Morning Java - 09/16: Luzardo to the IL Until the Season's Final Day, Fairbanks Likely Done, Yamamoto One-Hits the Reds

TL;DRSkim

The five fastest-moving roster calls of the morning, in priority order:

• DROP — Jesús Luzardo (98% owned) went on the 15-day IL with left shoulder inflammation, retroactive to Sept. 12. Eligible only on Sept. 27, the final day of the regular season.
• DROP — Pete Fairbanks (37% owned) is on the IL with right median nerve irritation. Third episode of the year; his season is very likely over.
• HOLD — Junior Caminero has two walk-off homers in five days and leads the AL with 41 home runs.
• ADD — Ryan Johnson (6% owned) threw six innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 2.02 over his last eight starts.
• DROP — Carlos Correa has been shut down for 2026 and won't return, per Joe Espada.

Luzardo to IL, Out Until the Final Day

DROP · PHI · SP

Jesús Luzardo (98% owned) was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with left shoulder inflammation, retroactive to Saturday. That makes him eligible to return Sept. 27 — the last day of the regular season. Philadelphia recalled right-hander Grant Holman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

The move came three days after he was scratched in Atlanta. The original plan was two days of no throwing followed by a re-evaluation in Washington, but the shoulder didn't improve as hoped. "Right now, it's just inflammation throughout the shoulder," Luzardo said — and he added that it's already trending: "Way, way better. Way better."

Interim manager Don Mattingly did not rule out a postseason start. "I don't think anybody's worried that this is long term — that this is into the next year or anything like that. I think we do think that he's going to be ready to pitch at the end of the year."

What Philadelphia loses is substantial: Luzardo has a 1.93 ERA over his last 21 starts dating to May 14, and the Phillies are 18-3 in those games. He last pitched Sept. 7, a two-hit, 12-strikeout complete-game shutout of Atlanta. The Phillies are 83-68, holding the second NL wild card and sitting 4.5 games behind the Braves in the East.

Action: DROP in redraft — a return on the season's final day is worth nothing in any fantasy format. In keeper leagues, nothing here changes his 2027 outlook.

Fairbanks' Season Likely Over

DROP · MIA · RP

Pete Fairbanks (37% owned) is on the IL with right median nerve irritation, and his season is very likely finished. It's the third nerve episode of his year, tied to a Raynaud's syndrome diagnosis — he lost three weeks in late April and May, then went on the 15-day IL Aug. 25 before being reinstated Sept. 9.

Action: DROP everywhere. If you're chasing saves, Michael Petersen and Calvin Faucher were Miami's committee options during his August absence and are the names to watch again.

Caminero's Second Walk-Off in Five Days

HOLD · TB · 3B

Junior Caminero has hit two walk-off home runs in five days, including the one that clinched Tampa Bay's playoff berth. He leads the American League with 41 home runs and is building a late case against Yordan Alvarez for AL MVP.

Action: HOLD and start him. Rostered in essentially every league, and the power has been the most reliable in the AL down the stretch.

Johnson Beats Seattle, ERA Down to 2.02 Over Eight Starts

ADD · LAA · SP

Ryan Johnson (6% owned) threw six innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts as the Angels beat Seattle 2-1, with Josh Lowe providing the tiebreaking home run. Johnson now has a 2.02 ERA over his last eight starts. He was struck by a comebacker late in the outing but tested clean afterward and expects only swelling.

The Angels are 58-93 and still need four more wins in their final 11 games to avoid a 100-loss season.

Action: ADD in 12-team and deeper leagues. An eight-start run at 2.02 available at 6% ownership is a genuine mispricing — just accept that the offense behind him limits the win equity.

Correa Shut Down for the Season

DROP · HOU · SS

Carlos Correa will not return to the Astros this season, Joe Espada announced. The buildup created soreness in his legs, and Houston chose to shut him down rather than risk further damage. He travels to Houston today for evaluation with a focus on being ready for 2027.

Action: DROP in all redraft formats. Dynasty managers hold — a precautionary shutdown with a full offseason ahead doesn't change his long-term value.

Yamamoto One-Hits Cincinnati

HOLD · LAD · SP

Yoshinobu Yamamoto walked the first two batters he faced and then retired 21 of the final 22, finishing with seven shutout innings on one hit — an Elly De La Cruz double — with two walks and seven strikeouts. His season ERA is down to 2.51.

Action: HOLD and start him. This is an SP1 rounding into October form, and the Dodgers are set up to give him meaningful innings the rest of the way.

Wells to IL With Forearm Tightness

WATCH · TB · RP

Tyler Wells (5% owned) was placed on the injured list retroactive to Sept. 13 with right forearm tightness. An MRI produced what Wells called "the best news possible," and Tampa Bay is hoping for a minimum stint so he can return for the postseason.

Action: DROP in redraft. Even a minimum stint eats most of what's left, and MLB postseason availability has no bearing on a fantasy season that ends before it.

Schmidt to Be Activated

WATCH · NYY · SP

Clarke Schmidt will be activated tomorrow after the Yankees optioned Bradley Hanner to Triple-A. He's completed his rehab assignment and rejoins the rotation, not the bullpen.

Action: WATCH — With 11 games left he gets two starts at most, likely on a pitch count. Stream him only in a confirmed favorable matchup.

Ohtani Hitting in the Cage

WATCH · LAD · DH

Shohei Ohtani (100% owned) hit in the cage and Dave Roberts remains hopeful he returns before the regular season ends. His earliest eligibility remains Sept. 23, which would leave about five games.

Josue De Paula (11% owned) continues to fill the DH spot, leading off and going 0-for-4 with a strikeout — his first strikeout came in his 18th career plate appearance.

Action: HOLD Ohtani through Sept. 23. De Paula is a 14-team-plus flier only; the leadoff spot helps, but he's a placeholder until Ohtani is back.

Pages Progressing Toward Machine Work

WATCH · LAD · OF

Andy Pages hit off a machine and is slated to advance to Trajekt work next, per Roberts. He remains pain-free following surgery and is tracking toward late-September availability.

Action: IL-stash only. Machine work to game action is still multiple steps with 11 games left.

Sasaki Won't Start This Week

WATCH · LAD · SP

Roki Sasaki throws a simulated game today and will not start this week. The Dodgers are still deciding whether he returns as a starter or a reliever, with the blister healing well.

Action: WATCH — No redraft action until a role is announced. If he comes back as a reliever, there's nothing here for fantasy.

Santander Held Out With Back Discomfort

WATCH · TOR · OF

Anthony Santander has lower back discomfort and won't play in today's Triple-A game, per John Schneider. It's the same issue he dealt with last year and is considered day-to-day.

Action: DROP in redraft. A rehab assignment interrupted by a recurring back problem with 11 games left leaves no usable runway.

Slaten Done, Mead Begins Tee Work

DROP · BOS · RP / INF

Justin Slaten's season is over after an orthopedic exam revealed degenerative changes in his flexor mass requiring a PRP injection. Separately, Curtis Mead has begun light tee work, his first offensive progress since a wrist fracture.

Action: DROP Slaten. Mead is a deep-league watch only — tee work in mid-September rarely produces games.

Garcia Back With the Royals

HOLD · KC · 3B

Maikel Garcia (56% owned) returned from his Triple-A rehab assignment. Reliever Lucas Erceg also rejoined Kansas City after a stint at Omaha.

Action: ADD or activate Garcia — everyday third base with 11 games left is usable in 12-team formats. Erceg is a holds-league arm only.

Cellucci Debuts With 1⅔ Scoreless

STASH · TOR · RP

Brendan Cellucci made his major league debut, throwing 1⅔ scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

Action: STASH in dynasty only. Five outs is not a role.

Hader Holds the Ninth in Houston

HOLD · HOU · RP

Josh Hader (84% owned) recorded a save with a strikeout in a clean inning. No threat to his role.

Action: HOLD — No action needed.

Iglesias Secure in Atlanta

HOLD · ATL · RP

Raisel Iglesias (83% owned) threw a scoreless inning. Atlanta's ninth remains his.

Action: HOLD — No action needed.

Latz Working the Ninth for Texas

HOLD · TEX · RP

Jacob Latz (60% owned) threw 1⅔ innings with three strikeouts, continuing to handle Texas' late-inning work.

Action: HOLD — Confirm his role in your platform's closer designations before counting on saves; Texas has moved pieces around the ninth this season.

Padres Face Colorado Again

STREAM · SD · TEAM

San Diego draws Tanner Gordon (Colorado RHP, 5.88 xERA) today, a day after the Rockies snapped an eight-game losing streak by beating the Padres 9-3 behind Cole Carrigg's two-homer, 4-for-5 night.

Action: STREAM San Diego bats in daily formats. The matchup is favorable on paper, though Colorado just showed it can win one.

Dodgers Draw Singer

STREAM · LAD · TEAM

Los Angeles faces Brady Singer (Cincinnati RHP, 5.42 xERA) today. Singer allowed three homers and eight earned runs in his most recent start and has surrendered 29 home runs in 29 starts this season.

Action: STREAM Dodgers bats. Singer's command has been gone for weeks and this is one of the better hitting matchups on the board.