Fantasy baseball news: Brewers could clinch; Dodgers may miss Will Smith

Everything that happens in and around MLB has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy baseball perspective. From lineup changes to minor league call-ups to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy baseball.

Our fantasy baseball buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around MLB.

Key links: RP depth chart | Player Rater | Scoring leaders
Sunday’s lineup advice | 10-day hitting forecaster

September 21: What you need to know for Sunday

Todd Zola: Today’s games get going at 1:35 p.m. ET, with 13 total matinees on the schedule. There are two evening affairs, with the Houston Astros hosting the Seattle Mariners at 7:00 p.m. ET (in the Sunday night ESPN showcase), as well as a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox at 7:35 p.m. ET.

• William Contreras is questionable for the rubber game of the weekend set between the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The catcher was hit in the hand by a swing last night. He stayed in for an inning before exiting in the eighth. Post-game X-rays came back clean and Contreras wants to play, but the club may play it safe and give him the afternoon off. With a win (or a Chicago Cubs loss), the Brewers will clinch the NL Central. They’re currently three games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for the best record in the Senior Circuit.

• Jac Caglianone left yesterday’s game after being hit by a pitch on his right elbow. For the season, the rookie is batting just .163/.237/.301, but he is riding a modest five-game hitting streak over which his line is .286/.348/.619. The 22-year-old is questionable today when the Kansas City Royals go for the three-game sweep over the Toronto Blue Jays at Kauffman Stadium.

• The Red Sox expect Wilyer Abreu to return to the lineup for tonight’s series finale with the Rays. Abreu has been out for over a month due to a calf strain. Abreu’s power has been noticeably absent from the Red Sox lineup. His 22 home runs are still second most on the team, despite his having played only 108 games.

• The Los Angeles Dodgers hoped that Will Smith could play through a bruised hand down the stretch, but he was diagnosed with a hairline fracture yesterday and is likely going to miss the rest of the regular season. His availability for the playoffs is also in jeopardy. Ben Rortvedt will continue to do most of the squatting behind the plate, backed up by rookie Dalton Rushing.

• Wyatt Langford missed his second consecutive tilt yesterday as he’s been nursing left side tightness. The Texas Rangers will try to salvage the final game of a set with the Miami Marlins. Six straight losses have dropped the Rangers seven games behind the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.