Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) is expected to be activated from the injured list on Wednesday, as had been the hope, manager Dave Roberts told Sonja Chen of MLB.com. Ohtani is getting ready to return from a stay on the IL that lasted for several weeks. The four-time MVP has not made a start as a pitcher since July 3 against the Padres, and he is not expected to be an option on the mound for the Dodgers at all the rest of the regular season or postseason. But Roberts expects Ohtani to be ready to return on Wednesday against San Diego as the team's primary designated hitter. They will want the 32-year-old Japanese superstar to get some live at-bats going into the final weekend of the regular season before the playoffs begin in October. Ohtani's two-way status has taken a toll on him physically in 2026, although he still has hit a strong .277/.380/.522 with 30 home runs, 80 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 89 runs scored in 130 games. While he probably will not win a fourth straight MVP award, Ohtani can definitely still help the Dodgers win an unprecedented third straight World Series title if he is past his knee and biceps injuries that have bothered him for around half the season.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker (knee, shin) is starting in right field and is hitting fifth for Tuesday's series opener against the division-rival San Diego Padres and right-hander Michael King, per MLB.com. Tucker was held out of the series finale on Sunday against the division-rival San Francisco Giants with a minor knee/shin injury, but he is ready for this week in a crucial series at Dodger Stadium. The 29-year-old lefty slugger has not had the first season in L.A. that he envisioned, and he enters Tuesday's action with a .234/.334/.393 slash line, a .727 OPS, 17 home runs, 70 RBI, 88 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 148 games and 602 plate appearances. The former first-rounder's production has picked up in September, though, which has been good timing for the Dodgers with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) on the injured list. Tucker has hit .283 (17-for-60) with a 1.059 OPS, six homers, and 13 RBI in 19 games in September. Against King in 12 career at-bats, he is hitting .083 with one RBI.

Miami Marlins middle infielder Xavier Edwards (thumb) remains out of action for Tuesday's series opener at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, according to MLB.com. Jared Serna will make the start at the keystone for the Fish on Tuesday and will bat ninth against Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga. Edwards is missing a second straight start after he injured his thumb on Saturday in San Diego against the Padres. The Marlins are eliminated from postseason contention, but the hope is that Edwards will be able to return during the final week of the 2026 regular season. In his fourth season in the big leagues with the Marlins, the 27-year-old has had another strong season, hitting .280/.360/.371 with a .730 OPS, a career-high six home runs, 52 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 61 runs scored in 142 games played and 595 plate appearances. Edwards is more of a contact-oriented slap hitter, but he now has three straight seasons with 20-plus stolen bases while being eligible in Yahoo leagues at both second base and shortstop.

Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli is done for the year and will not make another start in the final week of the 2026 season, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. Cavalli is healthy, but the Nationals will shut him down given all of his innings and where they are in the standings with no hope of a playoff berth. The 28-year-old former first-rounder in 2020 from the University of Oklahoma had a breakout 2026 campaign in his first full year in the big leagues in D.C., going 13-5 with a 3.02 ERA (3.25 FIP) and 1.15 WHIP with a career-high 200 strikeouts and 48 walks in 169 2/3 innings pitched across his 32 starts. Going into the year, Cavalli had only made 11 starts and had missed all of 2023 after having Tommy John surgery. Washington recently rewarded the rising young arm with a four-year, $47 million contract extension last week. Cavalli will be an intriguing starting-pitching target in all fantasy formats next year after raising his strikeout rate to a career-high 28.3% in 2026.