MLB News

Across 389 plate appearances in 2026, Baltimore Orioles third baseman/first baseman Coby Mayo is hitting .223/.288/.456 with 21 home runs, 58 RBI, 56 runs scored, and three stolen bases. With his 31.4% strikeout rate, Mayo profiles as a likely batting-average liability for fantasy managers. However, the 24-year-old has also demonstrated high-end power upside this season with a 13.0% barrel rate and a 48.5% hard-hit rate. Mayo has also been on a hot streak in the second half of the year, hitting .279 with nine home runs, 24 RBI, and 26 runs scored across 139 plate appearances since the All-Star break. For fantasy managers looking for power, Mayo should be a priority corner infield target on the waiver wire.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Hayden Wesneski picked up his fifth win of the season on Tuesday, allowing three earned runs while striking out three across six innings of work in his team's 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Wesneski missed the first half of the 2026 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. However, the 28-year-old has been effective since returning to the Astros rotation in late July. Across 45 2/3 innings (eight starts), Wesneski has recorded a 5-1 record with a 3.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts. Including his outing against Philadelphia on Tuesday, the right-hander has logged four consecutive starts of at least five innings pitched and three or fewer earned runs allowed. Wesneski profiles as a priority streamer option for fantasy managers ahead of his next scheduled start at Tropicana Field against the Rays on Sunday.

Across 421 plate appearances in 2026, Miami Marlins utility man Javier Sanoja is hitting .291/.331/.441 with eight home runs, 57 RBI, 41 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. The 24-year-old does not profile as a power asset for fantasy managers, as he's logged just a 2.2% barrel rate and a 31.4% hard-hit rate this year. However, Sanoja has also posted just an 8.1% strikeout rate in 2026, making him one of the most difficult batters to punch out in all of baseball. Between his ability to put the ball in play and his above-average speed, Sanoja profiles as a high-end source of batting average for fantasy managers. The 24-year-old has also spent time this season at every defensive position other than first base, catcher, and pitcher, which helps keep his playing time in Miami stable. In deeper leagues, Sanoja's balanced profile makes him an appealing waiver wire target.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Lazaro Montes (hip) returned to his team's lineup on Tuesday, batting eighth and playing designated hitter against the Texas Rangers. Montes was sidelined by a hip injury throughout most of the weekend after crashing into the right-field wall in Seattle on Friday night. The 21-year-old made his MLB debut with the Mariners on September 1 and has logged three hits and a home run across his first 15 big-league plate appearances. Montes was having a monster year in the minors before getting the call, hitting .249 with 38 home runs, 96 RBI, 99 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across 542 plate appearances split between Double-A and Triple-A. Swing-and-miss is a major issue in his profile at the plate, but Montes holds tremendous power upside and could be a game-changer for fantasy managers down the stretch.

Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said that right-hander Bryce Elder (knee) underwent knee surgery on Tuesday and will miss three to four weeks as a result of the procedure, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. While Elder has a chance to return to the postseason, his regular season is likely over. Across 149 innings (26 starts) before the injury, Elder recorded an 8-8 record with a 4.11 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 121 strikeouts. The 27-year-old's fantasy upside is limited by his subpar 19.1% strikeout rate. However, Elder proved himself to be a capable starting pitcher streamer at different points in 2026, especially while pitching in front of the potent Braves lineup. With Elder sidelined, Braves right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver's place in the team's rotation is likely safe down the stretch of the season.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ (knee) returned to his team's lineup for their matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. Happ was held out of Chicago's game against the Brewers due to left knee discomfort, but it appears that he is not dealing with a serious injury. Across 579 plate appearances entering play on Monday, Happ was hitting .221/.327/.416 with 23 home runs, 64 RBI, 81 runs scored, and four stolen bases. The 32-year-old's batting average is weighed down by his elevated 30.4% strikeout rate, but Happ's 12.4% walk rate and elite defense in left field keep him in the Cubs lineup every day when healthy. Happ has also been exceptionally durable in his career, as he looks to be on track to top 650 plate appearances for the fifth consecutive season in 2026. Now that he's back in the Cubs lineup, Happ profiles as a quality source of power and run production for fantasy managers.

New York Mets right-handed closer Devin Williams (shoulder) is scheduled to throw off a mound for the first time since he landed on the 15-day injured list with a right-shoulder strain, according to the New York Post's Mike Puma. Williams is still optimistic that he can pitch again this season. The veteran reliever has been out nearly a month with his injury, and although the Mets have nothing left to play for, he is hoping to return before the end of the regular season at the end of September. In Williams' absence, former starter Kodai Senga has taken to the team's closing job rather nicely after a brutal start to his 2026 season. Fantasy managers should not feel the need to hang onto Williams just because he thinks he has a chance to return this month. Even if he is reinstated from the IL within the next few weeks, he will not be guaranteed to pitch in the ninth inning. The two-time All-Star has been inconsistent again in his first year with the Mets in 2026, going 3-2 with a 4.66 ERA (3.10 FIP) and 1.65 WHIP with 16 saves, 51 strikeouts, and 21 walks in his 38 2/3 relief innings.

Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter (wrist) remains absent from the team's starting lineup on Tuesday on the road against the Baltimore Orioles, per MLB.com. Angel Martinez will get another start in right field and will bat sixth versus Orioles right-hander Brandon Young. It will be DeLauter's fourth straight game on the bench with a right-wrist sprain that he suffered late last week. The Guardians are not expecting DeLauter to land on the injured list, but if his absence continues, they could change their stance. His next chance to play will be in Wednesday's series finale against Baltimore, but with a scheduled day off coming on Thursday, it is more realistic that we will not see him again until Friday's series opener versus the division-rival Minnesota Twins on the road at Target Field. The 24-year-old former first-rounder from James Madison University has been a consistent offensive producer in Cleveland in 2026 when he has been healthy, hitting .294 (131-for-445) with 13 long balls, 60 RBI, 56 runs scored, and 10 steals across his 120 games and 499 plate appearances. DeLauter is rostered in 64% of Yahoo leagues.

Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (elbow) remains sidelined with an elbow injury on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Kauffman Stadium, according to MLB.com. Matthew Lugo is making the start in right field for the Royals and will bat eighth against Diamondbacks right-hander Corbin Burnes (elbow), who is making his 2026 debut. This will be Caglianone's third straight missed start due to a flexor strain in his left elbow. His next chance to play will be in Wednesday's series finale against Arizona, but with an off day coming on Thursday, the Royals might hold the left-handed slugger out until Friday's series opener at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. It is bad timing for Caglianone to be banged up with the fantasy playoffs starting in many leagues this week. After a slow start in 2026, the former sixth overall pick from Florida has taken off and is now sporting 23 home runs, 70 RBI, 66 runs scored, six steals, and a .283/.331/.494 slash line in 474 at-bats. When he returns to the Royals' lineup, he will be a must-start for his left-handed power.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) is starting in right field and batting third in his return on Tuesday against the visiting Colorado Rockies and right-hander Gabriel Hughes, according to MLB.com. It will be Judge's first major-league game since the end of May, when he suffered a stress fracture in a rib on his right side. Because he did not go on a minor-league rehab assignment before coming off the 60-day injured list on Monday, manager Aaron Boone plans to ease the three-time MVP back into the fold, so fantasy managers should expect some early exits and frequent days off. It has been a disappointing 2026 season overall for the 34-year-old veteran, but he has returned at the right time and can help fantasy managers during the postseason. Judge is returning to a .248/.375/.533 slash line with a .907 OPS, 17 home runs, 38 RBI, 43 runs scored, and five stolen bases across his first 214 at-bats this year. He has never faced Hughes in his major-league career.

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (hamstring) is taking on-field batting practice on Tuesday, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Contreras is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Thursday, but it is to be determined whether the Red Sox will send him on a minor-league rehab assignment first. The 34-year-old veteran Venezuelan could return to Boston's starting nine as early as Friday if he skips a rehab assignment after dealing with a strained left hamstring late last month. Contreras will go back to must-start status in all fantasy leagues when he returns, as he is in the midst of a career year in his first season in Beantown. The former catcher will return to a .274/.384/.516 slash line with a .900 OPS, 26 home runs, 79 RBI, 66 runs scored, and three stolen bases across his 434 at-bats in 2026. The four-time All-Star hit only .217 (18-for-83) in the month of August, though, with three homers, three doubles, a triple, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored, 11 walks, and 26 strikeouts. With better health, Contreras could turn it around and finish his 2026 season strong in the fantasy playoffs.

The Boston Globe's Tim Healey reports that Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) is tracking towards being ready for the wild-card round of the postseason in early October. Although Crochet threw a 16-pitch bullpen session last Friday, he is unlikely to pitch in either the majors or minors before the playoffs begin. The 27-year-old southpaw has been sidelined for over three months due to left-shoulder and lat issues, with his shoulder being the more troublesome injury in 2026. Crochet should begin facing live hitters soon, but the BoSox are not going to rush him back and hope to have him available as a reliever out of the bullpen if they make the postseason. After finishing second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2025 in his first year in Beantown, Crochet only managed to make six starts for fantasy managers in 2026 while recording a 6.30 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts across his 30 innings pitched. It is a disappointing end to an injury-plagued season, with fantasy managers now in the clear to drop Crochet in redraft leagues.

St. Louis Cardinals rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (wrist) swung the bat on Monday before the team's game against the San Francisco Giants and is hoping to be activated from the 10-day injured list during the team's upcoming homestand that runs from Friday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 20, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It appears that the anti-inflammatory injection that Wetherholt received recently helped with his right-wrist tendinitis. With St. Louis' homestand kicking off this weekend, it does not look like the Cardinals will require Wetherholt to go on a short minor-league rehab assignment. The 23-year-old former seventh overall pick from West Virginia University has had a strong rookie campaign in 2026 and has been the Cardinals' primary second baseman all year. He will return to a .242/.343/.370 slash line with a .713 OPS, 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 88 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in his 505 at-bats. It has been a struggle for Wetherholt in the second half, possibly because of the wrist issue he was playing through, as he has hit only .201 (31-for-154) with four homers, four doubles, 12 RBI, 30 runs, five stolen bases, 23 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 40 games since the All-Star break.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) said it is "disappointing" that he likely will not pitch again this year, but he is focused on hitting the rest of the way, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. "The thing I was more focused on was to make sure that the pitching wouldn't cause the worst-case scenario, which was for me to not be able to play at all," Ohtani said. "I should have enough experience to address any kinks or injuries with the swing. I'm confident my overall performance should be better moving forward." After a four-game absence as the designated hitter due to recurring left-knee and right-biceps injuries, Ohtani returned in the series opener on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds and went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. It seems unlikely that the 32-year-old four-time MVP will land on the injured list in the final month of the regular season, but the Dodgers could choose to rest him more frequently so that he is closer to 100% for the playoffs. Ohtani is hitting .277 (139-for-502) this year with 30 homers, 80 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 11 steals, but it is clear that playing through his knee and biceps injuries has slowed him down offensively of late. He hit .241 (26-for-108) with a .795 OPS in August, and he is 1-for-9 with six strikeouts so far in three games in September.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on the Talkin' Yanks podcast that Yankees fans should expect outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) to be eased back in and subbed out early in some games before playing a full nine innings. The Yankees reinstated Judge from the 60-day injured list on Monday, and he is expected to make his return in Tuesday's series opener in the Bronx against the Colorado Rockies, although he might not play the full game. Despite being out since late May due to a stress fracture in a rib on his right side, the three-time MVP did not go on a minor-league rehab assignment. Fantasy managers should expect some rust at the plate, but Judge is still a must-start whenever he is in the starting lineup for his elite power potential. The 34-year-old eight-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger was slashing .248/.375/.533 with a .907 OPS, 17 home runs, 38 RBI, 43 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 214 at-bats at the time of his rib injury in late May. Although Judge may need to knock off some rust and be eased in, he could be a difference-maker during the fantasy playoffs.

Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (knee) took batting practice on the field on Monday and is scheduled to run the bases on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. Langeliers is running out of time, but he is still hopeful of returning before the end of the 2026 regular season at the end of September after tearing the meniscus in his right knee. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 26 and underwent a meniscectomy at the end of July. Fantasy managers should not be surprised if Langeliers does not make it back before the end of the season, as the A's are not in the playoff race and have no incentive to rush the All-Star catcher back to close out the year. Before Langeliers tore his meniscus, the 28-year-old was one of the best catchers in fantasy with 23 home runs, 51 RBI, 55 runs scored, two stolen bases, and a .263/.332/.497 slash line across his 376 at-bats. He came shy of back-to-back 30-homer seasons, but Langeliers is one of the best power options at the catcher position and has reached 22 home runs in all four of his full big-league seasons.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage (knee) threw a 34-pitch bullpen session on Monday and is on track for a two-inning live batting practice session on Thursday, according to MLB.com. Yesavage is making good progress since landing on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 5 after having surgery on his left meniscus. It is unclear when he will make it back to the Blue Jays, but the team is holding out hope that he can make his return for a start or two before the end of the 2026 regular season. The young right-hander had a successful 23-pitch bullpen session last Friday. Because of the timing of Yesavage's injury, it is unlikely that he will be fully stretched out enough to return to Toronto in a starting role as they seek one of the final wild-card spots in the American League. In his first full year in the majors in 2026, Yesavage has gone 5-5 with a 3.65 ERA (4.08 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP with 91 strikeouts and 46 walks in 93 2/3 frames across 18 starts. He has very little time left to help fantasy managers and should not be considered a must-stash in redraft leagues.

Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told Marcos Grunfeld of ElEmergente.com that first baseman Willson Contreras (hamstring) will resume running this week and could be reinstated from the 10-day injured list before Friday's series opener against the Kansas City Royals. It is unclear if Contreras will go on a short minor-league rehab assignment before he returns, but if he does, he might not return against the Royals this weekend. The veteran right-handed slugger has made a quick recovery after being placed on the IL last week with a strained left hamstring. The 34-year-old Venezuelan should not be floating around on any waiver wires because of his injury, as the former catcher has been one of Boston's most consistent offensive performers in 2026 in his first year with the team. Contreras will be returning to a .274/.384/.516 slash line with an even .900 OPS, 26 home runs, 79 RBI, 66 runs scored, and three stolen bases across his 434 at-bats. Mickey Gasper has been the team's primary first baseman since Contreras landed on the shelf.

Baltimore Orioles corner infielder Coby Mayo had the first multi-homer game of his career in Monday's 6-4 win over the visiting Cleveland Guardians at Camden Yards, going 2-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI, and two strikeouts. The 24-year-old right-handed slugger is still hitting only .224 on the season after his two-homer performance on Monday, but he does have a career-high 21 home runs and 58 RBI in 116 games played in his third year in the big leagues. And because he is absolutely dominating left-handed hitters -- Mayo has a 1.136 OPS against southpaws in 133 at-bats -- he will continue to be a lineup regular for the O's against lefties to close out the year. Mayo has been a much better hitter in the second half of the 2026 campaign, as he entered Monday's action with a .274/.328/.532 slash line with an .861 OPS and seven home runs in 41 games since the All-Star break, compared to a .193/.264/.395 line with a .659 OPS in 74 first-half games. He was hot in August, going 22-for-81 (.272) with five home runs, three doubles, two triples, 15 RBI, 15 runs, and a stolen base in 25 games, and so far he has carried that over into September.

Chicago White Sox right-hander Grant Taylor has been one of the breakout success stories of the 2026 season, recording a 7-2 record with a 2.16 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 97 strikeouts across 75 innings (55 games). The 24-year-old is averaging 98.1 miles per hour on his fastball and has paired an excellent 32.4% strikeout rate with a manageable 8.7% walk rate. Given Taylor's utility to the White Sox as a high-leverage fireman who can work more than one inning, the team has not deployed him as a traditional closer. Still, he's racked up eight saves this season and remains a threat to take over the full-time closer role in Chicago at any point. Even if Taylor's usage remains the same down the stretch, he provides value to fantasy managers as a high-end source of ratios and a better source of strikeouts and wins than most relievers.