Fantasy baseball news: AL West race heating up; Buehler to debut for Phillies

Everything that happens in and around MLB has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy baseball perspective. From lineup changes to minor league call-ups to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy baseball.

Our fantasy baseball buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around MLB.

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September 12: What you need to know for Friday

Todd Zola: Wrigley Field hosts today's first game with the Chicago Cubs opening a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays. The remaining 14 contests are all evening affairs. As has been the case all week, Mother Nature is expected to cooperate from coast to coast.

• The Houston Astros' pitching plans are unclear for this evening's opener of a three-game road set with the Atlanta Braves. While it's Hunter Brown's turn, he is currently scheduled to handle Saturday's contest. The Astros head into the weekend tied with the Mariners for the top spot in the AL West, with both clubs sitting two games ahead of the Texas Rangers. The Astros and Mariners are also tied for the final AL wild card. Holding back Brown sets him up to open next weekend's home series with the Mariners.

• Yesterday, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone reported that Anthony Volpe has been playing with a partial tear in his left shoulder, initially suffered on May 3. The shortstop received a cortisone shot at the All-Star break and again last Wednesday as he's aggravated the issue a few times. While there is no telling to what extent, the injury surely contributed to Volpe's woes both at the plate and in the field this season. He has missed the team's last two games and will likely be unavailable again tonight when the club opens a crucial series in Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. Jose Caballero will probably draw the start.

• Recurring vertigo symptoms kept Jo Adell out of the Los Angeles Angels lineup last night. He played on Wednesday after having missed the prior two contests. Adell's availability for tonight's road date with the Seattle Mariners is unclear.

• Walker Buehler is slated to make his Philadelphia Phillies debut tonight at home against the Kansas City Royals. The Phillies plan on using a six-man rotation down the stretch as they aim to maintain the No. 2 seed, if not catch the Milwaukee Brewers for the No. 1 seed in the NL postseason. Buehler started for Triple-A Lehigh Valley last Saturday, hurling three innings with five punchouts, allowing one earned run, five hits and three walks.