Anthony Rizzo retires as a Cub after 14 MLB seasons, closing a decade in Chicago with a Wrigley tribute, a ceremonial first pitch to Ian Happ and a celebratory bleacher cameo.

Happ praises his leadership; Rizzo jokes about Happ’s “dumper,” and Moisés Ballesteros’ first homer lands near his row. Rizzo’s Hodgkin lymphoma battle and the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation’s $20M+ in pediatric cancer aid cap a career that featured 242 homers, 784 RBIs, three All-Stars and four Gold Gloves, plus stops with the Padres and Yankees.

Anthony Rizzo retires at 36, returning to Wrigley Field as Cubs ambassador after a decade of powering a title-era lineup and belting 242 homers in Chicago. His farewell, highlighted by a family-filled tribute and Ian Happ’s walk-up moment, caps a career defined by leadership, resilience, and community work with the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. The ceremony signals a transition for the Cubs, blending a storied player legacy with a youthful pipeline.

Beyond the retirement, the article ties his impact to the team’s identity, noting Counsell’s praise of Rizzo and Baez as the heart of those Cubs squads. Moises Ballesteros and other Cubs youngsters stand to gain infield and lineup opportunities as leadership shifts, with fantasy owners watching for subtle shifts in playing time and production.

Guardians surge into the weekend series vs. the White Sox led by Jose Ramirez, who sits on 28 home runs and 77 RBIs. His +475 to homer on Saturday reflects a favorable righty matchup after Ramirez padded his power against Kansas City earlier this week. SportsLine’s Inside the Lines model backs Ramirez along with Brandon Lowe and Wyatt Langford as top Saturday HR bets, highlighting a +14239 parlay at BetMGM and generous promos from major sportsbooks for new bettors.

The model’s track record on MLB HR props is strong, with 10,000-simulation projections underpinning picks that lean into hitters with favorable splits (Lowe vs. RH, Langford against RHP) and pitchers with exploitable histories. Expect Ramirez to be a core asset in DFS and player-prop lineups as Cleveland seeks to extend its hot run.

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.