Cleveland Guardians rookie first baseman/designated hitter Kyle Manzardo and outfielder Will Brennan are both on the bench for Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Saturday at Progressive Field against the division-rival Detroit Tigers with left-hander Tarik Skubal on the mound. Skubal will most likely win the AL Cy Young award this year, so it makes sense for Cleveland to sit the lefty-hitting Manzardo and Brennan. David Fry is the DH and will hit second, while rookie Jhonkensy Noel will start in right field and bat sixth. It's tough to recommend any Guardians hitter against the dominant Skubal in DFS, but Fry certainly has more appeal than Noel. The 28-year-old was the hero in the Game 4 win on Thursday and has gone 3-for-11 with a homer, a double, five RBI, a walk, a steal and two runs scored in four postseason games for the Guards this year.

Detroit Tigers rookie second baseman Colt Keith will start on the bench in Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Saturday at Progressive Field against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians with a lefty on the mound. Andy Ibanez will make the start at the keystone and will bat cleanup against Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd. Ibanez, 31, isn't your typical No. 4 hitter. The Cuban infielder hit a mediocre .241/.295/.357 during the regular season with a below-average .652 OPS, five home runs, 32 RBI and 30 runs scored in 244 trips to the plate over 99 games played in his second year in Detroit. He picked up hits in each of the first two playoff games in the Wild-Card Series against the Houston Astros but has gone hitless in four games since. Overall, he's gone 2-for-8 with two doubles, three RBI and a strikeout in six games (eight plate appearances). Ibanez has gone hitless in his two career at-bats against Boyd with one strikeout.

Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers (wrist) is behind the dish and is batting eighth for the Tigers in the decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Saturday at Progressive Field against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians and left-hander Matthew Boyd. Rogers left the Game 4 loss early on Thursday with a wrist injury, but he's good to go after an off day on Friday and after X-rays on his wrist came back negative. The 29-year-old backstop hit under .200 in 310 regular-season bats in 2024 with 10 home runs and 36 RBI, so he's not much of an offensive force. However, he's been hot during the playoffs for the upstart Tigers, going 5-for-18 (.278) with a double, RBI, three walks and three runs scored in his first six playoff games. Rogers has only faced Boyd twice in his career and is hitless with a strikeout. He hit just .169 (14-for-83) with one of his 10 homers against lefties during the regular season.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) is not in the team's starting lineup for the pivotal Game 5 against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians on Saturday in the American League Division Series at Progressive Field. Carpenter injured his left hamstring running the bases in the Game 4 loss on Thursday, but there's a chance he would have been on the bench anyway on Saturday with left-hander Matthew Boyd going for Cleveland. It remains to be seen if the 27-year-old left-handed hitter will be available to pinch hit later in the game. With Carpenter out, Justyn-Henry Malloy is the designated hitter on Saturday and will bat leadoff for Detroit. The 24-year-old hit just over .200 with eight homers and 21 RBI in 71 games in his rookie season in 2024 but has been better in October, going 5-for-7 with a double and two walks in his first six postseason games. Malloy also has two hits in his three career at-bats versus Boyd.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) will be a game time decision on Saturday in their ALDS finale against the Cleveland Guardians, according to manager A.J. Hinch. Carpenter was removed from Game 4 in the sixth inning with a hamstring injury he obtained running the bases. He will continue to be evaluated into Saturday to determine if he'll be able to go against Guardians' scheduled starter Matthew Boyd. The lefty's status for Saturday could be consequential for the Tigers' ALCS hopes. If he needs to be replaced on the roster, he would not be eligible for Detroit in the ALCS. If Carpenter must be replaced, Bligh Madris would likely take his spot as a contingency plan. Madris hit for a 95 OPS+ in 67 at-bats during the 2024 season but saw minimal chances against lefties, as will be the case Saturday against Boyd. Carpenter similarly saw lefties a minimal amount in the regular season, taking away much of the value either may have for DFS managers. Both should be avoided in DFS formats, as their impact on the game will only happen against a right-hander coming out of the bullpen.

Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers (hand, wrist) told reporters on Friday that he should be good to go Saturday for their pivotal Game 5 against the Cleveland Guardians. Rogers took a few foul balls off his left hand during Game 4 and was pinch hit for in the bottom of the ninth. X-rays came back clean, and he received treatment Friday morning. Rogers said his hand is a little sore but is doing better than expected. His presence won't be much of a boon from a fantasy perspective, as his bat isn't the greatest, but it will be great news for Tigers fans overall, as Rogers has been the only catcher that Game 5 starter Tarik Skubal has pitched to all season. Any change to the presumptive AL Cy Young winner's secret sauce in a series finale may not be the smartest move. DFS managers shouldn't expect much value out of Rogers at the plate, though his value behind the plate will be much greater to Skubal and Tigers fans alike.

Cleveland Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd will make the start for Cleveland on Saturday in the decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the division-rival Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field, according to manager Stephen Vogt. The 33-year-old southpaw will be going on regular rest in the winner-take-all contest after going 4 2/3 shutout frames with five strikeouts in the team's Game 2 loss on Monday. Boyd will be opposed by Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal, who is the overwhelming favorite to win the AL Cy Young this year after winning the AL pitching Triple Crown. He'll be hoping to replicate his performance his last time out against his former team. Boyd only made eight starts during the regular season for the Guardians but was on point with a 2.72 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in his 39 2/3 innings while walking 13 and striking out 46. He certainly doesn't have the type of upside as Skubal, though.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (back) underwent an ablation procedure on his back last week and has started a hitting progression. Carter managed to play in only 45 games in 2024 due to a lower-back stress reaction. The Rangers are hoping that his recent procedure will clear the way for the 22-year-old to put his back injury in the rearview mirror as he prepares for spring training early in 2025. If healthy next year, the former second-round selection in 2020 should have a big role in the Rangers' outfield, at least on the strong side of a platoon against right-handed pitching. In his 45 games (162 trips to the plate) this year, he slashed a weak .188/.272/.361 with five home runs, 15 RBI and 23 runs scored. However, with better health, could bounce back nicely and become a nice late-round value pick in fantasy drafts. We'll continue to keep an eye on his progress this offseason.

Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (wrist) underwent tendon-release surgery on Tuesday and will start a normal offseason program in three to four weeks. Jung fractured his right wrist back in early April when he was hit by a pitch and missed four months as a result. When the 26-year-old right-handed-hitting third baseman returned late in the year, he eventually went back on the injured list in the final month of the regular season when his wrist started bothering him again. Hopefully, this latest surgery clears it up and he'll be a full-go heading into the start of the 2025 season. The former eighth overall pick in 2019 out of Texas Tech has developed a reputation early in his career as being injury-prone and he managed only seven home runs and 16 RBI with 48 strikeouts and eight walks in only 46 games in 2024 after he was a first-time All-Star in 2023.

Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia (knee) has a sprained left patellar tendon and will rehab for eight weeks before starting his offseason workouts. Despite dealing with a knee injury for the final few weeks of the 2024 regular season, Garcia will not need surgery for his knee injury and should be good to go for the start of spring training next February, barring a setback with his knee this offseason. After helping the Rangers win their first-ever World Series title last fall, the 31-year-old Cuban slugger regressed in 2024, slashing .224/.284/.400 with a below-average .684 OPS, 25 home runs, 85 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 68 runs scored in 154 games. It was a disappointment after he made his second All-Star appearance in 2023 by hitting a career-high 39 home runs and driving in a career-high 107 runs in 148 regular-season games. If Garcia can put his knee injury in the rearview mirror to start next season, he'll be hoping to bounce back as a more consistent power bat.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) will test out his hamstring injury on Friday and Saturday before the team decides his status for Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Saturday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians on Saturday at Progressive Field. "We're gonna take as much time as we can to see what he can and can't handle," manager A.J. Hinch said. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter injured his left hamstring running the bases in the Game 4 loss on Thursday and had to be removed from the game. Even if Carpenter's hamstring checks out fine, he could start on the bench on Saturday for the winner-take-all game against Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd. In his first six playoff games this year, Carpenter has gone 4-for-16 (.250) with a homer, three RBI, a walk and five strikeouts in his 17 plate appearances.

New York Yankees closer Luke Weaver was back at it again on Thursday, shutting down the Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning of Game 4 to send the Yankees to the ALCS with a 3-2 win. Weaver threw a perfect frame with two strikeouts. The 31-year-old pitched in all four games of this series, allowing no runners to cross the plate and surrendering only two hits and zero walks over 4 IP in total. He has been excellent as the Yankees closer, and they will continue to use him heavily during this postseason run.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole was fantastic in Game 4 of their ALDS series against the Kansas City Royals, throwing seven innings of one-run ball en route to a 3-1 victory. Cole allowed six hits and no walks while striking out four. Although his last start wasn't terrible, Cole will feel much better about this one. He should line up to pitch early in the ALCS and will start twice if the series gets extended. The Yankees are in a very good spot if Cole continues to pitch like he did today.

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase came through in Game 4 of the ALDS, collecting the final five outs and earning the save in a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers. Clase did allow one run in the ninth, but that was his only baserunner allowed. It was a nice bounce-back performance after Clase uncharacteristically gave up three runs and took the loss in Game 2 of this series. All systems should be a go for the Guardians come Game 5 on Saturday, so expect Clase to be called upon if the game is even remotely close in the late stages.

Cleveland Guardians utility man David Fry came up with a clutch pinch-hit, two-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 4 of their ALDS matchup against the Detroit Tigers, leading the team to a 5-4 victory. It was Fry's only at-bat of the game, and he made the most of it. The homer came with the Guardians down 3-2 and probably saved their season. As a guy who can play several positions and swings a pretty solid bat, Fry will likely see the field in Game 5, whether it be starting the game or coming in as a pinch hitter.

Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers was seen after Thursday's ALDS game with his left wrist and forearm wrapped. He also underwent x-rays to determine the severity of the injury. Rogers played all nine innings at catcher, but was pinch-hit for in the bottom of the ninth. The Tigers will not have more details until Friday, but if Rogers can't play in Game 5 they will likely turn to rookie Dillon Dingler behind the dish. It would be a big spot for the 26-year-old, who only has 84 big-league at-bats.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal will take the ball for Game 5 of their ALDS series against the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. Skubal tossed a seven-inning gem on Monday in Game 2 and will be pitching on full rest Saturday. The Tigers will likely get as much as they can out of the triple-crown winner, who has only thrown 92 and 88 pitches in his two postseason starts. He will surely go over the century mark in this one if he is pitching well. The Guardians are yet to name their starter, but whoever they pick will have to be on their A-game to match Skubal.

The Athletic's Matt Gelb writes that the Philadelphia Phillies will be connected to New York Yankees impending free-agent superstar outfielder Juan Soto all winter. The Phillies' outfield was one of their biggest weaknesses in 2024. However, one of the New York teams will be the favorite to sign Soto to what will be a massive contract. Soto has kept a close relationship with Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long, and in a worst-case scenario for the Phils, they could at least raise the price for a rival to sign Soto. The team might not move on from either Brandon Marsh or Johan Rojas, but both could become trade candidates. Nick Castellanos remains entrenched in right field with two years and $40 million left on his contract. Soto had a phenomenal first year in the Bronx with a career-high 41 home runs, 109 RBI and a league-high 128 runs scored and would certainly make Philly even more of a force to be reckoned with if they could manage to sign him.

New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes (elbow) has continued a throwing program as he hopes to rejoin the club if they advance to the American League Championship Series, and manager Aaron Boone said that Cortes upped the intensity of his throwing session on Thursday. It remains to be seen what type of role the 29-year-old southpaw would have if the Yankees advance and he joins the ALCS roster, but the most likely scenario is that he's used out of the bullpen. He's recovering from flexor strain in his left elbow that has kept him out since Sept. 18. Cortes gave up five earned runs in four innings in a start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sept. 1, but he had a 0.59 ERA with 18 strikeouts and seven walks in his final three appearances (two starts) before getting hurt in September. Thirty of Cortes' 31 outings in 2024 came in a starting role, and he posted a 3.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 162 strikeouts in his 174 1/3 innings.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) departed Game 4 of the American League Division Series early at Comerica Park on Thursday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians due to a left-hamstring issue. Carpenter injured himself running the bases in the sixth inning and was replaced by pinch-hitter Jace Jung in his next at-bat. Before leaving, Carpenter went 1-for-3 with a single, a run scored and two strikeouts in the 5-4 loss. It's unclear how serious the 27-year-old's injury is, but the good news is the team will have a day off on Friday before the deciding Game 5 of the ALDS back in Cleveland at Progressive Field on Saturday. The Tigers can ill-afford to lose one of their better hitters for any amount of time, especially if they advance to the Championship Series. Coming into Thursday's game, Carpenter had gone 3-for-13 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored in five postseason games.UPDATE: Manager A.J. Hinch said Carpenter will have tests done on his left hamstring.