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Mets' Brett Baty 'going to be just fine' after MRI; available off bench against Yankees

Brett Batyisn't in the Mets' starting lineup Friday against the Yankees, but that's by design.

Although Baty left Wednesday's series finale with the Marlins with knee pain, interim manager Andy Green assured that Baty "is going to be just fine" after he underwent an MRI on Thursday, and that the left-handed-hitting Baty wouldn't be in the lineup against southpaw Carlos Rodon anyway. But Green expects Baty to be available off the bench.

The Mets, who come into the Subway Series winners of four straight and five of their last six, could use Baty's hot bat. In his only at-bat Wednesday, Baty hit a single to extend his hitting streak to six games. Over his last seven games, Baty is batting .375 with two home runs and 10 RBI. 

Before Friday's game, Green was asked what has changed with Baty of late and the Mets skipper said that the youngster is using the whole field, which he's done more over the last month than he did when Green was first announced as interim manager. 

"The consistency of the at-bat wasn’t at the level where he is right now, where he’s using the entire field," Green explained. "The best version of [Baty] uses the whole field... Brett has the capacity to do all of it. Understanding what your strengths are. He’s just been really good using the whole field."

Later, Green said that Baty's defensive versatility makes him valuable to the Mets and that the next step in Baty's development is to unlock the consistency at the plate, which the organization hopes he can figure out for the rest of this season. 

"Having someone who can move around [the diamond] like that and have the offensive upside that he has is rare in this game," Green said. "You want to get away from words like ‘upside’ and flip it over to ‘consistent production.’ That’s what he’s done over the last month and that’s what we want to see carried forward through the rest of this season and onto next season."

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Former Senator And Ottawa Native Signs New Deal In Sweden

Graeme Clarke wasn't a Senator for long last season, but he did enough in Belleville for fans to think he might earn a longer look.

At the NHL trade deadline back in March, the Senators acquired the Ottawa native from the Washington Capitals for forward Wyatt Bongiovanni. Clarke was a 2024 AHL All-Star who had back-to-back 25-goal seasons for Utica.

He found out about the deal a minute before the deadline passed.

At the club's annual golf tourney this week, Thomas Chabot was asked about the Sens captaincy.

"I get a call in a hotel room that I'm traded to Ottawa, and it was amazing," Clarke told TSN 1200 this week. "Like, I grew up going to Sens games as a kid, wearing Alfie's jersey and all this stuff. 

"So just that, that itself was super cool."

Clarke was clearly energized by a chance to maybe play for his hometown team. He rolled into Belleville and immediately put up seven points in his first two games. He also credited a return to the centre-ice position, which he says he hasn't played for a couple of years, and relying more on his instincts.

Clarke closed the season with impressive AHL totals (19 points in 15 games), but despite that, he wasn't able to find a deal with an NHL organization this summer, at least not one he liked enough to sign. 

So for Clarke, an Ottawa kid who grew up cheering for Daniel Alfredsson, he didn't get to play for Alfie's NHL team, but he will get to play for Alfie's old Swedish team.

Frölunda HC announced this week that it has signed Clarke to a one-year contract for the coming season. That club produced both Alfredsson and Erik Karlsson, probably the finest two players in modern Senators history.

“I’ve only heard good things about the club and the fans," Clarke said. “Frölunda is one of the best teams in Europe, with a clear goal of winning. I’ve also gotten a good impression of Gothenburg as a city. This will be exciting.”

Clarke does have a little experience in Europe. He and his younger brother, Los Angeles Kings defenceman Brandt Clarke, briefly played in Slovakia during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. Graeme also represented Canada at the Spengler Cup last December and will compete in the event again this year, this time with his Swedish team.

Clarke wasn't part of Ottawa's NHL organization for long, but his Ottawa hockey roots run deep. He not only played AAA hockey here, but he also played for three years with the OHL's Ottawa 67s.

At 25, Clarke's NHL hopes aren’t necessarily over. A productive season in one of Europe’s best leagues could put him back on the radar of North American teams.

For now, being on the same path as the Senators' greatest player isn't a bad place to be.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest THN Ottawa headlines below:

Thomas Chabot Turns The Page: ‘We Take Pride In What We Have Here’
Alex Formenton Gets Second Chance, Reunited With D.J. Smith In Edmonton
Senators GM: 'We Have A Number Of Players Who Can Be Our Next Captain
”Senators Stars React To Brad Marchand's Social Media Dig At Tim Stutzle

Leafs Make Decision On Gavin McKenna Ahead of Senators Prospect ChallengeLeafs Make Decision On Gavin McKenna Ahead of Senators Prospect ChallengeSenators fans (and local Leafs fans) wanting to get their first in-person look at McKenna in a real NHL game will have to wait a little longer.
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Rays Reacts Results: Who you don’t want to face in the playoffs

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 08: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees walks back to the dugout following the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 08, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Well, when it comes to potential AL East playoff opponents, the majority want nothing to do with the New York Yankees.

For this week’s Rays Reacts poll, I asked which AL East team you least wanted to face, and the result was clear. Fifty-four percent of respondents said they do not want to face the Yankees in the postseason among the AL East options.

The result tracks with my own sentiments, which are familiar mix of respect, rivalry fatigue, and hard-earned wariness, although the numbers this season offer some encouraging context: The Rays currently lead the season series against the Yankees 6-3 (all in the first half), including an early-season sweep at the Trop.

Yet the Yankees remain the Yankees, capable of explosive offense, deep pitching, and that perennial October pedigree that has frustrated Rays fans for years. Even a favorable regular-season mark doesn’t fully erase the memory of high-stakes series that have gone the other way in the past.

Compare that to the other AL East clubs. Against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Rays have been dominant at 9-4. The Blue Jays have been the division’s soft underbelly this year, and the Rays have not missed their opportunities against the Canadians.

Against the Boston Red Sox, the season series sits even at 5-5, and the matchups have competitive and sometimes frustrating, but not nearly as strong of a problem with visiting fans as the Yankees pose at the Trop.

With the Rays sitting atop the AL East at 87-59 and the Yankees three games back at 84-62, the division race remains very much alive. The Red Sox at 80-67 are solidly in wild card contention, while the Blue Jays at 73-74 trail the playoffs by one game back.

Playoff matchups are never guaranteed: seeding, wild-card results, and the whims of October baseball will decide who lines up against whom. But if the Rays do clinch the East and earn a first-round bye or favorable bracket, the fan preference is unmistakable.

Given the current standings and remaining schedule, which includes a late September series in the Bronx, the preference may end up being tested one way or another. And when playoff time comes, you are welcome to put your money where your vote is with our friends at FanDuel, who sponsored this post.

For now, the message from the poll is simple: give us the Blue Jays or even the Red Sox. Keep the Yankees on the other side of the bracket, if possible.

Go Rays!

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Minor League roundup, September 10: Jackson Flora shows up and shows off

Jackson Flora lifting his leg to throw a pitch.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Jackson Flora #9 of the San Jose Giants pitcher against the Stockton Ports in the top of the first inning in the Cal Division Series Game 2 at Excite Ballpark on September 10, 2026 in San Jose, California - Region AMER. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Three games for the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates on Thursday, as the season nears an end for everyone. Here’s everything that happened.

Link to the 2026 McCovey Chronicles Community Prospect List (CPL)

All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.

News

Some good news on the injury front. AAA Sacramento outfielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) was in huge amounts of pain on Wednesday when he fouled a ball off his foot, and had to leave the game with the trainers. But the Giants are officially calling it just a contusion, rather than a fracture. Hopefully that means he can still return before the season ends.

In transaction news, AA Richmond RHP Manuel Mercedes was placed on the Development List, while Low-A San Jose outfielder Peyton Bonds was activated off the Injured List.

AAA Sacramento (77-61)

Sacramento River Cats lost to the Las Vegas Aviators (A’s) 6-2
Box score

After back-to-back excellent pitching games from the River Cats, they finally fell prey to the offensive environment of Las Vegas.

It was RHP Trystan Vrieling whom the Aviators got to, as the soon-to-turn 26-year old once again got beat up. The 2022 3rd-rounder got rocked for 10 hits in 5 innings which, along with 2 walks, put 4 runs on the board. Needless to say, 12 baserunners in 5 innings isn’t a good game, but it was notable that Vrieling struck out 9 batters. That’s a large number for the Gonzaga alum, as he is not really a strikeout artist: he had just 8.3 strikeouts per 9 innings in AA this year.

Vrieling has really struggled since a recent promotion which, admittedly, was due more to roster logistics than merit, as he only had a 4.23 ERA and a 5.06 FIP in Richmond. Through 3 games with Sacramento, Vrieling has given up a staggering 28 hits in just 13 innings, with 8 walks and 16 earned runs, though he does have 18 strikeouts.

RHP R.J. Dabovich also had a tough go of it, as he gave up a walk and a 2-run home run in an inning of work, with an error, though he struck out 2 batters. Dabovich has been quite good since returning to health, so this was a rare not-great game for him. RHP Wilkin Ramos was the lone bright spot on the mound, as he pitched 2 shutout innings with 1 hit and 2 strikeouts.

The offense did very, very little. The best performance came from first baseman Charlie Szykowny, who hit 3-4 with a double. Szykowny, a 26-year old lefty taken in the 9th round in 2023, is, like Vrieling, likely in AAA more because of roster needs than because of AA performance. But he’s certainly making the most of his opportunity: he has an 8-game hitting streak going, and in 10 games with Sacramento has an .885 OPS and a 128 wRC+. It will be fun seeing him have a full year at the level next season.

Quiet games for the top prospects: third baseman Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL) hit 1-4 with 2 strikeouts, while center fielder Scott Bandura went 0-4 with a strikeout. Outfielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) didn’t play, after injuring his foot on Wednesday. Designated hitter Victor Bericoto (No. 35 CPL) made his 2nd rehab appearance, and hit 1-4.

AA Richmond (73-60)

Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Chesapeake Baysox (Orioles) 8-2
Box score

The struggles continue for the Squirrels, who have seen their losing streak creep all the way to 8 games. The regular season ends on Sunday, so they’re certainly limping to the finish line, but hey … at least they’re guaranteed to finish, at minimum, 10 games above .500, even if they end the year with a double-digit losing streak!

This was another fairly uninteresting game for Richmond, save for one player: third baseman Sabin Ceballos (No. 43 CPL). The just-turned 24-year old put on quite a show in the batter’s box, going 2-3 with both a home run and a double, while also drawing a walk and striking out once.

With the big fly, Ceballos has now tripled his home run output over last year, which was spent at the same level (and he only has 76 more plate appearances this season). That’s pretty notable, as you need a good chunk of power to survive at an infield corner.

Yet despite that, Ceballos’ wRC+ has only gained 3 points year over year (102 to 105), the result of both struggling to get hits that aren’t homers, and the improved offensive environment in the Eastern League this year (his OPS has risen from .670 to .750).

As I’ve written about many times this year, Ceballos is just … an odd offensive profile. In both of his years in AA, he’s done a great job making contact … his strikeout rate and swinging strike rate have gone a little backwards this year, but they’re still just 17.9% and 10.3%, very good numbers. And yet, despite all that contact, Ceballos has a miserable .225 batting average. He’s basically doing 3 things at the plate: hitting home runs, drawing walks, and hitting into a whole bunch of outs. It’s a little odd.

No one else had particularly good offensive days. Center fielder Trevor Cohen (No. 15 CPL) had the only other multi-hit game, as he went 2-5 with a strikeout, while designated hitter Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL) had a rough game as he continues to shake the injury rust off, going 0-4 with a strikeout hat trick. Cohen, who turns 23 in December, has a .745 OPS and a 101 wRC+ in 47 games since getting promoted; Jordan, who turned 23 in May, has a .707 OPS and a 90 wRC+ in 20 games.

RHP Niko Mazza’s 2nd game in AA was rough on his ERA, though he pitched better than the 4 runs he allowed in 4 innings. A run per inning is a bad ratio, but a baserunner per inning? Well, that’s mighty fine, and it’s exactly what Mazza did, as he gave up just 3 hits and 1 walk, with 4 strikeouts. Unfortunately, one of those hits (a double) immediately preceded the walk, which immediately preceded another one of the hits (a 3-run home run). The 3rd and final hit (also a double) opened up the 5th inning, and immediately preceded a rain delay, which immediately preceded Mazza being replaced by RHP Manuel Mercedes, who allowed the inherited runner to score.

LHP Jack Choate (No. 37 CPL) continued the trend he’s had for a few years now, of getting far more strikeouts than one would expect out of a soft-tosser, but also not pitching all that well. He struck out 4 batters in just 2.2 innings in this game, but also gave up 3 hits, a hit batter, and a run. The 2022 9th-round pick, who turned 25 at the start of the season, has a 4.38 ERA and a 4.17 FIP this season, despite a fantastic 11.4 strikeouts per 9 innings.

RHP Marty Gair made his 3rd appearance since getting promoted and it didn’t go super well, as he allowed 2 hits, 1 walk, 1 hit batter, and 2 runs in just 1 inning of work, though he struck out 2 batters.

Low-A San Jose

San Jose Giants beat the Stockton Ports (A’s) 3-1
Box score

And with that, the Baby Giants are championship bound. After ending the regular season with 20 wins in their final 22 games, San Jose swept the best-of-3 divisional series against their northeast neighbors, and will now face the Lake Elsinore Storm of the Padres organization for the Cal League championship. That series, which is also best of 3, starts on Sunday in Lake Elsinore, and continues in San Jose on Tuesday and, if necessary, Wednesday.

The big news in this game was that RHP Jackson Flora made his 2nd career appearance (and, thanks to the Giants advancing, we’ll likely get to see him pitch a 3rd time). Flora was impressive if a little shaky in his professional debut last Friday, which was the only official appearance he made in his debut season, as only regular season stats count in the record books.

But his follow-up performance, in Thursday’s playoff game, was where Flora really showed why he was the No. 4 overall pick in the draft, and immediately becomes the top pitching prospect in the system (and one of the best pitching prospects in baseball). Flora was utterly dominant, striking out 4 batters in 2 no-hit innings, while touching triple digits with his electric fastball. The command still isn’t quite there — he walked 2 batters and only threw half of his 32 pitches for strikes — but that’s also very understandable given that he went a few months without pitching.

Seeing Flora overwhelm Single-A hitters like that made it pretty clear, in my eye, that he belongs in High-A to start the 2027 season, though I suppose there’s a chance the Giants give him the Carson Whisenhunt treatment (Whisenhunt was similarly dominant after being drafted in 2023, and returned to San Jose for his first full season, but only spent 4 games there before getting promoted to High-A … where he only spent 6 games before getting promoted to AA).

After Flora, the bulk innings went to LHP Ricardo Estrada, who gave up 5 hits, 0 walks, and 1 run over 4 innings, with 3 strikeouts. Rounding out the pitching performance were RHPs Chen-Hsun Lee and Samir Chires, who each had no-hit, no-run showings (Lee gave up 1 walk in 1.1 innings, while Chires allowed 1 walk in 1.2 innings, with 2 strikeouts). Lee, who is finally healthy after losing all of 2024 and 2025 to injury, posted a 1.42 ERA in 14 appearances for San Jose this year, those his strikeout and walk numbers weren’t particularly good and, as a result, he had a 4.73 FIP. Chires, who had struggled with both performance and injuries for 3 years in the Complex League before finally dominating the league in his 4th attempt, had a 1.82 ERA and a 3.36 FIP in 15 Low-A games this year. Counting the playoff performance, the Venezuelan, who turns 23 next week, had 29 strikeouts to just 6 walks in 26.1 innings.

Despite this being a low-scoring game, and despite the big story being Flora, the star of the game actually came on the other side of the ball, as designated hitter Drew Smith carried the team to victory. Smith was the team’s 15th-round pick in July, and signed for a very modest $25,000 out of Oregon. But my goodness has the 23-year old right-hander fit right in. He wasted no time making his mark on this game, as he bopped a 2-out, 2-run double in the 1st inning, which proved to be all the offense the Baby Giants would need.

But as the game grew tense, Smith — who finished 2-4 with a strikeout — provided the insurance. In the 8th inning, with San Jose clinging to a 2-1 lead, Smith bashed a solo home run to increase the margin.

Smith hit just 3 home runs as a freshman for Oregon, just 4 as a sophomore, and just 5 as a junior. But he exploded for 16 home runs in his senior season, and it seems he’s carrying that into the pros: he only got into 3 regular season games, but hit a home run, and now has smacked big flies in both of San Jose’s playoff appearances. 3 dingers through 5 career games! Hard to argue with that!

Catcher Rod Barajas Jr. also had a nice game, as he went 2-4 with a double. Shortstop and uber-prospect Josuar González (No. 2 CPL) went 1-4 with a double and a strikeout. Right fielder Peyton Bonds, the team’s 3rd-round pick who hadn’t played in quite a while due to injury, returned to the lineup for half the game, and hit 1-2.

Home run tracker

18 — Sabin Ceballos — [AA]
3 — Drew Smith — [Low-A]

Friday schedule

Sacramento: 7:05 p.m. PT at Las Vegas (SP: TBD)
Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs. Chesapeake (SP: Jacob Bresnahan)
Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Vancouver (SP: Hunter Dryden)

Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be viewed on MLB TV

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This Week in Mets Quotes: Jonah Tong feels good, Myers is happy to be back

Sep 7, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jonah Tong (21) rubs a baseball during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Your 2026 New York Mets: Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose.

“I was looking for a good pitch in the zone and he threw it there. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose and today was my turn [to help us win].” -Francisco Lindor [MLB]

It’s been a tough year for a number of players, but I’m glad Tobias Myers worked hard and made it back to the big leagues.

“[Tobias Myers] just lost a little bit of the stuff.” -Andy Green [MLB]

“Time’s kind of flown, honestly. I haven’t really noticed how long I’ve been down here [in AAA].” -Tobias Myers [MLB]

“Not an easy inning any time [Rafael] Devers is the middle of your inning. Had to go through the heart of their order and did a really nice job.” -Andy Green [MLB]

This does feel like it’s been a running theme for the Mets…

“It’s unfortunately not that uncommon where some guys get a little bit lost, and that’s such a hard level to fix things. You just feel that pressure to go out there and perform all the time. Sometimes, they come down here and it just allows them to take a breath. I think [Myers] was able to do that.” -Syracuse Mets pitching Coach A.J. Sager [MLB]

…everyone just needs to take Chet Steadman’s advice and ‘deal from the have to’…

“The last couple of weeks, it’s definitely gotten back to just being free. No thinking up there. Just pitch, and gradually I’ve gotten better and better.” -Tobias Myers [MLB]

…‘the have to is what you use when you’re afraid’.

“Last year, I felt like a kid going out there every time, just being shell-shocked by a lot of things. Now, it’s more like [my] feet are more set … and just going out there just trying to do my job.” -Jonah Tong [MLB]

At least it’s just Tong being nitpicky about himself…

“[I felt] good. Just one walk and a couple of pitches here and there, but it’s just me being nitpicky. Happy with it, [the] team won.” -Jonah Tong [MLB]

…oh and his catcher…

“The home run pitch was a good pitch. It was a pitch on the black, away. [Pauley] just had a good swing on it and that happens. [Tong] executed, the walk was the only thing.” -Francisco Alvarez [MLB]

…but Tong’s manager has his back and Green’s right that it was a good outing with some bad luck.

“[I’m] really pleased with [Tong’s] outing. The second inning is one of those things that just the only hits he gives up all day are sequenced together right there, and then the home run bites pretty hard at that point in time.” -Andy Green [MLB]

“To watch [Tong] be a cutthroat competitor, get in there and just go right back at them for the next three innings, it was really good. … I know he’s not going to love the line at the end of the day, with the four runs coming in, but the way he pitched today was way better than that line is going to indicate.” -Andy Green [MLB]

I think Andy Green might be really into boxing.

“We’ve put pressure on the other team. Not waiting for them to throw the first punch. We have gone out there and thrown it and we threw a lot of them today.” -Andy Green [MLB]

Lindor’s positive energy continues unabated.

“Everyone is like, ‘If I don’t do it, the next one will.‘ And that is contagious.” -Francisco Lindor [MLB]

In case you missed it, Will Sammon had an insightful interview with Eric Jagers.

“Was [Tong’s] major-league experience last year a good thing in hindsight? A bad thing? How do you view it, essentially one year removed from it?” -Will Sammon

“It’s hard to put a label on it. One, it was a really cool opportunity that he earned at the time. So in that part, it’s cool. It’s good. He had some fun moments, right? The debut was pretty good. He punched back against San Diego, and that was pretty good. And then he had some more unfortunate outings and appearances and things like that that certainly left a little bit of a sour taste in his mouth, I’m sure.” -Mets vice president for pitching Eric Jagers [The Athletic]

Mets Tweet of the Week

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Reds look to pick up the pieces on the road in Milwaukee

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 29: Andrew Abbott #41 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning at Wrigley Field on August 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Isaac Wasserman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In the wee hours of Thursday morning, catcher Jose Trevino was once again pitcher Jose Trevino as the Cincinnati Reds wrapped up a 14-1 drubbing at the hands of the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds managed just 6 hits in total on the night, their lone run coming off the bat of superstar Elly De La Cruz as he launched a moonshot off Yoshinobu Yamamoto to log a home run in his fifth consecutive game.

The loss sunk the Reds to the third worst run differential in the sport behind only the hilarious Colorado Rockies and homeless Athletics. Not exactly where you want to find yourself when you’re supposedly on the upswing of one of Nick Krall’s infamous rebuilds.

Now, the Reds head into Milwaukee to face the mighty Brewers, off whom they managed to take two of three in Great American Ball Park just last weekend. Safe to say, I expect there to be some revenge on the minds of those beermakers.

Lefty Andrew Abbott looks to turn the tide on his wayward season with the start in Friday’s series opener at American Family Field that I still choose to call Miller Park. Dustin May takes the mound for the Beers, meaning this may well be Cincinnati’s best chance to sock some dingers and actually take home a win in the series.

First pitch is set for 7:40 PM ET. Here’s how the Reds will line up to start:

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Report: Maple Leafs’ Max Domi Will Miss Start of Training Camp, Remains Out Indefinitely GM John Chayka Says

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka told The Canadian Press on Friday that forward Max Domi will not be ready when the team opens training camp, remaining out indefinitely because of complications from off-season surgery.

“Max is going to come and be evaluated. He’s not going to be ready to start training camp. He’s going to be out indefinitely. At the right time in the near future, he wants to address it himself, and I think that’s best for him to do … we’ll leave it at that,” Chayka said, according to Josh Clipperton of The Canadian Press, who shared the quote on his X account.

The update comes four months after the Maple Leafs announced on May 25 that Domi had undergone a procedure to address an undisclosed issue he played through during the 2025-26 season and that complications had left him out indefinitely. The club said at the time he would continue working with team medical staff and be re-evaluated at the start of camp.

That re-evaluation will now take place without Domi participating in on-ice sessions as the Leafs begin their on-ice work. Preseason games are scheduled to start Sept. 19 with split-squad contests against the Montreal Canadiens, followed by games against the Ottawa Senators. The regular season opens Sept. 29 at home against Montreal.

Domi, 31, appeared in 80 games last season and finished with 12 goals and 24 assists. He signed a four-year, $15-million contract with Toronto in July 2024 that carries a $3.75-million cap hit through 2027-28. The Winnipeg native has two seasons remaining on that deal.

Chayka and Domi have a relationship that dates to Domi’s time with the London Knights and later with the Arizona Coyotes, where Chayka served as general manager. Chayka was hired as Leafs GM on May 3, part of a front-office overhaul that also brought Mats Sundin in as senior executive adviser of hockey operations. Jim Hiller was named head coach in mid-June, replacing Craig Berube.

The Leafs have been operating above the salary cap after off-season additions. Placing Domi on long-term injured reserve once the regular season begins would create cap space, a scenario that has been discussed around the team this summer. Chayka had said in early July that Domi was progressing and that camp would provide a clearer picture, adding that he believed Domi would be “a big part of this.” Friday’s comments mark a more definitive step back from that timeline.

Domi has not spoken publicly about the surgery or the complications. Chayka indicated that the player intends to do so himself “at the right time in the near future.” The nature of the procedure and the exact complications have not been detailed by the organization.

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Clarke Schmidt to make another rehab appearance Saturday, could rejoin Yankees after

The Yankees could be getting a nice boost in their bullpen soon. 

Clarke Schmidt will make one more rehab appearance this weekend, manager Aaron Boone said pregame Friday.  

The team will wait and see how that outing goes, but if Schmidt is able to get through it okay, then the skipper said a return during the next road trip could be in play. 

Schmidt has thrown 5.2 innings through four appearances to this point.

He's been slowly building himself up to rejoin the club in a relief role after missing 400-plus days following the second Tommy John surgery of his career. 

The righty hasn't pitched in a big-league game since last July. 

Schmidt could be a nice weapon for the Yanks when he does return, though, as he's pitched to a 3.18 ERA out of the bullpen in his career. 

WEATHERS ON THE MEND

Ryan Weathers could be joining Schmidt in that bullpen down the stretch, as well. 

The left-hander is said to be doing extremely well during his throwing progression, and Boone said that it's possible he'll be able to return during the final week of the season. 

He could make his way back onto the mound as soon as next week, per Boone. 

Weathers has been sidelined for just about three weeks now due to a left forearm flexor strain. 

While there was initially some concern watching him leave his start, the expectation has been that he'll be able to help the Yanks again down the stretch in some capacity. 

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Who is Josue De Paula? Dodgers' top prospect replacing Shohei Ohtani in lineup

What do you do when you lose the back-to-back National League MVP for the home stretch of the regular season? If you're the Los Angeles Dodgers, you simply call up the No. 6-ranked prospect in all of baseball.

With Shohei Ohtani headed to the 15-day injured list, the Dodgers are bringing up their top prospect Josue De Paula for his first shot at the big leagues. The 21-year-old will make his MLB debut on Friday, Sept. 11, against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park.

Though normally an outfielder, De Paula will take the "lion's share" of reps at the designated hitter spot left open by the absence of Ohtani, who has been hampered by multiple nagging injuries since June and will now be out until at least the Dodgers' final series of the regular season.

"Talking to Shohei, the doctors, the training staff, it’s the right thing to do," manager Dave Roberts told reporters after the Dodgers' 14-1 blowout win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. "I think that we tried to kick the can as much as we could, but we are going to bring Josue."

Roberts added that De Paula might get opportunities in either of the corner outfield spots, but those might be few and far between for a couple reasons. Teoscar Hernández has heated up with a 1.329 OPS and 12 RBIs in September and Kyle Tucker will try to get some momentum going into the postseason. De Paula as a prospect is still raw on the fielding side of things as well, but with Ohtani out, it leaves plenty of runway for De Paula to make the most of his biggest strength – his bat.

At 6'3, 185 lbs, the Brooklyn native has evoked comparisons over the last couple years to a "slightly smaller but more athletic version of Yordan Álvarez," according to MLB Pipeline. He's extremely selective with his swings – he swung at just 14% of pitches outside the zone in 2025 – but when he does, he makes hard contact and can drive the ball a very long way.

Why Josue De Paula never played Triple-A baseball

In his first full season at Double-A, De Paula has slashed .303/.401/.547 with 27 home runs and 104 RBIs. He's also stolen 81 bases despite his speed being graded as below average. According to The Athletic's Katie Woo, some evaluators within the organization believe De Paula has the Dodgers' best pure-hit tool since Corey Seager. That kind of production – and ceiling – made the front office brass more comfortable having him jump from Double-A straight to the big leagues and skip Triple-A entirely, the first time a position player has done so in the Andrew Friedman era.

"I think that our player development group is very confident in his ability to conduct an at-bat," Roberts said. "You could argue that the talent in Double-A is similar to Triple-A, as far as pure arms and arm talent. I think that we’ve seen him in camp for two or three years. He doesn’t run from velocity. He controls the strike zone. And I think this is just a good opportunity for him to kind of cut his teeth in the big leagues."

Who is Josue De Paula?

Born and raised in Brooklyn, De Paula moved to the Dominican Republic at the age of 15 when COVID-19 restrictions shut down baseball in New York. He enrolled at El Niche Baseball Academy in Santo Domingo, which has produced big leaguers such as Juan Soto, Elly De La Cruz, Otto Lopez and Angel Martínez, among others, and signed with the Dodgers for $397,500 in 2022.

One of his earliest highlights as a prospect came during the MLB All-Star Futures Game in 2025 in Atlanta, when he was named the game's MVP after crushing a towering three-run bomb off of Noah Schultz, who was then the No. 1 prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization.

De Paula has trained with Soto and De La Cruz, but because he's so confident in the physical side of his game, the biggest takeaways were what he learned from the pair of All-Stars off the field.

"Just a lot of things on the mental side," De Paula said. "I feel like with time, as long as I can dominate my mental, that I'm gonna be in a really good spot for a very long time. I got a few mental tips in just how they go about their work, how they go about their day, their routine, and just how to handle yourself in a full season."

He's done the work. He has the confidence and trust in his game. Now, in the last three weeks of the regular season, De Paula has a chance to show what he can do at the big-league level.

"The advice they gave me (in the Dominican Republic) has served me very well," De Paula said. "Now, it's time to put it into practice."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Josue De Paula? Dodgers' top prospect replacing Shohei Ohtani in lineup

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San Diego wins four straight, sweeping Nats before crucial road trip

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated by Austin Hays #15 after hitting a two-run home run against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Petco Park on September 09, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Diego Padres are back in the postseason! They’ll likely go back and forth as the season continues before they face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final Wild Card spot. The Friars swept the Washington Nationals after Jackson Merrill’s two homer day. He finished a double shy of the cycle, with a single, a triple and two home runs. That production led the Padres to a 9-2 win in the series finale.

San Diego will now embark on a crucial road trip, facing the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies. Both are divisional opponents who are very beatable for the Friars. Not only that, but both teams have been eliminated from the playoffs so they aren’t playing for as much. The Padres should be able to clean up against the two clubs, with the Friars beating San Francisco, 6-4, in the season series.

Taking the mound

Anthony Molina (SF) v. Robbie Ray (SD)

In a short stint with the Giants, Molina has managed to immensely impress. In three appearances (two starts), Molina owns a 1.88 ERA through 14 1/3 innings pitched. Prior to that, Molina had been on the Atlanta Braves, where he pitched just five innings in relief before he was traded for starting pitcher Tyler Mahle.

Molina doesn’t have an abundance of experience at the big-league level. He’s spent two seasons with the Rockies, posting an ERA over 6.00 in both years. Molina worked primarily out of the bullpen but has worked as a starter for San Francisco. It’s worked to mostly solid results, with Molina surrendering three runs in his last three starts.

This will be Ray’s homecoming since being traded by the Giants at the Trade Deadline. The veteran lefty has pitched incredibly well this season but has struggled with the Friars. He’s coming off of a miserable start in which Ray gave up five runs in just 2 1/3 innings versus the New York Yankees.

This is the perfect team for Ray to face in order to turn his Padres tenure around. Not only does Ray know these hitters well, having shared a clubhouse with them, but they have struggled immensely to produce runs this season. That said, San Francisco is on a three-game win streak after sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals.

Batter up!

Apart from Merrill’s hot day at the plate, the San Diego lineup still looked fantastic on Wednesday afternoon. The offense (without Merrill) went a combined 12-for-33. Three of the Padres had three-hit games (Ty France, Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr.) while five had multi-hit games.

  1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
  2. Jake Cronenworth, 2B
  3. Manny Machado, 3B
  4. Ty France, 1B
  5. Jackson Merrill, CF
  6. Luis Campusano, DH
  7. Dustin Harris, LF
  8. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  9. Freddy Fermin, C

After Cronenworth’s day off on Wednesday, he’ll likely be back in the lineup for the series opener versus San Francisco. He’s spent most of the second half batting behind Tatis. That has worked pretty well for the Padres, but Craig Stammen could tinker a little bit after Merrill’s recent hot streak.

Relief corps

After Walker Buehler was pulled from the game early (perhaps accidentally), the Padres’ bullpen locked it down. With the bases loaded in the third inning, Kyle Hart stymied the Nats. Hart then pitched 1 2/3 more innings before David Morgan, Yuki Matsui, Wandy Peralta and Griffin Canning covered the final 4 1/3 innings.

With the off day on Thursday, San Diego will have all of its relievers available for the series opener. However, those who didn’t pitch in the series finale on Wednesday will be preferred over the rest. Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Bradgley Rodriguez and Randy Vásquez will be available out of the ‘pen for San Diego. Vásquez seems likely to pitch only if Ray struggles to work deep into the game.

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St. Louis Blues Prospect Adam Jecho To Enter Player Assistance Program

ST. LOUIS -- The NHL and NHLPA announced on Friday that St. Louis Blues prospect Adam Jecho will be unavailable to his club for an indefinite period while he receives care from the Player Assistance Program of the NHLPA and NHL.

Under the terms of the joint program, he will return to the club when cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators.

Jecho, 20, was a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft who played for Edmonton of the Western Hockey League the past three years and was projected to play in Springfield of the American Hockey League this season after putting up 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists) in 47 games with the Oil Kings last season.

Last season, Blues prospect Zach Dean was in the player assistance program before returning to the Thunderbirds for the final 36 games of the season.

Jecho was slated to be at training camp when it opens on Sept. 17 and was on the roster of prospects to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday and Tuesday in Chicago.

Ross Johnston Midwestern-Type Upbringing Brought Him To St. Louis BluesRoss Johnston Midwestern-Type Upbringing Brought Him To St. Louis BluesNew Blues enforcer, who grew up on a family farm in Prince Edward Island, Canada, signed a three-year, $6 million contract that brings toughness, grit to a lineup that has been lacking it
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Ozzie Albies returns to starting lineup against Phillies following big pinch-hit appearance

ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 14: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves takes the field prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Friday, June 14, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The lineups are out for tonight’s series-opening showdown between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies. There’s no major shakeup but there is a return to the lineup for one familiar face after he started Thursday’s contest on the bench.

Ozzie Albies is back in the starting lineup for the Braves. Here’s how the rest of Atlanta’s lineup is looking:

Ozzie has hit .249/.304/.411 so far this season with a wOBA of .311 and a wRC+ of 95. His big triple against the Rays on Thursday helped push Atlanta past Tampa Bay and gave them what could amount to being a very crucial win if all continues to go well for the Braves as far as this particular series is concerned.

Outside of that, there are no major changes from yesterday and in fact, this is the same group of nine batters that squared off against Aaron Nola last week. The bottom of the order is slightly different but the players remain the same. For what it’s worth, Ronald Acuña Jr. has an OPS of 1.076 against Nola in 56 pat-bats. Austin Riley has done a similar level of damage as well with an OPS of 1.111 over 62 ABs. Mike Yastrzemski and Drake Baldwin have both been successful as well (1.046 and 1.056 OPS, respectively) against Nola but they both have much smaller sample sizes (16 and 8 ABs, respectively) to go with. Let’s see if that turns into a factor during tonight’s contest.

Meanwhile, here’s how the Phillies are shaping up:

Alec Bohm is the main one to watch out for tonight, since he was the only Phillies hitter who had any real consistent success against Sale when these two teams squared off last week. Bohm had an RBI double and a solo homer as both of the runs that Philadelphia scored on the night came of of his bat. Of course, it’s hard to overlook the rest of the lineup but hopefully Sale will be able to get the better of Bohm this time around.

So, what do y’all think? Tonight’s game is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. ET. There’s some inclement weather in the area so there is a chance that this one could get delayed, so that’s why I’m mentioning the scheduled start time. Either way are y’all ready?

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Two-start pitchers: Reid Detmers leads a smattering of strong plays as September winds down

Hello and welcome to the 24th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.

I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.

With only a couple of weeks left to go, every decision that you make with your roster takes on extra importance and could be the difference between winning and losing. If you’re chasing, now is the time to take extra risk. Stream those two-start pitchers if you need to make up ground in wins and strikeouts. Avoid unnecessary risk if you’re ahead and need to protect your ratios. This is where championships are won and lost.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week.

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The Braves are currently rolling with a six-man rotation, and with just six games on tap for next week that means that none of their hurlers will get the honor of a two-start week. If anything were to change, AJ Smith-Shawver would be the likely beneficiary (at Cubs, at Astros), and he would make for a decent streaming option. That seems very unlikely though, and it’s certainly not worth using him for a single start at Wrigley Field in the hopes that someone gets bumped and he picks up the extra start on Sunday.

The Brewers continue to utilize a six-man rotation as they want to ensure that all of their starter’s workloads are managed and everyone is ready for the postseason. There have been some rumblings of moving Kyle Harrison to the bullpen given his recent struggles, in which case that could set up Robert Gasser for a two-start week (at Pirates, at Orioles), though nothing has been confirmed on that front. We’ll update here if anything changes throughout the weekend.

With the recent injury to Braxton Ashcraft, the Pirates’ rotation is really in flux at the moment and they have yet to announce a starter for Monday. Whoever does take the ball there, assuming it’s not a bullpen game, would line up for a two-start week (vs. Brewers, vs. Royals). We’ll monitor the situation through the weekend and keep you updated here if anything becomes official.

The Nationals have been tinkering with a six-man rotation as well, and with only six games on tap, that means that none of their hurlers will pitch twice. Jackson Kent is lined up to pitch on Monday and he would be the one to get a two-start assignment (vs. Phillies, at Cardinals) if anything changes. he hasn't pitched well this season though and is not a recommended streaming option either way.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of September 11 and are subject to change.

American League

▶ Strong Plays

Reid Detmers, Angels, LHP (vs. Mariners, vs. Twins)

For years, fantasy managers have been preaching that Detmers would develop into an upper echelon fantasy starter. Finally, in 2026, it has happened. The 27-year-old southpaw boasts an outstanding 3.32 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a 191/45 K/BB ratio across 168 innings in his 29 starts. He has been especially dominant since the All-Star break, registering a minuscule 1.37 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and a 68/10 K/BB ratio over 59 1/3 innings. Dominant stuff. He needs to be treated like an elite option and started in all leagues every week going forward. With home matchups against the Mariners and Twins this week, he looks like the top overall play on the board.

Hunter Brown, Astros, RHP (vs. Royals, vs. Braves)

Sandwiched around time on the injured list, Brown has pitched well for the Astros once again this season, compiling a 3.52 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 100/46 K/BB ratio over 92 innings of work. He’s the type of arm that should be started in all mixed leagues in most weeks regardless of matchups. The fact that he’s starting twice this week just means that you get to sit back and enjoy double the production. He’s one of the top overall plays on the board this week.

Troy Melton, Tigers, RHP (at Blue Jays, at White Sox)

Melton seems to have hit a bit of a wall recently, but has still been spectacular overall on the season with a 2.42 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and an 87/30 K/BB ratio across 108 innings through his first 18 starts. Even with the recent struggles, I have confidence that he’ll deliver quality results over a two-start week and I’d be starting him in all leagues without hesitation.

Tanner Bibee, Guardians, RHP (vs. White Sox, vs. Athletics)

Bibee has been a major victim of bad luck and poor run support this season, as his 5-15 record does not paint an accurate picture of how well he has actually pitched. Through 30 starts, he holds a respectable 4.22 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 133/52 K/BB ratio over 170 2/3 innings. That’s not terrific production, but it’s still worthwhile in most mixed leagues. He now gets to take on the White Sox and a shell of the Athletics’ offense in a week where both starts are going to come at home and he’s likely to be a favorite in both of them. If other managers have abandoned him on waivers, he makes for a terrific streaming option this week.

Michael Wacha, Royals, RHP (at Astros, at Pirates)

Wacha never seems to get the respect that he deserves in fantasy circles. He’s having a terrific season for the Royals, putting together a 3.25 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 147/48 K/BB ratio over a league-leading 182 2/3 innings through his first 29 starts. He’s never going to blow up your ratios and his strikeout game has actually been on point lately, with 27 punchouts over 27 innings across his last four starts. He should be started in all leagues for what looks like a particularly strong two-start week.

José Soriano, Blue Jays, RHP (vs. Tigers, at Rangers)

Soriano has pitched decently in his first seven starts since joining the Blue Jays, posting a 4.05 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 27/14 K/BB ratio across 40 innings of work. He gets a dream draw this week getting to battle the Tigers and Rangers, which should lead to all sorts of fantasy goodness. Expect double digit strikeouts and a good shot at a victory to go along with quality ratios. That makes him a strong option in all formats.

▶ Decent Plays

Kade Anderson, Mariners, LHP (at Angels, at Rockies)

Through his first four MLB starts, the 22-year-old southpaw has done a decent job overall, registering a 4.29 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 16/8 K/BB ratio over 21 innings of work. The Mariners are being careful with his workload at the moment, which is why he hasn’t thrown more than 85 pitches in any outing yet. The strikeout upside remains high, especially in a two-start week, and if he can avoid serious damage at Coors Field over the weekend he could deliver a very strong week for fantasy purposes. I’m a sucker for the high ceiling and will be rolling him out there whenever possible in all leagues.

Davis Martin, White Sox, RHP (at Guardians, vs. Tigers)

After a strong start to the season, we saw Martin fall on hard times once the calendar flipped to June, posting a 7.06 ERA over a 13-start stretch before landing on the injured list in early August. Since returning from the IL though, he has allowed just one run over 10 2/3 innings while posting a 4/3 K/BB ratio. I’m not going to say he’s magically cleared of his woes and should be a dependable option going forward, but perhaps the injury issue was lingering longer than they were letting on. He gets to battle a pair of familiar divisional foes this week, and neither one is particularly frightening at the moment. I’d stream Martin with confidence in all league sizes.

Griffin Jax, Rays, RHP (vs. Athletics, vs. Red Sox)

For the most part, Jax has been terrific since shifting to the Rays’ rotation mid-season. The only blip on the radar has been a six-run disaster over 2 2/3 innings against the Mets to open the month of September. He rebounded with a strong start in a victory over the Braves in Atlanta his last time out, so I’m choosing to view the Mets’ start as an outlier instead of being the expectation going forward. He gets a strong draw to start his two-start week, batting the A’s at home before finishing up with a home tilt against the Red Sox. He’s an easy start in all leagues.

Drew Anderson, Tigers, RHP (at Blue Jays, at White Sox)

Since shifting to the starting rotation in early August, Anderson has done a really nice job for the Tigers, registering a 2.97 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and a 27/16 K/BB ratio across 33 1/3 innings in his seven starts. The matchups this week aren’t terribly imposing, which sets the right-hander up for continued success. He’s likely languishing on the waiver wire in many mixed leagues and makes for a quality streaming option.

Will Warren, Yankees, RHP (at Twins, at Diamondbacks)

Warren’s 2026 season has been a major rollercoaster ride. Over his first seven starts, he posted a brilliant 2.39 ERA. Then he gave you 14 starts of a brutal 5.60 ERA in the middle of the season. Since then, he’e back to strong results with a 3.12 mark over his last eight outings. He could turn back into a pumpkin at any time, but I’m tempted to ride the hot hand this week with a pair of road matchups against offenses that we aren’t going to be shying away from.

Erick Fedde, White Sox, RHP (at Guardians, vs. Tigers)

The 33-year-old right-hander has quietly done a very nice job over the past few months. Since the end of May, he holds a 3.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 60/28 K/BB ratio over 84 1/3 innings. The strikeout numbers aren’t great obviously, but the added volume of the two-start week helps to combat that. He has also been working behind an opener in most outings, which increases his chances of earning a win. The matchups fall in his favor as well, making this a good week to take a chance on Fedde if you’re looking to add volume without blowing up your ratios.

Ryan Johnson, Angels, RHP (vs. Mariners, vs. Twins)

A quick glance at Johnson’s overall line on the season would lead most fantasy managers to conclude that he’s not a viable streaming option, especially in a two-start week. You’d be overlooking what has actually been a good run lately though. Over his last seven starts he holds a terrific 2.11 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 26/19 K/BB ratio over 38 1/3 innings. Sure, the 5.42 FIP during that stretch paints a different picture, but he hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of those starts and has been very consistent. I’d roll the dice and use him for a two-start week at home against the M’s and Twins.

Zebby Matthews, Twins, RHP (vs. Yankees, at Angels)

Matthews had been pitching brilliantly and looked like he had figured something out in the Twins’ rotation this time around. That was until his last two starts, where he gave up nine runs over 7 1/3 innings against the White Sox and Tigers. Yikes. Whether he’s able to bounce back here and deliver quality results is really anyone’s guess at this point. He’s a highly variable option this week, with an extremely high ceiling and a very low floor.Whether or not you want to chance him is dependent on your own level of risk tolerance.

Brandon Young, Orioles, RHP (at Mets, vs. Brewers)

Young has been a stabilizing force in the middle of the Orioles’ rotation this season, posting a solid 3.71 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 112/50 K/BB ratio across 140 2/3 innings in his 25 starts. He has made for a decent streaming option in weeks where the matchups line up in his favor, I’m just not entirely sure that this week qualifies as that. Taking on the Mets in New York looks like a solid spot, but having to finish up against the Brewers isn’t an easy task. He also enters the week in bad form, getting clobbered for six runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings against the Guardians his last time out. If you want to trust the track record on the season and believe that he’s going to bounce back on Monday, be my guest. Just understand that there’s more risk here than his overall line indicates.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Dean Kremer, Twins, RHP (vs. Yankees, at Angels)

While he has been a bit better in seven starts since joining the Twins, Kremer still hasn’t delivered the type of results that we’re looking for from a fantasy perspective – posting a 4.79 ERa, 1.23 WHIP and a 31/14 K/BB ratio over 35 2/3 innings. I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt, since he has proven to be a viable mixed league option in the past, he just hasn’t shown me enough this season to do so. He’s nothing more than a fringe streaming option if you’re in need of wins and strikeouts and can handle the potential ratio damage.

Patrick Sandoval, Red Sox, LHP (at Rangers, at Rays)

Sandoval was supposed to make two starts this past week, but got pushed back after Brayan Bello made a spot start for the Red Sox on Monday. Assuming that doesn’t happen again, the veteran left-hander once again lines up for a two-start week. He’s still an unappealing option though as he has really struggled in his return from the injured list. In 11 starts he holds a 4.58 ERA, a cringe-inducing 1.76 WHIP and a 57/27 K/BB ratio across 55 innings of work. The matchup against the Rays looks particularly troubling here, as their patient approach could lead to a disastrous outing for Sandoval. If your only focus is strikeouts and you can risk the ratio damage, fire away. Otherwise, stay away from this one.

Cody Bradford, Rangers, LHP (vs. Red Sox, vs. Blue Jays)

Bradford has had a really difficult time in his return to the Rangers’ rotation following major surgery, going 0-5 with a 4.72 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and a 17/9 K/BB ratio over 34 1/3 innings through his first seven starts. The Rangers just want him to get right and get as many innings under his belt as he can heading into the 2027 season, so they’ll keep trotting him out there every fifth day. It doesn’t look like he’ll be a viable option from a fantasy perspective though. It’s best to avoid this one.

Jack Perkins, Athletics, RHP (at Rays, at Guardians)

The entire 2026 campaign has been a major struggle for Perkins, who boasts a miserable 6.53 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and a 119/47 K/BB ratio over 103 1/3 innings in 34 appearances (14 starts). The only thing that he has been reliable for is strikeouts. It actually is to his benefit that he gets to make both starts away from Sutter Health Park this week, but that’s not enough of a reason to risk trotting him out there, especially when you consider his 5.82 ERA and 1.45 WHIP on the road this season. Unless the only thing that you care about is strikeouts, there are better options to stream this week.

National League

▶ Strong Plays

Tarik Skubal, Dodgers, LHP (at Reds, vs. Giants)

Since joining the Dodgers, Skubal has pretty much looked like the elite version that we have come to expect over the years, posting a 2.93 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 48/10 K/BB ratio over 43 innings in his seven starts. He should obviously be started in all fantasy leagues each and every week regardless of the matchup. Taking on the Reds in Cincinnati isn’t ideal, but finishing up the week against the Giants at home more than balances that one out. He’s easily one of the top plays on the board once again this week.

Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies, LHP (at Nationals, at Mets)

The Phillies’ star southpaw is in the midst of an absolutely brilliant season, sporting a 17-5 record, 2.79 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 210/42 K/BB ratio over 187 1/3 innings through his first 30 starts. He has been everything that the Phillies and fantasy managers have hoped for this season. This week, he gets to battle a pair of familiar divisional foes on the road where he should continue to put up elite numbers across the board. Sánchez is a true ace and should never leave fantasy lineups.

▶ Decent Plays

Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks, RHP (vs. Marlins, vs. Yankees)

It was so nice to see Burnes back on an MLB mound last week, completing his arduous journey back from Tommy John surgery. He pitched decently over three scoreless innings against the Royals, but only threw 57 pitches. His workload is going to continue to be limited for the remainder of the season, limiting his ability to work deep enough into the game to earn a victory. That doesn’t mean he can’t have any utility from a fantasy perspective though. In a two-start week here, he’s still capable of delivering eight or nine innings with quality ratios, eight or nine strikeouts and at least an outside shot at a win if he’s efficient. To me, that’s worth a gamble in most leagues.

Jonah Tong, Mets, RHP (vs. Orioles, vs. Phillies)

Even though he gave up four runs over five innings against the Marlins in his return to the Mets last week, we saw the upside that fantasy managers are looking for with seven strikeouts while allowing only five walks+hits. It’s hard to find that type of strikeout upside on the waiver wire and he makes for a viable streaming option in all formats for his two-step this week. The matchup against the Orioles to start the week looks particularly juicy, so if for any reason he has his second start pushed back, you take advantage of the front end and lose the tougher matchup over the weekend.

Quinn Mathews, Cardinals, LHP (vs. Giants, vs. Nationals)

The 25-year-old rookie left-hander has been solid through his first six MLB starts, compiling a 4.11 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 28/14 K/BB ratio over his first 30 2/3 innings. Once he’s able to improve his command and limit the walks, the sky is the limit here. He gets an especially nice draw this week, getting to tangle with the bottom feeding Giants and Nationals with both starts coming at home. He should be able to approach double digits in strikeouts with a good shot at snagging a victory. The only real concern is the WHIP. There’s enough meat on the bone here that I would be starting him in all leagues.

Walker Buehler, Padres, RHP (at Rockies, vs. Marlins)

The overall line for Buehler on the season looks much more mediocre than something that would be useful from a fantasy perspective. Since the All-Star break though, he has quietly put together a very nice run over 10 starts – posting a 3.26 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 40/18 K/BB ratio over 49 2/3 innings. It’s a tough draw taking on the Rockies at Coors Field, but he gets to finish the week with a home tilt against the Marlins and hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any start since before the break. I’d be inclined to trust him as a streaming option in all league sizes.

Landen Roupp, Giants, RHP (at Cardinals, at Dodgers)

Roupp has been a solid and steady producer both for the Giants and for fantasy managers this season, posting a 4.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 139/72 K/BB ratio over 150 2/3 innings. The elevated walk rate leaves him open to blow up starts on occasion, and having to battle the Dodgers in Los Angeles over the weekend could wind up being one of those starts. He should be good for around eight strikeouts on the week though with a chance at a win if you feel like taking the chance.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Sandy Alcantara, Marlins, RHP (at Diamondbacks, at Padres)

Alcantara has done a very nice job overall this season for the Marlins and for fantasy managers, posting a 3.78 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 143/55 K/BB ratio over a major-league leading 200 innings in his 31 starts. There’s reason to believe that the heavy workload in his second season back from Tommy John surgery is taking it’s toll though. Over his last three starts (against the Nationals, Royals and Mets), he has struggled to an 8.27 ERA and a 6/6 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings. That’s extremely concerning, especially when the competition is factored in. Honestly, I’d be scared to roll him out there for a two start week in his current form and would look for alternative options.

Casey Mize, Padres, RHP (at Rockies, vs. Marlins)

Mize has really struggled since joining the Padres at the trade deadline, posting a cringe-inducing 6.34 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 22/10 K/BB ratio over 32 2/3 innings in his first seven starts. He has dealt with a variety of injury issues this season and doesn’t appear to be 100 percent at the moment. Trusting him in a two-start week that begins at Coors Field feels like you’re asking for trouble. Go ahead and gamble if you wish, but I would try to find an alternative option if possible.

David Peterson, Cubs, LHP (vs. Braves, at Reds)

While the version of Peterson that we have seen since joining the Cubs is slightly better than the one we saw with the Mets, he still hasn’t been a viable mixed league option – posting a 4.41 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 54/29 K/BB ratio across 63 1/3 innings in his first 13 appearances. It’s not going to get any easier for him this week, having to battle the Braves at Wrigley Field before tangling with a red-hot Reds’ offense in Cincinnati. Maybe you can squint and see him getting seven or eight strikeouts on the week, but it’s likely to come with very poor ratios and his chances of securing a victory aren’t strong either. I’d only look here if you’re really desperate.

Nick Lodolo, Reds, LHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Cubs)

After a breakout 2025 season, Lodolo has taken a major step back and been one of the biggest disappointments of the 2026 campaign. Through 18 starts he sits at 3-4 with a 5.12 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and a 75/38 K/BB ratio over 89 2/3 innings. It’s not going to get any better for him this week as he draws an especially brutal pair of matchups, having to take on the Dodgers and Cubs both in the hitter-friendly confines in Cincinnati. The only utility that he has right now is in the strikeout department, and the ratio risk that you’re taking on to get them is extremely high. There are probably better options out there.

Ryan Feltner, Rockies, RHP (vs. Padres, vs. Mariners)

I actually like Ryan Feltner and feel like he could be a viable streaming option in some instances away from Coors Field. In a two-start week where both matchups come at home though, there’s really no reason to go here. He holds a 6.18 ERA and 1.44 WHIP while serving up 11 home runs in 59 2/3 innings at home this season. Just don’t do it.

Rhett Lowder, Reds, RHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Cubs)

Lowder has been extremely inconsistent throughout the season for the Reds and enters this week in especially bad form – having given up 13 runs over 7 1/3 innings over his last two starts against the Dodgers and Brewers. He now gets to take on those same Dodgers at home before having to battle the Cubs over the weekend. What little help that he’s able to provide in strikeouts won’t offset the ratio damage and his chances of ending up the win column look slim as well. Unless strikeouts are your only concern, look elsewhere.

Tomoyuki Sugano, Reds, RHP (vs. Padres, vs. Mariners)

Never Rockies. Especially for two starts at Coors Field. Why put yourself through that? It’s not even like Sugano is any good – he boasts a 5.30 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 84/33 K/BB ratio over 137 2/3 innings on the season. If your only goal is to gain ground in wins and strikeouts and you can absorb the ratio damage that he’s going to inflict, sure, roll the dice. Otherwise there’s just no justification for trotting him out there for two starts.