Morning Java - 09/27: Verlander Exits to a Standing Ovation and His Daughter's Hug, Alonso Takes the AL Lead, Judge Eligible but Not Expected
TL;DRSkim
The five fastest-moving roster calls of the morning, in priority order:
- DROP - Justin Verlander threw 5⅓ innings with six strikeouts in the final start of his career, finishing at 3,560 strikeouts, eighth all-time.
- WATCH - Aaron Judge (90% owned) is eligible to return today, but the Yankees are planning for the Wild Card round without him.
- DROP - Casey Mize (24% owned) went on the 15-day IL with a right ankle sprain. Season over.
- WATCH - Juan Soto was hit on the right hand by a 91.7 mph sinker. X-rays negative, day-to-day.
- WATCH - Oneil Cruz left with left knee soreness after his foot caught in the grass. MRI pending.
Verlander's Final Start Ends With a Sprint to the Mound
DROP · DET · SP
Justin Verlander (4% owned) closed a 21-year Hall of Fame career Saturday at a sold-out Comerica Park, throwing 5⅓ innings on 91 pitches with six strikeouts, allowing two solo home runs against Pittsburgh.
The exit is what people will remember. Verlander retired Brandon Lowe to open the sixth, and as A.J. Hinch came up the dugout steps, his 7-year-old daughter Genevieve sprinted from the first-base side to the mound to take him out. "That completely blindsided me, and it hit me like a ton of bricks," Verlander said. "I was sobbing and had to make sure that she understood I was happy. She's never seen me cry like that." He walked off holding her hand.
The workload was remarkable in its own right - it was his second start of 2026 after hip and hamstring problems cost him nearly the whole season, and he'd thrown just a one-inning, 21-pitch live bullpen since early June. "I'm amazed by his performance," Hinch said. Detroit, trailing 3-1 into the ninth, rallied for a 4-3 walk-off win on rookie Eduardo Valencia's two-run homer.
The 43-year-old finishes 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA and 3,560 strikeouts, eighth all-time - three Cy Youngs, an MVP, 10 All-Star selections and two World Series titles. Pittsburgh was managed by Don Kelly, his former Tigers teammate.
Action: Remove him from redraft rosters. Worth noting for keeper leagues that the all-time strikeout list now has Max Scherzer within striking distance of him.
Judge Eligible Today, but Not Expected Back
WATCH · NYY · RF
Aaron Judge (90% owned) becomes eligible to return from the 10-day IL today, the earliest possible date after his placement was backdated to Sept. 17. But the Yankees are still planning for the Wild Card Series without him - Boone said last week, "We're planning on him not being a part of that."
Action: WATCH - Check the activation. In postseason formats, do not roster him for the Wild Card round based on eligibility alone.
Mize to IL, Season Over
DROP · SD · SP
Casey Mize (24% owned) was placed on the 15-day IL with a right ankle sprain suffered during Friday's start, in which he gave up seven runs over four innings. San Diego recalled Griffin Canning, reinstated Gavin Sheets and optioned Kyle Hart - Hart is now ineligible for the Wild Card roster except as an injury replacement.
Action: DROP Mize. Walker Buehler (16% owned) is next up in the rotation for a Padres club that has already clinched.
Soto Hit on the Hand, X-Rays Negative
WATCH · NYM · OF
Juan Soto left Saturday's game after being struck on the right hand by a 91.7 mph sinker. X-rays came back negative for a fracture and he's day-to-day.
Action: WATCH - With one game left and the Mets eliminated, there's no reason for him to play today. The relevant window is next spring.
Cruz Exits With Knee Soreness, MRI Pending
WATCH · PIT · CF
Oneil Cruz had his foot catch in the grass on a sliding catch attempt in the first inning against Detroit. He stayed in initially, came up limping later, and was pulled in the sixth. An MRI is pending, with left knee soreness the concern.
Action: WATCH - Pittsburgh is eliminated, so this is a keeper-league note. A knee issue on a player whose value runs through his legs is worth tracking into the offseason.
Jung to IL With Metacarpal Fracture
DROP · TEX · 3B
Josh Jung (18% owned) was placed on the 10-day IL after Friday's fracture of the fifth metacarpal in his right hand, suffered on a 94.6 mph Joe Ryan fastball. Ezequiel Duran (44% owned) takes the third-base reps, though Nicky Lopez also left Saturday's game with a left ankle and heel issue after catching his foot on the first-base bag.
Action: DROP Jung. Duran is a one-game play at most - Texas has a single game left, so there's no "everyday role" to claim.
Astros and Rangers Tied Entering Game 162
WATCH · HOU / TEX · TEAM
Houston and Texas enter today locked at 80-81 atop the AL West. Whichever club wins the division will do so with the worst full-season record of any division winner in major league history. Houston controls its own destiny with the head-to-head tiebreaker, and Peter Lambert starts today's finale. All Houston arms are available except Hayden Wesneski, whose season ended with Saturday's start.
Action: WATCH - In postseason formats, today's result determines which roster's arms and bats become eligible. Wait for the outcome before locking anything in.
Flaherty Returns for Detroit's Finale
WATCH · DET · SP
Jack Flaherty is eligible to return today for Detroit's season finale after a bullpen session Sept. 23. A.J. Hinch has framed it as a single appearance - Flaherty isn't a postseason option.
Action: STREAM only if you need a final-day start and your league is still active. No postseason value.
Hoffman to IL With Forearm Inflammation
DROP · MIN · RP
Jeff Hoffman (43% owned) was placed on the 15-day IL with right forearm inflammation. Minnesota opted to rest him rather than order an MRI, suggesting nothing structural, with the expectation that rest and the offseason resolve it.
Action: DROP - Season over. The benign framing is a positive for 2027 keeper value.
Contreras Unable to Swing
WATCH · BOS · C
Willson Contreras has been unable to swing for two consecutive days and expressed doubt about his availability for next week. Boston has already clinched a postseason spot.
Action: WATCH in postseason formats - two days without swinging makes a Wild Card Series roster spot unlikely. No redraft relevance.
Quantrill to 60-Day IL
DROP · TEX · SP
Cal Quantrill was transferred to the 60-day IL, ending his season.
Action: DROP everywhere.
Stowers Out a Third Straight Game
WATCH · MIA · OF
Kyle Stowers remains out with abdominal discomfort for a third consecutive game. Clayton McCullough called him day-to-day and TBD for today's finale.
Action: No action. Miami is eliminated and a three-game abdominal issue at season's end is a keeper-league note only.
Burleson Reaches 116 RBI
HOLD · STL · 1B/DH
Alec Burleson homered off Dustin May, pushing him to a major-league-leading 116 RBI - the most by a left-handed Cardinals hitter since Stan Musial's 126 in 1954.
Action: HOLD and start him today. He's the RBI leader with one game left, which matters if your league runs through Sunday.
Phillies Scuffling Into October
WATCH · PHI · TEAM
Philadelphia has scored two runs in its last 31 innings. Aaron Nola started on two days' rest Saturday in a bullpen game and was pulled after 21 pitches, allowing three runs in the first. Zack Wheeler is scheduled for today.
Worth noting as a counterpoint to the "rotation instability" framing: the Phillies are the only team in baseball with five pitchers making at least 23 starts, which is unusual rotation stability, not chaos. The offense is the problem.
Action: WATCH - Start Wheeler today. Avoid Phillies bats in daily formats until the offense shows a pulse.
Angels Playing to Avoid 100 Losses
WATCH · LAA · TEAM
The Angels must win today to avoid their first 100-loss season in franchise history. Ryan Johnson allowed four earned runs over five innings Saturday and Mitch Farris gave up four in the seventh as Seattle won 8-4.
Action: No fantasy action. Note Johnson pitched Saturday, so he is not available today.
Witt Extends On-Base Streak to 23
HOLD · KC · SS
Bobby Witt Jr. reached base for a career-high 23rd straight game.
Action: HOLD and start him today.
Tanner Scott Saves for the Dodgers
HOLD · LAD · RP
Tanner Scott (41% owned) worked a scoreless inning with two strikeouts for the save, holding the ninth for Los Angeles heading into October.
Action: HOLD - In postseason formats, he's the Dodgers' closer of record. Edwin Díaz has been limited to low-leverage work since returning.
Add-Tracker Movers
WATCH · MULTI · SP
Kade Anderson (38% owned) gained 16.3 points and Ryan Johnson (18% owned) gained 6.7. Quinn Mathews (16% owned) added 4.7. All three are starters, not relievers.
Action: No action on the final day. Track all three into 2027 drafts - Anderson in particular at 38% ownership.