Morning Java - 09/26: Alonso Homers Twice to Seize the AL Lead, Jung Fractures a Metacarpal, Burnes Seeking a Second Opinion
TL;DRSkim
The five fastest-moving roster calls of the morning, in priority order:
- HOLD - Pete Alonso homered twice to take sole possession of the AL home run lead at 43, and is tied for the major league RBI lead at 113.
- DROP - Josh Jung fractured the fifth metacarpal in his right hand after being hit by a 94.6 mph fastball.
- WATCH - Corbin Burnes (9% owned) is on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation and is seeking a second opinion.
- ADD - Jackson Jobe (23% owned) went 5⅓ with eight strikeouts, his fourth straight start with seven-plus K's.
- DROP - Fernando Cruz was transferred to the 60-day IL, ending any postseason availability.
Alonso Takes the AL Home Run Lead
HOLD · BAL · 1B
Pete Alonso homered twice in Baltimore's 10-2 rout of the Yankees in Friday's doubleheader opener, reaching 43 for the season and moving out of a four-way tie for the American League lead - two ahead of Yordan Alvarez and Junior Caminero. His 113 RBI are tied with Alec Burleson for the major league lead and put him 11 clear of Alvarez in the AL.
The second homer traveled 471 feet at 113 mph off the bat, the fourth-longest in the majors this year and the second-longest of his career. He also became the first Oriole since Mark Trumbo in 2016 to have seven consecutive hits go for home runs.
Alonso has eight homers in his last 10 games. Only Frank Robinson (1966) and Chris Davis (2013) have led the AL in both homers and RBI in an Orioles uniform. Dylan Beavers hit his first career grand slam and Jeremiah Jackson added an inside-the-park homer. Baltimore (79-82) has been eliminated, and split the doubleheader with a 6-3 loss in the nightcap.
Action: HOLD and start him. If your league runs through Sunday, he's carrying two category leads into the final two games.
Jung Fractures Metacarpal on HBP
DROP · TEX · 3B
Josh Jung was hit by a 94.6 mph fastball from Joe Ryan in the first inning and left for X-rays, which revealed a fracture in the fifth metacarpal of his right hand.
Action: DROP in all redraft formats. The season ends tomorrow - there's no replacement worth speculating on for two games.
Burnes Seeking Second Opinion on Shoulder
WATCH · ARI · SP
Corbin Burnes (9% owned) was placed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation retroactive to Sept. 22, and is seeking a second opinion in the coming days.
The context makes it worse: Burnes only made his season debut Sept. 8 after Tommy John surgery and a teres major strain, threw three scoreless innings on a 60-pitch cap, and is now shut down again. His postseason availability is in real doubt.
Action: DROP in redraft. In dynasty, hold and wait for the second opinion - a shoulder issue layered on top of a TJ year is the kind of news that reprices a pitcher entirely.
Jobe Extends His Strikeout Run
ADD · DET · SP
Jackson Jobe (23% owned) threw 5⅓ innings with three hits, two earned runs, two walks and eight strikeouts to earn the win. He has struck out at least seven in each of his last four starts, with his season ERA at 3.91.
Action: ADD in keeper and dynasty formats. The whiff rate and command have both tightened over the past month, and at 23% ownership he's the best young arm still available on most wires. No redraft urgency with one day left.
Cruz to 60-Day IL, Out for October
DROP · NYY · RP
Fernando Cruz was transferred to the 60-day IL, ending his season and removing him from postseason consideration. New York called up Alexander Cornielle for bullpen innings in the doubleheader nightcap.
Action: DROP everywhere.
Arraez's Ankle "Not a Great" Update
WATCH · PHI · 2B
Luis Arraez (89% owned) remains out with the sprained left ankle, and Don Mattingly called the update "not a great one." The ankle is still stiff and sore, Philadelphia hasn't decided on an IL placement, and swinging is currently off limits. Mattingly said they hope he can at least pinch-hit at some point.
Action: DROP in redraft - he isn't swinging a bat with two days left. In postseason formats, an IL move would cost him the first round entirely.
Detmers Closes With Six Scoreless
HOLD · LAA · SP
Reid Detmers finished his season with six shutout innings against Seattle, ending at a 3.36 ERA with 211 strikeouts and 48 walks over 185 innings. Zach Neto (27 homers) and Christian Moore drove in runs for a 62-98 Angels club.
Action: HOLD in keeper formats. The full-season ERA undersells him badly - he had the best mark in baseball after the All-Star break and set a franchise record for consecutive quality outings. Buy him accordingly next spring.
Realmuto's Hitless Streak Reaches 31
WATCH · PHI · C
J.T. Realmuto is hitless in his last 31 at-bats, matching Brandon Marsh's 0-for-31 from early 2025 as the longest such run by a Phillie in recent memory.
Action: WATCH - Nothing to do in redraft with the season ending. In keeper leagues, note this is a 35-year-old catcher finishing on a month-long slide.
Simpson Exits After Fouling Ball Off Foot
WATCH · TB · OF
Chandler Simpson was removed against Philadelphia after fouling a pitch off his right foot in the sixth and will undergo imaging. Tampa Bay shuffled the outfield, moving Vilade to left, DeLuca to right and Mullins to center.
Action: DROP in redraft. In postseason formats, Simpson's value is entirely speed-based, which a foot injury directly threatens.
Eury Pérez Throws Complete-Game Shutout
HOLD · MIA · SP
Eury Pérez threw the first complete-game shutout of his career, blanking Atlanta over nine innings in a 3-0 Marlins win. It was Miami's 79th victory, matching their 2025 total.
Action: HOLD in keeper and dynasty. A nine-inning shutout from a 23-year-old with this kind of stuff is a meaningful marker heading into 2027, even though Miami is out of the race.
Rays Blank Phillies
HOLD · TB · TEAM
Tampa Bay beat Philadelphia 2-0, holding the Phillies to four hits with none in scoring position. Philadelphia has lost three of four and five of seven. The Phillies will use a bullpen game today.
Action: HOLD - The Rays clinched the AL East on Sept. 22 and have the No. 1 seed locked, so expect them to rest regulars through the weekend.
Red Sox Sweep Cubs Doubleheader
HOLD · BOS · TEAM
Boston completed a doubleheader sweep of the Cubs, closing its Fenway regular season with a 2-0 win. If the Red Sox return home this year, it would be Oct. 7 for Game 3 of a Division Series.
Action: HOLD Boston regulars through Sunday. The club has clinched, so rest days are likely.
Weathers Reaches 96 in Live BP
WATCH · NYY · SP
Ryan Weathers threw live batting practice and reached 96 mph. Aaron Boone said the control was "a little scattered" but that Weathers is a possibility "for sure" during the postseason, though likely not the Wild Card Series.
Action: No redraft action. Postseason-format monitoring only.
Wesneski Starts Today for Houston
WATCH · HOU · SP
Hayden Wesneski (22% owned) starts today as Houston (79-80) tries to hold its share of the AL West lead with Texas, with two games left and the head-to-head tiebreaker in hand at 9-4.
Action: STREAM if you need a final-weekend start. The stakes mean Houston won't pull him early without cause.
Gasser Fans Nine Over Six
HOLD · MIL · SP
Robert Gasser (16% owned) threw six innings with nine strikeouts and one earned run.
Action: HOLD in deep and keeper leagues. With Milwaukee's seeding secured, he's a candidate for a postseason bullpen or spot-start role.
Miller Gives Up Five in Seattle Loss
HOLD · SEA · SP
Bryce Miller (38% owned) allowed five earned runs over six innings.
Action: HOLD in keeper formats. One rough outing at the end of a long season isn't a signal - but note he spent part of September in the bullpen before returning to the rotation.
Brewers Reinstate Wilson, Recall Lockridge
WATCH · MIL · MULTI
Milwaukee reinstated Bryse Wilson from the 15-day IL and recalled Brandon Lockridge for outfield depth. Andrew Vaughn (3% owned) went on the 10-day IL with an illness retroactive to Sept. 22.
Action: No redraft action. Wilson is a holds-league arm if he draws leverage innings in October.
Blue Jays Recall Klein
WATCH · TOR · INF
Toronto recalled John Klein, acquired from Minnesota in the Jeff Hoffman deal, and optioned CJ Van Eyk.
Action: No action. Utility depth with no defined role and two games left.
Mets Use Yan as an Opener
WATCH · NYM · RP
Jefry Yan works as an opener for the Mets. New York also recalled Justin Hagenman and optioned Jack Weisenburger.
Action: No action in any format.
Early Starts for Washington
WATCH · WSH · SP
Connelly Early starts today for the Nationals with a target of two to three innings in what amounts to a bullpen game.
Action: No action. A two-inning window on an eliminated team has no fantasy use.