Morning Java - 09/24: Yankees Planning Without Judge for the Wild Card Round, Cease Shut Down, Javier's Groin Strain Grade 2
TL;DRSkim
The five fastest-moving roster calls of the morning, in priority order:
- DROP - Aaron Judge (91.2% owned): Boone says the Yankees are planning for him to miss the Wild Card Series. Moderate-grade calf strain, PPP injection Monday, no activity for a couple of days.
- DROP - Dylan Cease is shut down for the year with right shoulder inflammation.
- WATCH - Cristian Javier (6% owned) has a Grade 2 groin strain and is done for the regular season.
- HOLD - Ben Rice reached 40 home runs for the Yankees.
- WATCH - Sandy Alcantara (83% owned) worked a save opportunity in what is now a Miami committee.
Yankees Planning Without Judge in the Wild Card Round
DROP · NYY · RF
Aaron Boone was direct Tuesday: "We're planning on him not being a part of that." Aaron Judge (91.2% owned) has a moderate-grade right calf strain, received a platelet-poor plasma injection Monday, and will avoid physical activity for the next couple of days.
Boone stopped short of ruling him out. "We're also at a time of the year where obviously we'd push it a little bit if that was in play. But that's a week away. I'm not expecting it, but I'm not ruling it out, either." He also laid out the realistic window: "Two to four weeks, four to six, all these things."
The seven games back tell the story of the season. Judge went 4-for-23 (.174) with one homer, one walk and 13 strikeouts over 24 plate appearances after returning Sept. 8 from the rib fracture. He finishes at .241/.360/.511 with 18 home runs and 41 RBI in 66 games.
New York has clinched as the 4-seed and is projected to face Boston in the Wild Card Series.
Action: DROP in redraft - his season is over for fantasy purposes. In postseason-format leagues, do not roster him for the Wild Card round.
Cease Shut Down for the Season
DROP · TOR · SP
Dylan Cease has been shut down for the year with right shoulder inflammation. An MRI showed inflammation with no structural damage and no surgery required, and 2027 is not considered at risk.
This is a bigger loss than a rotation depth note - Cease has been Toronto's best starter all season, and the Blue Jays are fighting for a wild-card spot with no replacement of that caliber available.
Action: DROP in redraft. HOLD in dynasty; a clean MRI with a full offseason ahead means his 2027 outlook is intact.
Javier's Groin Strain Confirmed Grade 2
DROP · HOU · SP
Cristian Javier (6% owned) was placed on the 15-day IL with a Grade 2 groin strain - a significant escalation from the "tightness" he described Tuesday, when he said he expected to make his next start. Grade 2 strains typically require several weeks.
Houston leaned hard on its bullpen after the injury, with rookies recording the first 21 outs against Seattle.
Action: DROP Javier. Peter Lambert (26% owned) and Hayden Wesneski (18% owned) are worth adds in deep leagues - but note they're established members of Houston's rotation, not emergency fill-ins, and both are already rostered in a quarter of leagues.
Rice Reaches 40 Home Runs
HOLD · NYY · DH
Ben Rice hit his 40th home run of the season.
Action: HOLD and start him. Forty homers from a Yankees bat that has hit leadoff at times is elite production - and with Judge out, Rice carries even more of this lineup into October.
Rodón Throws Eight Scoreless in Doubleheader Split
HOLD · NYY · SP
Carlos Rodón threw eight scoreless innings as the Yankees won the opener of Tuesday's doubleheader 2-0, before Tampa Bay clinched the AL East with a 6-1 win in the nightcap. Rodón has now gone more than 25 consecutive starts without allowing more than three runs.
Separately, Jazz Chisholm Jr. is set to be activated from the IL.
Action: HOLD Rodón. He's been the steadiest arm in this rotation and lines up for a Wild Card Series start.
Cole Reaches 105 Pitches
HOLD · NYY · SP
Gerrit Cole threw 105 pitches, his highest total since returning from Tommy John surgery and only the second time he's reached triple digits.
Action: HOLD - The workload build is on track for October. No redraft action with the season ending Sunday.
Alcantara in a Miami Committee
WATCH · MIA · SP
Sandy Alcantara (83% owned) worked another save opportunity for the Marlins, who have had no defined closer since Pete Fairbanks' season ended with a third nerve episode.
Action: WATCH - Don't chase Miami saves in a championship week. A converted starter in an undefined committee is the least predictable save source on the board.
Angels Swept, Ureña Roughed Up
HOLD · LAA · OF
The Angels lost 7-3 to the Athletics to complete a two-game sweep. Mike Trout went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and Vaughn Grissom drove in four on a 2-for-4 night. Walbert Ureña (50% owned) allowed five earned runs over four innings.
Action: HOLD Trout. Ureña is a starter, not a relief option - bench him for his final turn if he gets one, given the workload he's carried into late September.
Alvarez Reaches 100 Runs
HOLD · HOU · DH
Yordan Alvarez scored his 100th run of the season, to go with his 106th walk and 102nd RBI.
Action: HOLD and start him. A 100-run, 100-RBI, 100-walk season is elite across the board - one of the safest starts remaining in any lineup.
Peña Still Sore, Varsho Progressing Slowly
WATCH · HOU · SS / OF
Jeremy Peña remains "pretty sore" with his wrist and forearm issue, though he was able to pinch-run. Daulton Varsho (8% owned) is progressing slowly with his own wrist problem and isn't a certainty even to pinch-hit.
Action: DROP both in redraft. Neither is startable in a championship week.
Matthews to IL With Knee Swelling
WATCH · HOU · CF
Brice Matthews was placed on the 10-day IL with left knee inflammation - swelling with no structural damage - after coming up limping following a diving catch. Lucas Spence started in his place.
Action: DROP Matthews. Note the draft's suggestion that Varsho becomes Houston's default center fielder doesn't hold; Varsho can't reliably pinch-hit right now.
Rays Managing Caminero, McClanahan Off the ALDS Roster
WATCH · TB · MULTI
Tampa Bay has been lifting Junior Caminero mid-game to manage his workload despite his wanting to play every inning and add to his home run total. Left-hander Shane McClanahan (left forearm tightness) is off the ALDS roster but not ruled out for later rounds. Left-hander Garrett Cleavinger and right-hander Tyler Wells, both with forearm tightness, are progressing.
Action: HOLD Caminero and start him - he leads the AL in homers, and partial games still produce. The pitchers are postseason-format concerns only.
Rafaela In and Out With Hamstring Tightness
WATCH · BOS · CF
Ceddanne Rafaela was in Boston's lineup before being removed with right hamstring tightness. Chad Tracy said Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Mickey Gasper and Spencer Jones will mix in the left field and DH spots in the first round, with Anthony "fairly safe" to play regardless.
Action: DROP Rafaela in redraft. A hamstring on a speed-first outfielder with four days left has no upside.
Padres Activate Adam, Option Canning
WATCH · SD · RP
Jason Adam was activated ahead of Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, with Griffin Canning optioned.
Action: WATCH - Not a priority add in redraft. Track his leverage usage for postseason formats.
Henderson Ties Gallen's Career-Opening Streak
HOLD · MIL · SP
Logan Henderson closed his regular season with five innings and one run against Philadelphia, tying Zac Gallen for the longest streak of allowing three runs or fewer to begin a career since 1893 - 23 starts.
Action: HOLD and start him if he gets a playoff assignment. Twenty-three starts is a real sample, and the floor is now the best-established part of his profile.
Crow-Armstrong Ties for the NL Home Run Lead
HOLD · CHC · OF
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit his 45th home run, tying Kyle Schwarber for the National League lead.
Action: HOLD and start him. Forty-five homers with the speed he brings is a first-round profile.
Ohtani Bats Second for the First Time Since 2024
HOLD · LAD · DH
Shohei Ohtani (100% owned) batted second against a left-hander, with Mookie Betts leading off - the first time since June 16, 2024, that Ohtani hasn't hit leadoff for the Dodgers. Roberts suggested the order could flip based on opponent handedness.
Action: HOLD and start him. A one-slot move costs a fraction of a plate appearance per game and nothing else.
Turang Reaches 20 Homers
HOLD · MIL · 2B
Brice Turang hit his 20th home run, joining Rickie Weeks as the only Brewers second basemen to reach 20 in a season.
Action: HOLD - A career high in power from a player whose value was built on speed and defense.
Herrera Ties Cardinals HBP Record
HOLD · STL · C
Iván Herrera was hit by a pitch for the 31st time, tying Steve Evans' 1910 Cardinals single-season record.
Action: HOLD - Relevant only in on-base-percentage leagues, where the hit-by-pitches have quietly added real value.
Davidson's X-Rays Negative
HOLD · SF · OF
Bo Davidson fouled a ball off his right foot - the same spot he injured two weeks ago - but X-rays were negative and he returned to right field.
Action: No action outside deep NL-only leagues.
Meidroth On Base in 14 Straight
HOLD · CWS · INF
Chase Meidroth has reached base in 14 consecutive games.
Action: WATCH in deep leagues if you need on-base production for a final push.
Megill and Chapman Hold Their Roles
HOLD · MIL / BOS · RP
Trevor Megill (62% owned) worked a clean inning with a strikeout for Milwaukee. Aroldis Chapman (87% owned) struck out three in a scoreless inning for Boston.
Action: HOLD both and use them. Two of the more secure save sources left with the season ending Sunday.