Morning Java - 09/19: Judge Back on the IL With a Calf Strain, Eligible Only for Game 162; Verlander Faces Hitters Today; Prielipp Spins Seven
TL;DRSkim
The five fastest-moving roster calls of the morning, in priority order:
- DROP — Aaron Judge (97.3% owned) goes on the 10-day IL with a right calf strain, retroactive to Thursday. Earliest return is Game 162 on Sept. 27.
- WATCH — Justin Verlander (1.4% owned) threw a 20-pitch live bullpen and faces hitters in a simulated game today in Chicago.
- ADD — Connor Prielipp (4% owned) threw seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.
- WATCH — Edwin Díaz (50% owned) worked a ninth inning for the Dodgers, but there's still no closer announcement.
- WATCH — Zac Thornton (12% owned) was checked by a trainer after a fielding play but stayed in the game.
Judge to IL With Calf Strain, Out Until Game 162 at Best
DROP · NYY · RF
Aaron Judge (97.3% owned) is going on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain, officially placed today and retroactive to Thursday. That makes Sept. 27 — Game 162 against Baltimore — his earliest possible return, and Jon Heyman reports that final game is the target.
The MRI was performed Thursday in Phoenix. Judge exited Wednesday's 5-4, 13-inning loss to Minnesota in the sixth after feeling something in the first inning and trying to play through it. The timing costs the Yankees not just this weekend's series in Arizona but a four-game showdown with Tampa Bay next week at Yankee Stadium — New York is 88-64, five games back in the AL East, with the AL Wild Card Series starting Sept. 29.
It lasted seven games. Judge returned Sept. 8 from the fractured right rib that cost him 83 games, homered Monday, and was back on the IL by Friday. Heliot Ramos takes over in right field, and infielder/outfielder Max Schuemann is traveling to Phoenix from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
"There's no replacing a player who is as great as Aaron Judge, but we have high expectations," Boone said. Cody Bellinger put it more plainly: "It's definitely frustrating news, especially when you work so hard for so long to get back, and then something happens."
Action: DROP in redraft — a Game 162 return is worth nothing in a fantasy season that ends before it. ADD Ramos in 12-team leagues; he inherits everyday right-field at-bats in a lineup still playing meaningful games.
Verlander Faces Hitters Today
WATCH · DET · SP
Justin Verlander (1.4% owned) threw a one-inning live bullpen of 20 pitches and reported feeling good. He throws a simulated game today in Chicago, after which Detroit evaluates him for a possible return during the season's final weekend.
Action: WATCH — Dynasty and postseason-format curiosity only. A final-weekend appearance would be a tune-up of an inning or two with no redraft value.
Prielipp Throws Seven Scoreless With Eight K
ADD · MIN · SP
Connor Prielipp (4% owned) threw seven innings with eight strikeouts and no earned runs.
Action: ADD in 12-team and deeper leagues if you need a start. A seven-inning, eight-strikeout, zero-run line from a 4%-owned arm is the definition of a free roll — just confirm he has another turn before the season ends.
Díaz Works a Ninth, Role Still Undefined
WATCH · LAD · RP
Edwin Díaz (50% owned) pitched the ninth inning for the Dodgers. No closer announcement has followed, and Dave Roberts said earlier this week he intended to use Díaz in low-leverage spots as he eases back from the IL.
Action: WATCH — One ninth inning is not a role. Don't spend FAAB until he takes a save opportunity in a one-run or two-run game.
Thornton Checked After Fielding Play, Stays In
WATCH · NYM · SP
Zac Thornton (12% owned) appeared to tweak something on a shovel play in the fifth, and Andy Green sent a trainer out. Thornton threw a practice pitch and remained in the game.
Action: WATCH — Check the Mets' injury report before his next turn. He's a starter, and this is his second straight season-ending-stretch outing worth monitoring.
May Exits After Seven Outs
WATCH · MIL · SP
Dustin May (20% owned) was pulled after recording seven outs — a continuing problem, as he's completed the fifth inning only once in four starts since being struck by a line drive. No specific diagnosis was offered postgame.
Action: DROP in 12-team leagues. Four starts without length and no explanation means you can't count on him in a fantasy final.
Snell Avoids Imaging, Targets Another Start
HOLD · LAD · SP
Blake Snell did not require imaging on the left groin tightness that knocked him out after one inning and remains a candidate for another start before the regular season ends.
Action: WATCH — Don't start him until the Dodgers confirm the outing. With the division clinched, Los Angeles has every reason to hold him back for October.
Cavalli Signs Four-Year Extension
HOLD · WSH · SP
Cade Cavalli and Washington agreed to an extension guaranteeing $47 million, with a potential value of $70 million if a fifth-year option vests.
Action: HOLD — No redraft action. In dynasty, this is a meaningful signal: the Nationals are committing to him as a rotation cornerstone after a strong second half.
Bowlan Avoids the IL With Mild Groin Strain
WATCH · PHI · RP
Jonathan Bowlan has a mild right groin strain but will not go on the injured list, with Philadelphia believing he'll be ready before the postseason. A similar injury in April cost him two weeks.
Action: WATCH — Holds-league relevance only. The Phillies are protecting him for October, which means limited regular-season usage.
Roman Anthony Homers, Snapping a Cold Stretch
WATCH · BOS · OF
Roman Anthony hit a 438-foot home run to break out of a 12-game stretch in which he hit .137/.214/.296 with one extra-base hit across 56 plate appearances.
Action: WATCH — One homer doesn't undo a 56-plate-appearance collapse. Hold if rostered; don't add on this.
Natera Jr. Avoids Surgery
WATCH · LAA · RP
Samy Natera Jr. (0% owned) had an MRI show no structural damage requiring surgery, with a normal six-week recovery window.
Action: No action in any format. The Angels are eliminated, so there is no late-season return to monitor — this is an offseason note.
Flaherty Starts at Toledo Today
WATCH · DET · SP
Jack Flaherty is at Triple-A Toledo for a rehab start today, targeting two to three innings. Clearing it would line him up to pitch for Detroit during the final weekend.
Action: DROP in redraft. Two to three rehab innings today means at most one short big-league appearance next weekend.
Blue Jays DFA Lorenzen
WATCH · TOR · RP
Toronto designated Michael Lorenzen (0% owned) for assignment and promoted right-hander José Rodríguez to the bullpen.
Action: No redraft action. Note Toronto is in a live wild-card race, so bullpen roles there can shift quickly — worth watching if Rodríguez draws leverage innings.
Vasil Throws First Bullpen Post-Tommy John
STASH · CWS · P
Mike Vasil threw his first bullpen session since Tommy John surgery, 20 pitches from 45 feet, with teammates gathering to watch.
Action: STASH in dynasty only. A full return is months away — confirm his 2027 timeline before committing a spot.
Cole Lined Up for a Wild Card Series Start
HOLD · NYY · SP
Boone confirmed Gerrit Cole would be expected to start if the Yankees land in the AL Wild Card Series.
Action: HOLD — No redraft impact. Worth noting for postseason-format leagues, though Cam Schlittler has been New York's best starter this season by a wide margin.
Leahy Struggles as Cardinals Are Eliminated
HOLD · STL · RP
Kyle Leahy (24% owned) had a poor outing as St. Louis was eliminated from wild-card contention. Oli Marmol praised his preparation and aptitude.
Action: HOLD in keeper formats. With the Cardinals eliminated, expect reduced usage over the final week.
Holliday's Wrist Still Inflamed
WATCH · BAL · SS
Jackson Holliday (24% owned) has his wrist examined today, with swelling persisting despite rest.
Action: DROP in 12-team leagues. Persistent swelling on a 10-day IL stint with eight games left leaves no usable runway.
Angels Strand the Bases Loaded in the Eighth
WATCH · LAA · TEAM
The Angels loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth and did not score, finishing with four hits in a 3-0 loss to Minnesota.
Action: No roster action. Avoid Angels bats in daily formats — the offense has been scuffling for weeks.
Wild Card Races Tighten
HOLD · MLB · TEAM
San Diego won to stay in contention while Arizona, Chicago and Philadelphia all lost, compressing the field heading into the final week.
Action: No roster implications directly, but expect clinched teams to start resting regulars. Check lineups daily from here.