Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Yency Almonte (knee) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday. The Dodgers will have a first-round bye in the playoffs for the wild-card round, but Almonte probably won't be able to join the Dodgers in the postseason unless they advance to the National League Championship Series since he hasn't pitched since hurting his right knee on Aug. 11. The 29-year-old right-hander wasn't very good in his 49 relief appearances for the Blue this year anyway, posting a 5.06 ERA (4.59 FIP), 1.39 WHIP, 24 walks and 49 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched.

Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz was busy on Friday night in the team's 10-6 win over the Braves in Atlanta. Ruiz finished the contest 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an RBI and three runs scored out of the cleanup spot for Washington. Ruiz is now on a modest five-game hitting streak and has gone 20-for-84 (.238) with a home run, three doubles, seven RBI and seven runs scored in 21 games (20 starts) in the final month of the season in September. The 25-year-old backstop is hitting nearly .300 since the All-Star break and has had his most productive big-league season by far in 2023, hitting .254 (129-for-508) with career-highs in homers (17), RBI (62) and runs scored (50) in 133 games.

Washington Nationals second baseman Luis Garcia went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI in the team's 10-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night. Garcia was struggling so badly that he was sent to the minors in the second half of the season. Since his return on Sept. 8, he's gone 18-for-60 (.300) with three home runs, three doubles, seven RBI, a stolen base and 13 runs scored in 19 games (16 starts) for the Nats. The strong stretch has boosted his season slash line to .265/.300/.381 in 438 at-bats, and he's added nine home runs, 49 RBI, nine stolen bases and 59 runs scored. The 23-year-old is looking to finish his fourth MLB campaign off strong and should enter the 2024 season as the club's primary second baseman.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. didn't even play a full game in Friday's 10-6 loss to the visiting Washington Nationals, but he still managed to steal two bases while going 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. The Braves have already clinched the National League East title, so the Braves chose to give Acuna some more rest. He was replaced by Kevin Pillar in the third inning. The 25-year-old superstar accomplished something this year that no MLB player has ever done: hit 40 home runs and steal 70 bases. Acuna now has 72 stolen bases on the year and is tied for third-most steals in franchise history. There's nothing he can't do. Acuna is now slashing .336/.414/.595 with a 1.009 OPS, 41 homers, 105 RBI and 146 runs scored. He's a lock for NL MVP this year.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford entered the fantasy conversation when he joined the team's rotation earlier this summer. The swingman will try leave one lasting impression in his new role during Saturday's start against the Baltimore Orioles. Let's just say the figures haven't been pretty for Crawford versus the O's in the past; he's been slammed for 11 runs (four homers) in just 3 2/3 innings of work. It sounds like a shy-away scenario for fantasy managers searching for a late-week pitching streamer, as the 27-year-old looks best suited on benches under most circumstances.

Texas Rangers left-hander Andrew Heaney is getting the nod for Saturday's start against the Seattle Mariners. Heaney has worked out of the bullpen for most of September and he just tossed 17 pitches on Thursday, but the Rangers may need him in the rotation going forward with Jon Gray (forearm) hitting the injured list Friday. The numbers aren't pretty for the southpaw in his recent career against the M's, showing a dodgy 7.04 ERA in his last five starts (30 innings). Fantasy managers would probably be wise to bench Heaney in most cases.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Lance Lynn hurled six two-run innings on two hits and four walks with four strikeouts for his seventh win of the year in Friday's start against the San Francisco Giants. Lynn got off to a rocky start after allowing a run on a Wilmer Flores single and three consecutive batters to reach base in the first inning. Flores got to him again for a third-inning tater, but Lynn righted the ship thereafter for three scoreless frames before his night ended. Lynn's strikeout rate came down after he landed in LA, but he tidied things up for a 4.32 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 47:22 K:BB in 64 frames to try and salvage an otherwise terrible season. The big right-hander is still likely to make the postseason rotation with several Dodgers starters on the mend.

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and three runs scored in Friday's 6-2 win over the San Francisco Giants. Freeman scored a run after a first-inning single before whacking a solo shot in the third frame. He doubled and came around for another during the sixth on a J.D. Martinez homer to help the Dodgers pull away a bit. Another game with three knocks or greater raises the tally to 21 on the campaign for the seven-time All-Star, who absolutely crushed it in his second year with LA. Freeman is slashing a ludicrous .334/.412/.572 with 29 round-trippers, 102 RBI, 131 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases in 721 trips to the plate. He's one double short of being the first to reach 60 since 1936.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie looks to end an injury-ruined year on a positive note in Saturday's start against the Detroit Tigers. The right-hander's rise to potential stardom was curbed by shoulder and elbow injuries in 2023, limiting him to 11 2/3 innings with a 6.23 ERA and 1.63 WHIP ahead of his final appearance. McKenzie's season finale is ripe for the picking; he is 3-1 with an 0.93 ERA and 49 strikeouts in six careers starts (38 2/3 innings) versus the Tigers. The 26-year-old could be on a pitch count of sorts in his second start back off the injured list and one without playoff implications, but season-long managers will hope he can qualify for a win if it presents itself by getting through at least five innings.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi took the loss on Friday when he allowed seven earned runs on five hits to go along with five strikeouts and two walks over 3 1/3 innings in an 8-0 defeat at the hands of the Seattle Mariners. Eovaldi worked through the first two innings with ease before surrendering solo home runs to both Ty France and Josh Rojas in the third inning. He then coughed up an RBI double to Eugenio Suarez in that same frame before loading the bases and allowing another RBI single in the fourth inning. He was pulled at 3 1/3 innings and replaced by reliever Brock Burke, who allowed a grand slam to J.P. Crawford to break the game open. When it was all said and done, Eovaldi was tagged with seven earned runs. The veteran right-hander has been a disaster in September, sporting a 9.30 ERA and 1.92 WHIP while allowing 21 earned runs in 20 1/3 innings. The 33-year-old hasn't made it past the fifth inning in any of his six starts this month, either. He will finish the 2023 regular season with a 12-5 record, 3.63 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 132:47 K/BB ratio over 144 innings (25 starts).

Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford went 1-for-4 with a grand slam, two runs scored, a walk, and two strikeouts in an 8-0 shutout win over the Texas Rangers on Friday night. Crawford played the hero on Thursday night, delivering a walk-off single to prevent the Rangers from clinching a playoff spot. He wasn't done yet, however, as he roped a grand slam into right field on Friday off of reliever Brock Burke to give Seattle an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Neither team would score for the rest of the game and Texas pulled a handful of their star players as they'll try to regroup and clinch a postseason berth on Saturday. As for Crawford, he's put together the best season of his career so far, slashing .266/.381/.440 with 19 home runs, 65 RBI, and two stolen bases over 527 at-bats. The on-base percentage, slugging percentage, home runs, and RBI are all career-bests for the 28-year-old shortstop.

Colorado Rockies outfielder/designated hitter Charlie Blackmon has signed a one-year, $13 million contract extension with the team. The 37-year-old, who has spent his entire 13-year career with Colorado, was going to hit free agency this offseason but he'll stay on for another year with the Rockies. The veteran outfielder has put together an excellent season in Colorado, albeit one that has been limited by injuries. He's slashing .285/.370/.450 with eight home runs, 40 RBI, and four stolen bases over 351 at-bats in 92 games.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon was bombarded for eight runs before recording a single out in Friday's 12-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Talk about an ugly curtain call on a miserable Yankees debut season for the prized free-agent acquisition. Rodon's hideous evening saw him get shelled for four singles, one double, one home run, and two walks before Matt Bowman mercifully relieved him. The southpaw hopes to quickly forget 2023 after debuting about halfway through the campaign due to a forearm strain and scuffling to a ghastly 6.85 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with 15 homers (64 1/3 innings), which is three greater than he allowed a year ago in 17 fewer starts. Rodon will be searching for answers this offseason, considering his velocity was mostly on par with last season's figure despite far inferior results.

Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner (knee) exited Friday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers due to a left knee contusion. He went 0-for-3 before Miles Mastrobuoni took over for him at second base in the seventh inning. Hoerner fouled a ball off his knee during the sixth frame but stayed in for the bottom half defensively, insinuating that he's not dealing with a significant injury. The Cubs, losers of fourth straight after Friday's deflating extra-inning defeat, hope the speedy contact hitter can push through the bruise this weekend as they vie for an NL wild-card berth. On top of great defense at the keystone, Hoerner is batting .283 with 68 RBI, 98 runs scored, and 43 stolen bases in 619 at-bats during 2023.

Minnesota Twins infielder Jorge Polanco (ankle) departed Friday's game against the Colorado Rockies with right ankle soreness. He went 1-for-3 before Alex Kirilloff subbed in for him during the sixth inning. Polanco is being deemed day-to-day with his next chance to return arriving during Saturday's meeting at Coors Field. The Twins have dealt with enough injuries to key contributors this year, like Byron Buxton (knee) and Royce Lewis (hamstring), so it's fair to wonder if the AL Central champions elect to hold out Polanco until the playoffs. The former All-Star has been very productive when healthy, slashing .255/.335/.454 with 14 home runs, 48 RBI, and four stolen bases in 302 at-bats (80 games).

The Texas Rangers put starting pitcherJon Gray(forearm) on the 15-day injured list due to right lower-forearm tightness on Friday. The veteran right-hander is the latest name to hit the shelf in an injury-plagued Rangers rotation throughout the course of this year. Gray could return at some stage of the postseason, but he's set to miss at least a few weeks after leaving his Sept. 25 start with the forearm injury. The 31-year-old got off to a fabulous start (2.32 ERA through first 12 starts) before faltering for a 5.70 ERA across his most recent 17 starts to end the year. Overall, Gray punched out 142 and walked 54 in 157 1/3 innings before his regular season finished.

The San Francisco Giants put outfielder/designated hitter Mitch Haniger on the 10-day injured list due to a lower-back strain on Friday. It faintly wraps up another injury-riddled campaign for the oft-injured slugger, whose Giants debut season closes with a career-worst .209/.266/.365 slash line in only 211 at-bats over 61 games. Haniger has another year on his contract ahead of a 2025 player option, and he'll aim to start next season off on the right foot after spending most of 2023 on the sidelines with various ailments. The 32-year-old should be a decent bounce-back fantasy flier at the end of drafts this winter after providing only six home runs, 13 doubles, and 28 RBI this year.

Baltimore Orioles infielder Ramon Urias (illness) has been scratched from Friday's starting lineup versus the Boston Red Sox. Both Urias and catcher Adley Rutschman will hit the bench with an illness on Friday. Possibly, the two of them partied too hard after clinching the AL East division on Thursday. Regardless, it sounds like a minor issue, so both players should return within the next few days. In his absence, Jordan Westburg will cover third base and bat sixth versus right-hander Nick Pivetta on Friday.

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Kansas City Royals. This appears to be a routine rest day for the veteran slugger. Stanton has struggled this season, he's slashing .191/.275/.420 with 24 home runs and 60 RBI in 101 games. The expectation is that Stanton will play in the final two games of the regular season. In the meantime, Oswaldo Cabrera will cover right field and bat eighth versus right-hander Jordan Lyles on Friday.

San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano will start Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox on the bench for the fourth straight game. In his absence, Brett Sullivan will do the catching and hit seventh against White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease. Campusano isn't believed to be dealing with an injury, and it's a bit odd since he's currently riding a six-game hitting streak in which he's gone 11-for-23 (.478) with a homer, double, five RBI and four runs scored. The Friars technically have not been eliminated from wild-card contention in the National League, either. Campusano is turning 25 years old on Friday and has hit a strong .319 (52-for-163) this year with a career-high seven home runs, 30 RBI and 27 runs scored in 49 games in his fourth MLB season.