Atlanta Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (shin) is starting in right field and is batting second against the visiting Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Brady Singer on Thursday, per MLB.com. Acuna fouled a ball off his left shin in Tuesday's game against the Reds and did not start on Wednesday, but he is back for the series finale and should be returned to all starting fantasy lineups against Singer. In just five career at-bats against Singer, Acuna is hitting .600 with a solo home run. The 28-year-old former MVP and five-time All-Star had two separate stints on the injured list this year with hamstring injuries, which have limited his overall production for fantasy managers. Acuna has hit .259 (102-for-394) with 20 home runs, 55 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 60 runs scored. Braves fans can breathe a sigh of relief that they did not lose Acuna just before the start of the playoffs next week, and they will be hoping he can carry over his hot hitting in September. In 19 games during the month, he has gone 25-for-74 (.338) with seven homers and 19 RBI in 81 plate appearances.

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo (shoulder) threw a bullpen session that consisted of around 30 pitches on Thursday, as expected, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Luzardo said the session went well. The Phillies could look to have Luzardo throw a simulated game this weekend to face live hitters, and he remains very much in play to return to the starting rotation for the start of the postseason next week in the wild-card series. The Phillies must first get into the postseason, as they entered Thursday tied with the Chicago Cubs for the final wild-card spot in the National League, with the Arizona Diamondbacks on their tails at three games behind with four left to play. Luzardo will be eligible to come off the 15-day injured list for the regular-season finale on Sunday, but he almost certainly won't be an option to pitch in that game as the Phillies look to save him for the playoffs. Getting the 28-year-old southpaw back for next week is the team's top priority after he went 14-5 with a career-best 2.87 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 221:52 K:BB in 178 2/3 innings across 29 starts in his second year with the organization.

The Chicago White Sox announced on Thursday that they placed right-hander Luis Castillo (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list with a right-shoulder impingement and recalled right-hander Tyler Davis from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move. The White Sox had recently sent Castillo to the bullpen, but he did not fare any better there, posting a 13.50 ERA in three relief appearances after recording a 7.52 ERA in his final six starts of the year. The 33-year-old veteran Dominican will finish his 2026 regular season with a 4-11 record, 5.85 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 112 strikeouts, and 44 walks in 130 2/3 innings across 29 appearances (23 starts) with both the White Sox and Seattle Mariners. Castillo was much worse in his nine outings (six starts) with the White Sox, recording an 8.42 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, and 26:12 K:BB in 31 innings. He will be eligible to return for the American League Division Series in the playoffs, but we have most likely seen the last of Castillo with the White Sox this year.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman (face) did not return to the starting lineup for the team's series finale against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field on Thursday, but he has resumed hitting, according to The Athletic's Patrick Mooney. The All-Star third baseman continues to recover from a freak accident when he was hit by a foul ball while in the on-deck circle against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Bregman suffered multiple facial fractures, but manager Craig Counsell has not ruled him out from returning for the final regular-season series of the year this weekend at Fenway Park against his old team, the Boston Red Sox. "But he's feeling good in terms of the hitting part. That went well. He's happy with how that went, so we'll just do a little more, run around a little bit more today and see how that makes him feel. And we'll just keep progressing," Counsell said. To be cleared to play this weekend in Boston, Bregman needs to get the swelling down around his left eye. Bregman is hoping that his strong month of September (.295 average, .968 OPS in 18 games) can shift seamlessly into the start of the postseason next week, despite his freak face injury last weekend.