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Anthony Volpe SS | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Volpe: Absent from lineup
Volpe (shoulder) isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers.
Volpe recently received a cortisone shot in his left shoulder to treat the shoulder injury that has been bothering him since May, so it isn't too surprising to see him heading to the bench for the start of Thursday's contest. Jose Caballero will start at shortstop in Volpe's place and bat eighth.
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Carter Jensen C | KC
Royals' Carter Jensen: Playing sparingly
Jensen is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Cleveland.
Jensen was called up on Sept. 1 when rosters expanded, but he has now started just three of 10 games since his promotion. He's also yet to start a game at catcher, with all three of his starts coming at designated hitter. Jensen has gone 1-for-8 with a 2:4 K:BB over 12 plate appearances during his first stint in the big leagues, and it's clear the Royals don't intend for the top prospect to be an integral part of their lineup as they fight for a playoff spot.
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Felnin Celesten SS | SEA
Mariners' Felnin Celesten: Reaches High-A
Celesten is hitting .158 with one home run, one steal and 15 strikeouts in 11 games for High-A Everett.
Celesten, who was promoted from Single-A Modesto on Aug. 18, has an 18.8 percent walk rate and 31.3 percent strikeout rate in this tiny sample, in part because he's been more passive (48.8 percent swing rate at Single-A, 39.3 percent swing rate at High-A). Believed to have plus speed and plus power potential when he signed for $4.7 million as the headliner of the 2023 international signing class, Celesten's power has been mostly dormant, as he slashed .285/.349/.384 with five home runs and 20 steals in 93 games prior to his promotion to High-A. There is post-hype breakout potential with Celesten in 2026, but injuries earlier in his career have led to him no longer being young for his levels, so there will also be pressure on the switch-hitting shortstop to perform in his age-20 season.
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Angel Genao 2B | CLE
Guardians' Angel Genao: Down year at Double-A
Genao is slashing .251/.319/.354 with two home runs, six steals and a 16.4 percent strikeout rate in 73 games for Double-A Akron.
A sprained right shoulder sidelined Genao until June, and it's possible the shoulder issue sapped some power, although it's worth noting he homered three times in eight complex-league rehab games, so it could also be facing Double-A pitching for the first time that has stymied his offensive impact. The 21-year-old switch hitter has only played shortstop this season and his defensive abilities will put less pressure on his bat, but he'll still need to hit for more power than he has this year at Double-A. Genao, who reportedly grew an inch and added muscle this past offseason, stole 25 bases in 110 games last year but has six swipes in 81 games this year.
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Gage Jump SP | ATH
Athletics' Gage Jump: Fading after long season
Jump has a 3.64 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 86:29 K:BB in 81.2 innings for Double-A Midland.
Jump may be wearing down at the end of his first pro season, as he has a 13.50 ERA, 2.32 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB in 13.1 innings over his last four starts. The 6-foot lefty is up to 112.2 innings on the year after throwing 83 innings in 2024 at LSU before the Athletics selected him with the No. 73 overall pick. At his best, Jump's deceptive delivery allows his 92-94 mph fastball (touches 97 mph) to play up as a plus pitch. Evaluators differ on whether Jump has any other plus pitches, but his slider and curveball get strong reviews while his fourth-pitch changeup is passable. The A's have spared Jump from an assignment to the unforgiving Pacific Coast League, but he will likely have to check that box of his development early next year before he joins the big-league rotation.
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Anthony Santander RF | TOR
Blue Jays' Anthony Santander: Kicking off rehab assignment
Santander (shoulder/back) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Out since late May with a subluxation of his left shoulder, Santander had his rehab stint delayed a couple days due to lower-back tightness, but he's now been cleared for game action. Santander will serve as Buffalo's designated hitter for a few games before then seeing time in both left and right field. The Blue Jays don't have a target date for his return to the active roster yet, as they will see how Santander feels and how quickly he can get his timing back at the plate.
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Tomoyuki Sugano SP | COL
Orioles' Tomoyuki Sugano: In clear to start Saturday
Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino confirmed that Sugano (foot) will start Saturday's game against the Blue Jays in Toronto, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
During his most recent start in this past Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers, Sugano was forced out in the top of the fourth inning after being struck on the right foot by a comebacker. Fortunately for the Orioles, the right-hander avoided any fractures on his foot and didn't experience extensive swelling either, putting him on track to make his next start this weekend on his usual five days' rest. Since the All-Star break, Sugano has gone 3-3 with a 4.67 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 37:13 K:BB in 44.1 innings over his nine starts.
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Arjun Nimmala SS | LAA
Blue Jays' Arjun Nimmala: Summer-long slump for Vancouver
Nimmala is slashing .224/.313/.381 with 13 home runs and 17 steals in 120 games for High-A Vancouver.
Nimmala has a .566 OPS over his last 79 games after starting the year with a .917 OPS in his first 41 games. While he will finish the year as a below-average hitter (91 wRC+) in the Northwest League, Nimmala is the youngest qualified player in the league and fourth-youngest qualified hitter at High-A, so he should be graded on a bit of a curve. The power-hitting shortstop finished 2024 on fire (.888 OPS over his final 55 games) but it's the opposite trend to close 2025. That said, he cut his strikeout rate from 30.7 percent in 2024 to 21.4 percent in 2025 while keeping his walk rate steady at 10 percent. Nimmala's stock is down after this summer-long slump, but he still has a chance to be Toronto's shortstop of the future. The only other players 19 and under to hit 13-plus home runs with double-digit steals and a strikeout rate under 25 percent this season are Konnor Griffin, Eduardo Quintero, Edward Florentino, Sebastian Walcott and Colt Emerson.
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Richard Palacios 2B | TB
Rays' Richie Palacios: Taking seat Thursday
Palacios is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the White Sox.
The left-handed-hitting Palacios started each of the previous four contests against right-handed pitching, but he'll take a seat Thursday as the White Sox send righty Shane Smith to the hill. It's Bob Seymour in the designated-hitter spot for the series finale.