San Diego Padres infielder Luis Arraez (knee) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox. Arraez sat out of Wednesday's game due to knee soreness and received the next day off with the team not playing on Thursday. It appears Arraez is good to go now as he'll bat leadoff and serve as the designated hitter against left-hander Garrett Crochet. Arraez is hitting .320 with nearly 200 hits on the season, so fantasy managers better make sure to get him back in their lineups ahead of first pitch.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins is out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Detroit Tigers. The O's will play matchups here and have Mullins retreat to the bench against left-hander Tyler Holton. Mullins has picked it up with the bat in the second half of the season, but his biggest asset is his speed. The 29-year-old has 30 steals across 140 games this season. In his absence, Colton Cowser will cover center field and bat sixth on Friday. He has slowed down with the bat since his great start, but still has 20 home runs in 145 games this season.

From RotoBaller

The Colorado Rockies announced on Friday that they placed right-hander Tyler Kinley (elbow) on the 15-day injured list with right-elbow inflammation and recalled right-hander Jake Bird from Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move. Kinley took over closing duties in Colorado when Victor Vodnik landed on the IL and he'll now end his 2024 season with a career-high 12 saves, a 6.19 ERA (4.80 FIP), a 1.47 WHIP and a 72:33 K:BB in 64 innings out of the bullpen. The 33-year-old veteran also picked up 33 holds in his fifth year with Colorado. Now that Kinley will not pitch again out of the big-league bullpen, Vodnik should take over the primary closing duties for the Rockies to close out the season with just over a week left. Vodnik has a career-high nine saves this year, with one of them coming since he returned from the IL on Sept. 10.

From RotoBaller

Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (wrist) is being shut down for a couple of days with discomfort in his surgically repaired right wrist. Jung will go to Arizona to visit his surgeon on Monday and will hopefully play on the season-ending road trip next week. With Jung out again on Friday, Jonathan Ornelas will start at third base for Texas and will hit ninth at Globe Life Field against the division-rival Seattle Mariners and right-hander George Kirby. DFS managers should avoid Ornelas in the tough matchup against Kirby. Depending on what Jung's surgeon says, there's a chance the Rangers just play it safe and hold the 26-year-old out for the final week of the 2024 season with nothing left to play for. Jung fractured his wrist in early April and has played in just 46 games this year, slashing .264/.298/.421 with seven home runs, 16 RBI and four stolen bases in 188 plate appearances.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (wrist) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, according to the team. Mountcastle will remain with Norfolk through Sunday when the minor-league season ends. After that, the 27-year-old right-handed hitter will most likely rejoin the big-league roster next week. Mountcastle has been out almost a month with a left-wrist sprain, so it wouldn't be a surprise if Baltimore looked to ease him back into regular duties in the final month of the 2024 regular season before postseason play begins in early October. His return will surely be a boost for the O's offense heading into the playoffs, but Mountcastle's wrist sprain also won't help his cause to boost his power to close out the season. The former 36th overall pick in 2015 has only 13 bombs in 2024, 61 RBI and 53 runs scored in 452 at-bats.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (hand) will undergo a CT scan on Monday to determine if his broken right hand has healed fully and if he can remove his cast. Riley broke the hamate bone in his right hand and has been out since the middle of August. Even if Riley is able to remove his cast next week, it isn't guaranteed that he'd be able to return for Atlanta if they are able to secure the final wild-card spot in the National League for the postseason in October. The 27-year-old right-handed slugger should have already been dropped in season-long leagues since he won't return in the final month of the regular season. Atlanta's offense has been limping to the finish line with outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) and Riley missing extended time in 2024 due to injuries. In 110 games before breaking his hand, Riley hit 19 homers and drove in 56. It's been a disappointing year after three straight 30-homer campaigns.

From RotoBaller

New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (calf) will pitch in a minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday and will throw one to two innings or 30 to 35 pitches. Senga missed the entire first half of the season rehabbing a shoulder injury and suffered some setbacks before straining his calf in his only start of 2024 on July 26, when he picked up a win over the Atlanta Braves by allowing two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings while walking one and striking out nine. The 31-year-old Japanese hurler has been on the injured list ever since but has been working hard to rejoin the club as a reliever out of the bullpen if they capture a wild-card spot in the National League. If Senga doesn't get injured again, he could come off the IL to rejoin the Mets in a relief role for the final week of the season. Having a fully healthy Senga in any role in the postseason would be an upgrade for New York's pitching staff.

From RotoBaller

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott (shoulder) is not expected to return from the injured list to pitch again this year, but he will continue his throwing program to build into a healthy, normal offseason. The Reds are out of postseason contention with just over a week left to play in the regular season, so Abbott will continue to rehab his left shoulder in hopes of being 100 percent ready to go for spring training next February. The 25-year-old southpaw saw his strikeout rate drop from 26.1% in his rookie season in 2023 to 19.5% this year, but otherwise his surface numbers were very similar in his second year in the big leagues. Abbott went 10-10 with a 3.72 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP and a 114:52 K:BB in 138 innings over his 25 starts. His 5.05 FIP suggests he was very fortunate to have an ERA under 4.00. As long as he's healthy in 2025, Abbott should have a starting role locked up in Cincy.

From RotoBaller

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) will come off the 15-day injured list on Sunday on a controlled workload to face the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates. Greene is recovering from right-elbow soreness and threw 52 games in a simulated game on Tuesday. Still, the 25-year-old hasn't been fully stretched out, so despite the plus matchup against Pittsburgh this weekend, he won't be a recommended fantasy start for those still playing for a championship late in the year. If Greene doesn't suffer a setback on Sunday, he'll be more appealing in fantasy lineups for his final start of the year next week, which is lined up against the division-rival Chicago Cubs. Before his elbow injury, Greene took a step forward in 2024 as a first-time All-Star with a 9-4 record, career-best 2.83 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and a 162:53 K:BB in 143 1/3 innings over his 24 starts.

From RotoBaller

The Chicago Cubs placed left-hander Jordan Wicks (oblique) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 18) on Friday with a right-oblique strain and recalled pitcher Trey Wingenter from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Wicks will not pitch again this year after already spending two-plus months on the IL earlier this season with the same injury. The 25-year-old southpaw returned on Sept. 1 and allowed 15 earned runs on 24 hits (seven home runs) while walking 10 and striking out 10 over 18 innings in his four starts versus the Nationals, Yankees, Dodgers and A's. His oblique issues limited him to 11 outings (10 starts) at the big-league level in 2024, and Wicks wasn't very effective with a 5.48 ERA (5.32 FIP), a 1.63 WHIP, 42 strikeouts and 20 walks in 46 innings in his second year in the big leagues. He will now rehab his oblique this offseason and hope to be at full health for spring training in 2025.

From RotoBaller

The San Francisco Giants placed right-hander Jordan Hicks (shoulder) back on the 15-day injured list on Friday with right-shoulder inflammation and recalled pitcher Austin Warren from the minors in a corresponding move. Given the fact that there is just over a week left in the regular season, Hicks will not pitch again in 2024. The 28-year-old's elevated workload in his first year in the Bay Area as a starter has certainly caught up with him, and it's the same injury that he returned from less than a week ago. Because of Hicks' elevated workload, the Giants moved him to a relief role in the second half, and he has struggled out of the bullpen. Hicks was solid for fantasy managers early on as a starter, though, and he'll finish his first year with San Fran with a 4-7 record, 4.10 ERA, a 1.45 WHIP, 96 strikeouts and 47 walks in a career-high 109 2/3 frames over 29 outings (20 starts).

From RotoBaller

The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (calf) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and designated veteran infielder Luis Guillorme for assignment in a corresponding move. The Diamondbacks haven't released their starting lineup for Friday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field, but there's a good chance Gurriel will be back in left field. The 30-year-old right-handed slugger will return from a calf strain that has kept him out since earlier this month. Fantasy managers still playing for something with the season in its final stretch will be hoping that Gurriel can pick up where he left off offensively. Going into Friday's contest, the D-backs are in the second wild-card spot for the National League postseason. Gurriel has only faced Milwaukee's starting pitch on Friday, right-hander Colin Rea, three times in his career and is hitless.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow) is "very unlikely" to be an option to pitch for the Dodgers in the postseason in October. Ohtani has been throwing off a mound in his recovery from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and is expected to start facing live hitters soon. However, it appears the Dodgers aren't going to risk bringing the 30-year-old Japanese All-Star back for his first big-league appearance on the mound until 2025, even with a glaring need for pitching depth heading into postseason play. Even though he hasn't contributed on the mound in 2024, he's the MVP front-runner in the National League. Ohtani had a historical day on Thursday against the Miami Marlins to become the first player in the history of the sport to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season.

From RotoBaller

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) is still absent from the team's starting lineup for Friday's contest at Citi Field against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Rookie infielder Luisangel Acuna will make another start at short and bat ninth against Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez. Lindor is missing his fifth straight game while he works his way through a nagging back injury. The good news is that he resumed baseball activities on Wednesday and should have a chance to rejoin the starting lineup by the end of the weekend. Although the Mets offense has busted out of late with Lindor on the bench, they definitely want him active down the stretch as they try to secure one of the last two wild-card spots in the National League. The 22-year-old Acuna has looked great in his first 19 MLB at-bats, recording eight hits (two homers) while driving in five and scoring five runs for the Mets.

From RotoBaller

Washington Nationals right-hander Trevor Williams (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list on Friday and is starting at Wrigley Field against the hosting Chicago Cubs. Williams was looking excellent earlier this year before suffering a flexor strain in his right elbow and missing the last four months. Because of all the time away, the 32-year-old veteran will be a pretty risky fantasy streamer on the road on Friday. He was able to get up to 73 pitches in his last minor-league rehab start, though, so he should be pretty stretched out in his return to Washington's starting rotation. In his first 11 starts in 2024 before getting hurt, Williams had gone 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA (2.82 FIP) and a 1.08 WHIP with 47 strikeouts and 16 walks over his 56 2/3 innings thrown. Williams' last start for the Nats came all the way back on May 30.

From RotoBaller

Oakland Athletics right-hander Ross Stripling (back) felt his back "lock up" during the team's 4-3 win over the Houston Astros back on Sept. 10. Stripling threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday, which mostly consisted of fastballs while also mixing in each of his offspeed pitches. He said afterward that he felt good and that he's scheduled to throw a longer bullpen on Saturday. With Stripling's injured-list placement retroactive to Sept. 9, he's hopeful of making his return when first eligible to come off the IL on Sept. 24. It looks like the 34-year-old veteran will be able to return to the big-league roster before the end of the 2024 season, but Stripling is well off the fantasy radar already. In his 21 outings (14 starts) in Oakland in 2024, Stripling has gone 2-11 with a career-worst 6.08 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 84 1/3 innings. He also has a career-worst 13% strikeout rate.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya will start Friday's contest on the bench at Wrigley Field against the Washington Nationals in the second game of a four-game series. Christian Bethancourt will do the catching for right-hander Jameson Taillon and will bat out of the nine-hole versus Nationals right-hander Trevor Williams. In his first full big-league season, Amaya has slashed .227/.286/.347 with a below-average .633 OPS, seven home runs, 43 RBI, 29 runs scored, 22 walks and 60 strikeouts in 111 games played and 341 trips to the plate. The long season has apparently worn him down, too, as he's gone 5-for-37 (.135) with a double, triple, six RBI and five strikeouts in 15 games in the final month of the regular season. DFS gamers should be able to find better sleeper options at catcher than Bethancourt, who has hit .203 (26-for-128) on the year with five homers and 22 RBI.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Cubs third baseman Isaac Paredes (hand) will retreat to the bench for Friday's game at Wrigley Field against the visiting Washington Nationals in the second game of the series. Patrick Wisdom will draw the start at third base for the Cubbies and will hit eighth in the batting order versus Nationals right-hander Trevor Williams. Although the injury doesn't appear serious, Paredes had his left hand spiked in Thursday's victory over Washington, and it's possible the team is giving him the day off on Friday because of that. He has struggled with the Cubs since being acquired at the trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays, as he's hit just .212 (33-for-156) with three homers, 23 RBI and 32 strikeouts in 45 games since the trade. Wisdom is a low-upside sleeper in DFS in the eight-hole on Friday. He has faced Williams six times in his career and has yet to pick up a hit.

From RotoBaller

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray's (undisclosed) final start of the 2024 season is in jeopardy after he said he pitched through "lingering" soreness during his last start on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, when he allowed four earned runs on nine hits while walking none and striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings for a no-decision. It's unclear where exactly Gray's soreness is, but it puts his final start in jeopardy next week. We won't know for sure whether the 34-year-old will make his final start until after he attempts to throw a bullpen session this weekend. If Gray feels better during his bullpen session this weekend, his final start of the year would come next week at hitter-friendly Coors Field against the last-place Colorado Rockies. Gray hasn't been nearly as good as he was last year in Minnesota in his first year in St. Louis, posting a 3.84 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 203 K's in 28 starts.

From RotoBaller

The Chicago Cubs activated right-hander Hayden Wesneski (forearm) from the 15-day injured list on Friday and designated right-hander Shawn Armstrong for assignment in a corresponding move. Wesneski will return to Chicago's bullpen for the final stretch of the 2024 season over the next week and a half. The 26-year-old has been sidelined since late July with a strained right forearm and should slot into a middle-relief role for the Cubbies, leaving him with virtually zero fantasy appeal to close out the season. Wesneski made four minor-league rehab appearances with Triple-A Iowa before being activated and will return to a 3-6 record with a 3.94 ERA (4.73 FIP), a 1.20 WHIP and a 58:21 K:BB over 61 2/3 innings in 25 appearances (seven starts) in 2024 in his third year in the majors with Chicago.

From RotoBaller