Minnesota Twins third baseman Jose Miranda (back) was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to lower back tightness, according to Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com. He was replaced by Austin Martin. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the Minnesota starting nine in their final series against the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend, as Miranda may remain sidelined. After posting a disappointing .211 AVG last season, the 26-year-old enjoyed an excellent bounce-back campaign this summer as he sits with a solid .284/.322/.441 slash line. Miranda was one of the best hitters in the sport during June and July, as he boasted a stellar .367/.415/.578 line. If Miranda remains out, fantasy managers should expect Brooks Lee to see an increase in opportunities at the hot corner.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with right shoulder inflammation. Graterol will only be eligible to return if the Dodgers make it deep into the postseason. The 26-year-old missed most of the season due to a previous shoulder injury and made his 2024 debut on August 6. However, shortly after, he hit the IL again due to a hamstring injury. Since returning from that injury on September 10, he tossed seven clean frames with a near-perfect 0.43 WHIP. Through this small stint, Graterol typically pitched in high-leverage situations in the seventh and ninth innings. This is a tough blow to the Dodger bullpen as they approach the preseason with a starting rotation filled with injuries. Fantasy managers should expect Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, Michael Kopech, and Daniel Hudson to serve as the late-inning options for the Dodgers during October.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ryne Nelson (shoulder) was activated off the 15-day IL, according to Alex Weiner of KTAR News. Nelson was placed on the IL on September 14 and will return to action quite quickly. However, seeing that Nelson only logged bullpen sessions while he was sidelined suggests he may be deployed in a long relief role down the stretch. Through 147 2/3 innings this summer, the 26-year-old posted a 4.33 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with a 34:125 BB:K ratio. Under the hood, the Oregon State product held a below-average 41.2% hard-hit rate but showed excellent command with a 5.5% BB rate. Fantasy managers should not consider putting Nelson in their lineup over the final series, as he will likely serve as a long relief option.

New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea is listed as Friday's starter as the Mets open a three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers. The southpaw was initially scheduled to start on Thursday against the Atlanta Braves, but that game was postponed due to inclement weather. The 32-year-old has posted a 3.29 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP across 178 innings in Queens this summer. Since the start of the month, the southpaw has held a stellar 2.36 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, and a 9:34 BB:K ratio. Fantasy managers should view Manaea as a solid option in DFS formats, as the Brewers hold an underwhelming .708 OPS against left-handed pitchers this summer.

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (shoulder) will not play on Friday but could return Saturday or Sunday, according to Jeff Fletcher of the SoCal News Group. The 23-year-old was lifted from Thursday's game due to right shoulder irritation. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the Los Angeles starting nine over the weekend, as Neto could rejoin the starting nine over the weekend. The former first-round pick has enjoyed a strong sophomore campaign as he has hit 23 home runs, swiped 30 bags, and held a .249/.318/.443 slash line. Fantasy managers should expect 31-year-old Jack Lopez to potentially start at shortstop while Neto remains sidelined as he shifted to cover shortstop on Thursday afternoon.