Everything that happens in and around MLB has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy baseball perspective. From lineup changes to minor league call-ups to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy baseball.
Our fantasy baseball buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around MLB.
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Sept. 27: Sunday's news to know
By Todd Zola
Initially, all 15 games on today's schedule were set to begin between 3:05 p.m. ET and 3:10 p.m. ET, but two games have been moved up to 1:05 p.m. ET. Neither of those changed games has any playoff ramifications. The early games are the New York Yankees hosting the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals entertaining the New York Mets. Four of the remaining 13 games do have some postseason implications. The AL West crown and the final NL wild-card spot are still undecided.
The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers have identical records heading into their respective Game 162s. The Astros won nine out of 13 games against the Rangers, so they hold the tiebreaker. The Astros visit the Athletics while the Rangers visit the Minnesota Twins.
Peter Lambert will start for the Astros. However, he threw 62 pitches last Thursday and won't be able to handle more than a few frames. Hunter Brown and Hayden Wesneski are likely unavailable, but everyone else is in play in an "all hands on deck" affair.
The Philadelphia Phillies hold a slim one-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the sixth seed in the National League's postseason. However, the Diamondbacks win the tiebreaker, so if the Phillies lose and the Diamondbacks win, Arizona makes the playoffs. If the Phillies win or the Diamondbacks lose, Philadelphia hits the road to play the Atlanta Braves.
The Diamondbacks hope that Gabriel Moreno will be in the lineup this afternoon after he was lifted from last night's game due to a hamstring issue. The club is counting on post-game treatment of the injury to allow him to play. The catcher is quietly enjoying a career season, posting an .874 OPS over 129 games.
Zack Wheeler is set to take the hill for the Phillies. Ideally, he'd be preparing to start Game 1 of the Wild Card Round, but the team's four-game losing streak has forced a change in plans. He'll be pitching on only four days of rest, but is coming off one of his best games of the season. Yesterday, the club announced that Jesus Luzardo will be activated from the 15-day IL and will be available out of the bullpen.
Chandler Simpson missed yesterday's game and is likely going to miss the season finale as well. The Tampa Bay Rays speedster will likely fall four steals short of 50. He currently leads the AL with 46, but Bobby Witt Jr. is on his tail with 45.
Juan Soto of the Mets is questionable for today's early matinee. He was hit in the hand by a pitch in the ninth inning of last night's affair. He'll likely undergo imaging, then the club will provide a status update.
The Pittsburgh Pirates could play their finale without Oneil Cruz. The breakout outfielder tweaked his knee making a catch yesterday.
Be sure to check out the latest fantasy lineup advice as well as the MLB betting tips for Sunday.
Sept. 26: Saturday morning's news to know
By Todd Zola
Saturday's 13-game slate gets started at 12:25 p.m. ET with the Washington Nationals hosting the New York Mets. Five matinees follow, and seven evening games close out the penultimate day of the regular season.
After playing a doubleheader Friday, the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs will wrap up the season Sunday at Tropicana Field. The Red Sox have secured the second AL wild card, but the game could have seeding implications for the Cubs. The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles also moved today's game to Friday, but they're hoping to play Game 162 on Sunday in the Bronx.
Several teams will be patching together their pitching, starting with the Nationals in the early game. Connelly Early is set to start before Jake Irvin handles bulk innings. It will be Early's debut for the Nationals; he's expected to toss two or three innings.
Justin Verlander will be making the final start of his vaunted career when the Detroit Tigers host the Pittsburgh Pirates. The future Hall of Famer started one game in the opening series, then spent the rest of the season on the 60-day IL with hamstring and hip injuries. He's not expected to stay in very long, with Jack Flaherty set to replace the veteran. The Pirates will counter with Kirby Yates as opener before passing the baton to Antwone Kelly.
The American League West is still up for grabs with the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros tied with two games left in the regular season. The Rangers are on the road against the Minnesota Twins. Meanwhile, the Astros finish the season in Sacramento against the Athletics.
One playoff spot remains unsettled in the National League with the Philadelphia Phillies' lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks down to one game for the final wild-card berth. The Phillies host the Tampa Bay Rays with the Diamondbacks visiting the San Diego Padres.
The Rangers will likely be shorthanded against the Twins after Josh Jung was diagnosed with a broken right hand. He was hit by a pitch, almost certainly ending his regular season while putting a potential playoff appearance in jeopardy.
Chandler Simpson's quest for 50 stolen bases hit a speed bump. He left last night's Rays' game after fouling a ball off his foot. The AL stolen base leader remains at 46 steals.
The Milwaukee Brewers will be without Andrew Vaughn through the weekend after placing him on the 10-day IL with an illness. However, he'll be eligible to return when the Brewers open the NLDS.
The Red Sox are anticipating being without Mickey Gasper when they face the Yankees in the wild-card round. He hurt his right bicep swinging at strike three in the first game of yesterday's doubleheader.