The Baltimore Orioles announced on Tuesday that rookie outfielder Colton Cowser (hand) had successful surgery on his fractured hand, and he's expected to be ready to go for spring training next February. Cowser fractured his left hand in the team's Game 2 loss of the American League Wild-Card Series to get eliminated from the postseason by the Kansas City Royals. It was a tough way to end what was really a great season for the 24-year-old in his first full season in the big leagues in 2024. The good news is that Cowser will have plenty of time to heal up in order to be ready for the start of spring training and the 2025 regular season. In his 153 games played for Baltimore during the regular season, Cowser slashed .242/.321/.447 with a .768 OPS, 24 home runs, 69 RBI and nine stolen bases. He'll be a regular starter in the outfield for the O's to begin the 2025 campaign.

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Guardians. The veteran didn't play in the ALDS after suffering fractured fingers at the end of the regular season but has shown no ill effects in his two games in the ALCS since returning. The veteran went 1-for-3 with a walk in Game 1 on Monday as well. If he's in the lineup Thursday for Game 3 in Cleveland, the 3x All-Star will likely see LHP Matthew Boyd who he's 1-for-3 off of lifetime.

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez went 1-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base, and a solo home run in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Yankees. The homer was his first hit of the ALCS, going 1-for-8 so far and just 4-for-24 (.167) this postseason. The 6x All-Star had a phenomenal regular season, finishing one home run shy of a 40/40 campaign, and if the Guardians are hoping to get back into this series then Ramirez will need to pick up the pace at the plate, starting Thursday in Game 3 back home. The switch-hitter will face Clarke Schmidt to start the game, who Ramirez is 4-for-9 off of in his career, including a double and just one strikeout.

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Yankees in Game 2 of the ALCS. Kwan has now hit safely in each of the seven postseason games that the Guardians have played, slashing .448/.500/.483 over that time. Unfortunately, so far in the ALCS, it has yet to translate into wins with Cleveland now facing a 2-0 deficit as they head back home for Game 3 on Thursday. Clarke Schmidt is slated to start for the Yankees and Kwan is 4-for-8 off of the righty in his career, so look for the 27-year-old to get the home crowd into it early as they try to claw their way back in the series.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole lasted just 4 1/3 innings on Tuesday, but the bullpen was able to stymie the Guardians the rest of the way in Game 2, leading to a 6-3 win to go up 2-0 in the series. Cole unraveled in the fifth inning when he allowed two walks, two singles, and a sacrifice fly before being lifted, having thrown 89 pitches in the outing. In all, the 34-year-old allowed two earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out four batters. If the Guardians are able to extend the series to six games, Cole would get another shot at them to bounce back. Otherwise, his next turn would come in the World Series.

New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres collected three hits in five at-bats in a 6-3 win over the Guardians in Game 2 of the ALCS. Torres doubled, scored twice in the contest, and has now hit safely in three straight games. Through six playoff games in 2024, the 27-year-old is slashing .292/.433/.500 with three RBI and seven runs scored, while displaying improved plate discipline with a 6:4 BB:K. The 2x All-Star and the Yankees will see Matthew Boyd on the hill for the Guardians in Game 3 in Cleveland, and although Torres is just 1-for-9 off the southpaw, he's seen more success versus LHP this season (.811 OPS) compared to RHP (.674 OPS).

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and a two-run home run, tallying three RBI in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Guardians in Game 2 of the ALCS. It was Judge's first home run of the 2024 postseason after belting 58 during the regular season. The Yankees have been able to go 5-1 through six playoff games despite the 32-year-old going 3-for-18 (.167) thus far. The 6x All-Star has managed to collect six walks as well though, which has led to a solid .346 OBP. We'll see if Tuesday's long ball gets his bat going again, with his next opportunity to come in Game 3 in Cleveland on Thursday, likely facing LHP Matthew Boyd who Judge is 2-for-6 with a home run, five walks, and zero strikeouts against in his career.

The Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with catcher David Banuelos on a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training next year, according to a source. Banuelos spent most of the 2024 season on the team's taxi squad. The 28-year-old backstop did make his major-league debut in 2024 but had just one at-bat. Down on the farm in 22 games with Triple-A Norfolk, he hit .225/.361/.352 with a .713 OPS, two home runs, 11 RBI and 11 runs scored in 86 trips to the plate. The former fifth-round pick by the Seattle Mariners in 2017 out of Cal State Long Beach will most likely return to Norfolk in 2025 after re-signing with the organization and will continue to serve as catching depth down on the farm.

Kansas City Royals relief pitchers Hunter Harvey (back), James McArthur (elbow) and Chris Stratton (forearm) are all expected to be healthy entering spring training next February after ending 2024 on the injured list. Stratton holds a $4.5 million player option for next season. Harvey began the year with the Nationals and had a rough 6.35 ERA and 2.12 WHIP with one save in only 5 2/3 innings for the Royals before being shut down in late September. McArthur began the year as KC's primary closer but eventually lost the job and was diagnosed with a Grade 1 UCL sprain in his right elbow in mid-September. He had a career-high 18 saves but also an ERA just under 5.00. Stratton, who has a right flexor strain, also underwhelmed in 2024 with a 5.55 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and four saves in 58 1/3 innings in his first year with the Royals.

Kansas City Royals infielder/outfielder Adam Frazier (thumb), who has an $8.5 million mutual option for the 2025 season (with a $2.5 million buyout), is having surgery on his right thumb this week, according to general manager J.J. Picollo. Frazier strained his thumb in June and received an injection to speed up the recovery process, but he didn't miss any time the rest of the year. Barring a setback over the winter, the 32-year-old veteran should be ready to go for the start of spring training next February. The nine-year MLB veteran will be a utility player for the Royals again in 2025 if he decides to exercise his option and return for a second season in KC. Fantasy-wise, Frazier isn't relevant in mixed leagues at this point in his career after slashing a weak .202/.282/.294 with a career-low .576 OPS in 104 games in 2024. He added only four home runs, 22 RBI and 35 runs scored.

The Cleveland Guardians removed right-hander Alex Cobb (back) from the American League Championship Series roster on Tuesday due to an acute left lower-back strain and replaced him on the roster with right-hander Ben Lively. Cobb made the start for Cleveland in the 5-2 loss on Monday in Game 1 of the ALCS in the Bronx and he gave up three runs on five hits while walking three in just 2 2/3 innings. If the Guardians advance to the World Series, the 37-year-old veteran won't be eligible to rejoin the roster. Cobb had a 2.76 ERA and 1.04 WHIP during the regular season, but he made only three total starts due to multiple injuries and will now be shut down until 2025. Lively went 13-10 with a 3.81 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, a career-high 118 K's and 49 walks over his 29 starts. He could make a start for the Guardians later in this series against the New York Yankees.

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo is making a second straight start at first base and will hit eighth for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium against the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Tanner Bibee. Rizzo fractured a couple fingers on his right hand when he was hit by a pitch on the second-to-last regular season game and wasn't included on the roster for the AL Division Series against the Kansas City Royals. The 35-year-old returned for the Game 1 win over the Guardians on Monday, though, and went 1-for-3 with a walk in the 5-2 victory. The Yankees pulled Rizzo early on Monday as a precaution. The fact that he's back in the lineup for Game 2 means he didn't suffer a setback with his fingers. In two career at-bats against Bibee, Rizzo has a single. Rizzo's DFS fantasy appeal will be lowered as long as he continues to hit near the bottom of the lineup.

New York Yankees closer Luke Weaver earned his fourth save of the 2024 postseason after a five-out appearance in Monday's 5-2 victory over the Guardians. The 31-year-old came on with one out in the eighth inning after three straight singles from Cleveland hitters, getting the next two batters out to end the rally. He then walked the first batter in the ninth, but struck out the next three, recording four strikeouts total and earning the save. Weaver has been excellent in the postseason, having yet to allow a run while posting a 0.50 WHIP and a 1:9 BB:K over six innings pitched. When you have designs on making a World Series run, this is just the type of dominance you need out of your closer. The Yankees lead the ALCS series 1-0 with the next game to be played Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton hit a 439-foot solo home run in Monday's series-opening 5-2 win over the Guardians, his second of this postseason. The 34-year-old finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored. After going 0-for-4 in Game 1 versus the Royals in the ALDS, the 5x All-Star has collected at least one hit in each of the last four games, going 7-for-19 (.368) overall in the postseason including two doubles, two home runs, five RBI, three runs scored, a stolen base, and a 3:2 BB:K. The veteran will look to keep rolling in Tuesday's matchup versus Tanner Bibee, who Stanton has yet to face in his career to this point.

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto got the scoring started on Monday versus the Guardians, putting the team up 1-0 with his first home run of the postseason on the way to a 5-2 series-opening win. The 25-year-old went 2-for-3 in the contest with a walk, an RBI, and one run scored. Through five playoff games, the superstar is 6-for-17 (.353) with three RBI, two runs scored, and a 4:5 BB:K. Soto has been a constant offensive force in pinstripes this season and he'll look to keep rolling on Tuesday when the 4x All-Star squares off with Cleveland's Tanner Bibee, a righty who he is 1-for-2 off of with a walk in his career.

New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon was on his game in the team's Game 1 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night at Yankee Stadium in the American League Championship Series by a score of 5-2. Rodon was on point, going six innings while allowing only one earned run on a solo home run by Brayan Rocchio and striking out nine. He didn't walk a single batter. The 31-year-old southpaw was missing bats with regularity in the Bronx and picked up his first career postseason victory with the outstanding effort. Rodon was much sharper than in his start in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Kansas City Royals, when he allowed four runs on seven hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings in a loss. Don't look now, but Rodon now has zero walks and 16 strikeouts in his two playoff appearances this fall. Rodon pitched one of his best games in pinstripes at a very opportune time.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (hip) is expected to be part of workouts in spring training in February after having surgery on his hip, according to president of baseball operations Scott Harris. Despite Baez's massive decline since joining the Tigers, the team still sees a role for him, particularly if his surgery helps him move more like he did when he was younger. The 31-year-old's 2024 season ended early in early September when he had surgery on his right hip. Perhaps his hip injury was part of the reason why he was atrocious again this year with a .184/.221/.294 slash line, six home runs, 37 RBI and eight stolen bases in just 80 games played. Since joining the Tigers in 2022, Baez has hit .221/.263/.347 with a .610 OPS, 32 homers, 163 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 360 games. He still has three years and $73 million left on his deal, but regular playing time won't be guaranteed to Baez in 2025.

New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes (elbow) was left off the roster for the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians, but manager Aaron Boone said on Monday that he's "really excited" about where Cortes is at in his rehab from a flexor strain in his left elbow. Cortes could throw to live hitters by the weekend and could be in play to return to the roster if the club advances past the Guardians and to the World Series. The fact that the 29-year-old southpaw has been sidelined by the injury since late September means that he will likely only be available in a relief role out of the bullpen if the Yankees advance to the World Series. The Cuban hurler allowed five earned runs in four innings in his first start of September but then settled down to allow only one run while walking seven and fanning 18 in his final three outings (two starts) over 15 1/3 innings before being shut down with his flexor strain.

New York Yankees right-hander Marcus Stroman has been included on their roster for the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians, which begins on Monday at Yankee Stadium for Game 1. Stroman rejoins the team's playoff roster after being left off the roster for the AL Division Series against the Kansas City Royals. The 33-year-old veteran will presumably serve in a long-relief role against Cleveland, with right-hander Luis Gil rejoining the starting rotation. In his first year in the Bronx in 2024, Stroman went 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA (4.62 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 113 strikeouts and 60 walks in 154 2/3 innings over 30 appearances (29 starts). In his last four outings (three starts) in the regular season, he struggled by allowing 15 earned runs with 11 K's and three walks in 15 1/3 innings. Stroman didn't face Cleveland during the regular season.

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (fingers) was included on the team's roster for the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians and will start at first base and bat eighth in Game 1 on Monday at Yankee Stadium against Guardians right-hander Alex Cobb. Rizzo fractured two fingers on his right hand during a hit-by-pitch at the tail end of the regular season and was unavailable to play in the AL Division Series versus the Kansas City Royals. The 35-year-old veteran is back now, though, although he'll hit lower in the Yankees' lineup, making him much harder to trust for DFS purposes. He also missed extended time during the regular season due to a fractured forearm and hit just .228 (77-for-337) with eight homers and 35 RBI in his 92 games played. In just four career at-bats against Cobb, Rizzo has a single, a walk and a strikeout.