Mining Injuries & Roster Moves

MLB.com has a unique news section where each team updates their injuries and transactions. I’ve found this information useful but it’s unique. Each team’s webpage (not an article) is in flux with information constantly appearing and disappearing. I plan to check for updates (each blurb is dated) and report any information. I’ll quote the page to preserve the information. The information disappears into the abyss so quoting the source is the only way to keep it.

I won’t report headline news but will try to dig a little deeper. Additionally, I want this article to be a quick reference so don’t expect a certain word count. I’ll provide the useful info and then fantasy managers can figure out how best to utilize it.

Enjoy and please give me any suggestions.

American League

Angels

Both Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel hope to play some games this weekend. Neto won’t start on Friday.

Ron Washington said he expects to hold Neto out of the lineup on Friday as a precaution. But they were both optimistic Neto will play the final two games of the year.
…
[Schanuel] was held out of the lineup on Thursday as a precaution but he said he’s optimistic he’ll be able to return at some point this weekend against the Rangers before the end of the regular season.

Astros

Yordan Alvarez and Chas McCormick will not travel with the team this final weekend.

Alvarez, who sprained his right knee Sunday while sliding into second base, will miss the rest of the regular season, continuing his rehab in Houston while the team travels to Cleveland to face the Guardians this weekend.

and

McCormick, who fractured a bone in his hand Sept. 10, took batting practice on the field Wednesday and fielded some balls in the outfield. He should be able to play in next week’s American League Wild Card Series. He won’t travel with the team to Cleveland and will instead take live batting practice at Minute Maid Park.

Athletics

The hope is to activate Ross Stripling for the final series.

After Stripling faced hitters in a live BP session on Sept. 24, the A’s hope to activate him off the IL in time for their final series of the season against the Mariners in Seattle, which begins on Sept. 27.

Orioles

Grayson Rodriguez will not pitch this offseason.

Rodriguez was shut down on Sept. 25, when manager Brandon Hyde announced that the 24-year-old right-hander would not pitch for the O’s again in 2024, including the postseason. Rodriguez had been throwing routine bullpen sessions for much of September, but he had not advanced to the point of facing live hitters.

Rays

Shane McClanahan is done with his Tommy John surgery recovery while sitting 94-95 mph on his fastball.

McClanahan effectively completed his rehabilitation program on Sept. 25 by throwing 15-16 pitches in a live batting practice at Tropicana Field. He had been slated to throw on Sept. 26 but moved the session up a day due to Hurricane Helene’s path toward Florida. Manager Kevin Cash said McClanahan faced Triple-A Durham outfielder Jake Mangum and did well, throwing 94-95 mph. Reaching that milestone should allow McClanahan to have a normal, healthy offseason.

 

Royals

Vinnie Pasquantino hopes to play baseball this October.

Pasquantino took five rounds off the machine on Thursday, hitting curveballs in the first round and fastballs in the final four. After each round, Pasquantino ran the bases.

When Pasquantino got hurt, there was optimism he could be ready for October baseball, although it’s unclear when in October he’d be ready. But the progress seen recently is extremely encouraging.

National League

Cubs

Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki are banged up.

Busch was hit on the right arm by a pitch from lefty Tanner Banks in the second inning and sustained a contusion. Manager Craig Counsell said after the win that the concern for the rookie first baseman was his ability to throw without discomfort.

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Suzuki was removed for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning after spraining his right ankle while running from first to home on Cody Bellinger’s three-run triple in the sixth. Suzuki expressed optimism after the win that he could return to the lineup soon, but the Cubs promoted prospect Kevin Alcántara from Triple-A Iowa as insurance.

Dodgers

Miguel Rojas has a torn adductor and hopes to play in the postseason.

Rojas, who exited the game on Wednesday with left groin tightness, got an MRI on Thursday, which revealed a tear on his adductor, forcing him to miss a few games and perhaps the remainder of the regular season. Rojas, however, is still optimistic that he’ll be able to manage the pain and play through the injury in the postseason.

He’s likely a bench player for the rest of the regular season.

Phillies

Spencer Turnbull will throw BP on Friday to determine his postseason availability.

Turnbull is scheduled to throw a live BP on Sept. 27. He could pitch two or three simulated innings. It is unclear if Turnbull will be ready by the start of the postseason, but the Phillies think he can be an option at some point.

Pirates

Liover Peguero and Joshua Palacios are seen as 2025 “potential” contributors.

“Our focus has shifted toward making sure that we’re giving players who have the best chance to be a part of 2025 and beyond every opportunity to play and be on the roster,” general manager Ben Cherington said. “We’ve started doing that over the past several weeks. [With the] Triple-A season ending on Sunday, this is the last opportunity to do that this week. I felt like Peggy and Josh deserved this opportunity. We see both of those guys as potential contributors next year, so we made the difficult decision to release Michael and Rowdy.”

Rockies

Kris Bryant is done deadlifting 400 pounds.

“It’s more the smaller muscles, and I’ll work on those efficiencies in the offseason,” said Bryant, who said he has been on his current program for about four weeks. “Deadlifting 400 pounds really isn’t going to help your back. So I guess I am a workout fiend, only more with the smaller muscles that help stabilize your back.