MLB News

There is a "good chance" that Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) will be activated from the 10-day injured list for the series against the division-rival San Diego Padres at home next week, manager Dave Roberts told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Ohtani is eligible to come off the IL on Wednesday, so he could be back as the team's designated hitter for the second game of the series at Dodger Stadium. The four-time MVP apparently looked good after running the bases and taking simulated at-bats off a Trajekt machine before Saturday's game. There is still a little time for the 32-year-old Japanese native to help the Dodgers and fantasy managers in the final stretch of the 2026 regular season. However, the Dodgers probably are not going to rush him back, so it would not be a surprise to get a game or two off in the final four or five games of the year. Ohtani has hit .277/.380/.522 with a .902 OPS, 30 homers, 80 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases in 502 at-bats. It has been a strong season, but nagging left-knee and right-biceps injuries since early July caught up with him, and he was placed on the IL after hitting an un-Ohtani-like .241/.322/.472 with a .795 OPS in 27 games in August.

WEEI's Rob Bradford reports that it is "sure looking like" Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle has a "good shot" at pitching Game 1 of a wild-card series to kick off the postseason with the way the Red Sox are lining things up. It means that the 23-year-old southpaw will not get a start this weekend against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays. The former second-rounder from TCU in 2024 has had a strong first full season in the big leagues with Boston in 2026, going 9-6 with a 3.02 ERA (3.04 FIP) and 1.07 WHIP with 166 strikeouts and 38 walks in 143 innings across his 25 starts. Another lefty, Patrick Sandoval, is now scheduled to make the start for the BoSox in the series finale in Tampa. Tolle allowed four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 31, but he has only given up one earned run with one walk and 19 punchouts in 12 innings across his last two starts against the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals in September.

Miami Marlins infielder Xavier Edwards (thumb) left Saturday night's game at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres early with discomfort in his left thumb, according to Christina De Nicola. The Marlins' training staff was checking Edwards' left hand out when he fouled a ball off in the seventh frame. It is worth noting that Edwards previously missed time this season with a sprained left thumb, which he might have aggravated on Saturday night. Before leaving the ballgame, Edwards went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. He was replaced at the keystone in San Diego by Jared Serna. If the 27-year-old switch-hitting middle infielder did aggravate his left-thumb sprain, there is a good chance that he will not play again for the Marlins in the final week of the 2026 season. Edwards came into Wednesday's contest with a nice .282/.361/.373 slash line with a .733 OPS, a career-high six home runs, a career-high 52 RBI, 61 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases in 141 games played. He has stolen 20-plus bases in each of the last three seasons, including a career-high 31 back in 2024.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (calf) said on Saturday that his right-calf strain is in the soleus muscle, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. However, Judge would not say what grade of strain his MRI exam revealed. "I'd like to be back by the postseason. That's definitely the plan. I got really no answers for you on any timeline or anything like that," Judge said. The New York Daily News' Gary Phillips reports that neither Judge nor manager Aaron Boone has shared much information on his injury, with the Yankees treating his calf strain like "classified CIA intel." "It doesn't matter what grade it is," Boone said. "We're at nine games left [in the season]." Because we have no idea of the exact severity of his calf injury, it is entirely plausible that Judge could miss most, or all, of any potential Yankees playoff run in October. Judge has been throwing, working out, and getting treatment, and he said he is "gonna do everything we can do to get back as soon as we can." Boone, though, merely said he is "hoping for the best." It will be difficult for the Yankees to go all the way if they do not get Judge back for the playoffs. It has been a frustrating year for the three-time MVP and all of his fantasy managers, as he has only played in 66 games due to a stress fracture in his rib, slashing .241/.360/.511 with 18 home runs, 41 RBI, 45 runs, and five steals.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (finger) will make his return to the mound next week during the series against the San Diego Padres, David Vassegh reports. Sasaki looked good during his side session on Wednesday, so the Dodgers have cleared him to get back on the mound. It doesn't sound like the Dodgers have decided whether Sasaki will start or come out of the bullpen during his outing against the Padres. The right-hander has been out since late August due to a finger blister. The expectation is that Sasaki will likely pitch in a bullpen role for the team during the postseason.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage (knee) is scheduled to start against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports. Yesavage has been out since August after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He only made one rehab appearance at Triple-A Buffalo before getting cleared to pitch for the big league club. The Jays plan to have Yesavage pitch roughly three innings or around 45 to 50 pitches. Spencer Miles is expected to take over for the bulk of the innings after Yesavage is done. It'll be interesting to see if the Jays decide to shut down Yesavage if they do get eliminated from playoff contention. Until then, it sounds like the right-hander is going to contribute here soon.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cal Quantrill (lat) exited early during Saturday's outing against the Toronto Blue Jays. Quantrill was pulled out in the second inning due to right lat tightness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. He was able to record four outs before exiting this contest. Jordan Montgomery took over on the mound and threw 3.2 scoreless innings. Quantrill figures to undergo an MRI, so fantasy managers will likely have to wait for the results on that. Nathan Eovaldi could be asked to move back into the starting rotation if Quantrill is forced to miss time. UPDATE: The Dallas Morning News' Shawn McFarland reports that Quantrill will undergo an MRI exam on Sunday morning, per manager Skip Schumaker.

New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones (foot) was not in the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Yankees decided to rest Jones on Saturday due to left foot/heel soreness, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. It sounds like a day-to-day issue, so the Yankees are just going to play it safe. Jones is 1-for-19 with nine strikeouts over his last four games, so he could probably use a day off to rest and reset. Jose Caballero takes over in center field for Saturday's game. Fantasy managers should check back ahead of Sunday's game for another update on Jones.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) has progressed to taking simulated at-bats off the team's pitching machine on Saturday, Jack Harris of the California Post reports. Ohtani was also able to run the bases as he works his way back from a biceps and knee issue. It's unclear if Ohtani will return when he's first eligible on Wednesday. The Dodgers have already clinched the postseason, so they don't exactly need to rush him back into the lineup. However, the Dodgers would probably like for Ohtani to play in a few regular-season games before the playoffs begin. Fantasy managers should check back for another update in a few days.

Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (hand) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third in Saturday's contest on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates and right-hander Bubba Chandler, per MLB.com. Caglianone suffered a minor hand injury before Friday's series opener at PNC Park, but he is back in action on Saturday and should be returned to fantasy lineups against a right-hander, despite his cold streak of late. The 23-year-old former first-rounder has produced a .277/.328/.483 slash line with an .811 OPS, 23 home runs, 70 RBI, 66 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 484 at-bats in 2026 in his first full big-league season with the Royals. Cags was red-hot in August, slashing .411/.429/.684 with a 1.113 OPS, six home runs, eight doubles, 26 RBI, 17 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 24 games, but he has been banged up in September and has gone just 4-for-27 (.148) with zero homers, four RBI, one walk, and 11 strikeouts. He has never faced Chandler in the majors.

Texas Rangers top infield prospect Sebastian Walcott is expected to be promoted to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Walcott will make his debut as the designated hitter on Saturday night. The No. 9 overall prospect in all of baseball, per MLB Pipeline, has only played in 39 games in the minors this year after having surgery on his UCL, but since returning, he has slashed .322/.398/.586 with nine home runs and 11 stolen bases in 37 games for Double-A Frisco. In a playoff series with the Rough Riders, Walcott went 4-for-11 with a homer and four stolen bases. Walcott is only 20 years old, but if he continues to ascend and looks good in spring training next year, he could push for an early-season MLB promotion for the Rangers. It is impossible to ignore his 40-homer upside at the shortstop position in fantasy baseball, which makes him a must-stash already in dynasty/keeper leagues.

The Baltimore Orioles are shutting down right-handed reliever Ryan Helsley (elbow) for the rest of the season, general manager Mike Elias told Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. The focus is on Helsley getting ready for next season. Elias said that Helsley is not dealing with a new injury, but the debate was over contracting his buildup timeline, and the O's opted against that. In related news, the Orioles reinstated right-handed reliever Felix Bautista (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list, and he will join the team's active roster for the first time since July of last year after he had surgery to fix a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his shoulder. Helsley's first year in Baltimore was a lost cause due to his elbow issues, as he was able to throw only 15 1/3 innings, going 0-4 with a 4.11 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 21 strikeouts, and eight saves in 17 appearances. He will not be a lock to open the 2027 campaign as Baltimore's primary closer, especially with Bautista now back and healthy.

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (hand) remains out of the team's starting lineup for Saturday's contest against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays for the second straight day, per MLB.com. Nick Sogard will make another start at first base and will bat fifth against Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta. Contreras was diagnosed with a bruised right hand after leaving Thursday's game against the Texas Rangers after he was hit by a pitch. X-rays came back negative, though, so he is considered day-to-day and could make his return in Sunday's series finale in Tampa. Fantasy managers are hoping to get the 34-year-old Venezuelan back in their starting lineups as soon as possible, as the four-time All-Star has hit a career-high 27 home runs while driving in 81 runs in 129 games and 533 plate appearances in his first year with the club. Various injuries have limited Contreras to only four games so far in September, though, and he has gone 4-for-12 with a homer and two RBI.

Boston Red Sox left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman (lat) felt some tightness in his lat while working out before Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers and has not pitched since. Chapman said that he will not pitch this weekend against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, but he expects to return during the final homestand of the regular season, which starts on Tuesday, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. The veteran southpaw downplayed the injury on Friday, saying that the Red Sox are being conservative and that he felt healthy enough to play catch before the series opener against the Rays, but the team told him not to. "I'm not worried at all," Chapman said. "From the first time I felt it to today, I feel very good. I was going to go out and throw, but the team wants to take it slow, and they want me to take my time." Fantasy managers will be without Chapman this weekend, but for championship matchups next week, he will hopefully be ready to return to ninth-inning duties. The 38-year-old has been excellent in 2026 in his second year in Boston, posting a 1.95 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP, 34 saves, and 68 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings pitched. Right-hander Garrett Whitlock should handle a save situation this weekend if it arises in Tampa.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (hamstring/hip) threw a one-inning, 20-pitch live batting practice session on Friday. The 43-year-old said that he felt great after this successful outing. This was yet another step in the right direction, as it was his first time throwing against live batters. What lies ahead in his progress remains to be seen, as the plan is for him to pitch one final time in his illustrious career on Saturday, September 26, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Whether or not he is able to throw one inning or more remains questionable, but with him retiring after this season, chances are he will be healthy enough to make that appearance and cap off one of baseball's greatest careers. With 266 wins and 3,554 strikeouts over 21 seasons, the surefire Hall of Famer will be looking to finish his career where it started: in Detroit.

New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham (hamstring) is pretty far into his recovery, two weeks after being placed on the 10-Day Injured List with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Manager Aaron Boone reiterated that a return for him "could be in play" for the latter part of the season. It was also mentioned that when he does return, the Yankees would need to decide between him and Spencer Jones to play center field. This could complicate things for both players, as there could be some sort of platoon involving the two, diminishing their fantasy value down the stretch. Either way, the Yankees will be looking to solidify their lineup for the playoffs, and Grisham's fantasy value is very limited down the stretch, with or without a return before the playoffs.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters (rib/shoulder) crashed into the wall during Friday's game while trying to catch a fly ball in the outfield. He exited the game with contusions to both his ribs and shoulders, and Braden Montgomery took his place in the outfield. The good news is that he is listed as day-to-day and has no head injury, which was the initial concern at the time of impact. It's unclear if he will miss any time before returning, but with the White Sox in the middle of a divisional race, they may need his help sooner rather than later. The 26-year-old is hitting .272 on the season with 12 home runs and eight stolen bases, and is worth rostering in deep leagues.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) threw a 33-pitch, two-inning rehab outing on Friday for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. This was his fifth appearance since beginning his rehab assignment and the fourth that has been two innings in length. Arguably his most impressive outing yet, Steele walked the first batter of the game before striking out the side. He would finish with five strikeouts in total while not allowing a hit. While the velocity on his fastball sat at 90.2 miles per hour, it was his slider that impressed the most, generating four whiffs. It's unclear what lies ahead for him, as the Cubs are in the middle of a race for the Wild Card. While they have a comfortable lead on the teams chasing them, they do need to prepare for the postseason, and Steele returning to the Cubs may not be in the cards. What's clear is that he is feeling much better than he has in quite some time, and any return to the Cubs would likely be for a peace-of-mind appearance to allow him to enter the postseason on a healthy note, giving him the opportunity to work on coming back even stronger next spring. Fantasy managers should not expect much from him down the stretch, but those in dynasty leagues should take note and add him while they can.

San Francisco Giants first baseman Bryce Eldridge (head) was scratched from the lineup on Friday after cutting his head at the team's hotel before opening pitch. Manager Tony Vitello said that he expects the 21-year-old slugger to play on Saturday, noting that the injury doesn't appear to have any long-term ramifications. In his place on Friday, Brett Harris took over at first base and would likely do the same on Saturday should any unforeseen complications arise. That being said, it would appear that the promising rookie is set to take the field and try to finish what should be considered a successful debut season. Over 107 games played, Eldridge has hit 17 home runs and collected 57 runs batted in, all while posting a robust .269/.364/.461 slash line. Fantasy baseball managers should insert him back into their lineups once he's healthy and leave him there through the end of the 2026 season.

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (finger) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. Webb will see his regular season come to an end due to a right middle finger blister. The Giants were reportedly considering shutting down Webb after his latest start. The right-hander has allowed 16 earned runs over his last three starts. He'll now get plenty of time to heal his injury and prepare for the 2027 season. He'll finish the season with a 4.31 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 134/41 K/BB ratio in 27 starts.