Soroka is on track to rejoin the Chicago Cubs after shoulder strain, flashing a 96.6 mph fastball in a Triple-A Iowa rehab appearance. Initial return could lean bullpen-ward as Chicago manages workload, with a longer runway if needed. Palencia is sidelined by a right shoulder strain, while Kyle Tucker battles calf issues. Suzuki is ill and Ballesteros replaced him as DH. Soroka arrived in a deadline deal with Washington, as the Cubs prep for a Tampa Bay series and gauge bullpen depth.

Friday’s MLB DFS slate centers on value and upside across 12 games, led by Dylan Cease’s favorable Coors-to-Padres arc and Luis Gil rounding into form for New York. Martin Perez is a salary-conscious pivot in Cleveland, while Nick Kurtz stands out as the weekend’s elite power rookie target. Randy Arozarena profiles as a main-event upside play against Yusei Kikuchi, and Ramon Laureano’s split-heavy profile adds flexible outfield/OF3 options. Reds’ mini-stack (De La Cruz, Friedl, Lux) and Brewers’ trio (Chourio, Turang, Frelick) offer salary relief with upside against weaker matchups. Royce Lewis is heating up at home, Brandon Pfaadt’s road ERA remains a caveat, and Brandon Pfaadt’s road woes make him a risky one-off. The article also spots J.T. Ginn’s tough home assignment for Reds at Athletics, and Pallante’s hard contact allowed to lefties fuels Chourio’s bloom into 20/20 season territory.

Week 24 of 2025 delivers a tight waiver-wire sprint for fantasy MLB managers. Sal Frelick anchors runs with steady multi-category production (10 HR, 19 SB, .294) and strong counting stats, while Daylen Lile and Brandon Marsh offer risers with speed and timely power. Colson Montgomery and Jake Burger headline the HR column, with Austin Hays providing late-season pop. Otto Lopez, Andrew Benintendi, and Luis Torrens are top RBI tools, and Luis Garcia Jr., Caleb Durbin, and Victor Robles supply stolen-base upside. For AVG, Romy Gonzalez, Drew Gilbert, and Chase Meidroth provide varied contact and versatility. Rosters capped at 50%, so these targets can reshape your push for a title in a hurry.

Across the five categories, the piece highlights rostering practicality: Frelick’s blend of speed and runs, Montgomery’s power with a light average, and Burger’s remaining 30-homer ceiling when healthy. Hays stands out as a veteran with seasonal power, while Lopez and Torrens bring hot-streak RBI potential. The trio of AVG pickups—Gonzalez, Gilbert, and Meidroth—adds batting-average depth with September surges. Use these boosters to craft a week-by-week plan and chase a late-season edge.