Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (hand) is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale at PNC Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates after taking a pitch off his right hand in Wednesday's loss. Rookie Dalton Rushing will do the catching for left-hander Blake Snell and will bat ninth against Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes. X-rays on Smith's right hand came back negative, so hopefully he'll be available to play in the series opener on Friday in Baltimore against the Orioles. Smith has been a must-start in fantasy when he's in the lineup as one of the best hitters at a weak position. Rushing, meanwhile, is hitting only .190 (22-for-116) with three home runs and 21 RBI in his first 43 big-league games this year. In the tough matchup against Skenes, we'd recommend fading Rushing as a DFS sleeper.

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The St. Louis Cardinals are hoping that right-handed reliever Riley O'Brien (shoulder) will be available out of their bullpen this weekend during their series against the visiting San Francisco Giants, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. O'Brien has been dealing with a right-shoulder injury and hasn't pitched for the Cardinals in over a week, but he was cleared to resume throwing earlier this week and it looks like he will avoid a trip to the injured list. How effective the 30-year-old will be in his return is another question, but he should continue to be in the mix for saves for St. Louis the rest of the way if he can stay healthy. O'Brien has been fantastic in his second season for the team in 2025 with a 1.69 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, his first two career saves, 35 strikeouts and 17 walks in 37 1/3 innings of relief. He also had three holds last month.

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Toronto Blue Jays infield prospect Orelvis Martinez (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, retroactive to September 2. The nature of the injury is not known, but at his point in the season, it will all but end his 2025 campaign. The Blue Jays' 12th-ranked prospect has had a rough go of it in 2025 and even worse up until the injury, going hitless in 14 of his last 18 games, during which time he went 4-for-54 (.074). The 23-year-old owns a .176/.288/.348 slash line with 13 home runs in 99 games for the Bisons and will look to make another attempt to get back to the majors in 2026 after making a one-game debut there in 2024, but right now, his arrow is pointing down.

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos will retreat to the bench for Thursday's series finale against the hosting Milwaukee Brewers. The left-handed-hitting Max Kepler will make the start in right field for the Phillies and will bat seventh against Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta. This will be the fourth time in the last 10 games that Castellanos will start on the bench for the first-place Phillies. Since Aug. 6, the 33-year-old veteran has fallen on hard times at the plate, going 12-for-75 (.160) with only one home run, two doubles, one RBI, 12 runs scored, six walks and 19 strikeouts in 20 games. Castellanos last homered on Aug. 17, although he did go 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-3 loss. Kepler has only faced Peralta seven times in his career, but he's hitting .429 against him with a 1.214 OPS.

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Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (shoulder) threw a two-up live batting practice session at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday that consisted of around 30 pitches and could embark on a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend if everything checks out in the coming days, according to MLB.com. It was the first time that Ragans has faced hitters since being diagnosed with a torn left rotator cuff and placed on the injured list on June 11. The Royals are taking it slow with the 27-year-old left-hander, who is in the midst of an injury-plagued 2025 campaign. Ragans has a shot to rejoin the Royals before the end of September as they look to get into the postseason, but at this point, fantasy managers shouldn't be holding their breathe for him. He was an All-Star in 2023 but pitched to a 5.18 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 76 K's and 16 walks in 10 starts before being shut down.

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The Atlanta Braves announced on Thursday that they reinstated outfielder Jurickson Profar from the paternity list and also recalled right-hander Daysbel Hernandez from Triple-A Gwinnett. In corresponding moves, the team designated infielder Luke Williams for assignment and released right-hander Cal Quantrill. Right-hander Wander Suero was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets. Profar will return to Atlanta after he missed the final two games of the series in Chicago this week against the Chicago Cubs, but he's back now and will be in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Seattle Mariners. The 32-year-old veteran switch-hitter has played in only 58 games in his first season with the Braves due to a PED suspension and is slashing .258/.362/.472 with 12 homers, 37 RBI, 44 runs and eight steals.

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The New York Mets will promote right-handed pitching prospect Brandon Sproat to start Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds. Struggling righty Kodai Senga had been penciled in for that game, but the Mets will instead turn to Sproat for his debut. MLB Pipeline ranks the former second-round pick (2023) as the fifth-best prospect in the Mets' system and their No. 3 pitcher behind fellow righties Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong. Both McLean and Tong earned call-ups in recent weeks and have been successful, leading the Mets to try their hand again with another well-regarded minor-league hurler. The 24-year-old Sproat has recorded a 4.24 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP, 113 strikeouts, and 53 walks over 121 Triple-A innings this season. He has been much more impressive lately, though, having pitched to a 2.59 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 11 appearances (10 starts) and 59 innings since June 28. Sproat will look to continue his recent success in a meeting with the Reds, who rank 14th in the majors in runs and 17th in OPS.

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The Boston Red Sox will place right-hander Jordan Hicks (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list with a shoulder issue and recall lefty Chris Murphy from Triple-A Worcester, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports. The injury may bring about the end of Hicks' season, according to Cotillo. The Red Sox acquired the 28-year-old reliever as part of their return from the San Francisco Giants for star slugger Rafael Devers in June, but Hicks has fallen flat with his new team. Hicks has logged 18 1/3 innings over 21 appearances as a member of the Red Sox and pitched to a 6.95 ERA with a 1.98 WHIP, 15 strikeouts, and 12 walks. He gave up four earned runs on four hits in a third of an inning in an 8-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday. That could go down as his last appearance of 2025.

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Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O'Neill (wrist) is expected to participate in all baseball activities this weekend before embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment. O'Neill has already missed almost a month after going on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Aug. 6 with inflammation in his right wrist. The offseason free-agent pickup has been on the IL two other times - once for neck inflammation, once for a shoulder impingement - and has played in just 43 games in his first year with the Orioles. When he has been in the lineup, the 30-year-old slugger has hit a disappointing .210/.293/.434 with eight homers, 23 RBI, 20 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 164 plate appearances. Even if O'Neill makes it back sometime this month, 2025 will largely go down as a lost season for him.

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Milwaukee Brewers reliever Shelby Miller (elbow) will "likely" require Tommy John surgery on his injured right UCL, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Miller's season ended abruptly when the team placed him on the 60-day injured list with a sprained UCL on Wednesday, and the next step is to visit renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister for a second opinion when the Brewers go to Texas next week. If Meister confirms that Miller needs Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career, it would probably shelve him until 2027. Miller, who will turn 35 next month, could decide to retire as a result. "Probably not going to play if (surgery) is the route we go," Miller said. "So, we'll see where I'm at." Miller showed he had plenty left in the tank before the injury cut him down, which makes this situation especially unfortunate. Between Arizona and Milwaukee, he logged 46 innings of 2.74 ERA ball with a 1.04 WHIP, 54:15 K:BB, 10 saves, and nine holds. Miller is due to become a free agent in the offseason, but instead of going through an arduous rehab and seeking a new contract, he may call it a career.

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The New York Mets are strongly considering promoting right-handed pitching prospect Brandon Sproat to make a start in the majors, Andy Martino of SNY reports. MLB Pipeline ranks Sproat as the Mets' third-best pitching prospect, trailing righties Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong. The team has called up McLean and Tong in recent weeks, and the two have performed well at the outset of their careers. Meanwhile, veterans Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea have struggled. That could help open the door for Sproat, a second-round pick in 2023. The hard-throwing 24-year-old has spent the season at the Triple-A level and notched a 4.24 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP and 113:53 K:BB over 121 innings. He has been far more effective since June 28, having registered a 2.44 ERA in 59 innings, and could be on his way to the Show soon.

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Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Daniel Robert (forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday due to a right forearm strain. It isn't clear at this point if Robert will return this season or be sidelined the rest of the month. The 31-year-old righty pitched 13 innings in 15 games for the Phillies this season, posting a 4.15 ERA and 5.14 FIP. He was more effective in 28 games in Triple-A for the Rangers and Phillies, compiling a 2.67 ERA and 2.83 FIP in 30 1/3 innings at that level. To fill his roster spot in the bullpen, the Phillies recalled Max Lazar, who had a 4.64 ERA and 4.74 FIP in 33 innings across 29 games for them earlier this season.

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Seattle Mariners first baseman/outfielder Luke Raley (side) left Wednesday night's game in Tampa Bay in the seventh inning due to some tightness in his side. Raley had just entered the game a few innings earlier as a defensive replacement for Josh Naylor in the fourth inning. Raley missed time early in August with back spasms, and he was lifted from this game out as a precaution. Since returning, he is just 1-for-17 in 12 games with a walk and an RBI. He hasn't gotten regular playing time and hasn't made the most of his opportunities since returning, so he isn't mixed-league material at this point. It's been a disappointing season for the 30-year-old lefty, who is hitting .203 with just four home runs after hitting 19 and 22 homers the last two seasons with a batting average over .240.

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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kyle Harrison (ankle) was not able to make his Red Sox debut on Wednesday as was initially expected due to a left ankle injury. According to Triple-A Worcester Red Sox manager Chad Tracy, Harrison is feeling better but is currently without a timeline to return to the mound. The team will see how he feels on Thursday and determine a course of action at that point. The Red Sox acquired Harrison as one of the key pieces in the Rafael Devers trade, and since joining the Woo Sox, he has gone 4-2 with a 3.65 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, going 3-0 with a 2.23 ERA, but he'll need to wait a little longer before making his first appearance in the majors for Boston. When he does arrive, Harrison's recent success and strikeout upside make him an important player to watch for AL-only leagues, DFS options, or even as a potential mixed-league streaming play, depending on the matchup.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (groin) will make a rehab start for Iowa on Thursday, as he continues to work his way back from a groin strain that has sidelined him since August 25, when he left a start early against the Angels. Taillon has been on the injured list three times this season and has only made 19 starts for the Cubs, going 9-6 with a 4.15 ERA and 5.02 FIP in his 106 1/3 innings. He'll look to get back in the mix for Chicago down the stretch if all goes well in Thursday's rehab outing. While the Cubs are six games back of the Brewers for the division lead, they have a firm grasp on the top Wild Card spot, giving them a chance to get healthy and determine their rotation headed into the postseason.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki had a rough outing for Oklahoma City on Tuesday, and there are no plans to bring him back to the majors at this point, according to manager Dave Roberts. Roberts said that Sasaki's stuff was still not up to where the club was hoping it would be. He gave up two two-run homers in the first inning and worked through five innings, allowing four earned runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. His velocity was down considerably in his most recent outing, and his strikeout stuff hasn't been there since he started working his way back. The 23-year-old has been sidelined since mid-May recovering from a shoulder impingement, and time is rapidly running out on him making a fantasy impact this season.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (back) had to be scratched on Wednesday night and will also be out of the team's lineup for their series finale in Philly on Thursday afternoon. However, the team seems to be confident he'll return this weekend in Pittsburgh after taking a couple of days to rest his bad back. Manager Pat Murphy said that Yelich has been dealing with back pain since the Arizona series. For the most part, Yelich has been healthy this season, playing 132 games and hitting 27 homers to go with a solid .268 batting average and .351 wOBA. Milwaukee has opened up a six-game lead on the Cubs for the NL Central, so they can afford to be careful with Yelich, since they'll need him at 100% for the postseason. The situation definitely deserves watching for Yelich's fantasy managers, but for now, it looks like a couple of days off should be all he needs to get back to mashing.

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Los Angeles Angels designated hitter/outfielder Mike Trout (undisclosed) plans to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals, Erica Weston of FanDuel Sports Network West reports. A skin infection has kept Trout out of back-to-back games, but he's feeling better and is optimistic he won't miss any more time. This has been a difficult season for Trout, as the 34-year-old future Hall of Famer hasn't played in the outfield since April 30 as a result of a bone bruise in his left knee. Worsening matters, Trout's offensive production has plummeted in comparison to his extraordinary career output. On the heels of a rough August (.669 OPS in 24 games), Trout has hit .231/.361/.425 with 20 homers, 54 RBI, 58 runs scored, and two stolen bases over 466 plate appearances in 2025.

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Kansas City Royals left-hander Noah Cameron will start against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, manager Matt Quatraro announced. The Royals had planned to start righty Seth Lugo (back), but he's dealing with tightness in his lower back and will need at least a couple of days to recover. With Lugo unavailable, the Royals will turn to Cameron, who has been one of the majors' best rookie pitchers this season. The 26-year-old has gone 7-6 with a 2.92 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 83:31 K:BB over 19 starts and 108 innings. Cameron appears to have a favorable matchup against the Angels' offense, which ranks 21st in the league in runs and has sputtered over the past few weeks.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (back) is day-to-day with tightness in his lower back and will not make his scheduled start on Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels, manager Matt Quatraro told reporters. Left-hander Noah Cameron will get the ball instead. Lugo may not miss much time, though, as Quatraro said the Royals haven't ruled out starting the 35-year-old on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins. While Lugo owned a 3.03 ERA at the end of July, his season took a terrible turn in August. Over six starts and 26 2/3 innings, the 2024 AL Cy Young runner-up recorded a shocking 9.11 ERA, allowed 36 hits (including eight homers), and posted 21 strikeouts against 18 walks. In 26 starts this season, Lugo has gone 8-7 with a 4.15 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and 125:55 K:BB across 145 1/3 frames.

From RotoBaller