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Stats

Steele (elbow) expects to pitch for Cubs this year

Justin Steele

CHC Starting Pitcher #35

Player Stats

Justin Steele (elbow) said he “absolutely expects to pitch for the Chicago Cubs this year,” according to The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney.

Steele underwent elbow surgery in April of 2025 and then dealt with a flexor strain earlier this season, which is why he still has not pitched this season. The left-hander has begun facing hitters this week, which means it’s highly unlikely that he will return as a starter. Cubs manager Craig Counsell even said, “We’re not going to skip steps. He rightfully should be (focused on returning this season), but we have a lot of steps to go before we get there.” There likely won’t be much fantasy value with Steele this season, but his pitching in relief would be beneficial for the Cubs and be nice for fantasy managers to see before 2027 drafts.

- Eric Samulski

Source: The Athletic

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Pabst: Ohtani's future is as a hitter only

Paul Pabst pleads his warm take to Andrew Perloff that despite Shohei Ohtani being a great hitter and a good pitcher, that the LA Dodger should stick to hitting only, and if he does his legacy will be 'just fine'.

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Yankees have lost high standard in recent seasons

Sabathia outlines his dream World Series scenario

Brewers have Dodgers on the ropes in NLCS

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Chad Tracy

BOS Manager

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Sunday’s game between the Cubs and Red Sox has been rescheduled to a split doubleheader on Friday.

It’s unclear how the Red Sox are going to handle the situation since they’re ostensibly locked into the second Wild Card spot heading into the playoffs next week. Patrick Sandoval was scheduled to start Sunday’s season finale and will presumably get the ball on Saturday instead, weather permitting. Jake Bennett, Payton Tolle and Brayan Bello are also in the mix to pitch as well. It’ll be Matthew Boyd and David Peterson most getting the ball for the Cubs during the twin bill with Justin Steele (elbow) in the mix to return from the injured list this weekend. There are a ton of variables that fantasy managers need to monitor with Boston facing inclement weather from roughly Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.
Justin Steele

CHC Starting Pitcher #35

Justin Steele (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Sunday.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters Steele will have at least one additional rehab outing for Triple-A Iowa next week before the club makes a decision on his status. The 31-year-old figures to pitch in relief for the Cubs since he won’t be built up enough from a workload standpoint to operate as a traditional starter.
Justin Steele

CHC Starting Pitcher #35

Justin Steele (elbow) allowed four hits and two runs over two inning at Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, striking out three out of the bullpen.

It seems both the Cubs and Steele came to the conclusion that he won’t get built up enough to help as a starter in the postseason, so he is attempting to come back as a relief weapon. His four-seamer was sitting at 89.3 mph, so that’s not ideal. We’ll see if he can make it back before the end of the season.
Justin Steele

CHC Starting Pitcher #35

Justin Steele (elbow) will make another minor league rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.

Steele looked sharp from a velocity standpoint during his 36-pitch rehab debut earlier this week. The 31-year-old southpaw is likely ticketed for a multi-inning relief role, if he makes it back to Chicago before the postseason. He’s unlikely to make any sort of fantasy impact, but it’s worth noting that he should have a relatively normal offseason and return to the Cubs’ rotation next spring.
Justin Steele

CHC Starting Pitcher #35

Justin Steele (elbow) allowed three runs over 1 2/3 innings in a minor league rehab appearance for Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday.

Chicago has left the door open for Steele to return, most likely as a reliever, at some point before the regular season concludes. The 31-year-old southpaw averaged his usual 90.3 mph on his four-seam fastball during the 36-pitch outing. He’s coming off elbow surgery and hasn’t pitched in the majors since the 2025 season. He’ll need a couple additional rehab outings before he’s a realistic option for the Cubs.
Justin Steele

CHC Starting Pitcher #35

Justin Steele (elbow) will begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday.

Steele is attempting to make it back to Chicago as a reliever for the postseason after suffering a flexor strain a couple months ago that delayed his return from last year’s elbow surgery. The 31-year-old lefty can be ignored in fantasy leagues, but his return should provide a lift for the Cubs in the postseason. He’s going to need at least a week or two of rehab appearances before he’s an option for Chicago’s bullpen.
Justin Steele

CHC Starting Pitcher #35

Justin Steele (elbow) is scheduled to face hitters in a live batting practice session on Tuesday.

Steele is expected to pitch in relief once he makes it back to Chicago at some point in the final month of the season. The 31-year-old former top-of-the-rotation southpaw suffered a flexor strain earlier this season while working his way back from last year’s Tommy John surgery. He’ll need to get through at least one additional live batting practice session before heading out on a rehab assignment.
Justin Steele

CHC Starting Pitcher #35

Justin Steele (elbow) has been cleared to ramp up his throwing progression.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell reaffirmed that Steele will return as a reliever given the lack of time remaining on the calendar to sufficiently ramp up as a traditional starter. The 30-year-old was given clearance to progress to throwing off a bullpen mound in early August as he continues working his way back from a flexor strain that he suffered in April while rehabbing from last year’s Tommy John surgery. He has a chance to make it back to Chicago as a reliever in time for their September playoff push.
Justin Steele

CHC Starting Pitcher #35

Marquee Sports Network’s Bruce Levine reports that the Cubs “do not expect Justin Steele to be starting games this season.”

Levine mentions that Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Steele could “help in the pen at some late summer point.” Steele is working back from elbow surgery and a setback he suffered earlier in May, so the team is clearly being cautious with him. While he may pitch innings for the Cubs later this summer, it no longer seems like he needs to be stashed in redraft fantasy leagues.
Justin Steele

CHC Starting Pitcher #35

Justin Steele (elbow) has started a throwing progression.

It was Steele’s first throwing session since suffering a setback when he was diagnosed with a flexor strain in late April that delayed his throwing progression. The 30-year-old lefty is roughly 14 months removed from Tommy John surgery and figures to make it back to Chicago’s rotation mix at some point in the second half. There should be a clearer return timetable once he progresses to facing hitters and is close to embarking on a minor league rehab assignment. It seems unlikely he’ll make it back before August.

Rotoworld

Cade Povich

BAL Starting Pitcher #37
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Cade Povich had surgery on Wednesday to remove loose bodies in his elbow.

Povich was allegedly “pitching through significant pain down the stretch.” He was optioned to the minors in the middle of September after posting a 4.38 ERA in 37 MLB innings. Povich is expected to be ready for spring training, and he has a shot at earning a spot in the starting rotation.

- Eric Samulski

Injury

Source: Matt Weyrich

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Troy Melton

DET Starting Pitcher #52
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Troy Melton (arm fatigue) is “beginning a normal offseason workout routine.”

Melton was placed on the injured list on September 21st with right arm fatigue and had reportedly been dealing with an “achy” arm for a few weeks. Unsurprisingly, that coincided with a major dip in production from the 25-year-old. The Tigers said that “Melton’s medical evaluation found no issues,” and he will head into the offseason as a fully healthy pitcher with a normal routine. This was Melton’s largest MLB sample yet, but he did throw 120 innings split between the minors and majors last season, so it’s at least a little concerning that his arm didn’t feel right at the end of the year. He will be a name to monitor in spring training.
- Eric Samulski

Source: Evan Petzold

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Trea Turner

PHI Shortstop #7
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Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said he told Trea Turner that he will start at shortstop in 2027, but “he must play well there to stay there.”

By many metrics, Turner was one of the worst defensive shortstops in baseball in 2026. While 2026 was easily the worst defensive season of his career and could be an outlier, Turner has had one positive Defensive Runs Saved season since 2021 and no positive seasons by Outs Above Average since 2019. The Phillies could move Bryson Stott to shortstop and try Turner at second base if they were eventually looking to make a defensive change.
- Eric Samulski

Source: Todd Zolecki

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Tim Mayza

PHI Relief Pitcher #37
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Phillies re-signed LHP Tim Mayza to a one-year deal.

The lefty reliever pitched to a 3.48 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 64/18 K/BB ratio in 67 1/3 innings this season. He will remain a key piece in the bridge to Jhoan Duran in 2027.
- Eric Samulski

Transaction

Source: Matt Gelb

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Carlos Mendoza

PHI Third Base Coach
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Phillies hired former Mets manager Carlos Mendoza as third-base and infield coach.

Mendoza was let go by the Mets at the end of June after posting a 34-47 record to start the season. He was 206-199 (.509 winning percentage) in his two-plus years with the Mets, but the team fell short of expectations. He had a sterling reputation as a coach with the Yankes prior to taking the Mets job and is a strong addition to the Phillies staff.
- Eric Samulski

Transaction

Source: Matt Gelb

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Richie Palacios

TB 2nd Baseman #1
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Richie Palacios is starting at second base and batting eighth for Game 3 of the ALCS against the Guardians.

Palacios sat the first two games with Cleveland throwing left-handed pitchers in both. Ben Williamson will not shift back to the bench, but the rest of the Rays’ lineup remains the same.
- Eric Samulski

Source: Marc Topkin
Ben Williamson
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Patrick Bailey

CLE Catcher #16
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Patrick Bailey is starting behind the dish and batting seventh in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Rays on Thursday.

Bailey was not in the starting lineup for Game 2, but he drew a walk as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. The 27-year-old has reached a new offensive height with a more pull-centric approach in Cleveland. He has gone 7-for-20 with two home runs, five RBI, and a 5/2 K/BB ratio so far this postseason.
- Eric Samulski

Source: Cade Cracas

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Chase Utley

LAD 2nd Baseman #26
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The Athletic’s Jayson Stark reports that the Phillies “reached out to Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez...to gauge their interest in the [manager] job.”

Both players “politely declined,” and the Phillies went on to hire Don Mattingly to a two-year deal. According to Stark’s sources, “the Phillies’ interest was serious enough that the team’s president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, formally requested permission from the Los Angeles Dodgers to contact Utley and Ibanez, both of whom work for the team.” That makes three known candidates, along with Alex Cora, who turned down the opportunity before the team went back to Mattingly.
- Eric Samulski

Source: The Athletic
Raul Ibanez
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Jake Bauers

MIL 1st Baseman #9
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Jake Bauers hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning as the Brewers topped the Dodgers 6-2 in Game 3 of the NLCS on Wednesday.

Bauers had another long at-bat that saw him foul off several middle-middle pitches before pulverizing a 3-2 cookie from Blake Snell to give the Brewers the 3-2 lead. The 31-year-old veteran has his first homer of the postseason, but he’s been excellent in the playoffs thus far while driving in three runs. Bauers and the Brewers are now one win away from their first trip to the World Series as a National League team, and can reach that accomplishment with a win Thursday in Game 4.
- Christopher Crawford

Recap

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Will Smith

LAD Catcher #16
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Will Smith hit a two-run double on Wednesday in the Dodgers’ Game 3 loss to the Brewers in the NLCS.

Smith gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead with a bases-loaded double in the sixth inning off Abner Uribe. It’d be the last run of the night for Los Angeles, and the defending champions are now a loss away from their season coming to a close. Smith has been awful in this postseason, and even with the two-run double he’s hitting just .074 over the first seven games.
- Christopher Crawford

Recap

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