Boston Red Sox right-hander Corey Kluber (shoulder), who last pitched in a minor-league rehab outing on July 26, is making progress. Manager Alex Cora said Kluber will throw a bullpen session soon, and the hope is that if all goes well, he will go on another rehab assignment. Cora said on Saturday that the Red Sox hope Kluber can return to pitch again in the big leagues in 2023. The 37-year-old veteran isn't guaranteed to return this year, though, and he should remain on the waiver wire in all fantasy leagues the rest of the way. In 15 appearances (nine starts) for Boston before his injury, he posted a rough 7.04 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, one save and 42 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley is out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the New York Yankees. The left-handed slugger will sit out this game for rest purposes with a southpaw on the mound. The 36-year-old has gone 2-for-8 with a double and two RBI since being activated from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. Yainer Diaz will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth versus left-hander Carlos Rodon on Friday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly with Brantley on the bench.

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb nearly completed a no-hitter in Tuesday's 6-1 win over the Reds. The veteran had allowed just one baserunner on an error entering the ninth inning. He sandwiched a walk in between the first two outs but allowed an RBI double before ending the game with a strikeout. Cobb's final stat line was one run on a hit and a walk with eight strikeouts over nine innings. He has been a serviceable fantasy option once again this season, going 7-5 with a 3.57 ERA in 25 starts. Cobb's next matchup will be a middling one at the Padres.

The Houston Astros reinstated outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned outfielder Corey Julks to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. To make room for Brantley on the 40-man roster, the Astros designated right-hander Jake Cousins for assignment. After not playing since late last year and having offseason shoulder surgery, Brantley will make his 2023 debut on Tuesday, starting in left field and batting sixth against Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello. The 36-year-old has been an excellent contact hitter in his career, but he's likely to be eased back into the fold and will have a pretty low fantasy ceiling and floor the rest of the way in 2023.

San Diego Padres left-hander Rich Hill will return to the starting rotation for the Friars on Wednesday to face the St. Louis Cardinals on the road. The Padres need another starter after they placed right-hander Yu Darvish (elbow) on the 15-day injured list on Monday. Hill will have a solid matchup against the disappointing Cardinals in his return to a starting role this week, but the 43-year-old southpaw has also gone 0-3 with an ugly 9.53 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in his first three starts with San Diego after coming over from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a deadline deal. In 14 innings for the Padres, he's surrendered 14 earned runs on 18 hits (five home runs) while walking five and striking out 11. We wouldn't recommend him as a DFS streamer.

The Boston Red Sox transferred right-handed pitcher Corey Kluber (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list on Friday. The 37-year-old has been shut down from throwing since his body didn't respond well to a minor-league rehab appearance on July 26. Kluber started playing catch this week, but he remains without a return timetable. The veteran righty was sent the 15-day IL on June 21 with right shoulder inflammation, but he is unlikely to make a significant fantasy impact the rest of the way. Kluber drags a troublesome 7.04 ERA and 1.64 WHIP with 42 strikeouts across 55 innings this season.

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker said that outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) is headed back to Triple-A Sugar Land and will play on both Friday and Saturday. Baker said Brantley is "not physically there yet." "He's not ready and I told him, let us know when he's ready because he's champing at the bit, but at the same time we can't afford to lose him again. Sometimes you can't do anything about father time, as much as you want to. With the schedule winding down, we have to do what's right for him," Baker said. Even when the 36-year-old is ready to make his 2023 debut, the Astros will probably give him plenty of days off in the final month of the regular season. Brantley has always hit for a high average, but he's not going to provide much else. He hasn't played in the big leagues in over a year.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Rich Hill won't take the ball versus the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. The team has decided to skip Hill in the rotation after he allowed 12 runs over his first three starts with the Padres. The veteran left-hander has looked completely lost since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline. In his absence, Pedro Avila will take the ball this weekend versus Milwaukee.

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker said that outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) will serve as the designated hitter on Wednesday in a minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Sugar Land for the second straight day "and we'll make a determination after today." Brantley played left field on Tuesday for Sugar Land and appears to be finally nearing his season debut for Houston after having surgery on his shoulder last year. There's a chance the 36-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran will play his first game with the Astros at some point this weekend on the road against the Detroit Tigers. Brantley, a five-time All-Star, has a .298 career batting average, but he hasn't played since late last season and won't provide much else for fantasy managers down the stretch.

The San Diego Padres and starting pitcher Rich Hill start up a pivotal four-game series with the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. The 43-year-old's Friars career hasn't gotten off on the right foot thus far, giving up nine runs in 6.1 innings pitched over two starts. Hill labored through 3.1 frames against the D-backs in his time out, and the journeyman owns a 6.27 ERA to go with a 1-9 record in 14 lifetime starts (70.1 IP) opposing Arizona. It's Hill's worst career ERA versus any particular NL club. Even on a short Thursday slate, season-long fantasy managers might want to avoid the struggling southpaw.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) started his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday night, according to the team. Brantley will finally restart a rehab assignment down on the farm after being shut down on his first rehab assignment back in early May after he dealt with inflammation in his surgically repaired right shoulder. The regular season is nearly over, but it would be nice to see the 36-year-old veteran make it back into a big-league ballgame next month for the first time since last June 26. The five-time All-Star has very little power -- he's only hit 20-plus home runs twice in 14 big-league seasons -- and he won't have much time at all to contribute to fantasy rosters if he indeed ends up making it back in 2023.

Left-handed veteran Rich Hill is set to make his debut for the San Diego Padres this Sunday against one of his old teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres landed Hill and first baseman Ji Man Choi from the Pittsburgh Pirates at Tuesday's trade deadline. The 43-year-old southpaw is mostly an innings-eater at this point in his career, and he hasn't been very effective in 22 starts for the Bucs in 2023, going 7-10 with a 4.76 ERA (4.45 FIP) and 1.48 WHIP, but he has struck out 104 hitters in 119 innings pitched. Hill is a fine matchup-based streamer in much deeper fantasy leagues and he'll have a much better offense backing him in San Diego, but we'd recommend fading him in his Friars debut on Sunday against the first-place Dodgers.

The San Diego Padres have acquired starting pitcher Rich Hill and first baseman Ji Man Choi from the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The move offers the Padres two experienced yet relatively affordable players that can serve as key depth pieces down the stretch. Hill, who will head to his 13th team, is in his age-43 season and has remained effective, pitching to a 4.45 FIP, 7.87 K/9, and 3.55 BB/9. The southpaw is only a relevant fantasy option in very deep leagues. Meanwhile, Choi will get an opportunity for a fresh start in San Diego after slashing .205/.224/.507 with a poor wRC+ in Pittsburgh. He owns a 2.6% walk rate and 35.5 strikeout rate, both of which are career-worsts. He can be avoided in fantasy baseball.

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb (illness) missed his start on Monday while dealing with a stomach bug, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. However, he's slated to pitch in Tuesday's contest against Zac Gallen and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cobb remains solid at 35 years old, as he's pitched to a 2.97 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 6-3 record with 100 strikeouts over 106 innings this year. The 12-year vet holds value in every league, and fantasy managers should feel comfortable starting him against the Dbacks.

Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher Corey Kluber (shoulder) did not respond well to his most recent rehab game with Triple-A Worcester on July 26. Red Sox skipper Alex Cora says the 37-year-old's next step is not clear at the moment. "He was throwing the ball well; he just wasn't able to recover the way he wanted", Cora said of Kluber. The veteran righty has been sidelined with right shoulder inflammation since June 21. It sounds as though Kluber may have experienced a hitch in the recovery road, but there's not yet official designation on his status. Fantasy managers should probably look elsewhere for a stash, anyway, as the former ace shows an unappealing 7.04 ERA and 1.64 WHIP with 42 strikeouts in 55 innings this year.

Atlanta Braves reliever Jesse Chavez (shin) was transferred to the 60-day injured list on Sunday. The 39-year-old still has a "slight limp, according to skipper Brian Snitker, so the update isn't surprising. Chavez, who has a 1.55 ERA with 36 strikeouts, 13 holds, and two saves in 2022, is still "weeks away" from returning, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect to see him anytime soon. In a corresponding move, Atlanta will bring right-hander Daysbel Hernandez to the big club.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) handled on-field batting practice on Saturday for the first time post-All-Star break. However, manager Dusty Baker couldn't provide an update on Brantley's health despite the progress. The 36-year-old commenced a rehab assignment on April 23, but suffered a setback after 24 at-bats in the minor leagues. Brantley has been on the injured list all season while recovering from Aug. 2022 right shoulder surgery. The veteran contact hitter's return timetable remains in the dark at this time. Brantley seems more likely to make an impact for Houston perhaps in the playoffs rather than be a fantasy factor in 2023 at this point.

According to Braves manager Brian Snitker, reliever Jesse Chavez (shin) is still "walking with a slight limp." There was a report that the 39-year-old had been doing some "light jogging." Yet, he's still "weeks away" from returning, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Chavez owns a 1.55 ERA with 36 strikeouts, 13 holds, and two saves this season, so Atlanta would love to see him back on the bump as soon as possible. However, his statistical contributions won't mean much to most fantasy managers.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Corey Kluber (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment on Friday, according to MLB.com. The plan is for him to throw two innings of work. Kluber has been on the shelf since late June after suffering right shoulder inflammation. Before the injury, the two-time Cy Young award winner struggled to a 7.04 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, and a career-low 16.3% walk rate over 55 innings, and he was eventually moved to the bullpen. With the club's deteriorating rotation, the Sox are keeping their options open and might use him as a starting pitcher again when he returns, likely in August. Fantasy managers can ignore this news, though, as he provides no value in any format.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) was able to run the bases prior to Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. There is still no word on when Brantley might begin a minor league rehab assignment. He hasn't played at all this season and would need an extended period of time to get ready in order to play again. At this point, fantasy managers shouldn't expect Brantley to have much fantasy value this season.