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Nestor Cortes SP | PHI
Phillies' Nestor Cortes: Activated from MiLB IL
Cortes (undisclosed) was activated from the 7-day injured list Sept. 8.
It's not clear as to what forced Cortes to spend time on the shelf after inking a big-league deal with Philly on Aug. 19, but he's returned to full strength down the stretch of the 2026 campaign. He's pitched in three games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley since being activated, allowing three runs on six hits while fanning seven over 5.2 frames.
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River Ryan SP | DET
Tigers' River Ryan: Summoned for Tigers debut
The Tigers recalled Ryan from Triple-A Toledo on Monday.
Ryan will make his Tigers debut Monday with a start against the Nationals, though he will be limited after topping out at 2.2 innings and 39 pitches over two starts at Triple-A Toledo upon returning from the 7-day injured list. Acquired from the Dodgers on Aug. 2, Ryan missed all of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery and was shelved for nearly three months by a hamstring injury in 2026. The 28-year-old has flashed electric stuff when on the bump, however, and logged a 1.33 ERA and 18:9 K:BB over 20.1 frames in four starts for Los Angeles in 2024. Ryan is in line for a second start this week on Sunday versus the Pirates, though his workload will be limited in that outing as well.
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Troy Melton SP | DET
Tigers' Troy Melton: Lands on IL with arm fatigue
The Tigers placed Melton on the 15-day injured list Monday due to right arm fatigue.
While it's unfortunate that Melton's season will end with him on the IL, it's good news that he appears to have avoided any structural issues with his pitching arm. He had a 7.79 ERA in four September starts, so the fatigue could be something that's nagged at Melton for a little while. Even after the poor final month, Melton will finish with a 2.76 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 94:37 K:BB over 114.1 innings covering 20 starts for the Tigers.
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Dylan Cease SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Does not need surgery
Cease does not need surgery on his injured right shoulder, but his immediate availability is up in the air, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
An MRI showed inflammation, with Cease saying his shoulder feels a "bit heavy and achy and not normal." In the unlikely event that the Blue Jays squeeze their way into the postseason, the right-hander could eventually return to pitch. However, it's a long shot that he will be back later this week before the curtains close on the regular season. Cease has collected a 2.40 ERA and 239:78 K:BB over 169 innings covering 29 starts in his first year with the Blue Jays.
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Trey Yesavage SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Trey Yesavage: Activated ahead of Monday's start
The Blue Jays activated Yesavage (knee) from the 15-day injured list Monday.
Yesavage will rejoin the rotation with a start Monday versus the Orioles after being shelved since early August following meniscus surgery on his left knee. He threw only 34 pitches over two-thirds of an inning during his lone rehab outing, and the Blue Jays are aiming to get just three frames out of Yesavage against Baltimore. The right-hander has authored a 3.65 ERA and 91:46 K:BB over 93.2 frames covering 18 starts in the big leagues this season.
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MacKenzie Gore SP | TEX
Rangers' MacKenzie Gore: Cleared to start Tuesday
Gore (shoulder/back) will start Tuesday's game against the Mets in Arlington.
Gore was limited to four innings and 69 pitches during his previous outing Wednesday against the Red Sox while he dealt with spasms in his shoulder and upper back area, but he apparently checked out fine during his between-starts bullpen session and will return to the bump on five days rest. The southpaw will tentatively line up for two starts during the final week of the season, though he could have his turn Sunday in Minnesota skipped if the Rangers' playoff positioning is secure.
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Justin Verlander SP | DET
Tigers' Justin Verlander: Primed for final start
Verlander (hamstring/hip) is scheduled to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Saturday against the Pirates, Jeff Seidel of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The 43-year-old made one start at the beginning of the season before landing on the IL due to a hamstring injury, and he then dealt with hip inflammation while going through his rehab program. Verlander hasn't made any rehab starts and is likely to have a limited workload Saturday. The future Hall of Famer announced in July that he is retiring after the 2026 season, and he'll return to an MLB mound Saturday to close the book on his 21-year career.
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Davidjohn Herz SP | WAS
Nationals' DJ Herz: Activated ahead of Monday's start
The Nationals activated Herz (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
Herz is set to start Monday's game against the Tigers in what will be his first appearance at the major-league level since 2024, as he's completed the long road back from April 2025 Tommy John surgery. The left-hander made 10 rehab starts, posting a 3.16 ERA and 30:7 K:BB over 25.2 innings. Herz threw 4.1 innings and 65 pitches in his last start Sept. 11, so he'll be on a relatively limited workload versus the Tigers.
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Jesus Luzardo SP | PHI
Phillies' Jesus Luzardo: Resumes throwing Sunday
Luzardo (shoulder) played catch on flat ground Sunday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Luzardo was shut down for nine days due to left shoulder inflammation, but he was cleared to play catch after the stiffness dissipated and he regained range of motion in the shoulder. The left-hander will not return from the 15-day injured list before the end of the regular season, but the Phillies are "very optimistic" about Luzardo's progress, per president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. If Luzardo is ready for the wild-card round, the Phillies could use him in a relief role since he won't have his stamina rebuilt enough to start.
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Jacob Misiorowski SP | MIL
Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski: Works well in planned short outing
Misiorowski allowed a hit and struck out four without walking a batter over three shutout innings in a no-decision versus the Orioles on Sunday. Per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, this was an intentionally planned short outing for Misiorowski to keep his innings in check ahead of the postseason.
McCalvy adds that Misiorowski is expected to see more regular usage in his last projected start of the regular season at home versus the Cardinals, which will line him up to take the mound during the NLDS. Since the All-Star break, Misiorowski has allowed just 16 runs (15 earned) over 58.1 innings, adding an 80:15 K:BB in that span. For the year, he's at a 1.86 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 247:42 K:BB through 169.1 innings over 29 starts. The good news for fantasy managers is that Misiorowski is expected to have one more start even if the Brewers clinch everything they can before it's his turn to pitch again.