Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs and right-hander Javier Assad. Daylen Lile will take Crews' place in right field and bat cleanup. This season has been a struggle for Crews, the second overall pick in the 2023 draft. He got off to a poor start before sitting out almost three months with an oblique strain. Since he returned on Aug. 14, Crews has gone 13-for-62 (.210) with no homers, four RBI, 10 runs scored, three stolen bases, and 16:8 K:BB in 19 games. The 23-year-old has taken 244 trips to the plate this season and put together a .200/.279/.341 line with seven HRs, 19 RBI, 34 runs, and 14 steals.

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Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young (back) is not in the lineup on Friday against the Chicago Cubs. Robert Hassell III will play center field and bat eighth in a meeting with right-hander Javier Assad. Young left a 5-2 win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday with back spasms and didn't play on Wednesday. The Nationals were idle on Thursday, and Young will get another day off before a potential weekend return. The glove-first 26-year-old has played in 105 games this season and hit .235/.303/.287 with one homer, 26 RBI, 31 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 326 plate appearances.

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The New York Yankees have reinstated outfielder Austin Slater (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list and optioned catcher J.C. Escarra to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. Slater is back after missing a month with a strained left hamstring - an injury he suffered less than a week after the Yankees acquired him from the Chicago White Sox. Slater is 0-for-7 as a Yankee and has hit .223/.284/.400 with five homers, 12 RBI, and 20 runs scored in 142 plate appearances in 2025. The 32-year-old will give the Yankees some extra outfield depth over the final few weeks of the season.

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Washington Nationals right-hander Josiah Gray (elbow) will start for High-A Wilmington on Sunday, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com. It'll be Gray's first game action since he underwent Tommy John surgery with an internal-brace procedure in July 2024. Gray only made two starts last season (none after April 4), but he was an All-Star out of the Nationals' rotation in 2023. He racked up 30 starts that year and recorded a 3.91 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP, 143 strikeouts, and 80 walks in 159 innings. The 27-year-old isn't expected to return to the majors this season, but he could push for a rotation spot next spring.

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Detroit Tigers reliever Paul Sewald (shoulder) has begun a minor-league rehab assignment with High-A West Michigan, according to Emily Waldron of Baseball America. Seawald has been out with a strained right shoulder since July 12, but the Tigers acquired him from the Cleveland Guardians on July 31 with the hope that he'd bolster their bullpen late in the season. The 35-year-old threw 15 1/3 innings with the Guardians this season and posted a 4.70 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP, 18 strikeouts, and four walks. Barring setbacks, the Tigers expect to activate him from the 60-day injured list around Sept. 10.

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Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers (oblique) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, Isaac Azout of Fish on First reports. Stowers has been on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 1 strain of his left oblique since Aug. 17, but he could return to the Marlins sometime in the next week. That's welcome news for fantasy managers, as the 27-year-old has unexpectedly broken out this season. Stowers earned a place on the National League All-Star team and has slashed .288/.368/.544 with 25 homers, 73 RBI, 61 runs scored, and five stolen bases over 117 games and 457 plate appearances.

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The New York Mets sent right-hander Reed Garrett (elbow) on a rehab assignment to the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Thursday. Garrett actually started the game, threw one shutout inning, and struck out two batters. The Mets placed Garrett on the 15-day injured list on August 25 due to elbow inflammation. Given that he was assigned for a rehab start just 15 days later, this development is encouraging for both the Mets and Garrett's fantasy managers, as elbow injuries can be particularly challenging for pitchers. With the Mets in the middle of a playoff run and their bullpen struggling a bit, it would not be surprising to see Garrett back up with the big league club sooner rather than later. Garrett owns a 3.61 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 52 1/3 innings pitched.

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Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (head) left Thursday's contest after taking a foul ball off his head while catching. He will likely undergo testing for a concussion, with more news regarding his status coming on Friday. At this time, Jeffers is considered day-to-day, and fantasy managers will want to wait for news later in the day on his status for the upcoming three-game series they have starting Friday against the Kansas City Royals. With the Twins firmly out of contention to make the postseason in 2025, sitting at 62-78, it's unlikely the Twins will try to rush Jeffers back into the lineup. On the season, Jeffers is slashing a modest .262/.353/.394 with nine home runs, 44 RBI, and 47 runs scored. Mickey Gasper entered the game for Jeffers and will likely see more playing time should Jeffers miss any time.

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Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Jordan Romano (finger) threw a bullpen session Thursday, MLB.com reports. Romano landed on the 15-day IL on August 26 with a finger injury, and after playing long toss on Wednesday, he appears to be heading in the right direction by throwing a bullpen on Thursday. The next step in the process, barring any setbacks, will likely be facing live hitters over the next few days and returning to the Phillies bullpen next week. Currently, Romano is experiencing one of the worst seasons of his seven-year MLB career, with a career-high ERA of 8.23. After bringing him over in the off-season to be the closer, he has lost that job, forcing the Phillies to bring over Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline. With Romano now pitching in lower-leverage situations, his fantasy value has taken a hit.

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Testing on Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s knees came back clean, and he hopes to be in Friday's lineup against the Toronto Blue Jays, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports. Chisholm injured both of his knees while fielding a ball on Thursday and exited the game in the fourth inning. At this time, it's unclear precisely what was being tested in his knee, and the team has not released any additional details since Chisholm was initially diagnosed with contusions. However, when reporters spoke to Chisholm, it appeared he is ready to play Friday and shouldn't be in danger of missing any time. For now, he is labeled as day-to-day, and Jose Caballero entered the game for him in his place. Chisholm is slashing .238/.360/.571 on the season with 28 homeruns, 26 stolen bases, 68 runs scored, and 70 RBI.

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New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham recorded his 30th home run of the season on Thursday night against the Houston Astros. It's been an incredible breakout season for the 28-year-old, who is now slashing .247/.355/.485 with 30 homers, 64 RBI, and 75 runs scored in 496 plate appearances. Grisham had batted under .200 in each of the three previous seasons heading into 2025, but he's cut his strikeout rate to a career-low 22% this season. Grisham has also posted the best barrel rate of his career (14.4% entering play on Thursday), so he has not sacrificed hard contact to cut down on the swing-and-miss. Grisham has established himself as a reliable power source for fantasy managers while also leading off most days for a potent Yankees' lineup.

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Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez picked up his 11th win of the season in his team's 2-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. Suarez pitched six scoreless innings, striking out four while allowing six hits and two walks. In 137 innings (22 starts) this season, Suarez has pitched to a 2.89 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 128 strikeouts. The 30-year-old lefty does not dominate with strikeouts, but he limits walks (5.6% BB rate entering Thursday) and home runs (0.69 HR/9). Suarez is a must-start pitcher in fantasy as long as he remains healthy the rest of the way.

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Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estevez picked up his MLB-leading 37th save of the season on Thursday in his team's 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Estevez allowed one hit but worked around it and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning. In his first season with the Royals, the 32-year-old has converted 37 out of 43 save chances while pitching to a 2.54 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. With just a 22.4% K-BB ratio, Estevez does not have dominant underlying numbers. However, the veteran has now recorded at least 26 saves in each of the last three seasons and remains a must-start fantasy closer.

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Philadelphia Phillies closer Jhoan Duran notched his 26th save of the season on Thursday in his team's 2-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Duran pitched a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout and did not allow a baserunner. The hard-throwing righty has been excellent since being acquired by Philadelphia from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline. In 10 2/3 innings with the team, he's pitched to a 1.69 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with nine saves and 13 strikeouts. Duran is a high-end, must-start closer option in fantasy.

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Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez (shoulder) is expected to return to the mound on Friday for a start against the Kansas City Royals, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Lopez suffered a teres major strain in his right shoulder and has not pitched in the big leagues since June 3. Before the injury, he was 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 61 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings (11 starts). Lopez worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his final rehab appearance with Triple-A St. Paul on August 31, so he could be close to full-go on Friday.

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Pittsburgh Pirates ace right-hander Paul Skenes (10-9) stymied the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 5-3 victory on Thursday to pick up his 10th win of the season. Skenes held the Dodgers scoreless over six innings of two-hit ball and registered eight strikeouts against two walks on 94 pitches (65 strikes). It was the 19th quality start this year for Skenes, who has limited the opposition to one earned run or fewer an incredible 18 times in 29 tries. The NL Cy Young front-runner now boasts a 1.98 ERA with a .94 WHIP, 195 strikeouts, and 39 walks in 173 innings. Skenes is scheduled to make his next start against the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 11.

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Houston Astros closer Josh Hader (shoulder) underwent imaging this week that showed his injured left shoulder "is healing," according to manager Joe Espada. However, Hader is not ready to resume throwing. The star southpaw has been on the 15-day injured list with a capsule strain retroactive to Aug. 11. The Astros announced back then that they'd shut Hader down from throwing for roughly three weeks beginning Aug. 15. While they're just about at the end of that period, it's unclear when Hader will resume throwing. The 31-year-old has been considered a long shot to return during the regular season since he went on the IL, but he and the Astros have held out hope for a return in the playoffs. The Astros have a four-game lead in the AL West thanks in part to Hader's brilliant work. Before landing on the shelf, he posted a 2.05 ERA with a .85 WHIP, 76:16 K:BB, and 28 saves in 29 changes over 52 2/3 innings. Bryan Abreu has recorded four of the Astros' six saves in Hader's absence.

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Houston Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (elbow) is unlikely to return during the regular season, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. The Astros are awaiting the results of an MRI after placing Arrighetti on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation on Wednesday. Manager Joe Espada revealed Thursday that the team is "going to have to shut (him) down for a bit," which means Arrighetti won't have enough time to return this month. It'll go down as an injury-ravaged regular season for Arrighetti, who was out from early April through early August with a fractured right thumb. He made seven starts this year and went 1-5 with a 5.35 ERA, a 1.42 WHIP, 31 strikeouts, and 20 walks in 35 1/3 innings. The Astros have yet to announce who will start in Arrighetti's place on Friday against the Texas Rangers.

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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls (groin) will undergo season-ending core muscle surgery. Walls has been on the 10-day injured list with a strained left groin since Aug. 12, and after visiting a specialist on Wednesday, the 29-year-old will shut it down for 2025. He should be ready for spring training next year. The slick-fielding Walls played in 101 games this season and hit .220/.280/.319 with four homers, 38 RBI, 36 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 317 plate appearances. Walls totaled a team-leading 94 appearances at shortstop, but prospect Carson Williams has taken over as the starter since his debut on Aug. 22.

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New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (thumb, pinkie) will come off the 10-day injured list on Friday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports. Alvarez will return after missing a little over two weeks with multiple injuries. He went on the IL on Aug. 18 with a sprained UCL in his right thumb before suffering a fractured left pinkie in his first Triple-A rehab game on Aug. 29. If Alvarez is healthy and able to swing the bat without issues, he could give the Mets a sizable upgrade at catcher over Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger as the team charges toward the playoffs. The 23-year-old has slashed .265/.349/.438 with seven homers, 24 RBI, and 24 runs scored in 209 plate appearances this season.

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