Tarik Skubal to Undergo Imaging on Saturday
Tarik Skubal (side) will undergo imaging on Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports. Skubal, who's dealing with pain near his left rib cage, could only manage 3 1/3 innings of four-run ball in an 8-2 loss to the Miami Marlins before the injury forced him from the game. The reigning AL Cy Young winner fell to 13-5 with a 2.26 ERA, a league-best .84 WHIP, and 224:28 K:BB over 183 1/3 innings. Thanks to his tremendous production, Skubal is the overwhelming favorite to take home Cy Young honors again this year. It could be a catastrophic late-season blow to the Tigers and fantasy managers if the irreplaceable southpaw has to miss a significant amount of time.
Source: Jeff Passan - ESPN
After leaving his start early on Friday with side discomfort, Detroit Tigers ace Source: Jeff Passan - ESPN
Trevor Rogers Exits with Toe Discomfort
Trevor Rogers (toe) was removed early during Friday's outing against the Toronto Blue Jays. Rogers was pulled after five innings of work due to left toe discomfort. Before exiting, Rogers allowed one unearned run on three hits, while walking four batters, and striking out six hitters across five innings of work. The expectation is that Rogers will undergo further evaluation. For now, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day. Fantasy managers will need to check back to see if this impacts Rogers making his next start.
Source: Brendan Mortensen
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Source: Brendan Mortensen
Will Smith Heads to the Bench on Friday
Will Smith (hand) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Smith will head to the bench for the second straight game and the seventh time in the last eight games. He continues to deal with right hand soreness that has lingered throughout the week. It wouldn't be shocking if Smith lands on the injured list. In his absence, Ben Rortvedt will do the catching and bat ninth against right-hander Justin Verlander on Friday. Fantasy managers should check back on Saturday to see if Smith is ready to return.
Source: mlb.com
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Source: mlb.com
Jo Adell Taking a Seat on Friday
Jo Adell (illness) is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Seattle Mariners. Adell will now take a seat for the fourth time in the last five games. He continues to battle a case of vertigo that will sideline him for a second straight game. It doesn't sound like this is something that will land Adell on the injured list. For now, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day. Chris Taylor will take over in right field and bat second on Friday. Fantasy managers should check back on Saturday for another update on Adell.
Source: Jeff Fletcher
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Source: Jeff Fletcher
Tyler Soderstrom Scratched on Friday With Groin Tightness
Tyler Soderstrom (groin) was scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. This news comes after Soderstrom left Wednesday's contest due to groin tightness. The A's were off on Thursday, but it doesn't appear that was enough time. Soderstrom will hit the bench for at least one more game. In his absence, Carlos Cortes will move into the lineup and take over in left field during Friday's contest. Fantasy managers should check back on Saturday for another update.
Source: Jessica Kleinschmidt
Athletics first baseman/outfielder Source: Jessica Kleinschmidt
Tarik Skubal Exits with Side Tightness
Tarik Skubal (side) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's start against the Miami Marlins. Skubal only threw 3.1 innings before grabbing his left side after throwing a pitch and calling for the training staff. After further discussion on the mound, the Tigers decided to take the cautious approach and pull Skubal from the game. The team is calling the issue left side tightness, so hopefully he won't miss much time. The assumption is that Skubal will undergo further testing. Before exiting, Skubal tossed 3.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits while striking out two batters. It's unclear if he'll be able to make his next start, so fantasy managers should check back for another update.
Source: Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Source: Detroit Tigers
Matt Chapman's Appeal Successful, Will Play Friday Night
Matt Chapman's appeal of his one-game suspension was successful, and he will start at third and bat fifth on Friday night in a crucial divisional matchup against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto at Oracle Park. Earlier this month, the Giants got in a little dust-up with the Colorado Rockies in which Chapman pushed Kyle Freeman. The 32-year-old will now avoid a suspension and will be available on Friday night. Chapman has gone hitless in five career at-bats against Yamamoto, but he'll also be coming into Friday's series opener in the Bay Area with a seven-game hitting streak. During his current seven-game hitting streak, Chapman has gone 11-for-24 with three home runs, three doubles, six RBI, and eight runs scored in 29 plate appearances. He has quietly produced his sixth 20-homer season in 2025.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Susan Slusser
San Francisco Giants third baseman Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Susan Slusser
Masyn Winn Returns for Cardinals
Masyn Winn (knee) is starting at shortstop and will bat in the six-hole for Friday night's divisional contest against the hosting Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Quinn Priester. Winn will return to the field on Friday after missing the last three games with a meniscus tear in his knee. While the 23-year-old will need surgery in the offseason on his knee, he plans on playing through it for the final couple of weeks of the 2025 campaign. It doesn't exactly give fantasy managers a vote of confidence, especially since he has hit .164 (11-for-67) with no home runs, a double, five RBI, nine runs, and two steals in 18 games played since Aug. 17. Winn has faced Priester only two times in his career and has two hits off of him.
Source: MLB.com
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Source: MLB.com
Ketel Marte Scratched From Friday's Lineup
Ketel Marte (foot) has been scratched from the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Minnesota Twins. Ildemaro Vargas is now starting at the keystone and will hit second against Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez at Target Field. Marte was expected to return to action on Friday after he left Wednesday's game with a foot injury, but he apparently wasn't feeling quite 100 percent after pre-game workouts. Fantasy managers will need to remove him from their lineups and check back on Friday to see if he's able to return. Marte is a must-start second baseman in fantasy when he's active and in the lineup. Vargas, 34, is in a nice spot at the top of the order, but he'll still be a low-upside DFS streamer in Minnesota. He has gone 19-for-73 (.260) in limited action in 2025 with only three homers and 15 RBI.
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
Brendan Donovan Back in Action After Being Reinstated
Brendan Donovan (groin) from the 10-day injured list on Friday, and he's in the starting lineup for the series opener against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Quinn Priester. Donovan is manning second base and will hit leadoff in his return. The 28-year-old is back on the diamond in the big leagues after missing almost a month with a strained left groin. Now that Donovan is back, he should start regularly for the Red Birds after hitting .279/.348/.402 with a .750 OPS, nine home runs, 45 RBI, 57 runs, and three steals in 110 games. Donovan is more useful in real life than in fantasy because of his lack of both power and speed as a utility man in St. Louis. With Donovan back in the fold down the stretch, young infielder Thomas Saggese will return to more of a bench role.
Source: MLB.com - John Denton
The St. Louis Cardinals activated infielder Source: MLB.com - John Denton
William Contreras Back Behind the Plate for Brew Crew
William Contreras (forearm) is back behind the plate on Friday to catch right-hander Quinn Priester and will hit cleanup in the series opener against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Andre Pallante at American Family Field. Contreras was hit by a pitch on his forearm on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers and was held out as a precaution on Wednesday before a team day off on Thursday. The 27-year-old backstop is now in there and will face Priester, whom he is hitting .167 against with an RBI in just six career at-bats. The Venezuelan catcher hasn't been as good as he was last year, but he should be returned to starting fantasy lineups for the weekend. Contreras has looked good so far in September, going 10-for-30 with a double, two RBI, and seven runs scored in eight games.
Source: MLB.com
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Source: MLB.com
Brewers Reshuffling Their Rotation, Brandon Woodruff Lined Up for Wednesday
Brandon Woodruff back to next Wednesday in a fine matchup for fantasy purposes against the Los Angeles Angels. Woodruff was originally on track to make his next start on Saturday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals after last pitching on Sept. 6, but they'll give him extra rest and use rookie Jacob Misiorowski on Saturday instead. It's not a big surprise after the 32-year-old Woodruff didn't make his 2025 debut until July while recovering from offseason surgery on his shoulder. He's been solid for fantasy managers upon his return, though, going 6-2 with a 3.32 ERA and 0.955 WHIP with 74 strikeouts in 59 2/3 frames over his 11 starts. Start him next week against the Halos.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Brewers are reshuffling their starting rotation and will push right-hander Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Phillies Putting Jose Alvarado on Injured List With Forearm Strain
Jose Alvarado (forearm) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 11) on Friday with a left-forearm strain and are adding right-hander Walker Buehler to the active roster in a corresponding move, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Alvarado has only appeared in 28 games out of the bullpen for the Phillies this year after serving a lengthy suspension, and now he'll miss at least the next two weeks with an injury. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw may not be able to make it back until the postseason in October. In his 26 innings of relief in his fifth year in Philly, he has a 3.81 ERA (3.60 FIP) and 1.31 WHIP with seven saves, 32 strikeouts, and seven walks. The Phillies still have a formidable bullpen, but they'll rely on lefty Matt Strahm more against lefties in a high-leverage role now.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
The Philadelphia Phillies are placing left-handed reliever Source: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
Romy Gonzalez Out Again on Friday
Romy Gonzalez (knee) remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the division-rival New York Yankees at Fenway Park. David Hamilton will make another start at the keystone and will hit seventh against Yankees right-hander Luis Gil. Gonzalez is dealing with a sore left knee and also missed the series finale on Wednesday against the Athletics. The 29-year-old had another off day on Thursday, but he still isn't ready. Consider him day-to-day and check back if he's available against the Yanks on Saturday. Hamilton has 20 stolen bases in 84 games this year and a total of 53 swipes the last two years in Boston, but he'll be a low-upside DFS sleeper at the bottom of Boston's batting order. Hamilton has also gone hitless in seven career at-bats versus Gil.
Source: MLB.com
Boston Red Sox infielder Source: MLB.com
Zach McKinstry Back in Action on Friday
Zach McKinstry (back) is starting at the hot corner and is batting eighth for the first-place Tigers in Friday night's game on the road against the hosting Miami Marlins and right-hander Sergio Alcantara. McKinstry will return to the fold on Friday evening after sitting out the last three games with a back injury. With McKinstry returning, infielder Colt Keith will serve as Detroit's designated hitter. The 30-year-old McKinstry has provided some decent power/speed numbers for fantasy managers in deeper leagues this year with a .266/.342/.447 slash line, 11 long balls, 48 RBI, 65 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases in his 418 at-bats. He has gone 7-for-20 so far in September with three doubles, a triple, and five RBI in six games. McKinstry is hitless in two career at-bats against Alcantara.
Source: MLB.com
Detroit Tigers infielder
Source: MLB.com