September 18, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers rookie right-hander
Roki Sasaki (calf, shoulder) is scheduled to pitch in relief with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday night while on his minor-league rehab assignment, according to manager Dave Roberts. It's pretty much been a lost first season in the big leagues for Sasaki, as he's missed most of 2025 due to a right-shoulder injury and has made only eight starts for the Dodgers. The 23-year-old Japanese star then injured his calf on Sept. 9 on his rehab assignment. With the regular season winding down, Sasaki basically has no chance to return to the Dodgers in a starting role, so they will take a look at him and consider him out of their bullpen in October for the postseason. Sasaki looked like an inexperienced rookie in his eight starts for the Blue before getting hurt, allowing 18 earned runs (4.72 ERA) while walking 22 and striking out 24 and giving up six homers in 34 1/3 innings.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
September 18, 2025
Los Angeles Angels third baseman
Yoan Moncada (ankle) remains sidelined for Thursday's contest in Milwaukee against the Brewers.
Luis Rengifo is making another start at the hot corner for the Halos and is hitting fifth against Brewers right-hander
Quinn Priester. Moncada injured his ankle on Sunday and has not played since. The oft-injured 30-year-old Cuban infielder continues to struggle with injuries in his first year in Anaheim, and he comes into Thursday's action having appeared in only 77 contests in 2025. The switch-hitter hasn't really been valuable in shallow-mixed fantasy leagues, as expected, with a .240/.343/.464 slash line, .807 OPS, 12 home runs, 34 RBI, and 39 runs scored in his 271 plate appearances. Rengifo has been pretty much the same player this year, with less power and modest speed (10 steals) in his 479 at-bats.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
September 18, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder
Tommy Edman is out of the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers have been fairly cautious with Edman since he returned from the injured list. He normally only plays in second consecutive games before getting a breather. Edman has struggled against right-handed pitching this season, so it makes sense why he's taking a seat on Thursday. In his absence,
Miguel Rojas covers second base while
Andy Pages patrols center field against right-hander
Logan Webb on Thursday. Edman doesn't offer enough upside with the bat to warrant rostering in most fantasy formats right now.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
September 18, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
Sal Frelick is headed to the bench ahead of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. This seems like purely a matchup decision with left-hander
Yusei Kikuchi on the mound for the Halos. Frelick has been impressive with the bat lately as he carries a six-game hitting streak into this contest. He mashed a big three-run home run during Wednesday's contest. He figures to be back in the mix for Friday's contest. Frelick is someone that has hit well enough this season to warrant rostering in most formats for the fantasy playoffs.
Isaac Collins,
Blake Perkins, and
Jackson Chourio will cover the outfield for the Brewers on Thursday.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
September 18, 2025
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher
Jose Soriano (forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Thursday. Soriano was hit in the forearm by a line drive during his start on Wednesday. Luckily, the X-rays came back negative, so Soriano is only dealing with a contusion. Despite that, Soriano is going to miss the rest of the regular season. He'll finish the 2025 campaign with a 4.26 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and a 152/78 K/BB ratio across 31 starts. In a corresponding move, left-hander
Sam Aldegheri has been recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake. Aldegheri has pitched well in the minors this season and figures to take over Soriano's spot in the rotation for the rest of the season.
--Andy WebbSource: Rhett Bollinger
September 18, 2025
Baltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle (finger) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the New York Yankees. It was recently revealed that Mountcastle missed the last two games due to a minor finger injury. He appears to be fine now, so he won't require a stint on the injured list. He'll bat leadoff and serve as the designated hitter versus left-hander
Max Fried on Thursday. Mountcastle has seen his playing time dip down the stretch of the season. The O's seem committed to
Coby Mayo at first base, so Mountcastle could be a trade candidate this winter. At the moment, Mountcastle is nothing more than a deep league option.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
September 18, 2025
New York Yankees infielder
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is out of the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. This appears to be a rare rest day for Chisholm who last sat out on August 23. Chisholm has been a solid contributor lately, slashing .259/.283/.414 with three home runs, eight RBI, and five steals in September. The expectation is that he'll be back in the lineup on Friday. In the meantime,
Amed Rosario will take over at second base and bat fifth on Thursday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
September 18, 2025
Los Angeles Angels catcher
Logan O'Hoppe is out of the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. O'Hoppe made his return to the lineup on Tuesday after missing some time due to a concussion. He went hitless during his return and is now set to miss his second straight game on Thursday. There is no word on O'Hoppe still dealing with any lingering symptoms. This sounds like a matchup decision based on O'Hoppe's struggles against right-handed pitching this season.
Sebastian Rivero will bat eighth and do the catching versus right-hander
Quinn Priester on Thursday.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
September 18, 2025
Baltimore Orioles second baseman
Jackson Holliday (undisclosed) has been nicked up and will sit out of Thursday's game against the New York Yankees, according to interim manager Tony Mansolino. With Holliday out,
Ryan Mountcastle (finger) will return to the lineup in the leadoff spot and will serve as the designated hitter against Yankees left-hander
Max Fried.
Luis Vazquez is manning the keystone and will hit in the nine-hole for the O's. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried about Holliday returning during the series against New York this weekend. The 21-year-old former first overall pick in 2022 is in his first full MLB season and is currently slashing .250/.321/.390 with a .711 OPS, 17 home runs, 55 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases in 142 games. He's been caught stealing a league-high 11 times. Vazquez is not a realistic DFS sleeper against Fried.
--Keith HernandezSource: BaltimoreBaseball.com - Rich Dubroff
September 18, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays rookie right-handed pitching prospect
Trey Yesavage will take the ball and start on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals, according to manager John Schneider. The skipper mentioned previously that Yesavage would pitch at some point during the weekend series in KC, and now we know that it will come in the series finale. In his major-league debut on Monday versus the Tampa Bay Rays, he showed why he's one of the higher-ceiling pitching prospects in the game, fanning nine batters while giving up just one run in five innings. The 22-year-old former 20th overall pick in 2024 out of East Carolina went 5-1 with a 3.12 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 160:41 K:BB in 25 outings (22 starts) over 98 innings at four different minor-league levels this year before recently getting called up to the big leagues for the first time. Yesavage will have a favorable matchup in his second MLB start and should be able to rack up more K's, although he might be on a short leash.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Shi Davidi
September 18, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Thursday that left-hander
Clayton Kershaw will retire as a player at the end of the 2025 season. The three-time National League Cy Young winner, 2014 NL MVP, and 11-time All-Star will make his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium on Friday night against the division-rival San Francisco Giants. It's the end of an era. The 37-year-old former first-rounder in 2006 will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he's eligible after posting a 2.54 career ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 222 wins, and 3,039 strikeouts in 2,844 2/3 regular-season innings. Even at the tail end of his career, Kershaw has held his own in L.A.'s starting rotation this year, pitching to a 3.53 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 71 strikeouts and 30 walks in 102 innings over 20 starts. His 2.54 career ERA leads all active players. Kershaw will be hoping to lead the Blue to a second straight World Series championship before walking off into the sunset.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
September 18, 2025
Cincinnati Reds catching prospect
Alfredo Duno has been named the Single-A Florida State League (FSL) Most Valuable Player for 2025. The Reds' third-ranked prospect led the FSL in most statistical categories, including home runs (18), doubles (18), RBI (81), runs scored (78), walks (95), OBP (.430), and SLG (.518). The 19-year-old's 95 walks were more than his 91 strikeouts, showing an advanced approach for such a young player. The 6-foot-2 Venezuelan was not on MLB.com's preseason Top 100 list, nor was he there when the list was refreshed in May, but he finally cracked it in July, coming in at No. 93 overall. He's vaulted all the way to No. 70 now, and he could be much higher next year. The right-handed slugger is quickly becoming a stash candidate in dynasty leagues, and his progress from here on out should be monitored.
--Jarod RuppSource: MLB.com
September 18, 2025
San Francisco Giants pitching prospect
Carson Whisenhunt (back) made his first rehab appearance at Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday. The Giants' seventh-ranked prospect allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out only one batter in 1 2/3 innings of work. Not only that, but the 24-year-old also threw two wild pitches in the outing. It's not clear if he'll get any more work down there before rejoining the big league club, but the Triple-A regular season ends on Sunday. The Giants could use the reinforcements as they are just two games back in the Wild Card, although the left-hander could be a risky proposition for the fantasy playoffs. The southpaw recorded a 5.01 ERA (6.92 FIP), 1.46 WHIP, and a 3.9 percent K-BB% in five starts for San Francisco before the injury.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
September 18, 2025
The Kansas City Royals expect left-hander
Bailey Falter (biceps) to start a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday night with Triple-A Omaha. It remains to be seen if Falter will be able to return to the big-league squad in the last week and a half of the season. The 28-year-old southpaw was placed on the 15-day injured list in late August and is trying to return after suffering a left-biceps contusion. Before his injury, the Royals had moved Falter into a relief role, killing what little fantasy value he had. In 26 appearances (24 starts) with the Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates this year, Falter has a 4.45 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 81:46 K:BB in 125 1/3 innings. He has appeared in only four games (two starts) with the Royals and has allowed 15 earned runs with seven walks and 11 punchouts in only 12 innings pitched.
--Keith HernandezSource: Kansas City Royals
September 18, 2025
Miami Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine (shoulder) is expected to stay with the club's Triple-A affiliate in Jacksonville for the remainder of the Triple-A regular season, according to manager Clayton McCullough, which wraps up this Sunday. After that, he could potentially rejoin the big league club for a series that begins Tuesday in Philadelphia, although the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are in the Triple-A playoffs, so he could log a few extra games there as well before rejoining the Marlins. The 28-year-old has been working his way back from surgery on his left shoulder and hasn't played in the big leagues since April. Through six rehab games at Triple-A, the former second-round pick is 5-for-16 (.313) with a double, two home runs, and a 5:7 BB:K. Whenever the left-handed slugger returns, though, he's not a realistic option in most leagues for the fantasy baseball playoffs.
--Jarod RuppSource: Isaac Azout
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