The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Thursday that they placed right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (arm) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 7) with discomfort in his right arm and recalled right-hander Antwone Kelly from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. If Ashcraft returns after his 15 days are up on the IL, he will have just enough time to make one more start in 2026, but the Pirates surely will not be rushing him back. Most likely, we have seen Ashcraft make his last start of the season last Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels, when he allowed three earned runs. The 26-year-old former second-rounder in 2018 was a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his second year in the big leagues, and he has gone 14-6 with a 3.65 ERA (3.50 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, and 173:35 K:BB in 165 1/3 innings pitched across 28 starts. It has been a nice breakout season for Ashcraft, but he is now unlikely to help anyone in the fantasy postseason.

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New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette is the trickiest decision in the free-agent class in terms of deciding to opt out of the final two years of his deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Mets owe Bichette $84 million over the next two years, but if Bichette opts out, he will receive a $5 million buyout and hit the free-agent market again as he heads into his age-29 season in 2027. Passan thinks that Bichette will ultimately opt out and hope that the mediocrity of the rest of the free-agent class will help him stand out, but "it's genuinely a coin flip." The 28-year-old former second-round pick in 2016 by the Toronto Blue Jays got off to an ice-cold start in Queens at the plate, but he has turned it around and is currently sporting a .265/.317/.399 slash line with a .716 OPS, 16 home runs, 73 RBI, 71 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 144 games across 622 plate appearances. Bichette has been much better since the All-Star break, hitting .286 (54-for-189) with a .794 OPS, and he also went 29-for-100 (.290) with four homers, seven doubles, a triple, 13 RBI, and 12 runs scored in 26 games in August.

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Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Tarik Skubal, who will turn 30 years old in November, could get double the $245 million deal that former right-hander Stephen Strasburg received on a seven-year deal in free agency from the Washington Nationals if there is no salary cap after the 2026 season, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Skubal shook off an early-season elbow injury and has a 7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio with a 2.93 ERA since returning. He has not missed a beat and has been elite, which means that some team will pay an exorbitant amount for potentially a 10-year contract to secure the services of Skubal. However, barely a handful of teams are interested in paying $50 million a year for 33 starts, so Skubal will continue to be at the heart of the salary-cap debate with a potential lockout coming in 2027. The two-time Cy Young winner has a high-90s fastball and pairs it with a changeup that is among the best pitches in the league. In seven starts since being acquired by the Dodgers from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline in early August, Skubal has gone 2-2 with a 2.93 ERA (2.54 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and 10 walks in 43 innings.

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Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (knee) was held out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest due to a bothersome right knee, but a stint on the injured list is "absolutely not" on the table for him, manager Dave Roberts told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. However, it is not a guarantee that Freeman will be back in the lineup for Friday's series opener in Miami against the Marlins after a scheduled day off on Thursday. Freeman's offense has taken a hit recently while he plays through his knee issue, as he has one hit in his last 18 at-bats while going hitless with three strikeouts as the designated hitter on Tuesday. The veteran left-handed slugger has just one home run in his last 53 games and has a .718 OPS over the last two months despite hitting .298. "Freddie does a really good job of hitting against his front side, and then when you can't do that with your front side, your right knee, then you're compromised," Roberts said. "I see there's a lot more swing and miss the last few days. That's just not who he is." The rough recent stretch has dropped the 36-year-old former MVP's line on the season to .297/.375/.453 with an .828 OPS, 16 homers, 66 RBI, 72 runs scored, and seven steals. The Dodgers' primary goal will be to have Freeman healthy and clicking for the start of the postseason in October.

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St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (thumb), who was scratched from Wednesday's starting lineup with more soreness in his left thumb after returning from the injured list on Tuesday, expects to be back in the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Chicago White Sox at home, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Fantasy managers should not be expecting much from the 24-year-old shortstop the rest of the way after he returned from a left-thumb fracture this week. The former second-rounder in 2020 has had a disappointing season overall on offense, slashing just .236/.312/.323 with a .635 OPS, only five home runs, 51 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 49 runs scored across his 436 at-bats. Manager Oliver Marmol said that Winn's availability for the final few weeks of the regular season in 2026 will be a "daily basis" decision, so he might not even be playing regularly. Winn has been even worse in the second half, hitting .218 (26-for-119) with a homer, seven doubles, 13 RBI, 10 runs scored, three steals, 15 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 36 games played.

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Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez picked up his 17th win of the season on Wednesday despite not having his best stuff, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs while striking out just three across six innings in his team's 11-7 win over the Houston Astros. Sanchez has been one of the better pitchers in baseball for the majority of 2026, recording a 17-5 record with a 2.79 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 210 strikeouts across 187 1/3 innings (30 starts). However, the 29-year-old has hit a bit of a rough patch of late, relative to his lofty standards. Across his last 25 2/3 innings (four starts), Sanchez has allowed 26 hits and 13 earned runs. He's been less dominant in the second half of the season than he was in the first, as his K-BB rate has dropped from 22.7% to 19.4% and his WHIP has increased from 1.19 to 1.27. Sanchez remains a must-start pitcher, but fantasy managers may want to temper expectations slightly down the stretch.

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Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin has emerged as one of the best-hitting backstops in baseball this season, slashing .276/.353/.452 with 23 home runs, 71 RBI, 77 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 544 plate appearances. After a red-hot start to the season, Baldwin missed about a month after suffering an oblique strain in May and then battled through an extended slump upon his return, recording just three hits across 50 plate appearances in June. However, the 25-year-old has gotten back to his normal self since then, hitting .306 across 225 plate appearances since the All-Star break. The Braves also frequently deploy Baldwin as their designated hitter on days when he's not behind the plate, which helps keep his legs fresh and keeps him in the lineup on an everyday basis. Entering the final few weeks of the year, Baldwin remains an elite catcher option for fantasy managers.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski is the runaway favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award in 2026, as he's recorded a 14-5 record with a 1.95 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 236 strikeouts across 161 1/3 innings (27 starts). The 24-year-old had a rare off-night at Wrigley Field on September 2, allowing five earned runs across four innings against the Chicago Cubs. However, Misiorowski bounced back against the Cubs in his most recent outing on Tuesday, allowing just one earned run while striking out nine across 6 1/3 innings. The young right-hander is averaging 100.5 miles per hour on his fastball and has posted a ridiculous 38.3% strikeout rate for the year. Misiorowski has also limited free passes (6.7% walk rate) and power, allowing opposing hitters to log just a 3.3% barrel rate. Heading into the final few weeks of the regular season, Misiorowski remains an elite starting pitching option for fantasy managers.

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Across 425 plate appearances in 2026, New York Mets outfielder A.J. Ewing is hitting .252/.322/.370 with eight home runs, 35 RBI, 48 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases. The 22-year-old's power has dried up in the second half of the season, as he's hit just one home run across 208 plate appearances since the All-Star break. Ewing's 25.4% strikeout rate is also a bit higher than is ideal, particularly given his power profile. However, Ewing's 9.2% walk rate allows him to get on base with enough consistency to get to his speed, which is his main appeal for fantasy managers. After going just nine for his first 15 as a base stealer in the big leagues, Ewing has been caught just twice in his last 16 attempts. For fantasy managers in need of speed, Ewing profiles as a priority waiver wire target.

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San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas has gotten off to a slow start in the big leagues since making his MLB debut on September 2, as he's gone hitless in his first 10 plate appearances. Salas has also split playing time in the early going with fellow Padres catchers Luis Campusano and Freddy Fermin. However, the 20-year-old Salas is widely considered to be one of the top catcher prospects in all of baseball, so it could just be a matter of time before he takes over as the full-time backstop in San Diego. Across 405 plate appearances split between Double-A and Triple-A before his promotion, Salas hit .296/.374/.448 with 10 home runs, 61 RBI, 54 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. Salas may struggle to get to significant power in his first taste of big-league action, but he's posted an impressive 11.6% walk rate while striking out in just 14.3% of his trips to the plate in the minors. In two-catcher formats, Salas could be worth targeting on the waiver wire just in case he takes over as the everyday catcher for the Padres down the stretch.

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Across 102 plate appearances since making his MLB debut in early August, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Hector Rodriguez is hitting .266/.324/.457 with five home runs, 12 RBI, and 14 runs scored. Swing-and-miss is a red flag in the 22-year-old's profile, as he's struck out in 28.4% of his plate appearances. With middling barrel (7.7%) and hard-hit (33.8%) rates, Rodriguez's underlying batted-ball metrics at the big-league level are not amazing either. However, the young outfielder put up monster power numbers in the minors this season before getting promoted, hitting 27 home runs across 455 plate appearances at Triple-A. He's also taken over as the Reds' everyday right fielder and should get an extended run to prove himself as the season winds to a close. Fantasy managers in search of power upside on the waiver wire may want to target Rodriguez.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (biceps/knee) is going on the injured list, according to Fabain Aradaya of The Athletic. Ohtani has been dealing with many lingering injuries and has been held out of the lineup for much of the past week. Additionally, Ohtani has not stepped on the mound since July 3 and has only been deployed as a designated hitter. However, this move to the injured list could end his regular season, depending on the severity of his injuries. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers are set to promote top prospect Josue De Paula from Double-A, who could see an everyday role as the designated hitter or an outfielder. Through 134 games, Ohtani has held a .277/.380/.522 line with 30 home runs and 11 stolen bases. Managers should continue to stash Ohtani in case he does return for the final week of the regular season. De Paula is a top waiver wire pickup in all formats, as he posted an elite .303 AVG with a .948 OPS at Tulsa.

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Padres' CF Jackson Merrill had six RBIs going 4-for-5 with two home runs in a 9-2 win over the Nationals on Wednesday, Sep. 9.

Dodgers' SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto recorded 10 strikeouts in 7 innings with the win in a 14-1 win over the Reds on Wednesday, Sep. 9.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up top outfield prospect Josue De Paula, sources told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. De Paula will be with the team on Friday for the start of a weekend series in Miami against the Marlins. Per MLB Pipeline, De Paula is ranked as the Dodgers' top prospect and the No. 6 overall prospect in baseball in 2026. The 21-year-old from Brooklyn will make his big-league debut down the stretch after hitting a strong .302/.400/.539 with a .939 OPS, 26 home runs, 101 RBI, 31 stolen bases, and 105 runs scored in 123 games and 583 plate appearances this year for Double-A Tulsa. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder who hits from the left side has the type of power/speed upside that could play immediately down the stretch in September, and De Paula could see regular at-bats if two-way superstar and primary designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) is placed on the injured list to heal up for the playoffs. He will most likely see time in L.A.'s outfield when he plays, moving Teoscar Hernandez to the DH role if Ohtani continues to miss time with nagging injuries. There is not much time left in the fantasy baseball season, but De Paula is an intriguing name being added to a strong Dodgers offense.

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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Michael Soroka (shoulder) was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his team's game against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. The 29-year-old had been sidelined by a shoulder injury since August 22. Soroka has pitched well when healthy this season, entering play on Wednesday with an 8-4 record, 3.40 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts across 95 1/3 innings (18 starts). However, Soroka was used out of the bullpen on Wednesday and may not work as a traditional starter down the stretch of the season. With Arizona battling tooth and nail for a Wild Card spot in the National League, the team may be looking to build him back up to a full starter's workload at the big-league level. If/when Soroka rejoins the Diamondbacks starting rotation, he profiles as a quality starting pitcher option for fantasy managers down the stretch.

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Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (hamstring) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Thursday, per a team announcement. It's been a bit of a lost year so far for Garcia, who has been limited to just 309 plate appearances in 2026 due to hamstring and hand injuries. However, it appears that the 26-year-old is working towards a return before the end of the regular season. Across 666 plate appearances in 2025, Garcia hit .286 with 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 81 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases. Upon his return from a hamstring injury, Garcia may not be overly aggressive on the basepaths. Still, he profiles as an asset for fantasy managers as a run producer and a source of batting average when he's on the field.

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Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said that first baseman Willson Contreras (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Friday, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Contreras has been on the 10-day injured list since late August, but it appears he is making progress toward a return and could be back with Boston on Sunday or Monday. Contreras was having an excellent season before the injury, hitting .274/.384/.516 with 26 home runs, 79 RBI, 66 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 517 plate appearances. Once he returns to the big leagues, Contreras profiles as a must-start first base option for fantasy managers.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that first baseman Freddie Freeman (knee) is dealing with a right-knee issue, per Fabian Ardaya. The Dodgers deployed Freeman as designated hitter on Tuesday, and the 36-year-old is out of the team's lineup completely on Wednesday. Freeman has put together another strong season in 2026, hitting .297/.375/.473 with 16 home runs, 66 RBI, 72 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 600 plate appearances. However, Freeman has been slumping of late. He's logged just one hit in his last 20 plate appearances and has just one home run across 192 plate appearances since the All-Star break. With Freeman sidelined on Wednesday, Dodgers utility man Kike Hernandez is starting at first base and batting ninth in the team's matchup against the Cincinnati Reds.

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Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said catcher Adley Rutschman (elbow) received a cortisone injection in his right elbow on Monday and that the team expects him to be back in the lineup on Friday, per Tim Healy of The Boston Globe. It's not yet clear exactly what Rutschman is dealing with in his elbow, but it appears that the 28-year-old will likely be managing the issue in the immediate future. Across 359 plate appearances split between the Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles this season, Rutschman is hitting .237/.315/.424 with 12 home runs, 56 RBI, and 39 runs scored. Rutschman has been on a hot streak in recent games despite the elbow injury, logging seven hits and three home runs across his last 24 plate appearances. Without him, Boston has deployed both Connor Wong and Mickey Gasper behind the plate.

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