MLB Player News
Top 300 Rankings
Videos
Columns
- American League East
- American League Central
- American League West
- National League East
- National League Central
- National League West
- American League East
  
  Baltimore Orioles
  
  Boston Red Sox
  
  New York Yankees
  
  Tampa Bay Rays
  
  Toronto Blue Jays
- American League Central
  
  Chicago White Sox
  
  Cleveland Guardians
  
  Detroit Tigers
  
  Kansas City Royals
  
  Minnesota Twins
- American League West
  
  Houston Astros
  
  Los Angeles Angels
  
  Athletics
  
  Seattle Mariners
  
  Texas Rangers
- National League East
  
  Atlanta Braves
  
  Miami Marlins
  
  New York Mets
  
  Philadelphia Phillies
  
  Washington Nationals
- National League Central
  
  Chicago Cubs
  
  Cincinnati Reds
  
  Milwaukee Brewers
  
  Pittsburgh Pirates
  
  St. Louis Cardinals
- National League West
  
  Arizona Diamondbacks
  
  Colorado Rockies
  
  Los Angeles Dodgers
  
  San Diego Padres
  
  San Francisco Giants
Stats

Kolek’s season likely done after move to 60-day IL

Stephen Kolek

KC Starting Pitcher #32

Player Stats

Royals transferred RHP Stephen Kolek (flexor strain) to the 60-day injured list

Kolek was originally placed on the 15-day injured list back on July 19th, so he is now no longer eligible to return until about two weeks before the end of the regular season. That makes it seem likely that he will not pitch for the Royals again in 2026. He is also dealing with a family situation that has placed him on the family emergency medical list twice in the last month, so hopefully this also gives him time to be there for his family.

- Eric Samulski

Transaction

More Stephen Kolek News

Judge's leg injury looms large for the Yankees

Eric Samulski breaks down Aaron Judge's latest injury, what it means for Ben Rice and Luis Garcia, and if the right fielder is still bringing value to the team

Up Next

Judge’s leg injury looms large for the Yankees

SF’s Eldridge is having a historic hitting season

Injury likely cuts short Culpepper’s breakout year

Is Judge really healthy enough to play?

Dodgers easing Diaz back after IL stint

Sabathia: Eddings ‘terrible’ handling Rincon saga

Alonso ‘delivered’ for Mets fans in return to NYC

The recipe for a Yankees championship run

Now is the time for Dodgers to buckle down

Sabathia shares favorite Subway Series memories

Related Player News

Luinder Avila

KC Starting Pitcher #58

Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players

Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters Luinder Avila and Stephen Kolek will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgeries.

It’s a massive hit to Kansas City’s rotation depth beyond just the current season. Avila emerged as a decent back-end rotation stabilizer before hitting the injured list with forearm tightness over the weekend. Given the timing of the procedures, fantasy managers shouldn’t anticipate either Avila or Kolek returning until the 2028 campaign.
Stephen Kolek

KC Starting Pitcher #32

Royals activated RHP Stephen Kolek from the family medical emergency list; placed him on the 15-day injured list with a right flexor strain.

Kolek had been away from the team since July 4 due to a family medical emergency — the second time he had been placed on the list this season. He’s now dealing with an elbow issue and will have as much time away from the club as he needs.
Stephen Kolek

KC Starting Pitcher #32

Royals placed RHP Stephen Kolek on the family medical emergency list.

This will be the second time that Kolek has been placed on the emergency medical list for reasons much more important than baseball. The 29-year-old will be away from the club with Jose Cuas taking Kolek’s spot on the roster.
Stephen Kolek

KC Starting Pitcher #32

Stephen Kolek lasted just two innings during Thursday’s loss to the Rays, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk.

Kolek did not strike out a batter in the ballgame. The right-hander was activated from the paternity list prior to the game and hadn’t pitched since June 21. After cruising through the first inning on nine pitches, he labored through 42 pitches during a three-run second inning. He generated four swings and misses on 51 pitches in the ballgame, posting a CSW of 24 percent. He’ll try to get back on track as he totes a 4.50 ERA and 1.24 WHIP into his final start of the season’s first half on Wednesday against the Mets in New York.
Stephen Kolek

KC Starting Pitcher #32

Royals activated RHP Stephen Kolek from the family medical emergency list.

The 29-year-old right-hander will return to start against the Rays in Thursday’s series finale as anticipated. He has been away from the team since making his last start on June 21 as his daughter was born premature and the Royals gave him extra time to be with his family. Kolek sports a 4.15 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 34/11 K/BB ratio over 52 innings through his first nine starts on the season.
Stephen Kolek

KC Starting Pitcher #32

Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters he anticipates Stephen Kolek starting Thursday’s series finale against the Rays.

Kolek has been away from the club on paternity leave since last week after his daughter was born premature. The encouraging news is that everyone in the Kolek family is healthy and doing well. The 29-year-old will be officially activated prior to Thursday’s contest. He hasn’t pitched since June 21.
Stephen Kolek

KC Starting Pitcher #32

Royals transferred RHP Stephen Kolek to the family medical emergency list.

It’s merely a procedural move since Kolek has maxed out the amount of time he can spend on the paternity list. The 29-year-old’s daughter was born premature last week, and is doing okay, according to Royals skipper Matt Quatraro. However, he’s being given some additional time off to be with his family. It’s unclear when he’ll return to Kansas City’s rotation at this moment.
Stephen Kolek

KC Starting Pitcher #32

Royals placed RHP Stephen Kolek on the paternity list.

Kolek was supposed to face the White Sox tonight, but Steven Cruz will open in his place and Mitch Spence, who was called up in his place, will likely get bulk innings. The Royals haven’t indicated whether Kolek might return in time to pitch this weekend.
Stephen Kolek

KC Starting Pitcher #32

Stephen Kolek was tagged for nine earned runs on nine hits in 1 2/3 innings as the Royals ultimately fell to the Cardinals 12-10 on Sunday.

Kolek had given up two runs or fewer in five of his past six starts. His ERA estimators hinted at regression, and it hit in a major way versus the Cardinals. He allowed three homers in his abbreviated outing, including two off the bat of rookie JJ Wetherholt. Things won’t get easier in his next matchup, a road game against the White Sox.
Stephen Kolek

KC Starting Pitcher #32

Stephen Kolek improved to 4-1 in Sunday’s 4-0 victory over the Astros, twirling 7 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out four and allowing just five hits.

Kolek walked one and lowered his ERA to 2.68 through eight starts. He has been even better over his past six with a 1.59 ERA since May 17. Kolek’s strikeout rate doesn’t pop, but he generates grounders and limits walks, a formula that can work for longer than ERA estimators indicate. It’s been a very valuable stretch in deeper fantasy leagues where quality pitching is scarce, but managers shouldn’t expect these results every time out. Kolek has another test in his next start against the Cardinals.

Rotoworld

Dansby Swanson

CHC Shortstop #7
Player Stats

Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players

Link copied to clipboard!
Dansby Swanson is not in the Cubs’ starting lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Reds in Cincinnati.

The Cubs are just easing Swanson back into action and giving him a day to recover after starting the first two games following his return from the injured list on Friday. He should be available off the bench if needed on Sunday. Nico Hoerner will slide over and cover shortstop while Pedro Ramirez starts at second base and will bat eighth against Reds’ right-hander Rhett Lowder.
- David Shovein

Source: MLB
Pedro Ramirez
More Dansby Swanson News
TJ Friedl

CIN Center Fielder #29
Player Stats

Link copied to clipboard!

Reds designated OF TJ Friedl for assignment.

A disappointing season for Friedl gets even worse on Sunday as he gets booted from the Reds’ 40-man roster to clear a spot for the return of Carson Spiers. The 31-year-old outfielder should pass through waivers unclaimed, at which point he may opt to hit the open market.
- David Shovein

Transaction

More TJ Friedl News
Carson Spiers

CIN Starting Pitcher #68
Player Stats

Link copied to clipboard!

Reds selected the contract of RHP Carson Spiers from Triple-A Louisville.

He’ll take the place of the injured Chase Burns (groin) on the Reds’ active roster. The 28-year-old hurler has made five appearances in the minor leagues as he finished his recovery from Tommy John surgery, posting a 3.75 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 30/5 K/BB ratio over 24 innings of work. It’s likely that he’ll get to make one start during the final week of the season and could be worth a look as a streaming option in deeper leagues.
- David Shovein

Transaction

More Carson Spiers News
Chase Burns

CIN Starting Pitcher #26
Player Stats

Link copied to clipboard!

Reds placed RHP Chase Burns on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to September 19, with a right groin strain.

It’s possible that Burns suffered the injury during Friday’s start against the Cubs and that’s the reason that his workload was so limited. It’s also possible that the Reds were looking for any reason to shut him down early and curtail his overall workload for the season. Either way, fantasy managers in redraft leagues can cut bait and find an alternative option for the final week of the season.
- David Shovein

Transaction

More Chase Burns News
Jake Fraley

TB Right Fielder #17
Player Stats

Link copied to clipboard!

Rays designated OF Jake Fraley for assignment.

The Rays had high expectations for the 31-year-old outfielder this season, but he flailed to a miserable .216/.289/.364 slash line with just two homers, five RBI and three stolen bases in his 97 plate appearances at the MLB level.
- David Shovein

Transaction

More Jake Fraley News
Ben Williamson

TB 2nd Baseman #15
Player Stats

Link copied to clipboard!

Rays activated INF Ben Williamson from the 10-day injured list.

Williamson had been shelved since early August due to a right hamstring strain. Before landing on the injured list, he had slashed .247/.309/.332 with three homers, 26 RBI and eight stolen bases over his 270 plate appearances. Jake Fraley was designated for assignment in a corresponding move on Sunday.
- David Shovein

Transaction

More Ben Williamson News
Vinnie Pasquantino

KC 1st Baseman #9
Player Stats

Link copied to clipboard!
Vinnie Pasquantino is not in the Royals’ starting lineup for Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the Pirates.

It appears to be nothing more than a routine day of rest for the 28-year-old slugger, which has to be frustrating for fantasy managers as Pasquantino is coming off of two straight two-hit games and has homered twice in his last four contests. Salvador Perez will cover first base in his absence while Luke Maile draws a start behind the dish and will bat eighth against the Pirates.
- David Shovein

Source: MLB
Luke Maile
More Vinnie Pasquantino News
Max Lazar

PHI Relief Pitcher #60
Player Stats

Link copied to clipboard!

Phillies recalled RHP Max Lazar from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

He’ll take the place of the struggling Orion Kerkering in the Phillies’ bullpen. The 27-year-old hurler has made six appearances at the MLB level this season, posting an underwhelming 5.63 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 5/3 K/BB ratio over eight innings of work. He’ll function in a middle relief role for Phillies’ skipper Don Mattingly.
- David Shovein

Transaction

More Max Lazar News
Orion Kerkering

PHI Relief Pitcher #50
Player Stats

Link copied to clipboard!

Phillies optioned RHP Orion Kerkering to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

The 25-year-old hurler has been in a funk since the All-Star break, posting a horrific 9.90 ERA, 2.05 WHIP and a 21/14 K/BB ratio over 20 innings in 23 appearances. He’ll attempt to work through his issues on the minor league side for the time being and could potentially resurface for the postseason. Max Lazar was recalled in a corresponding move on Sunday.
- David Shovein

Transaction

More Orion Kerkering News
Rob Zastryzny

MIL Relief Pitcher #58
Player Stats

Link copied to clipboard!

Brewers sent LHP Rob Zastryzny outright to Triple-A Nashville.

The 34-year-old southpaw passed through waivers unclaimed and will continue to function as extra bullpen depth at the minor league level. Zastryzny has missed the bulk of the 2026 campaign due to a left trapezius strain.
- David Shovein

Transaction

More Rob Zastryzny News