Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (hand) will not require surgery on his fractured right hand, according to MLB.com's Kennedi Landry. It is good news for Jung after he fractured his hand in the final week of the season in late September, when he was hit by a pitch. The 28-year-old continued to be injury-prone in 2026 in his fifth year in the majors, playing in only 104 games. But when Jung was available to the Rangers, he was extremely consistent, hitting .299 (119-for-398) with 12 home runs, 42 RBI, 54 runs scored, and one stolen base across 444 plate appearances. Jung was a first-time All-Star in 2023 in his first full year in the major leagues, but he has been a disappointment since, often finding himself on the injured list and never playing more than 131 games in a season (he played just 46 in 2024). His inability to stay healthy and his lack of power in the last few seasons have definitely lowered his fantasy baseball appeal, but he showed in 2026 that he can still hit for average.

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (elbow) had a minor procedure to remove a bone spur in his right elbow on Tuesday, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Seager battled through a right-elbow issue for months, and now we have some more specifics. The 32-year-old veteran has dealt with plenty of injuries over the last two seasons and has become a big injury risk as he heads into his age-33 campaign in 2027. The mounting injuries took a toll on Seager as a hitter this year, as he finished his 12th year in the big leagues with a .227/.312/.424 slash line in 102 games played and 436 plate appearances. It was the second straight season with exactly 102 regular-season games played for the Rangers due to injuries. Seager still managed to reach the 20-home run mark, though, for the fifth straight year, and he drove in 51 runs. With better health next year, Seager could bounce back and be more consistent at the plate, but the injury risk is very real. Unless he suffers a setback with his elbow in the offseason, Seager should have plenty of time to get ready for the start of the 2027 regular season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will start left-hander Tarik Skubal in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday in Milwaukee against the Brewers, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to toe the rubber for the Blue in Game 2 in Milwaukee. Skubal will likely be opposed by flamethrowing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski. He was as advertised in his first playoff start for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, allowing only one earned run on two hits (one home run) while walking two and striking out seven in six innings to pick up the win. Skubal has been lights-out in seven career postseason starts, posting a 1.97 ERA (2.18 FIP) with 10 earned runs allowed, eight walks, and 63 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings pitched. The 29-year-old southpaw and two-time Cy Young winner faced the Brew Crew twice in 2026 during the regular season, allowing six runs (five earned) on 14 hits while walking two and striking out 12 in 12 innings pitched. Skubal will have his work cut out for him.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams will start for the team in Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Saturday night at home against the division-rival Chicago White Sox, according to Zack Meisel of MLB.com. Williams made the start in Game 2 of the ALDS against Chicago and picked up a no-decision, allowing two earned runs on four hits while walking three and fanning 11 in five innings of work. The Guardians brought him in to finish out a 9-5 victory in Game 4 of the best-of-five series on Thursday, and he did not allow a run in his inning of work with no walks and a strikeout. The 27-year-old former first-rounder in 2021 from East Carolina led the AL with 248 strikeouts in the regular season in 2026, and he also went 14-8 with a 3.76 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 248:61 K:BB in 184 1/3 frames over 32 starts. Williams has plenty of experience against the Pale Hose this year, making four starts against them during the regular season and posting a 3.98 ERA with 17 hits allowed (two home runs), eight walks, and 28 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings pitched. Cleveland is hoping Williams can continue to miss bats at a high rate and carry them to the AL Championship Series to face the Tampa Bay Rays.