Across 131 innings (26 games) so far this season, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler has recorded a 6-9 record with a 4.26 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 117 strikeouts. While the young right-hander's top-line numbers don't necessarily stand out, he's been a much better pitcher in recent outings. Across 36 2/3 innings since the All-Star break, Chandler has pitched to a 2.95 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 32 strikeouts. The 23-year-old's 20.6% strikeout rate for the year is underwhelming, and he hasn't gotten significantly more whiffs even in his recent hot streak. However, Chandler is averaging 98.4 miles per hour on his fastball and posted a 27.4% strikeout rate across 100 innings at Triple-A in 2025. As a highly regarded young pitching prospect who is starting to get results in the big leagues, Chandler's fantasy value is on the rise.

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Miami Marlins infield/outfield prospect Jonathon Long looked primed to make a major league debut in 2026, but has slowed down quite a bit at Triple-A since being traded to the Marlins, especially lately. The Marlins' 19th-ranked prospect is 6-for-42 (.143) over his last 13 games at Jacksonville, though he managed a 13:15 BB:K over that stretch. While that many walks is great (23.2 percent), that many strikeouts (26.8 percent) may hinder his chances of a late-season debut unless he turns things around in a hurry. The right-handed hitter batted .305 and popped 20 home runs last season, and is up to 13 in all this season with a .275 average through 119 games, so he offers a blend of contact and power that is intriguing for fantasy. However, the strikeout rate likely wouldn't improve in the majors, and were he to get called up, it might be on the short side of a platoon role, so without a clear path to at-bats, the 24-year-old should be left on the waiver wire in most leagues.

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Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez has hit safely in 13 of the 16 games he's played at Triple-A since returning from the injured list and has been on base at least once in all but one due to his ability to draw walks. Most impressive of all was that the Twins' fifth-ranked prospect hit for the cycle for St. Paul on Tuesday night, going 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. The 5-foot-11 Dominican is the author of a robust .273/.425/.568 slash line this season, with 11 home runs and seven steals in 41 games for the Saints. The left-handed hitter has plenty of pop, registering in the 94th percentile or better in average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and barrel rate, while also showing an elite ability to draw walks over the course of his minor league career, including a 19.7 percent rate in 2026. His inability to stay healthy has been the limiting factor and what has kept him from debuting in the majors, having played in no more than 65 games the last three seasons. Currently healthy, though, the 23-year-old -- who is on the 40-man roster -- should be considered a high-end stash option for power, though he carries batting average risk.

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Toronto Blue Jays corner infield/outfield prospect Sean Keys was rewarded with a call-up on the first day of September after raking at the plate over the better part of the last month. The Jays' sixth-ranked prospect hit .408 over his last 18 games before the promotion, including four doubles, two triples, and six home runs, which was good for a 1.281 OPS during that time. The former fourth-rounder debuted with Toronto in late June, but wasn't able to do much with his limited opportunities, going 6-for-36 (.167), although two of the six hits went for extra bases (one double, one home run). The left-handed hitter predominantly plays the corner infield spots, but manned left field in three of his last four games before the call-up, so that position is an option as well; however, he was absent from Toronto's lineup on Tuesday night, so it remains to be seen where he might play and how regular the at-bats will be. Fantasy managers can take a wait-and-see approach with Keys before deciding to snag him off the waiver wire.

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Miami Marlins outfield prospect Cam Cannarella has had an up-and-down start to his Triple-A experience, but overall has held his own quite well, currently sporting a .277/.403/.395 slash line in 31 games for Jacksonville. The home run production has taken a dip with just one round tripper thus far, but he's tallied 11 doubles and owns a 52.6 percent hard-hit rate (95th percentile) with a 91.1 mph average exit velocity (87th percentile). The Marlins' sixth-ranked prospect is striking out more than he did at Double-A but has managed to maintain a strong walk rate of 15.8 percent and has used his elite speed to swipe 11 bags already. The left-handed hitter clearly possesses plenty of fantasy-relevant skills, but the high 25.9 percent strikeout rate suggests he probably needs a bit more seasoning at Triple-A. Redraft managers should monitor him in the event of a surprise call-up; otherwise, look for Cannarella to make an impact in 2027.

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Cleveland Guardians catcher/outfield prospect Cooper Ingle's chances of returning to the majors this season are fading as a prolonged slump has cooled him off at the plate ever since a torrid stretch of multi-hit games that lasted from mid July to early August. Since that hot stretch, the Guardians' fifth-ranked prospect has gone 11-for-64 (.172) over his last 19 games, and hasn't recorded an extra-base hit since August 12, a period of 13 games. The silver lining here is that he continues to draw walks in bunches, tallying another two on Tuesday night and 25 during the 19-game "slump" (compared to 26 strikeouts), which allowed him to produce an on-base percentage of .417 over that same period. The left-handed hitter's season-long numbers at Triple-A still look good, with a .297/.433/.531 slash line, but there are likely better stash options available on the waiver wire in redraft leagues that have a better chance of being recalled.

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Guardians' SP Gavin Williams recorded 13 strikeouts in 7 innings collecting the win in a 6-1 win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Sep. 1.

Texas' CF Brandon Nimmo had five RBIs going 4-for-5 in a 8-5 win over the Athletics on Tuesday, Sep. 1.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams had a dominant bounce-back performance on Tuesday night in the team's 6-1 win at Progressive Field over the Toronto Blue Jays. Williams only allowed an unearned run on two hits while walking one and striking out a career-high 13 batters in seven innings to win his 13th game of the year and lower his ERA to 3.81. He lasted just 1 1/3 frames in his last outing in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels, surrendering five earned runs on six hits (two homers) while walking one and striking out three. Overall, it has been a successful 2026 campaign for the 27-year-old former first-rounder from East Carolina University, primarily because he has lowered his walk rate to a career-low 7.8% in 156 innings across 27 starts. But Williams has also improved his swing-and-miss stuff and has a career-high 32.3% strikeout rate. His 13-K performance on Tuesday was his ninth game this year with double-digit strikeouts. Williams will be a must-start in fantasy in his next scheduled outing versus the division-rival Detroit Tigers, whom he has yet to face in 2026.

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Across 474 plate appearances entering play on Tuesday, Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy had hit .251/.347/.494 with 26 home runs, 68 RBI, 69 runs scored, and two stolen bases. While the 36-year-old's numbers for the year remain strong, he's run into some struggles of late. Across his last 10 games played dating back to August 18, Muncy has recorded just seven hits and one home run. Muncy has also seen his strikeout rate rise to 28.4% across 137 plate appearances after the All-Star break, after posting a 23.5% strikeout rate across 336 plate appearances in the first half. The Dodgers routinely take Muncy out of the lineup against left-handed starting pitchers, which limits his run production upside for fantasy managers despite his high-end power. In stretches where Los Angeles is facing multiple lefties, fantasy managers may want to take Muncy out of their lineups until he turns things around.

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Washington Nationals manager Blake Butera said that outfielder James Wood (oblique) will "be back in the Nationals lineup (on Wednesday) if he feels good in the AM," per Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. Wood has been sidelined by an oblique injury since early August. However, the 23-year-old has now made a couple of rehab appearances with Double-A Harrisburg and appears to be ready to return to the big leagues. Across 535 plate appearances before the injury, Wood slashed .265/.393/.535 with 30 home runs, 73 RBI, 100 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. Wood owns an elevated 28.6% strikeout rate, but he's walked in 16.8% of his plate appearances and owns elite barrel (20.8%) and hard-hit (57.6%) rates. Once activated, Wood profiles as a must-start fantasy outfielder.

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh has had a solid season overall in 2026, hitting .271/.318/.426 with 17 home runs, 57 RBI, 67 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 511 plate appearances. However, the 28-year-old has run into a rough patch of late. After hitting .301 with 15 homers across 363 plate appearances in the first half of the season, Marsh has hit just .195 with two long balls across 148 trips to the plate since the All-Star break. The lefty-swinging Marsh has also been significantly worse against same-handed pitching this season, posting a .624 OPS with a 36.9% strikeout rate against southpaws. If his overall struggles persist, Marsh could continue to lose playing time against left-handed starting pitching. Fantasy managers should monitor Marsh closely as we hit the final month of the regular season.

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Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (glute) allowed one earned run and recorded four strikeouts across three innings in a rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday. The 30-year-old has been sidelined by a glute strain since early August, but it appears he is nearing a return to the big leagues. Across 125 2/3 innings (23 starts) before the injury, Ryan recorded a 6-8 record with a 3.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 138 strikeouts. Ryan rarely allows free passes (5.2% walk rate) while also being a consistent source of strikeouts (26.4% strikeout rate) for fantasy managers. It's unclear whether Ryan will require a second rehab outing before returning to the Twins, but either way, he will need at least one more start before being built up to a full starter's workload. Once he's fully healthy, Ryan profiles as a must-start fantasy pitcher.

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Miami Marlins right-handed reliever Pete Fairbanks (hand) got in some mound work on Tuesday, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Fairbanks is no lock to return to the Marlins' bullpen to close out the 2026 regular season, as the team is clinging to playoff hopes while back four games of the final National League wild-card spot entering play on Tuesday. The 32-year-old Fairbanks was placed on the 15-day injured list with a recurring nerve issue in his right throwing hand, and he required injections to help him move past the issue. The former ninth-rounder by the Texas Rangers in 2015 from the University of Missouri has been a headache to roster this year for saves, closing out 18 games but also sporting a bloated 6.02 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP with 57 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings pitched. As long as Fairbanks remains out, the Marlins figure to continue rolling with a closer committee that will primarily involve Calvin Faucher and Michael Petersen. Fairbanks is not a must-roster reliever in the final month of the regular season.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday that right-handed reliever Edwin Diaz (neck) will likely throw another live bullpen session in the coming week and then head out on a minor-league rehab assignment, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Diaz has had a disaster of a 2026 season after signing as a big free-agent addition for the Blue in the offseason to serve as their primary closer. The 32-year-old Puerto Rican veteran has only appeared in 16 games and has gone 2-2 with an 11.85 ERA, 2.56 WHIP, seven saves, 19 strikeouts, and 10 walks in 13 2/3 innings pitched. The three-time All-Star has not looked like himself at all and missed most of the season after having surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. It is believed that Diaz's elbow and neck issues stem from a lowered arm slot this year. When Diaz is reinstated from the 15-day injured list, he is expected to be eased back in lower-leverage situations, which means fantasy managers should not expect much from him the rest of the way. Lefty Tanner Scott is the closer to roster in fantasy leagues to close out the 2026 campaign.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that right-hander Trey Yesavage (knee) has been throwing on flat ground and will throw his first bullpen session on Friday, roughly three weeks following knee surgery, according to Hazel Mae of Sportsnet. Yesavage had surgery on Aug. 11 to fix a torn meniscus in his knee, but he has made good progress since and is tracking towards a return before the end of the regular season in September. Toronto is last in the American League East division, but they are just 1.5 games back of the final wild-card spot in the AL, so they still have plenty left to play for in 2026. Although the 23-year-old former first-rounder is still hoping to pitch this year, when/if he returns to the Jays' starting rotation, he might only have a start or two to help fantasy managers out. In his first full year in the majors in 2026, Yesavage has gone 5-5 with a 3.65 ERA (4.07 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP with 91 strikeouts and 46 walks in 93 2/3 innings across 18 starts. Yesavage only made one start in August and struggled the most in five starts in July, posting a 4.81 ERA with 15 walks and 30 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings pitched.

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Kansas City Royals veteran right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (shoulder) is set to have season-ending right-shoulder surgery next week, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Estevez had been throwing in Arizona, but he was not progressing much. It is very unlikely that he was going to get back to the Royals this year, but this will officially end his 2026 season and likely his time with the Royals with the club option for 2027. The 33-year-old Dominican hurler officially has a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Estevez, a two-time All-Star who had a league-high 42 saves with the Royals last year, appeared in just one game in 2026, allowing six earned runs in one-third of an inning against the Atlanta Braves on March 28 for a blown save and a loss. His issues started way back in spring training, when his velocity was way down. Estevez actually hit the injured list initially after being hit by a comebacker, and then he suffered a shoulder injury while rehabbing. A bounce-back season could be coming with a new team in 2027, but at this point, we have most likely seen the best that Estevez has to offer as a late-inning reliever.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene (hamstring) has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and is starting in left field and batting cleanup for Tuesday's divisional clash at Target Field against the hosting Minnesota Twins and right-hander Andrew Morris, according to MLB.com. Greene is ready to rejoin the big-league starting nine after going 1-for-6 in two minor-league rehab games. The 25-year-old was placed on the IL back on Aug. 12 with a hamstring strain, but now that he is back, he will look to get back on track for the Tigers and fantasy managers in the final month of the regular season. The former first-rounder hit just .214 (6-for-28) with a homer, a double, an RBI, seven runs scored, three walks, and 12 strikeouts in just eight games in August before his hamstring injury. The three-time All-Star's power has been down after he hit a career-high 36 bombs in 2025. He is returning to a .273/.366/.450 slash line with an .816 OPS, 16 homers, 54 RBI, 65 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 117 games played in 2026. Greene is hitless in just one career at-bat versus Morris.

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Washington Nationals middle infielder CJ Abrams (back) is starting at shortstop and will bat leadoff in Tuesday's contest at home against the division-rival Atlanta Braves and right-hander A.J. Smith-Shawver, per MLB.com. Abrams, who continues to slowly transition over to second base on defense, was scratched from Monday's series opener against Atlanta with back tightness. He is back a day later, though, and fantasy managers need to get him back into their starting lineups as one of the most productive shortstops in the game this year. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter is slashing .267/.343/.506 this year with an .849 OPS, 29 home runs, 92 RBI, 26 stolen bases, and 81 runs scored across his 498 at-bats in his fourth full season in D.C. August was Abrams' worst month of the year, though, batting .173 (17-for-98) with a .519 OPS, one homer, five doubles, a triple, nine RBI, 12 runs scored, seven steals, seven walks, and 38 strikeouts in 24 games. He will try to turn things around over the final month in September. Abrams has hit .286 with an RBI in seven career at-bats against Smith-Shawver.

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Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez will miss the team's next two games to close out the series against the visiting San Diego Padres on Tuesday and Wednesday in order to take the US naturalization test, according to Theo DeRosa of MLB.com. Suarez is a Venezuelan native who makes his home in Miami, and he is seeking US citizenship. The 35-year-old is choosing to remain in the US for good after signing with the Detroit Tigers as an international free agent at the age of 17 in 2008. Suarez has played for the Tigers, Reds, Seattle Mariners, and Arizona Diamondbacks during his 13-year major-league career. The Reds recently put Suarez on outright waivers as a way to get out of paying him his remaining salary for the 2026 season, but there were no takers on waivers, so he is set to close out the year in Cincy. He signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Reds after hitting 49 home runs last season, but he is currently slashing just .206/.298/.410 with 20 homers and 59 RBI in 2026. Suarez still has pop, but his high rate of swings and misses makes him a major drain on average and on-base percentage.

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