September 15, 2025
Houston Astros infielder/outfielder
Jose Altuve (foot) is starting at second base and will bat cleanup for the Astros in Monday's series opener against the division-rival Texas Rangers and right-hander
Jack Leiter at Daikin Park. Altuve was pulled from Saturday's game early against the Atlanta Braves with soreness in his right foot and didn't start in the series finale on Sunday. The 35-year-old veteran All-Star is back in action for the start of a crucial American League West series on Monday, though, and fantasy managers will want to get him back in their lineups, even though he's gone hitless in five career at-bats against Leiter. Houston is going to need Altuve at full health down the stretch as they look to get into the postseason. He's been outstanding again for the team in 2025, but he's hitting .163 (7-for-43) with two homers, five RBI, and nine strikeouts so far in 12 games in September.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 15, 2025
Cincinnati Reds shortstop
Elly De La Cruz has been dropped to seventh in the batting order on Monday at Busch Stadium for the series opener against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals and left-hander
Matthew Liberatore. This will be the first time all season that De La Cruz has hit anywhere besides third in the lineup. However, the 23-year-old switch-hitter is mired in a slump that has seen him hit just .206/.243/.291 since Aug. 1. The Dominican shortstop has not homered since July 31, and his recent cold stretch has dropped his season slash line to .263/.331/.433 with 19 home runs, 82 RBI, 97 runs and 35 stolen bases in 586 at-bats. The Reds desperately need to get De La Cruz going if they are going to have any chance of sneaking into the final wild-card spot in the National League. He has hit .250 with a home run and a .900 OPS in eight career at-bats against Liberatore.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 15, 2025
San Diego Padres shortstop
Xander Bogaerts (foot), who is recovering from a left foot non-displaced fracture, is targeting a return during the final week of the regular season, according to MLB.com. Bogaerts was able to take ground balls, track pitches from live arms, and swing in the cage on Saturday, and is getting closer to continuing his rehab in Arizona, according to manager Mike Shildt. The 32-year-old veteran isn't going to help fantasy managers from here on out, but he should be back with the Padres if they get into the postseason in October. He was placed on the 10-day injured list back on Aug. 29 after fouling a ball off his left foot on Aug. 27. Lately, the Friars have moved
Jake Cronenworth from second to shortstop, although
Jose Iglesias and
Mason McCoy are also options at the 6 if SD wants to prioritize defense over offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 15, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop
Masyn Winn (knee), who has been shut down for the rest of the season due to a torn meniscus in his right knee, will undergo arthroscopic surgery early in the offseason, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. Winn, who will be a National League Gold Glove candidate, played through his meniscus tear for weeks before finally being shut down. The good news is that his surgery will pose no risk of impacting his availability for next season. The 23-year-old leads all MLB defenders in Outs Above Average (22), and his .994 fielding percentage will be the highest full-season mark by a Cardinals shortstop in club history. Winn also finishes his second full MLB season with a .253/.310/.363 slash line, nine homers, 51 RBI, and nine steals. With Winn out the rest of the year,
Thomas Saggese should see more starts at the 6 to close things out.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Katie Woo
September 15, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates interim manager
Don Kelly said that outfielder
Jack Suwinski (groin) has been activated from the 10-day injured list on Monday, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. In a corresponding move, the team optioned outfielder
Ji Hwan Bae to Triple-A Indianapolis. The Pirates have yet to release their starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Chicago Cubs, so it's unclear if Suwisnki will go right back into the starting nine. The 27-year-old has been out since late August with a groin strain and figures to at least be a lineup regular for the Bucs against right-handed pitchers over the final few weeks of the 2025 season. Suwinski hit two homers in three minor-league rehab games, but he's gone just 16-for-121 (.132) with three home runs, eight RBI, and six steals in 48 games in the majors this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
September 15, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman
Willson Contreras (soreness) is starting at first base and is batting cleanup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds and right-hander
Zack Littell at Busch Stadium. Contreras was hit by two pitches in Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers and got the series finale off on Sunday due to general soreness. He's back in the lineup on Monday, though, against a pitcher he's gone 1-for-4 against in his career. The 33-year-old Venezuelan will hope to keep it up in September, as he's gone 7-for-24 so far in the month with a triple, five RBI, and three runs scored in seven games. The three-time All-Star and former catcher has reached the 20-homer mark in 2025 for the sixth time in his 10 MLB seasons and has also driven in a career-high 79 runs in 134 games in his third year in St. Louis.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 15, 2025
Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje threw four innings of shutout baseball on Sunday, yielding three hits and two walks while striking out three. The Mariners' eighth-ranked prospect has now given up a total of just one run over his last three starts, now with a 2.67 ERA (3.42 FIP), 1.28 WHIP, and a 14.5 percent K-BB% in seven starts at Double-A. The switch-pitcher should see time at Triple-A next year and could be knocking on the door to the majors later in the year. With his ability to throw with either arm, it would seem that it would be all the more appealing for the Mariners to bring him up so long as he's performing well next year, and he'd be an intriguing fantasy asset if he can bring the number of walks down (11.1 percent walk rate in 2025).
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
September 15, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect
Ryan Waldschmidt belted a pair of home runs in a 3-for-5 day at the plate on Sunday for Double-A Amarillo, tallying five RBI in the process. The D-backs' top-ranked prospect has been on fire lately, going 15-for-34 (.441) over his last eight games, and has looked plenty comfortable at Double-A since his promotion to that level back in late June. The 22-year-old is slashing .309/.423/.498 with nine home runs, 19 steals, and he has nearly as many walks (45) as he has strikeouts (53) in 66 games for the Sod Poodles. The 31st pick from the 2024 Draft looks like he's well on his way to spending his time at Triple-A in 2026, with a major league debut likely on the horizon as well. If somehow he's flown under the radar in dynasty leagues, the 6-foot-2 slugger should be rostered with a nice blend of power, contact ability, speed, and approach.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
September 15, 2025
New York Mets pitching prospect
Jonah Tong was named the organization's minor-league Pitcher of the Year for his performance this season. The Mets' fourth-ranked prospect pitched to a 1.43 ERA (1.68 FIP) and 0.92 WHIP, recording 179 strikeouts in just 113 2/3 innings pitched, which is still the most strikeouts in all the minor leagues despite not having pitched there since August 23. The 22-year-old looked great in his first start in the majors, but has been roughed up in his last two starts, allowing 10 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings pitched with seven walks and seven strikeouts. The right-hander's future remains bright, though, and he should be a fantasy-relevant pitcher for years to come.
--Jarod RuppSource: Anthony DiComo
September 15, 2025
New York Mets outfield prospect
Carson Benge was named the organization's minor league Player of the Year on Monday. The Mets' top-ranked prospect had a strong year that began at High-A and ended at Triple-A. He slashed .308/.413/.513 with 12 home runs and 19 steals in 92 games between High-A and Double-A, although Triple-A proved a bit more challenging. The 2024 first-rounder hit safely in seven of his first 11 games at that level, but is just 1-for-28 (.036) over his last seven games. There was some momentum that seemed to give hope to a potential 2025 MLB debut, but at this point in the season, he's basically run out of time, at least in terms of fantasy. Look for a 2026 debut, and he should bring solid hit, power, and run tools to the big leagues once he gets there.
--Jarod RuppSource: Anthony DiComo
September 15, 2025
Chicago Cubs outfield prospect
Kevin Alcantara was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday after
Owen Caissie (concussion) hit the 7-day injured list with a concussion. The Cubs' fifth-ranked prospect was called up at the beginning of the month and had been sent back down to Triple-A the day before, but with Caissie on the IL, Alcantara will rejoin the big league club. The 23-year-old was rarely used during his time in the majors, recording at-bats in just two games during his two-week stint. Things don't look like they'll be much different this time around, as Alcantara did not start on Sunday, rather, it was
Willi Castro who drew the start in right field. The 6-foot-6 slugger has some power, but until he's more involved, he can safely be left to the waiver wire in all leagues.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com - Transactions Page
September 15, 2025
Cleveland Guardians left-hander
John Means (elbow) struggled in his latest rehab start with Triple-A Columbus on Sunday. Means lasted 3 2/3 innings and yielded six runs on five hits, including two homers, and four walks. The 32-year-old did throw 82 pitches, his most in any of his six rehab starts, but has managed a brutal 9.60 ERA with 11:10 K:BB in four appearances and 15 innings with Columbus. It's unclear if the Guardians plan to activate Means from the 60-day injured list before the season ends. If he does get into a game this year, it'll be the first time since May 2024 for the former Baltimore Oriole. Means underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2024, and he settled for a one-year, $1 million guarantee with the Guardians in free agency last offseason. The Guardians will have to decide during the upcoming offseason whether to pick up Means' $6 million club option for 2026.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
September 15, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop
Trea Turner (hamstring) is progressing well in his recovery from a strained right hamstring and could return during the final week of the regular season, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. After Turner took grounders at shortstop over the weekend, manager Rob Thomson said that "it looks like he's ahead of schedule." Turner's progress since going on the 10-day injured list on Sept. 8 is highly encouraging for the Phillies as the postseason approaches. The Phillies hold an insurmountable 12-game lead in the NL East, and the 32-year-old is among the reasons for that. Turner leads the NL in batting average and has slashed .305/.356/.458 with 15 homers, 69 RBI, 94 runs scored, and 36 stolen bases over 637 plate appearances.
Edmundo Sosa (groin) initially took over for Turner at short, but he was out of the lineup with a groin injury over the weekend. That left
Bryson Stott to handle short, while
Donovan Walton and
Weston Wilson split time at second.
--Connor ByrneSource: Scott Lauber - Philadelphia Inquirer
September 15, 2025
Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect
Connelly Early will start on Tuesday against the Athletics, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. Right-hander
Lucas Giolito will get the ball on Wednesday, while fellow righty
Brayan Bello will toe the rubber in the series finale on Thursday. Giolito and Bello had been slated for Thursday and Friday, respectively, but the Red Sox decided to move each of them up a day. As for Early, he'll get a rematch with the Athletics after dominating them in his first major league start in a 6-0 win on Sept. 9. The 23-year-old threw five scoreless innings of five-hit ball and totaled a jaw-dropping 11 strikeouts against one walk. Early, who previously faced the A's on the road, will be making his Fenway Park debut on Tuesday.
--Connor ByrneSource: Christopher Smith - MassLive.com
September 15, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays have called up right-hander
Joe Boyle from Triple-A Durham to start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The 26-year-old has made 10 appearances (six starts) with the Rays this season and gone 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP, and 39:21 K:BB in 36 2/3 frames. The Rays demoted Boyle in late August after he struggled to an unsightly 9.42 ERA over four appearances and 14 1/3 frames last month. Boyle will face a daunting task in trying to contain an elite Toronto offense in his return. The Blue Jays rank second in the league in OPS and fourth in runs scored.
--Connor ByrneSource: Marc Topkin - Tampa Bay Times
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