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Hunter Goodman Returns From his Thumb Injury on Friday
Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (thumb) is doing the catching for right-hander Gabriel Hughes and is hitting cleanup for the team in Friday's series opener at Coors Field against the Seattle Mariners and right-hander Bryan Woo, according to MLB.com. Goodman is back in action to begin the weekend after missing four of the previous five games with a right-thumb injury that has been bothering him recently. It has affected the power-hitting catcher at the plate, as he has gone 6-for-42 (.143) with two home runs, two doubles, a triple, eight RBI, six runs scored, three walks, and 12 strikeouts in 11 games in September. Still, the 26-year-old former fourth-rounder from Memphis should be returned to all starting fantasy lineups as the best power-hitting catcher in the game. Goodman is returning to a .245/.312/.529 slash line, an .841 OPS, 38 home runs, 81 RBI, 80 runs scored, and even five stolen bases in 482 at-bats in 2026. He has never faced Woo in his career.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Since Return From Injury, Alfredo Duno Has Done Nothing But Hit
Cincinnati Reds catcher prospect Alfredo Duno came back from a right hamstring injury on August 26 and since then has been red-hot with the bat for Double-A Chattanooga. Since that return date, Duno has hit 20-for-55 (.364) with no homers and six RBI. Altogether this season, between two levels of the minors, the 20-year-old is hitting .281 with 19 homers and 61 RBI in 363 at bats with 64 runs scored. The right-handed hitter is the top overall prospect in the Reds system and figures to be their catcher of the future. He has a 55-grade hit tool with 55-grade power. At just 20 years old, Duno has done a nice job so far in the minor leagues. While there is growth to be had, he looks like a future big league star and a plus fantasy contributor. It's nice to see him hit so well coming back from his injury to close out the season. He appears to be a few years away from a big-league debut.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Hunter Goodman Missing Thursday's Series Finale
Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (thumb) is missing a third straight game for Thursday's series finale at Coors Field against the division-rival San Diego Padres, per MLB.com. Brett Sullivan will catch right-hander Tanner Gordon and will hit eighth against Padres right-hander Michael King. Goodman is currently managing a sore right thumb and is considered day-to-day, so he could have a chance to return to action for Friday's series opener at home against the Seattle Mariners. It is an inopportune time for fantasy managers to be without Goodman in the fantasy playoffs, as the 26-year-old catcher currently leads all MLB catchers with a career-high 38 home runs in 482 at-bats in 2026. The former fourth-rounder from the University of Memphis is also hitting .245/.312/.529 with an .841 OPS, 81 RBI, 80 runs scored, and five stolen bases. Hopefully he will be able to return for the Rockies this weekend against Seattle.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Hunter Goodman Out Again With Thumb Injury
Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (thumb) remains sidelined for Wednesday's contest at Coors Field against the division-rival San Diego Padres, according to MLB.com. Braxton Fulford is doing the catching for right-hander Mason Adams and is hitting eighth against Padres left-hander Robbie Ray. Goodman is considered day-to-day with a thumb injury, but this will be his second straight missed game. The 26-year-old has missed three of the team's last four games, and with the Rockies having nothing left to play for, they are not going to put him in harm's way. The former fourth-rounder from the University of Memphis has become an elite power-hitting catcher over the last couple of seasons. Goodman has been an All-Star in each of the last two years while hitting a combined 69 home runs since the start of 2025. He currently sits with a .245/.312/.529 slash line, .841 OPS, a career-high 38 home runs, 81 RBI, 80 runs scored, and five stolen bases across his 129 games and 535 plate appearances. Check back to see if Goodman is good to go for Thursday's series finale against the Friars.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Rainiel Rodriguez Keeps Rolling at Double-A
St. Louis Cardinals catching prospect Rainiel Rodriguez picked up where he left off the regular season, collecting a pair of base hits in Double-A Springfield's 9-7 playoff win on Tuesday. The Cards' top-ranked prospect finished off the regular season on a tear, going 17-for-41 (.415) with four home runs and more walks (eight) than strikeouts (six) over his final 11 games. The Dominican backstop began the year at High-A, but seemingly got even better upon his promotion to Double-A, producing a .328/.408/.591 slash line with 23 home runs in 87 games for Springfield; he did all that as one of the few 19-year-olds at that level. The right-handed hitter should get a shot at Triple-A next season, and at that point, the talented youngster will be knocking on the door to the majors. His arrow is pointing way up in dynasty formats and should be stashed away as soon as possible if not already rostered.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Shea Langeliers Activated and Starting on Saturday
The Athletics announced that they activated catcher Shea Langeliers (knee) from the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder Darell Hernaiz to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Langeliers will serve as the team's designated hitter and bat cleanup in his return on Saturday in Sacramento against the division-rival Seattle Mariners and right-hander Bryan Woo. It is a bit of a surprise that Langeliers is back with the A's before the end of the 2026 season after he had surgery on the meniscus in his right knee in late July. But now that he is back, fantasy managers should check to see if he is available on the waiver wire, as he could still make an impact at the plate for those still playing for a championship late in the season. The 28-year-old right-handed slugger returns to an eight-game hitting streak and a .263/.332/.497 slash line with an .829 OPS, 23 home runs, 51 RBI, 55 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his 376 at-bats this year. The first-time All-Star in 2026 is one of the best power-hitting backstops in baseball, and he is only rostered in 69% of Yahoo leagues. Langeliers has hit just .083 with a .166 OPS in 12 career at-bats against Woo.
Source: A's Communications
Source: A's Communications
Adley Rutschman Returns to Friday's Lineup
Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (elbow) is doing the catching for right-hander Sonny Gray and will bat third in his return to the starting lineup on Friday at Fenway Park against the visiting Kansas City Royals and veteran right-hander Seth Lugo, per MLB.com. Rutschman is feeling better after receiving a cortisone injection earlier this week to deal with a hyperextended elbow that has been bothering him for over a week now. He sat out the Red Sox's last two games, but hopefully he can put the injury in the rearview mirror down the stretch of the regular season. The 28-year-old switch-hitting backstop has had a trying year in 2026 that included a trade from the Baltimore Orioles to Beantown. Overall, the former first overall pick is hitting .237/.315/.424 with a .739 OPS, 12 home runs, 56 RBI, and 39 runs scored in his 316 at-bats. The three-time All-Star did have a two-homer game with Boston, but in 19 games since being acquired, he has gone just 13-for-69 (.188) with four homers, two doubles, nine RBI, nine runs, six walks, and 19 strikeouts. Rutschman has faced Lugo only six times in his career and has hit .167 against him with a .334 OPS in a small sample size.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Drake Baldwin a High-End Catcher Option Amid Second-Half Surge
Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin has emerged as one of the best-hitting backstops in baseball this season, slashing .276/.353/.452 with 23 home runs, 71 RBI, 77 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 544 plate appearances. After a red-hot start to the season, Baldwin missed about a month after suffering an oblique strain in May and then battled through an extended slump upon his return, recording just three hits across 50 plate appearances in June. However, the 25-year-old has gotten back to his normal self since then, hitting .306 across 225 plate appearances since the All-Star break. The Braves also frequently deploy Baldwin as their designated hitter on days when he's not behind the plate, which helps keep his legs fresh and keeps him in the lineup on an everyday basis. Entering the final few weeks of the year, Baldwin remains an elite catcher option for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ethan Salas Worth Targeting on the Waiver Wire Despite Slow Start?
San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas has gotten off to a slow start in the big leagues since making his MLB debut on September 2, as he's gone hitless in his first 10 plate appearances. Salas has also split playing time in the early going with fellow Padres catchers Luis Campusano and Freddy Fermin. However, the 20-year-old Salas is widely considered to be one of the top catcher prospects in all of baseball, so it could just be a matter of time before he takes over as the full-time backstop in San Diego. Across 405 plate appearances split between Double-A and Triple-A before his promotion, Salas hit .296/.374/.448 with 10 home runs, 61 RBI, 54 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. Salas may struggle to get to significant power in his first taste of big-league action, but he's posted an impressive 11.6% walk rate while striking out in just 14.3% of his trips to the plate in the minors. In two-catcher formats, Salas could be worth targeting on the waiver wire just in case he takes over as the everyday catcher for the Padres down the stretch.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Adley Rutschman Received Cortisone Injection, Expected to Return on Friday
Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said catcher Adley Rutschman (elbow) received a cortisone injection in his right elbow on Monday and that the team expects him to be back in the lineup on Friday, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. It's not yet clear exactly what Rutschman is dealing with in his elbow, but it appears that the 28-year-old will likely be managing the issue in the immediate future. Across 359 plate appearances split between the Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles this season, Rutschman is hitting .237/.315/.424 with 12 home runs, 56 RBI, and 39 runs scored. Rutschman has been on a hot streak in recent games despite the elbow injury, logging seven hits and three home runs across his last 24 plate appearances. Without him, Boston has deployed both Connor Wong and Mickey Gasper behind the plate.
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Jason Schiavone Moving Up to Triple-A Sugar Land
Houston Astros catcher/first base prospect Jason Schiavone has been promoted to Triple-A for the remainder of the 2026 season. The Astros' sixth-ranked prospect started the year at High-A, powering his way to Double-A after just 35 games (17 home runs, 1.218 OPS). The JMU product saw his batting average dip to just .233 at the higher level, but he continued to display his trademark power (14 home runs) and ability to draw walks (14.5 percent) during his 79-game tenure there. A 33.0 percent strikeout rate is concerning, though, so it is worth keeping an eye on at Triple-A. The 6-foot-1 backstop moves well for a catcher, having swiped 29 bags this season in 114 total games, and could make quick work of Triple-A next year if he can continue to produce home runs and keep the strikeouts to a palatable level. With a rare power/speed combination for a catcher, there is some fantasy intrigue here, though he's not yet a must-stash in dynasty leagues.
Source: Sugar Land Space Cowboys
Source: Sugar Land Space Cowboys
Mickey Gasper a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Amid Second-Half Surge
Boston Red Sox catcher/first baseman Mickey Gasper has been a revelation in 2026. Across 191 plate appearances this year, the 30-year-old is hitting .270/.384/.491 with eight home runs, 22 RBI, and 23 runs scored. Gasper got off to a relatively slow start to 2026, which led to him spending much of the middle portion of the season at Triple-A. However, since being recalled by the Red Sox in mid-August, he's emerged as an everyday fixture at the top of the team's lineup at either first base or designated hitter. Gasper's plate approach has been elite, as he's walked in 13.1% of his plate appearances while posting just a 14.7% strikeout rate. The switch-hitter has also dominated right-handed pitching, posting a .964 OPS with more walks than strikeouts while batting from the left side of the plate. Gasper's numbers have started to regress a bit of late, as he has just five hits across his first 30 plate appearances in September. Still, he remains a must-add waiver wire target for fantasy managers given his recent success in Boston.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Shea Langeliers Takes Batting Practice
Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (knee) took batting practice on the field on Monday and is scheduled to run the bases on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. Langeliers is running out of time, but he is still hopeful of returning before the end of the 2026 regular season at the end of September after tearing the meniscus in his right knee. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 26 and underwent a meniscectomy at the end of July. Fantasy managers should not be surprised if Langeliers does not make it back before the end of the season, as the A's are not in the playoff race and have no incentive to rush the All-Star catcher back to close out the year. Before Langeliers tore his meniscus, the 28-year-old was one of the best catchers in fantasy with 23 home runs, 51 RBI, 55 runs scored, two stolen bases, and a .263/.332/.497 slash line across his 376 at-bats. He came shy of back-to-back 30-homer seasons, but Langeliers is one of the best power options at the catcher position and has reached 22 home runs in all four of his full big-league seasons.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Carter Jensen a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Amid Hot Stretch
Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen has been swinging a hot bat lately, and he's on the fantasy radar as a very appealing waiver wire target. Over his last six games, Jensen is 9-for-23 with three home runs, six RBI, two walks, and five strikeouts. The bulk of his hits have been of the extra-base variety. In addition to his three homers, he's slugged three doubles and a triple during that six-game window. Over the full season, he has a .755 OPS with 22 homers, a 10.9% walk rate, a 28.1% strikeout rate, and 107 wRC+. Jensen gets the day off Sunday, but he's expected to be back in the lineup Monday against the Diamondbacks. In doing so, he'll look to extend his on-base streak to 12 games. He is rostered in 49% of leagues and currently ranks as the #8 catcher in RotoBaller's rest-of-season fantasy baseball rankings. Managers looking to strengthen or solidify their catcher position should consider picking up Jensen off the waiver wire if he's available.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
White Sox Reinstate Kyle Teel From Injured List
The Chicago White Sox announced on Friday that they reinstated catcher Kyle Teel (ankle) from the 10-day injured list and optioned catcher Drew Romo to Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move. Fantasy managers will want to check back a bit later on Friday to see if Teel is immediately back in Chicago's starting lineup for Friday's contest at home against the division-rival Minnesota Twins and right-hander Zebby Matthews. In six minor-league rehab games, Teel went 7-for-22 at the plate with a home run and a double. He will be rejoining the big-league squad after landing on the IL early in the second half of the season due to a sprained left ankle. Injuries have limited the 24-year-old former first-rounder by the Boston Red Sox to just 19 games and 63 at-bats in 2026 in his second year in the big leagues with the Pale Hose. In those 19 games, Teel has gone just 12-for-63 (.190) with two home runs, 14 RBI, nine runs scored, six walks, and 27 strikeouts. Despite the poor start in a limited sample size, Teel should play regularly down the stretch and has more offensive upside than the other catcher on Chicago's big-league roster, Jake Rogers.
Source: Chicago White Sox
Source: Chicago White Sox
