September 15, 2025
San Diego Padres right-handed reliever
Jason Adam (quadriceps) had surgery on Sept. 3 and has a timetable for recovery of six to nine months, according to MLB.com. Adam felt his quadriceps muscle pop while trying to make a play on a ball on Sept. 1 against the Baltimore Orioles and was carted off the field before eventually being diagnosed with a season-ending left-quadriceps tendon rupture. The 34-year-old veteran will not be ready for the start of spring training next February and probably won't be ready for Opening Day, either. Losing Adam for the rest of 2025 was a huge blow to the Padres' relief corps, but San Diego's bullpen is still one of the best in baseball. Adam was one of the best all-around relievers in baseball this year before his injury, posting a 1.93 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 70 strikeouts, and 30 holds in 65 1/3 innings pitched.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 15, 2025
San Diego Padres right-hander
Joe Musgrove (elbow) started playing catch in early April and has been throwing bullpen sessions since early August. It's still unlikely that Musgrove will pitch this year after recovering from Tommy John surgery to fix a torn UCL in his right elbow, but he's holding out hope that he can return as a reliever if the Padres make a deep playoff run in October, according to MLB.com. The 32-year-old veteran has been out all year after having TJ surgery on Oct. 11, 2024. The fact that Musgrove has yet to face live hitters doesn't bode well for his chances of pitching for the Padres before spring training of 2026. Musgrove was a first-time All-Star in 2022 in his second year in San Diego and was one of the most reliable starters in fantasy, but injuries in the last two seasons will make him a wild card in 2026 fantasy drafts next spring.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 15, 2025
San Diego Padres left-hander
Nestor Cortes (biceps) played catch from 90 feet last Thursday and felt good enough to throw off a mound on Saturday, according to MLB.com. Cortes was put on the 15-day injured list on Sept. 4 (retroactive to Sept. 4) with left-biceps tendinitis that he began experiencing following his start on Sept. 3. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw is unlikely to return to the big-league roster when he's eligible later this week, and the Friars probably don't want him anywhere near their starting rotation down the stretch as the look to cement their spot in the postseason. The Cuban hurler has not been very effective in just eight starts with the Padres and Milwaukee Brewers this year. He has a 5.47 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in SD in six starts and has allowed a whopping 13 home runs in only 34 1/3 total innings in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 15, 2025
Texas Rangers second baseman
Marcus Semien (foot) took batting practice on Monday at Daikin Park before the series opener against the division-rival Houston Astros, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Semien is three and a half weeks removed from a broken left foot that he suffered in late August. The 34-year-old veteran is certainly making progress, but there's no timetable for his return at the moment while Texas battles for a wild-card spot in the American League. Until Semien can return, the Rangers will move forward with
Cody Freeman as their primary starter at the keystone. Semien, a three-time All-Star, has struggled at the plate in 2025 for a second straight season, hitting .230 (108-for-470) with 15 home runs, his lowest total since the shortened 2020 campaign. Still, Texas would love to have him back for the stretch run.
--Keith HernandezSource: Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
September 15, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Oneil Cruz is out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Cruz will head to the bench for the third time in the last five games. The first two times were because a left-handed starter was on the mound, but right-hander
Jameson Taillon is drawing the start for the Cubbies on Monday. Cruz has been awful with the bat in the second half of the season. Luckily, his power and speed give him enough upside to warrant rostering in most fantasy formats.
Jack Suwinski will take over in center field during Monday's contest.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
September 15, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder
Blaze Alexander (elbow) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Alexander will make his return to the lineup after exiting early during Sunday's game due to an elbow contusion. Luckily, Alexander was able to avoid serious injury after getting hit by a pitch on the left elbow. He'll cover third base and bat fifth during Monday's game. The 26-year-old is putting together a strong season at the plate and is worth a look in at least deep leagues.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
September 15, 2025
Los Angeles Angels catcher
Logan O'Hoppe (concussion) was activated off the seven-day concussion injured list on Monday. O'Hoppe has passed through the league's concussion protocol and will only miss the minimum amount of time. The Angels have a scheduled off day on Monday, but O'Hoppe figures to be back in the lineup on Tuesday. This is good news for the Halos with
Travis d'Arnaud (concussion) currently sidelined. O'Hoppe figures to do a majority of the catching down the stretch of the season. The right-handed slugger has good power upside, but has struggled with the bat lately.
--Andy WebbSource: Angels PR
September 15, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop
Bo Bichette (knee) is scheduled to visit with a specialist for a second opinion. The initial diagnosis on Bichette is a sprained PCL, but the organization is hopeful to get a better timetable with this visit to Dr. Dan Cooper. The Blue Jays plan to have Bichette join them in Tampa Bay this week. It seems unlikely that he'll be ready to be activated when first eligible. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update on his status. In the meantime,
Andres Gimenez will likely continue to see the bulk of the playing time at shortstop.
--Andy WebbSource: Arden Zwelling
September 15, 2025
New York Yankees shortstop
Anthony Volpe (shoulder) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Minnesota Twins. Volpe will miss his sixth straight game due to a partially torn left labrum. He recently received a cortisone shot, but still isn't feeling good enough to play.
Jose Caballero will continue covering shortstop and will bat eighth on Monday. It sounds like Volpe could be available off the bench, so hopefully he'll return to the lineup within the next few days. Fantasy managers should check back on Tuesday for another update.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
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
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