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    Cole Ragans undergoes UCL repair surgery

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    KC Starting Pitcher #55
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    Royals’ left-hander Cole Ragans underwent surgery to repair the UCL in his left elbow and is expected to be sidelined for 10-12 months while recovering.

    Based on that timeline, it sounds like he received the internal brace procedure instead of the full Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery for the third time. Either way, he’s going to be shelved until around the All-Star break in 2027.
Pressure is on Phillies, Sanchez after Game 1 loss
Joey Votto, John Kruk and C.J. Nitkowski unpack the Braves' dramatic win over the Phillies in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series, with Philadelphia facing a "tall order" to pull off a series comeback.

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  • KC Starting Pitcher #55
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    Ragans underwent a less invasive surgical operation to repair his UCL than a full Tommy John ligament replacement or even an internal brace procedure. Basically, the surgeon was able to repair his existing ligament with sutures. The exact nature of the procedure was unknown until he actually had the operation done earlier this month. The positive news is that it wasn’t his third career Tommy John surgery, but he’s still facing a lengthy rehabilitation process. There’s a chance he’s back in Kansas City’s rotation sometime around midseason in 2027.
  • KC Starting Pitcher #55
    The exact procedure will be determined once surgeons begin operating and determine the best course of action. It’s possible Ragans winds up requiring a full Tommy John ligament replacement surgery for the third time in his career. The hope for the Royals and fantasy managers is that he needs a less invasive internal brace procedure or different procedure that would carry a much faster return timeline. The 28-year-old has been on the shelf with an elbow impingement since early May and seems highly unlikely to pitch again this season.
  • KC Starting Pitcher #55
    Quatraro added that Ragans is set to visit another specialist before determining his next steps. The exact procedure, and whether he’ll be able to return this season, remain unclear. The 28-year-old southpaw has already undergone a pair of Tommy John operations in his career and is expected to require surgery to address an elbow impingement that’s kept him sidelined since early May. Given the circumstances, it’s increasingly unlikely he’ll make any meaningful fantasy impact in the second half. There’s a significant possibility his season is over.
  • KC Starting Pitcher #55
    Ragans will seek additional medical opinions on his injured elbow this week after experiencing a setback in his rehabilitation process. There should be more clarity on his next steps and potential return timeline soon, but it does not appear he’s close to rejoining Kansas City’s rotation. The 28-year-old lefty has been on the injured list with an elbow impingement since early May.
  • KC Starting Pitcher #55
    Ragans underwent an MRI earlier this week after suffering a setback last week in his recovery from an elbow impingement that put him on the injured list back in early May. Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters Tuesday that they want to get a concrete answer in terms of what’s going on with his elbow, which is why he’s being sent to visit another specialist. There should be a clearer idea of his next steps at some point later this week. It certainly doesn’t sound like Ragans will be back at any point in the near future.
  • KC Starting Pitcher #55
    “Cole woke up yesterday, not feeling as well arm-wise,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “So, when he came out to play catch yesterday, he had to cut it short. So, we’re going to get him some more testing in the next couple of days.” Ragans hasn’t pitched since May 6 and had a 4.84 ERA in eight starts before landing on the injured list for what was originally expected to be a minimal stay.
  • KC Starting Pitcher #55
    Ragans was shut down from throwing after he didn’t bounce back from a physical standpoint following a rehab start for Triple-A Omaha back on May 24. The 28-year-old strikeout machine has been working his way back from an elbow impingement that put him on the shelf back on May 8. He remains without a definitive return timeline and is at least a few weeks from making it back to Kansas City.
  • KC Starting Pitcher #55
    Quatraro said that Ragans is feeling the same elbow symptoms that caused him to be placed on the injured list earlier in May. The left-hander pitched well in that outing for Omaha while allowing just a run over 4 1/3 innings, but obviously the elbow trouble means more than those results. He’s going to be shut down from throwing for up to three days, and then the Royals will reevaluate the situation.
  • KC Starting Pitcher #55
    The 28-year-old southpaw struck out three batters on the night while allowing one base on balls. Ragans threw 68 pitches in the contest (44 strikes) while racking up 10 swings and misses. His fastball touched as high as 97.6 mph. The Royals may want him to make one additional start to get fully stretched out, but his return appears to be near.
  • KC Starting Pitcher #55
    Ragans recently upgraded from playing catch to throwing bullpens, and he’s now ready for the next step in his return to the Royals. It’s been an up-and-down campaign for the 28-year-old lefty, and the hope is that he’ll look more like his usual self once he’s back in the majors.

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  • FA Relief Pitcher #31
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    Liam Hendriks announced his retirement from professional baseball.

    For all Hendriks accomplished during his lengthy major-league career, it will be his inspiring comeback after beating non-Hodgkin lymphoma that he is remembered for most. The 37-year-old reliever hangs up his spikes after a 14-year odyssey where he spent time with six different organizations, compiling 116 saves along with a 3.88 ERA across 663 2/3 innings. He was a three-time All-Star in addition to being a two-time winner of the Mariano Rivera Reliever of the Year Award.
  • CHC 3rd Baseman #3
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    Alex Bregman is at DH and hitting second for Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres.

    Bregman is ready for the start of the postseason after returning to Chicago’s lineup less than one week after suffering multiple facial fractures when he was hit by a foul ball in the on-deck circle. It’ll be rookie Pedro Ramírez filling in at the hot corner with Bregman limited to DH as he continues to recover. Here’s the full lineup for Tuesday’s series opener in San Diego: Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF), Bregman (DH), Michael Busch (1B), Seiya Suzuki (RF), Ian Happ (LF), Nico Hoerner (2B), Ramírez (3B), Carson Kelly (C) and Dansby Swanson (SS).
  • MIN Starting Pitcher #52
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    Zebby Matthews has been diagnosed with a flexor pronator strain in his right elbow.

    Matthews is expected to be ready for the start of next season, but it’s a variable that could potentially impact his availability. The 26-year-old continues to show flashes of fantasy potential, but struggled to an inflated 4.90 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 116/39 K/BB ratio across 130 1/3 innings over 23 starts this past season.
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    Walker Jenkins will undergo surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow on Wednesday.

    One of the top prospects in baseball, Jenkins hit just .226/.293/.393 with four homers, 10 RBI and one steal in 93 plate appearances over 26 games after receiving a late-season promotion to Minnesota. The 21-year-old former top-five pick should be a full-go at the start of spring training given the nature of the procedure, but fantasy managers should monitor his status throughout the offseason to ensure that he’s on track for the outset of the regular season.
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    Fernando Tatis Jr. is in right field and hitting leadoff in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Cubs.

    The biggest surprise here is sparkplug Samad Taylor getting a chance to face Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd in the second spot in the order with Dustin Harris presumably set to come off the bench in his place once Chicago goes to the bullpen. Here’s the full lineup as San Diego kicks off the postseason at Petco Park with Michael King on the hill: Tatis Jr. (RF), Taylor (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Austin Hays (DH), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Jake Cronenworth (2B) and Luis Campusano (C).
  • ATL Starting Pitcher #54
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    Tyler Mahle will start Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Phillies.

    Mahle was phenomenal for Atlanta, compiling a microscopic 1.99 ERA across 54 1/3 innings over nine starts after coming over from the Giants as an under-the-radar trade-deadline pickup. The 32-year-old will be making his first career postseason start when he gets the ball with a chance to eliminate the division-rival Phillies.
  • PHI Starting Pitcher #61
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    Cristopher Sánchez will start Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Braves.

    Sánchez will attempt to keep Philadelphia’s postseason hopes alive after Atlanta rallied for a comeback win during the late stages of Tuesday’s series opener at Truist Park. The odds are stacked against the Phillies since teams that win the opening contest in the best-of-three Wild Card Series era have gone on to win 21 of 24 times. The 29-year-old lefty rapped up another phenomenal regular season with a 2.91 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 231/45 K/BB ratio across 207 innings of work. This will be one of the biggest spots of his career.
  • SD Starting Pitcher #27
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    Nick Pivetta will start Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Cubs on Wednesday.

    Pivetta looked sharp in four late-season starts, posting a sparkling 1.45 ERA across 18 2/3 innings, after missing nearly five months with a flexor strain in his elbow. The 33-year-old veteran allowed two runs over five innings against the Cubs last postseason. This will be his third career playoff start.
  • NYY Right Fielder #99
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    Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters that Aaron Judge is “not quite there yet” in his recovery from a calf strain.

    Boone added that the determination to leave Judge off the club’s AL Wild Card Series roster was made after meeting with trainers following a live batting practice session at Yankee Stadium on Monday. The 34-year-old franchise cornerstone told reporters last week that he was planning to be ready for the start of the postseason, but that always felt a bit unrealistic after he suffered a calf strain back on September 16. It sounds like there’s a decent chance that Judge returns for the AL Division Series, if New York manages to get past the Red Sox. There should be some additional clarity on his next steps later this week.
  • ATL 2nd Baseman #1
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    Ozzie Albies hit an RBI triple in a win over the Phillies on Tuesday in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.

    Albies just missed a homer, but Derek Hill was able to keep the ball in the park. The 29-year-old also drew a walk, and scored on Austin Riley’s go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning.
    - Christopher Crawford