This weekend promises plenty of compelling drama featuring potential playoff previews and a number of contenders meeting head-to-head on MLB.TV.

Here’s a look at top prospects to watch in Friday’s Minor League action.

As September begins, there is still plenty of baseball left to be played this season, but it’s never too early to look ahead to the Hot Stove.

Ah, the playoff race. It accelerates the heart rate. It unsettles the stomach. When done right, it is equal parts stimulating and nauseating. Agony and awesomeness are the time-tested side effects of September baseball. No two teams took the same path to get here, and there’s no telling how some of these races shake out. But with this agonizing-yet-awesome month upon us, this is where things stand.

Now you see it, now you don’t.

Rarely does a rookie earn a selection over a 101-game winner and three-time All-Star to pitch critical games during the regular season’s final weeks. But that’s what the Giants have done, as manager Bruce Bochy announced Thursday that Albert Suarez, not Matt Cain, will start Friday against the Chicago Cubs.

Welcome to DraftKings fantasy baseball, the Official Daily Fantasy Game of Major League Baseball. The players listed within this article are in position to provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Friday.

On Thursday, the Cubs’ John Lackey threw his second bullpen session since going on the disabled list, and he is expected to start on Sunday in the series finale against the Giants. However, reliever Pedro Strop had a setback in his rehab from a torn meniscus in his left knee, and will need the full six weeks to rehab.

With the calendar flipping to September, each team has the opportunity to expand its roster. Here’s a look at the top prospects teams have called up since rosters expanded.

Though the high school players in the 2017 Draft look more promising than their college counterparts, there still were a number of talented players in the Cape this summer.

Like the wonderful song, September is different. And no matter how much players argue the point, baseball is played differently in September. Especially for contenders.

Ryan Howard is the only remaining member from the 2008 World Series championship team, and he certainly had some memorable moments and remarkable accomplishments along the way, including winning the ’06 National League Most Valuable Player and ’05 NL Rookie of the Year Awards.

The Indians made a number of moves during their off day on Thursday afternoon as a result of an expanded roster.

Following in the footsteps of Julio Teheran and Matt Wisler, Mike Foltynewicz provided the Braves with another solid outing vs. the Padres on Thursday afternoon at Turner Field, helping lead his team to a 9-6 win and its first sweep of San Diego since May 2008.

In a clubhouse filled with rookies and other youngsters, Wil Myers serves as something of a grizzled veteran by Padres standards.

The preliminary rosters for this year’s Fall League, released Wednesday, are loaded with future stars, including 21 players currently ranked on MLBPipeline.com’s Top 100 prospects list, and even more who could contend for such a ranking in 2017 in the wake of a strong fall campaign. But of all the talent selected to participate, here are 10 prospects to watch this fall.

August came to a merciful end for the Mariners on Wednesday as they limped home from a road trip that dented their psyche a bit, not to mention their playoff hopes. But as the calendar turns to September, Seattle is hoping to reignite a run for an American League Wild Card berth.