According to Tampa Bay skipper Kevin Cash, shortstop Wander Franco (hamstring) is day-to-day. The 22-year-old was in the lineup on Saturday for the first game of a doubleheader versus the Red Sox, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs. However, he was held out of the second game because of left hamstring soreness and was replaced by Taylor Walls. Considering Franco had been dealing with a shoulder issue, he may be due for a few days off, although fantasy managers will remain optimistic he'll be back in the lineup soon.
Oakland Athletics rookie right-hander Mason Miller threw two innings of relief on Thursday in the 7-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking one and striking out two. Miller threw a total of 54 pitches and was pulled going into his third inning of work after he gave up three straight hits, so it wasn't the best outing for the youngster. The 25-year-old isn't going to work as a traditional starter down the stretch, but he could also operate as an opener for the team as they play out the string. Miller has gone 0-3 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 32 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings so far in his first eight major-league appearances (six starts), and he'll almost certainly open the 2024 season in Oakland's starting rotation.
The Baltimore Orioles recalled right-hander Tyler Wells, the team's top starter in the first half, from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday to help boost their fatigued bullpen. In a corresponding move, pitcher Mike Baumann was optioned to the minors. The 29-year-old Wells was sent to the minors early in the second half of the season when he started to struggle in a starting role for Baltimore. He had been pitching in relief for Norfolk and will finish the regular season out of the bullpen while also likely being an option in relief for the playoffs. In 113 2/3 innings for the O's this year, Wells has gone 7-6 with a 3.80 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 111 strikeouts in 21 appearances (20 starts).
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor reached a personal milestone in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, going 2-for-4 with a run scored, two stolen bases and a strikeout. He's now stolen four bases in his last four games and has reached the 30-stolen base mark for the first time in his career. The 29-year-old Puerto Rican is four home runs shy of joining the 30-30 club this year as well. He's currently slashing .251/.332/.452 with 26 home runs, 88 RBI, 30 stolen bases and 100 runs scored in 573 at-bats. Lindor got off to a miserably cold start this year and although he hasn't been that great at the plate in September, he is currently riding a modest six-game hitting streak that has seen him go 7-for-22 (.318) with an RBI, four steals and three runs scored.
The New York Yankees placed left-handed relief pitcher Wandy Peralta (triceps) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 19) on Friday with a left-triceps strain and recalled pitcher Yoendrys Gomez from the minors in a corresponding move. Peralta will finish the 2023 season with a strong 2.83 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 54 relief innings pitched as well as four saves, but he was fortunate to have such a low ERA while walking 30 batters. The eight-year veteran will head to the free-agent market this winter. Peralta is good at limiting hard contact and generating plenty of swings and misses, but he's going to need to limit the free passes if he wants to continue being successful at the big-league level in 2024.
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Caleb Ferguson will serve as the team's opener on Friday against the division-rival San Francisco Giants, with lefty Ryan Yarbrough expected to be the bulk reliever behind him, according to manager Dave Roberts. Ferguson has been solid for the Blue this year, going 7-3 with a 2.56 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, three saves and 66 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings over 63 appearances (five starts) this year, but he's not going to go deep enough to give fantasy managers a chance at a win against San Fran. In his five starts, Ferguson allowed two earned runs while walking one and striking out five in just five innings.
Chicago Cubs closer Adbert Alzolay (forearm) will throw a touch-and-feel bullpen session on Friday. Alzolay is trying to make it back before the end of the regular season after suffering a right-forearm strain, but he's running out of time. However, if the Cubbies secure a wild-card spot in the National League, the 28-year-old right-hander should be available to serve as the team's closer in the postseason. He is eligible to return from the injured list on Sept. 26. Alzolay has been great for Chicago in a high-leverage bullpen role in 2023, posting a 2.71 ERA (3.01 FIP), 1.02 WHIP, a career-high 22 saves, 12 walks and 66 strikeouts in 63 relief innings. Until he's able to return, Julian Merryweather figures to remain the Cubs' primary option for saves.
The Atlanta Braves placed left-hander Max Fried (finger) on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a blister on his left index finger and recalled right-hander Darius Vines from the minors in a corresponding move. Fried looked great in his start on Thursday in a win over the Washington Nationals, giving up just one run on a solo homer while walking one and striking out seven in six innings of work, but his blister issues returned in the outing and now he'll miss the rest of the 2023 regular season. The Braves are most likely playing it safe with the 29-year-old All-Star and hope that the blister will be a thing of the past once the postseason begins. Fried will finish the 2023 campaign with a 8-1 record, 2.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 80 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings over his 14 starts.
Left-handed reliever Sean Doolittle announced his retirement from professional baseball on his Twitter account on Friday. Doolittle didn't pitch at all in the majors in 2023 and made just six relief appearances in 2022 for the Washington Nationals due to elbow and knee injuries. He was originally a first-round pick (41st overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2007 out of the University of Virginia, and he spent 11 years in the majors pitching for the A's, Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners. The 36-year-old southpaw made the All-Star team twice, first in 2014 with the A's and again in 2018 with the Nats. Doolittle finishes a fine career with a 3.20 ERA (2.94 FIP), 1.01 WHIP, 112 saves and 522 strikeouts in 450 2/3 relief innings.
Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (neck) is listed as the team's probable starter on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Kikuchi left his last start early on Tuesday against the New York Yankees with a left upper trapezius cramp, but the 32-year-old southpaw later expressed confidence that he could make his next turn through the starting rotation. Toronto needs all hands on deck as they try to lock down one of the last wild-card spots in the American League down the stretch with under 10 regular season games remaining. The Japanese hurler has been solid for the Jays in 2023 with a 3.74 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 170 strikeouts in 158 2/3 innings over 30 starts, and he's been even better in the second half with a 3.03 ERA (2.80 FIP) and 74 K's in 65 1/3 frames over 12 starts.
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen (finger) is out of a cast after visiting with his surgeon on Wednesday, although he's now in a splint. His surgery to set and stabilize the bone in his finger has been successful and he can now start doing mobility work with his fingers. However, there's no timeline set for his return just yet. The 28-year-old backstop has been out with a right middle-finger fracture that he suffered when he was hit by a foul ball on Sept. 1. At this point in the season with less than 10 games remaining in the regular season, if Jansen ends up returning at all, it will most likely be if the Blue Jays make it to the postseason as an American League wild-card team. Alejandro Kirk will continue to serve as the team's primary catcher until Jansen is able to return.
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