MLB Player News

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki told reporters Lowe, who has been plagued by right oblique issues the past two seasons with the Rays, is being given a few additional days off from Cactus League action out of an abundance of caution due to side discomfort. The fact that these have been recurring problems for Lowe in the past makes it a situation fantasy managers should be monitoring closely in the run up to next month’s season opener. The 28-year-old downplayed concern while speaking with reporters citing that his previous oblique issues are unrelated to this instance. There should be some additional clarity on his status if he’s unable to return to spring contests in the near future.

The Phillies will face the Braves on Tuesday. They scored once in the first and three times in the second off Nick Martinez to take a little pressure off today. Harper and Edmundo Sosa then both homered in a three-run fifth. Harper ends the year at .269/.380/.485 with 87 RBI and 93 runs scored. His 107 walks lead the NL, and he out-OPSed Kyle Schwarber ever so slightly, .865 to .857.

Wheeler would have been held back for the Wild Card series if the Phillies could have clinched earlier. Now they’re in, but if Wheeler is going to contribute against the Braves, he’ll have to do so on short rest, presumably in a Game 3 on Thursday. Wheeler finishes the season 14-5 with a 3.00 ERA and a 193/47 K/BB in 162 innings.

Luzardo, who missed time with shoulder inflammation, needed just four pitches to get three groundouts in the eighth inning. They were all sinkers and they averaged 96.3 mph, which was up just a tad from his 95.8-mph average on the season. One imagines he’ll be available in some capacity for Tuesday’s Wild Card opener.

Philadelphia fans will be eternally grateful for Martinez’s last-day letdown. The All-Star allowed four runs for just the fifth time this season and did so in his shortest start of the year. He ends the regular season 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA in a career-high 180 innings. Next up for him figures to be a Game 2 start against the Red Sox or Yankees.

One Ray came to play today, as DeLuca took Zach Wheeler and Alex McFarlane deep for his 10th and 11th homers. He finishes the year at .266/.300/.426 in 370 plate appearances. The only problem for the Rays is that he was better against righties than the lefties he typically started against for most of the year. Depending on how the offseason goes, the Rays could give DeLuca a chance to open next year as their starting center fielder, with Jacob Melton potentially overtaking him later if he can stay healthy.

Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up. Bregman proved without a reasonable doubt that he’s ready for the postseason by launching a pair of homers in a four-hit performance against his former team after suffering multiple facial fractures last weekend when he was struck by a foul ball in the on-deck circle. The 32-year-old veteran third baseman finishes his Chicago debut hitting .265/.355/.464 with 92 runs scored, 28 homers, 93 RBI and three steals in 155 games. He’ll lead the Cubs into a best-of-three NL Wild Card Series against the Padres this week.

The big question is how Contreras is feeling from a physical standpoint leading into the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series against the Yankees on Tuesday. The 34-year-old veteran slugger returned to Boston’s lineup for their final regular-season contest at Tropicana Field following an eight-game absence due to a right hand injury after he was hit by a pitch earlier this month. He concludes the regular season as a top-15 range option at first base, hitting .275/.386/.516 with 68 runs scored, 27 homers, 81 RBI and three steals in 130 games.

Crow-Armstrong wraps up a phenomenal season that should see him become the unanimous NL MVP Award winner with a .280/.372/.570 triple-slash line, 119 runs scored, 45 home runs, 107 RBI and 41 stolen bases across 162 games. The 24-year-old made the leap to fantasy superstardom this season with the seventh 40-40 campaign in baseball history, becoming the first player in Cubs history to accomplish the feat. He’ll lead Chicago into the postseason when they open their best-of-three NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Tuesday.

Imanaga surrendered a solo homer to Adley Rutschman while striking out the side during an abbreviated 12-pitch outing at Tropicana Field to close out the regular season. The 33-year-old southpaw wraps up a strong bounce-back campaign with a 3.77 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 174/37 K/BB ratio across 174 1/3 innings to finish as a borderline top-30 fantasy starter. He’s established himself as a reliable high-volume fantasy contributor in an era where few starters are consistently eclipsing 170 innings. He figures to be available in relief during Chicago’s upcoming NL Wild Card Series matchup against the Padres.

Houck was unable to solve former teammate Alex Bregman, who tagged him for a pair of home runs that accounted for all of the damage against him, during his first start back in the majors since May 12, 2025. The 30-year-old righty figures to be in the mix for a spot in Boston’s bullpen when they kick off the postseason with a best-of-three AL Wild Card Series matchup against the Yankees on Tuesday.