the season, hitting .248 with 10 home runs across 233 plate appearances since the All-Star break. However, he's struggled to a .229 batting average with a 31.6% strikeout rate in September. Entering the final weekend of the 2026 season, Riley remains a middling third base option for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Alex Bregman Has Resumed Hitting
Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman (face) did not return to the starting lineup for the team's series finale against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field on Thursday, but he has resumed hitting, according to The Athletic's Patrick Mooney. The All-Star third baseman continues to recover from a freak accident when he was hit by a foul ball while in the on-deck circle against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Bregman suffered multiple facial fractures, but manager Craig Counsell has not ruled him out from returning for the final regular-season series of the year this weekend at Fenway Park against his old team, the Boston Red Sox. "But he's feeling good in terms of the hitting part. That went well. He's happy with how that went, so we'll just do a little more, run around a little bit more today and see how that makes him feel. And we'll just keep progressing," Counsell said. To be cleared to play this weekend in Boston, Bregman needs to get the swelling down around his left eye. Bregman is hoping that his strong month of September (.295 average, .968 OPS in 18 games) can shift seamlessly into the start of the postseason next week, despite his freak face injury last weekend.
Source: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
Source: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
Charlie Condon Eyes 2027 Debut After 27-Homer Campaign
Colorado Rockies corner infield/outfield prospect Charlie Condon capped off a strong 2026 season by smacking a home run in his final game of the year. The Rockies' third-ranked prospect finished with 27 long balls in 130 games played, while batting .273 with a stellar .390 on-base percentage thanks to a 13.2 percent walk rate. The former third-overall draft pick continued to strike out at a high rate of 25.1 percent, though that isn't that out of the ordinary for a guy who has as much power as he does. The 6-foot-5 slugger surprisingly never got the call to the majors this year despite a few very hot stretches of production, but that doesn't mean he won't be in the mix for a roster spot in 2027. The 23-year-old has a shot to make the team out of camp next year, and even if he doesn't, expect him to be one of the first high-profile prospect names called up in 2027. The strikeouts could make him a batting-average risk for fantasy, but the pop he possesses will play well at Coors Field, and the right-handed hitter is still a solid dynasty investment.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Coby Mayo Remains a Worthy Power Streamer to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 444 plate appearances in 2026, Baltimore Orioles third baseman/first baseman Coby Mayo is hitting .225/.293/.463 with 24 home runs, 63 RBI, 63 runs scored, and four stolen bases. Swing-and-miss is the obvious red flag in Mayo's profile, as he's struck out in 30.2% of his plate appearances. However, the 24-year-old brings significant power upside with a 13.7% barrel rate and a 47.6% hard-hit rate. Mayo has hit .265 with 12 home runs since the All-Star break, and he's established himself as an everyday presence in the heart of the Baltimore lineup. For fantasy managers in need of power, Mayo profiles as a priority target on the waiver wire heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Alex Bregman Not Ready to Return on Wednesday
Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman (face) remains out of the team's starting lineup for Wednesday's game at Wrigley Field against the visiting Miami Marlins, per MLB.com. Pedro Ramirez is making the start at the hot corner and will bat seventh against Marlins right-hander Ryan Gusto. Bregman suffered multiple facial fractures on Sunday against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds when he was struck in the face by a foul ball while in the on-deck circle. Thankfully, the 32-year-old veteran will not need surgery, and the Cubs are not ruling out a return for Bregman before the end of the week to close out the 2026 regular season. Chicago would like to get Bregman some at-bats going into next week's wild-card series. In his first year with the Cubbies, the three-time All-Star is hitting .262/.352/.452 with an .804 OPS, 26 home runs, 89 RBI, 89 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 153 games and 693 plate appearances. Although Bregman is not a lock to return by the end of the weekend, the Cubs should have him available next week for the start of the playoffs.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Connor Norby a Worthy Waiver-Wire Target Amid Late-Season Surge
Current Colorado Rockies infielder Connor Norby got off to a terrible start to the 2026 season while playing for the Miami Marlins, hitting .205 with four home runs across 233 plate appearances. However, the 26-year-old has turned his year around since being traded to Colorado in early August. Across 138 plate appearances with the Rockies, Norby is hitting .300/.384/.458 with three home runs, 17 RBI, 19 runs scored, and four stolen bases. There could be some small sample-size noise impacting Norby's resurgence, as his strikeout rate with Colorado remains elevated at 26.1%. However, Norby has fully taken advantage of the hitter-friendly home environment of Coors Field, hitting .303 in his home games since joining the Rockies. Norby's ability to play first, second, or third base has also helped him secure an everyday role in the Colorado lineup as a utility infielder. In his new environment, Norby profiles as a worthy waiver-wire target for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
