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Willson Contreras Held Out of Friday's Lineup
Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (hand) is not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, according to MLB.com. Nick Sogard will man first base for the BoSox and bat second against Rays left-hander Ian Seymour. It should not be a huge surprise that Contreras is not starting on Friday after he was pulled from Thursday's win over the Texas Rangers after being hit on the right hand by a pitch late in the game. Thankfully, X-rays came back negative, and Contreras was diagnosed with a bruised hand. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day and check back on him to see if he is playing in Game 2 of the series in Tampa on Saturday. The 34-year-old veteran and former catcher has battled through some injuries this year but has still been one of Boston's best bats in 2026, as he is currently hitting .276/.387/.518 with a .905 OPS, 27 home runs, 81 RBI, 68 runs scored, and three steals in his 446 at-bats in his first year in Beantown. However, he did hit just .217 (18-for-83) with three homers, 12 RBI, 11 walks, and 26 strikeouts in 23 games in August, and he has played in only four games so far in September.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Willson Contreras Day-to-Day With Bruised Hand
Updating a previous report, Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (hand) was diagnosed with a bruised right hand after being hit by a pitch in the eighth inning in Thursday night's comeback win over the Texas Rangers, interim manager Chad Tracy told Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Contreras is considered day-to-day after X-rays on his hand came back negative, so there could be a chance that he will be available for the start of a new series on Friday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays. If the four-time All-Star does miss any time this weekend, expect Nick Sogard to take over at first base for Boston. Contreras came into Thursday's game with a strong .275/.386/.519 slash line on the year with a .906 OPS, a career-high 27 home runs, 81 RBI, 68 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 128 games across 529 plate appearances. Fantasy managers are hoping that he can finish strong after slumping to a .217 average (18-for-83) in 23 games in August. The 34-year-old veteran has been a must-start in all traditional fantasy leagues in 2026 in his first year with the BoSox.
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Willson Contreras Leaves After Being Hit By a Pitch
Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (hand) was removed from Thursday's game early against the Texas Rangers in the eighth inning after he was hit on the hand by a pitch, according to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. Before leaving, Contreras went 1-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout in the eventual 4-3 win at Globe Life Field. Fantasy managers will want to be on the lookout for Contreras' X-ray results, which will determine how much time he might have to miss. Hopefully, X-rays come back negative, and he will be able to return to the starting lineup for Friday's series opener in Tampa against the division-rival Rays. The 34-year-old Venezuelan and four-time All-Star has had an excellent first year in Boston in 2026, going into Thursday's game with a .275/.386/.519 slash line with a .906 OPS, a career-high 27 home runs, 81 RBI, 68 runs scored, and three stolen bases in his 128 games and 529 plate appearances. Nick Sogard slid over to first base from second base on Thursday after Contreras left, and he could be the favorite for playing time at first if Contreras misses any time late in the season.
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Bryce Eldridge Has Emerged as a Must-Roster Power Bat
Across 448 plate appearances in 2026, San Francisco Giants first baseman Bryce Eldridge hit .269/.364/.461 with 17 home runs, 57 RBI, 50 runs scored, and one stolen base. The 21-year-old owns an elevated 26.6% strikeout rate. However, he's also posted a solid 11.5% barrel rate and an excellent 52.2% hard-hit rate. Across 170 plate appearances since the start of August, Eldridge is hitting .301. Playing his home games in San Francisco's pitcher-friendly Oracle Park is not the best fit for the lefty-swinging Eldridge's power upside, but the young slugger may have enough talent to overcome the imperfect situation. Heading into the final stretch of the regular season, Eldridge profiles as a must-roster first baseman who should provide power and run production for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Willi Castro Won't Return This Year
Colorado Rockies utility man Willi Castro (heel, knee) will not return this season, he announced on Wednesday. Castro is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left heel and also soreness in his right knee, and he was placed on the 10-day injured list back on Sept. 5. The Rockies have nothing left to play for this season, so Castro has elected to get an early start on his rehab for the offseason. The 29-year-old Puerto Rican switch-hitter will finish his first season in Denver with a .260/.331/.417 slash line, a .748 OPS, 15 home runs, 56 RBI, 65 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across 120 games played and 477 plate appearances in his eighth year in the majors. Castro's 15 long balls are a new career high. He should be healed in plenty of time before spring training in 2027, assuming there is no lockout, and will return to the Rockies as a versatile defender with a modest power/speed profile. The best thing about Castro in fantasy is that he is eligible at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and the outfield.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Nick Kurtz Begins Hitting Progression
Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (thumb) has begun a hitting progression, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Kurtz has been sidelined since late July by a right thumb strain and has already been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season. Still, Gallegos reports that A's manager Mark Kotsay said the team is hoping Kurtz can progress to taking batting practice at some point in the next couple of weeks. Across 434 plate appearances before suffering the injury, the 23-year-old hit .256/.396/.483 with 21 home runs, 69 RBI, 62 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. Kurtz's batting average upside is limited by his elevated 32.5% strikeout rate, but he remains an OBP asset with his elite 18.2% walk rate. The lefty slugger also profiles as one of the best power hitters in baseball when healthy, posting an 18% barrel rate and a 57.3% hard-hit rate in 2026. Assuming Kurtz makes a full recovery over the offseason, he should come off the board in the first few rounds of fantasy drafts heading into 2027.
Source: MLB.com - Martín Gallegos
Source: MLB.com - Martín Gallegos
Miguel Vargas Showing Off Increased Speed in September
Chicago White Sox corner infielder Miguel Vargas has been one of the breakout success stories of the 2026 season, hitting .249/.358/.475 with 31 home runs, 84 RBI, 98 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases across 658 plate appearances. The 26-year-old's underlying metrics largely support his power emergence, as he's posted a 13.4% barrel rate and a 44.2% hard-hit rate. Vargas also offers an elite approach at the plate, logging a 13.7% walk rate while striking out in just 17.9% of his plate appearances. Vargas has also significantly boosted his aggression on the basepaths in recent games, going six-for-six as a base stealer in September. Heading into the final stretch of the regular season, Vargas profiles as an elite option at either third or first base for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rafael Devers to Have Season-Ending Core-Muscle Surgery on Tuesday
San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (core) will have season-ending surgery on Tuesday in Philadelphia to fix a left-sided core-muscle injury, according to Zach Sweet of MLB.com. The Giants said they will provide an update on his recovery timeline after the surgery. The Giants placed Devers on the 60-day injured list on Sunday, putting an end to his 2026 campaign. The 29-year-old left-handed slugger will finish his first full season in the Bay Area with a .258/.340/.525 slash line, an .865 OPS, 37 home runs, 98 RBI, and 88 runs scored in 148 games and 633 plate appearances. Devers is currently leading the league with 36 doubles after a recent offensive barrage in the second half of the season. The three-time All-Star went off in August with a .272 average (28-for-103) with eight home runs, five doubles, 18 RBI, and 22 runs scored in 28 games played. Devers got off to an icy start in 2026 by hitting .207 (25-for-121), but he turned things around quickly in May and finished with his second straight 35-plus-homer season. The Dominican first baseman has reached the 30-homer mark in four of the last six seasons with the Giants and Boston Red Sox.
Source: MLB.com - Zach Sweet
Source: MLB.com - Zach Sweet
Willson Contreras Activated from Injured List on Sunday
Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (hamstring) was activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of his team's matchup against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. The 34-year-old batted fourth and went two-for-three with a walk and a run scored in his return. Contreras was placed on the 10-day injured list in late August with a hamstring strain, but he was able to return almost immediately after he was first eligible. Across 521 plate appearances this season, Contreras is hitting .277/.387/.517 with 26 home runs, 79 RBI, 67 runs scored, and three stolen bases. He's posted a stellar 13.4% barrel rate and has taken advantage of the hitter-friendly Fenway Park, posting a 1.003 OPS with 14 home runs across 255 plate appearances at home. Now that he's back with the Red Sox, Contreras is a must-start fantasy first baseman across all league formats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Rafael Devers Placed on 60-Day Injured List with Core-Muscle Injury
San Francisco Giants first baseman/designated hitter Rafael Devers (abdomen) has been placed on the 60-day injured list due to a core muscle injury, per Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News. delos Santos reports that Devers has played through the issue for much of the season. Following his placement on the 60-day injured list, Devers' 2026 campaign is over. Across 633 plate appearances this year, the 29-year-old hit .258/.340/.525 with 37 home runs, 98 RBI, and 88 runs scored. Despite apparently playing through an injury, Devers dominated in the second half of the season. Across 226 plate appearances after the All-Star break, the lefty slugger hit .275 with 18 home runs and a .987 OPS. With Devers sidelined, Giants outfielder Scott Bandura could be in line for more playing time at designated hitter.
Source: The Mercury News - Justice delos Santos
Source: The Mercury News - Justice delos Santos
Freddie Freeman Back in Saturday's Lineup
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (knee) is starting at first base and is batting in the two-hole for Saturday's contest on the road against the Miami Marlins and right-hander Tyler Phillips, according to MLB.com. Freeman is back in action after missing the last two games with some minor soreness in his right knee. Although the veteran first baseman's knee injury is not expected to impact him the rest of the season, it is worth watching after he has struggled at the plate in seven games so far in September, going 3-for-22 (.136) with a homer, three RBI, five walks, and nine strikeouts. Fantasy managers will be hoping that Freeman, who turns 37 years old on Saturday, can turn it around in the final few weeks of the season when it matters most. The Dodgers will need the former MVP and 10-time All-Star even more with Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) on the injured list. On the year, Freeman has hit a strong .297 (156-for-525) with 16 homers, 66 RBI, 72 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in his 17th major-league season. Get him back into your starting lineup against Phillips, whom Freeman has hit .750 against with three RBI in just four career at-bats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jac Caglianone Missing his Sixth Straight Game
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (elbow) will sit out for a sixth straight game on Saturday at Fenway Park against the hosting Boston Red Sox, per MLB.com. John Rave will make yet another start in right field for the Royals while batting seventh against Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez. Caglianone has been slow to recover from a flexor strain in his left elbow, but the Royals continue to say that he is day-to-day, so the left-handed slugger could have an opportunity to return for the series finale in Boston on Sunday. It is a terrible time for the 23-year-old former first-rounder to miss time with an injury during the fantasy playoffs in most leagues. Caglianone has developed into a must-start asset in fantasy leagues for his power in what has been a strong first full season in the big leagues in 2026. He came into Saturday's action slashing .283/.331/.494 with an .825 OPS, 23 home runs, 70 RBI, 66 runs scored, and six stolen bases across his 474 at-bats. Cags tore the cover off the ball in 24 games in August, hitting .411 (39-for-95) with six home runs, eight doubles, 26 RBI, 17 runs scored, and three steals.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Freddie Freeman Won't Return on Friday
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that first baseman Freddie Freeman (knee) will not return to the starting lineup on Friday in Miami against the Marlins, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. The Dodgers had a long trip to Miami, and Roberts has elected to have Freeman take another day off and avoid the turf in Miami. The skipper expects him to return for Game 2 of the series on Saturday. With Freeman out again due to a mild right-knee injury, Enrique Hernandez will most likely start at first on Friday night in South Beach. Although the 36-year-old Freeman should be back this weekend, fantasy managers playing for a championship have to be a little worried about his production at the plate recently while battling his knee injury. The former MVP and 10-time All-Star has gone 3-for-22 (.136) with a homer, three RBI, five walks, and nine strikeouts in seven games so far in September to drop his overall line for the season to .297/.375/.453. Freeman hit .299 (29-for-97) in August, though, and as long as he is active, he needs to be in starting fantasy lineups in a Dodgers lineup that is still stacked without Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps).
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Jake Bauers Playing Against Reds on Friday
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (shin) is starting at first base and is batting fifth for the Brewers in Friday night's contest at home against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds and left-hander Andrew Abbott, according to MLB.com. Bauers has been managing shin splints of late, but after three straight games missed, he will return to the heart of the Brewers' batting order at American Family Field. It has been a breakout season for the left-handed-hitting Bauers in 2026, but he has gone 2-for-17 (.118) with a homer, 12 walks, and seven strikeouts in eight games so far in September after hitting .295/.451/.487 with four homers and 13 RBI in 24 games in August. Bauers has only faced the lefty Abbott twice in his career and is still searching for his first hit, but he does have an RBI against him. Against southpaws in 2026, Bauers has been solid, hitting .267 (32-for-120) with six of his career-high 24 homers coming against them.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jac Caglianone Remains Out With Elbow Injury
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (elbow) remains out of Friday's lineup at Fenway Park against the hosting Boston Red Sox with a left flexor strain in his elbow, according to MLB.com. It will be Caglianone's fifth straight missed game, and if he cannot return during the weekend series in Boston, the Royals might have to put him on the 10-day injured list. John Rave will make another start in right field for KC and will bat sixth against Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray. Caglianone got off to a rather slow start in 2026 in his first full season in the big leagues, but he turned it around quickly and became a must-start for fantasy managers for his power from the left side of the plate. The former first-rounder from Florida is missing valuable games during the fantasy postseason, but hopefully he can return to the field at some point this weekend in Beantown. Over 474 at-bats this year, Caglianone is slashing a strong .283/.331/.494 with an .825 OPS, 23 long balls, 70 RBI, 66 runs scored, and six stolen bases. He has even hit .260 (39-for-150) with seven homers and 18 RBI against left-handed pitchers. Check back on Saturday to see if he is active for the Royals.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
