RADIO
Justin Steele to Throw Bullpen on Sunday
Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) is set to throw a bullpen in Chicago in front of the team's pitching coaches on Sunday. This will give the team a chance to get a good, hard look at the 31-year-old as he continues to work hard toward returning to the mound for the Cubs in 2026. From there, it has been decided that he will throw at least one more outing for Triple-A Iowa, at which time a decision will likely be made regarding what lies ahead. Over three rehab appearances thus far, Steele has thrown 5.2 innings while allowing four earned runs on 10 hits. The good news is that he has recorded six strikeouts and has not walked any batters, backing the fact that he is still working through some rust. If and when he does return this year, it will be as a reliever, as there is not enough time for him to build himself back up to a starter's workload. As such, his fantasy value is minimal.
Source: Jared Wyllys
Source: Jared Wyllys
Rays Calling Up Top Pitching Prospect Brody Hopkins
The Tampa Bay Rays are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Brody Hopkins to the big leagues from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Per MLB Pipeline, Hopkins, 24, is ranked as Tampa's No. 7 overall prospect and their top pitching prospect. The former sixth-round selection by the Seattle Mariners in 2023 from Winthrop University has gone 4-8 this year for the Bulls with a 5.17 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, and 122:92 K:BB in 94 innings across 31 appearances (19 starts). The numbers obviously do not look great on the surface, but Hopkins had been pitching great recently for Durham in a relief role, where he will likely continue in his first taste of the major leagues. Hopkins gets the call to Tampa after throwing six straight shutout innings out of the bullpen at Triple-A, and he will look to stay hot with the Rays. For fantasy purposes, Hopkins should be ignored in single-year formats with the regular season wrapping up at the end of September.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Esmerlyn Valdez Placed on Injured List With Hamstring Strain
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Esmerlyn Valdez (hamstring) on the injured list on Saturday with a strained left hamstring. The 22-year-old outfielder injured himself on Friday while trying to beat out a ground ball in the sixth inning. He came up limping and was helped off the field. A day later, he was placed on the injured list, keeping him out of action for at least 10 days. The severity of the injury is not yet known, but given the timing, there is a chance that this ends his season. If he doesn't return in 2026, he will finish with 17 home runs over 72 games played, which should keep him in consideration as a late-round draft pick heading into the 2027 draft. In his absence, Jake Mangum should once again be considered as an injury replacement for the Pirates and receive additional opportunities. He has some fantasy appeal, as he has posted a .283/.340/.369 slash line this season with 23 stolen bases over 122 games played.
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
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
Jack Flaherty Throws Two Simulated Innings
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (forearm) threw a two-inning simulated game on Saturday, embarking on what could be the final hurdle before returning to the mound for the Tigers. The 30-year-old has missed the last six weeks because of right forearm flexor inflammation but has made significant strides as of late. Flaherty himself said that he felt great after this outing and is ready to get back on the mound. Whether or not that happens in the coming days remains to be seen, but the fact of the matter is that he is nearing the end of his time on the sidelines. Fantasy managers should be ready to add him to their rosters where possible, but be cognizant of the fact that he may be working out of the bullpen or on a pitch count.
Source: Evan Woodbery
Source: Evan Woodbery
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
Justin Verlander Faces Live Batters
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (hamstring/hip) took a big step forward in his injury progression on Saturday by facing live batters prior to the team's game against the Colorado Rockies. This marks the first time that the 43-year-old has faced live hitters since he went on the Injured List very early in the season. It is worth noting that the batters who stood in the box did not take any swings, but the fact that they were there marks a significant step in the right direction. Verlander is hoping to cap off his career with one final start on the final weekend of the season. With the Tigers almost out of playoff contention and with potentially nothing to play for, that feels like the perfect sendoff to one of the game's greats. From a fantasy perspective, he is only worth consideration if he does, in fact, return, but there's no guarantee that he makes it back in time to pitch again.
Source: Jason Beck
Source: Jason Beck
Edward Cabrera Activated And Added To Bullpen
Chicago Cubs pitcher Edward Cabrera (finger) was activated from the Injured List on Saturday and added to the team's bullpen ahead of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 28-year-old pitcher has started in all 15 of his appearances this season but will now be moved to the bullpen after suffering multiple injuries all year long. The right-hander has only been in one game since the All-Star Break because of hamstring and blister issues, and the hope is that with a smaller workload, both his health and productivity will stabilize. He will likely only receive low-leverage opportunities while he works on fixing his command and control, as both his 5.68 ERA and 1.45 WHIP are the highest either stat has been since his rookie season with Miami.
Source: Patrick Mooney
Source: Patrick Mooney
Ryan Weathers To Throw From A Mound Next Week
New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (forearm) is set to throw from a mound at some point next week. The 26-year-old has been on the Injured List with a forearm flexor strain but continues to make progress toward a regular-season return. After completing a series of long-distance throws from the outfield on Saturday, manager Aaron Boone said that the next step for Weathers would be some mound work. Once that is complete with no setbacks, there is still a chance for him to return to the Yankees as a reliever before the playoffs begin. That being said, with so many options already, it is unclear if he will receive high-leverage opportunities at all, given the nature of his injury.
Source: Gary Phillips
Source: Gary Phillips
Aaron Judge to Have Planned Days Off
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is set to receive a planned day off either on Sunday or Monday, according to manager Aaron Boone. While he is set to be the team's designated hitter on Saturday, Boone noted that the 34-year-old will receive a planned day of rest on either Sunday or Monday. Entering action on Sunday, Judge will have played in three games since his extensive absence due to a stress fracture in his first rib. Upon his return, it was mentioned that he would be eased back into a full-time role, and this planned day of rest is part of the plan. That being said, with the postseason being the main focus for the Yankees, it's unclear how many more games Judge will miss down the stretch. Fantasy baseball managers need to be prepared for shortened weeks as they manage their own teams down the stretch.
Source: Bryan Hoch
Source: Bryan Hoch
Shane McClanahan Plays "Light" Catch on Friday
Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (forearm) played "light" catch on Friday and is expected to return after a short stint on the injured list, according to MLB.com. McClanahan exited his start on Sept. 3 with tightness in his left forearm after the fifth inning and was placed on the 15-day IL a day later. If he does not suffer any setbacks as he continues to ramp up his arm, he could return to Tampa's starting rotation by late September. It is good news for the Rays as they look to get the 29-year-old southpaw back fully healthy for the start of the playoffs in October, but for fantasy purposes, McClanahan is not going to help anyone the rest of the year. The two-time All-Star had a successful comeback from Tommy John surgery in 2026, going 10-7 in his 24 starts (118 innings pitched) while posting a 3.36 ERA (3.50 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 106 strikeouts and 39 walks. The Rays will be hoping that he can put his forearm issue behind him and help them to a lengthy run in this year's playoffs next month.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Garrett Crochet has Productive Side Session on Friday
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) threw another productive side session at Fenway Park on Friday, his third side session in the last week, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Crochet threw 25 pitches during the session and said he "accomplished what I wanted to." The talented southpaw threw at around 80 to 90% intensity and threw some fastballs in the 92-93 mph range. Before facing live hitters, Crochet will throw at least one more bullpen session early next week at Fenway. He badly wants to rejoin the Red Sox either late in the regular season or early in the playoffs as a one- or two-inning reliever, but he is being cautiously optimistic after all the time he has missed in 2026 due to shoulder and lat issues. "Yeah, my shoulder feels really good," Crochet said. "For me, it's like the rest of my body is getting acclimated to throwing this intensity again. I had four months to work on the shoulder, and it's in a really good spot. It's in a good spot." Having Crochet pitch in any capacity would be big for Boston, but for fantasy purposes, Crochet's season is over.
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Edwin Diaz Needs at Least One More Rehab Start
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever Edwin Diaz (neck) needs at least one more minor-league rehab start before the Dodgers activate him from the 15-day injured list, manager Dave Roberts told Katie Woo of The Athletic. Diaz has had a disastrous first year in L.A., pitching poorly before missing a huge chunk of the season after he needed surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. The 32-year-old is now on the IL due to a neck injury, but he is nearing his return for the final stretch of the regular season in late September. Diaz has already appeared in three rehab games in the minors, allowing one run while walking four and striking out three in 2 2/3 innings pitched. Roberts already acknowledged that the Dodgers plan to ease Diaz back into their bullpen in lower-leverage situations after he returns from the IL, so there is little runway for him to become fantasy relevant before the end of the 2026 campaign. In only 13 2/3 innings for the Dodgers this year, the three-time All-Star has posted a rough 11.85 ERA (6.03 FIP) with seven saves, a 2.56 WHIP, and a 19:10 K:BB. He is now rostered in only 68% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Twins to Promote Outfield Prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez
The Minnesota Twins are calling up outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez to the major leagues on Saturday from Triple-A St. Paul, according to Milb Central. Considered the Twins' fifth overall prospect, Rodriguez earns the call to the big leagues this weekend after hitting .262/.414/.500 with a .914 OPS, 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 36 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 49 games across 220 plate appearances with the Saints this year. He could have an opportunity to see some playing time in the final couple of weeks of the 2026 season in Minnesota, although he most likely will not see everyday playing time, even though Byron Buxton will miss the rest of the year because of season-ending hip surgery. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Rodriguez has played all three outfield positions in the minors and has impressive raw power from the left side of the plate. Rodriguez also has some nice plate discipline and should eventually get on base at a nice clip, but his swing-and-miss tendencies mean he probably will not help in the batting-average department. He is currently rostered in only 1% of Yahoo leagues and is unlikely to make a huge fantasy impact upon his big-league call-up.
Source: Milb Central
Source: Milb Central
Jesus Luzardo Scratched From Saturday's Start With Shoulder Stiffness
Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo (shoulder) has been scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday against the division-rival Atlanta Braves due to stiffness in his left shoulder, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Luzardo will avoid the injured list for now, and the Phillies are hoping to give him extra rest by pushing him back to next week. It does not appear to be a serious injury for the 28-year-old southpaw, but it is worth watching going into his next start, which is to be determined for now. Luzardo dealt with some stiffness in his shoulder in his last outing on Monday, which was a gem when he tossed a complete-game shutout with only two hits allowed, one walk, and 12 strikeouts against the Braves in a 1-0 win. If he is able to make his start next week, it will likely come against the division-rival Mets. Despite coming off an injury, Luzardo will be a must-start in fantasy leagues in that matchup in the fantasy postseason. Luzardo has been excellent in 2026 in his second year in Philly, going 14-5 with a 2.87 ERA (2.78 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with a career-high 221 strikeouts and 52 walks in 29 starts.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Lochlahn March
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Lochlahn March
