MLB News

Detroit Tigers catcher/first base prospect Josue Briceno has yet to find his footing since being promoted to Triple-A Toledo, now 7-for-41 (.171) with zero home runs and a 31.3 percent strikeout rate through his first 12 games for the Mud Hens. The Tigers' fifth-ranked prospect had a delayed start to the 2026 campaign due to wrist surgery he underwent before the season got underway, but hit .297 with eight home runs in 17 games for Double-A Erie before earning the promotion to the minors' highest level. The 2024 Arizona Fall League MVP looks like a long shot to crack the majors in 2026, but with a patient approach (career walk rate of 12.8 percent), along with highly rated hit (50) and power tools (60), there is a good chance he'll have an impact in 2027.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III has put his best foot forward in 2026, batting .302 with 27 home runs (third-most at Triple-A), 94 RBI (second-most), and 94 runs scored (second-most). His 16.8 percent walk rate has buoyed a phenomenal .423 on-base percentage, and his OPS of .982 is second-highest among qualified hitters, yet the Dodgers' seventh-ranked prospect hasn't been able to break through to the major league level thus far. When Andy Pages (hand) was recently placed on the injured list, it was Alek Thomas who was recalled from Oklahoma City, not Tibbs, as Thomas was already on the 40-man roster, as is fellow OKC Comet Ryan Ward, who has been recalled to L.A. twice already this season, so it is a crowded talent pool. Even so, Tibbs may still get his opportunity when rosters expand in September, and were he to find himself getting regular playing time, the 23-year-old would become very fantasy relevant in that offense, but for now he's just a speculative stash in deeper 14+ team leagues.

Detroit Tigers infield prospect Max Anderson is heating up again following a short slump at Triple-A Toledo, now 9-for-23 (.391) over his last six games with a pair of doubles and a 3:3 BB:K. The performance has pushed his season-long slash line to .305/.388/.494 with 13 home runs through 87 games for the Mud Hens. The Tigers' 11th-ranked prospect showed well in limited time at Triple-A last season (.267/.327/.422) and was coming off a fantastic showing in the 2025 Arizona Fall League (.447/.609/.809), so this year's success isn't exactly a surprise. A low 11.6 percent strikeout rate (93rd percentile) shows he can put the bat on the ball extremely well, and there's enough power to make him interesting for fantasy; the problem is that he isn't on the 40-man roster and there is currently no place to put him on the major league infield. The former second-rounder deserves a shot in the big leagues -- and may get his opportunity in September -- but without a clear path to regular at-bats, there is little reason to stash the 24-year-old in redraft leagues.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Indianapolis with an undisclosed injury on August 20, so he could return to action this weekend if his stay on the IL is a short one. Even so, it doesn't give the Pirates' 13th-ranked prospect much time to get rolling again in order to get another shot in the majors this season. The right-handed hitter has held his own at Triple-A this season, slashing .270/.337/.419 with seven home runs in 61 games for the Indians, but has done little with his opportunities in the big leagues this year, batting .167 (8-for-48) with zero home runs and a 32.0 percent strikeout rate (2.0 percent walk rate) in 50 plate appearances for the Bucs. Whether he spends the minimum amount of time on the injured list or not, the 23-year-old doesn't offer much intrigue for fantasy at this point and should not be considered a stash option for the fantasy stretch run.

Across 513 plate appearances this season entering play on Tuesday, Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm was hitting .246/.302/.387 with 14 home runs, 76 RBI, 49 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 30-year-old got off to a rough start to the season, hitting .151 with one home run across 119 plate appearances through the end of April. However, Bohm has rebounded and largely produced at his established levels since the start of May. Bohm has been particularly hot in August, hitting .359 with 17 RBI across 85 trips to the plate this month. With just a 13.6% strikeout rate, Bohm's ability to put the ball in play keeps his batting average floor high and helps him rack up run production while playing an everyday role in the heart of the Phillies lineup. As long as he stays healthy the rest of the way, Bohm has a chance to top 90 RBI for the third time in the last four seasons. Especially amidst his current hot streak, Bohm is a worthy waiver wire target in leagues where he is not already rostered.

Across 281 plate appearances in 2026, Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday is hitting .236/.325/.360 with six home runs, 27 RBI, 36 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. The 22-year-old got off to a rough start to the year, as he suffered a fractured hamate bone that delayed his season debut until May 19. Holliday's underlying batted-ball metrics are uninspiring. He's logged just a 6.7% barrel rate and a 34.8% hard-hit rate on the year, both of which currently represent career lows. However, Holliday has boosted his walk rate to a career-best 12.4%, which gives him a stable floor at the plate and has allowed him to move into the leadoff spot in the Baltimore lineup in recent games. Holliday is unlikely to be a standout performer in any one category for fantasy managers, but his balanced profile at the plate gives him deep-league value as a quality middle infield option.

San Francisco Giants left-hander Carson Whisenhunt (elbow) has suffered a torn UCL in his left elbow and has been recommended for surgery, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. It's not yet clear whether Whisenhunt will undergo Tommy John surgery or an internal brace procedure. Either way, he is now likely facing an extended absence and could miss the entire 2027 season as well as the remainder of 2026. Across 34 2/3 innings (eight starts) before getting hurt, Whisenhunt recorded a 3-4 record with a 6.49 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts. Despite his rough numbers in the big leagues this season, the 25-year-old is considered to be one of the top young arms in the Giants' system and could have been in line for a spot in the team's starting rotation in 2027. With Whisenhunt now sidelined, Giants' pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson could be a candidate to be recalled from Triple-A to rejoin the team's rotation.

The Seattle Mariners reinstated infielder J.P. Crawford (wrist) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, optioning infielder Leo Rivas to Triple-A Tacoma as the corresponding move. Crawford had been sidelined since late July due to left wrist inflammation. Across 364 plate appearances on the year, the 31-year-old is hitting .212/.330/.345 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, 38 runs scored, and one stolen base. Crawford's 6.4% barrel rate and 35.3% hard-hit rate are both subpar, but his stellar 13.7% walk rate provides him with a relatively stable floor at the plate. With Mariners infielders Brendan Donovan (concussion) and Colt Emerson (wrist) both on the injured list, Crawford should also be in line for everyday playing time on the left side of the infield. He's starting at third base and batting eighth on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Frelick has been sidelined since mid-July due to a shoulder injury. The 26-year-old was having a rough season before getting hurt, slashing .236/.301/.330 with four home runs, 34 RBI, 33 runs scored, and six stolen bases. Frelick does an excellent job of limiting swing-and-miss, as he's struck out in just 9.9% of his plate appearances this season. His low batting average is a symptom of his unlucky .250 batting average on balls in play, which is significantly below his career mark of .296. However, Frelick has also posted just a 2.0% barrel rate and a 27.1% hard-hit rate on the year. Now that he's healthy, the lefty-swinging Frelick will likely form the big side of a platoon with outfielder Luis Lara in right field for the Brewers.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck) made a rehab appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Smith caught five innings and went one-for-three at the plate with a home run and two RBI. The veteran backstop has been sidelined since early June due to a neck injury, but he appears to be on the verge of returning to the big leagues. Across 201 plate appearances before the injury, Smith slashed .248/.338/.382 with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored. He struck out in just 16.9% of his plate appearances while posting a stellar 13.4% barrel rate. Given how long Smith has been out, he will likely need multiple rehab games before being activated by the Dodgers. Still, once healthy, Smith profiles as a must-start fantasy catcher.

Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter (hamstring) will sit again in Tuesday's game against the hosting Los Angeles Angels due to a hamstring injury, according to MLB.com. Jo Adell will make the start in right field against his former team and will bat cleanup for Cleveland against Angels right-hander Walbert Urena. It will be the second straight game that DeLauter rests due to a tight left hamstring that has been bothering him of late (he missed three games last week as well). The Guardians do not think it is a situation that will require a stint on the injured list, though, so fantasy managers should consider the left-handed hitter to be day-to-day. Check back to see if he is ready to return to the diamond on Wednesday in Anaheim. The 24-year-old former first-rounder from James Madison University has found his way onto rosters in 70% of Yahoo leagues while hitting a cool .288/.363/.450 with an .813 OPS, 13 homers, 59 RBI, 52 runs, and nine stolen bases in his first 413 at-bats in the majors in 2026. DeLauter has hit over .300 with two homers in the second half, and he is also batting .349 (46-for-132) with two of his 13 homers against lefties.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did not rule out the possibility of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) pitching on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers, but it will be contingent on how the next several days go, according to Maddie Lee of The Los Angeles Times. Ohtani had a successful 30-pitch live bullpen session last Saturday, and if he gets through another throwing session this week, the four-time MVP could be cleared to make his first start on the mound since July 3 against the San Diego Padres. Ohtani as a pitcher has been a must-start this year when he toes the rubber, but given the long layoff and the fact that the Dodgers will continue to baby his workload, he will not be a great DFS play if he returns as a pitcher this weekend against Detroit. The 32-year-old Japanese sensation was in the National League Cy Young race in the first half of the season before his knee issue flared up, going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA (2.59 FIP) and 0.95 WHIP with 95 strikeouts and 26 walks in his 14 starts over 85 2/3 innings. Don't be surprised if it's a slow buildup for Ohtani pitch-count-wise over the final month of the regular season in September.

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (foot) is dealing with a swollen foot after fouling a ball off himself in Sunday's contest in Williamsport against the Atlanta Braves and is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the New York Mets, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. The good news is that Bauers said he is fine to play, so the Brewers are just giving him an extra day off against a lefty. Catcher Gary Sanchez is serving as the designated hitter on Tuesday and will bat fifth for the Brew Crew against Mets left-hander Zac Thornton. Fantasy managers should consider Bauers to be day-to-day and check back on his status for Wednesday's contest in Queens. The 30-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran has had a career year in 2026 in his third year in Milwaukee, slashing .273/.382/.503 with an .884 OPS, 23 home runs, 75 RBI, 76 runs scored, and nine stolen bases across 118 games played and 474 plate appearances. Bauers has hit .288 (19-for-66) with four homers in 19 games in August and .286 (30-for-105) with five of his 23 homers in 31 games since the All-Star break.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (finger), who is on a minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Worcester, said he "has no flight booked" to return to the big-league squad, but he feels close to ready and thinks he could return for Friday's series opener against the division-rival New York Yankees, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Anthony has been out since early May due to a partially torn tendon in his right ring finger, but he has gone 3-for-11 with a homer in four rehab games with Double-A Portland before moving to Worcester this week. The 22-year-old former top prospect will be an everyday starter for the BoSox when he returns to the major-league roster, but it is unclear if that will happen this weekend or sometime next week. If Anthony is floating around on your league's waiver wire, scoop him up immediately for his power/speed upside, even if it is only for the final month of the 2026 regular season. The former second-rounder in 2022 is rostered in 77% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.

New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez could be called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start Wednesday's game against the Houston Astros, manager Aaron Boone told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. The Yankees will get through Tuesday night's game before making an official announcement. It would be Rodriguez's fifth big-league start if he is called upon to take the mound on Wednesday against the Astros. The 23-year-old Puerto Rican hurler had a 4.76 ERA and 1.76 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and 11 walks in 17 innings pitched in his first four major-league starts for New York earlier this year before being sent back to the farm. Rodriguez, the team's No. 3 prospect at MLB Pipeline, has been better at Triple-A in 2026, going 8-3 with a 2.59 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 99:46 K:BB in 97 1/3 frames over 19 starts. He is primarily a fastball-slider pitcher who will need to improve his command to have success at the next level. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues should not sell out to acquire Rodriguez at this point in the year, especially since he might only be used for a start or two going into September.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) is expected to hit in the batting cages on Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Judge has been doing tee-and-toss, so Boone expects the slugger to move to overhand batting practice. It is the next progression for the 34-year-old veteran after he resumed a hitting progression last week. The three-time MVP and eight-time All-Star has been out since May 31 with a stress fracture in his rib, and he is still likely several weeks from making his return to the Yankees' starting lineup, so fantasy managers must continue to be patient. Before the injury in the first half of the season, Judge was hitting .248/.375/.533 with a .907 OPS, 17 home runs, 38 RBI, 43 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 59 games and 261 plate appearances. The Yankees would love to have both Judge and Giancarlo Stanton (calf) back for the stretch run in September, but it looks like it will only be Judge returning. It has been a frustrating year to have Judge rostered in fantasy, but he could still do plenty of damage at the plate in the final month of the season if he is fully recovered from his rib injury.

Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (elbow) is out of the starting lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Miami Marlins after taking an aggressive swing in the series opener on Monday and feeling something in his right elbow, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Interim manager Chad Tracy said the team is playing it safe with Rutschman on Tuesday and that there is "no concern." "Adley's got a little irritation. Took a really aggressive swing. He kind of hyperextended his elbow. Nothing to be alarmed about. Just felt like I don't want to make that worse. Nothing I'm concerned about more just a little soreness. Like I don't want to irritate that more. So I made the decision like, 'Let's keep him out.'" Connor Wong will do the catching for left-hander Payton Tolle and will bat ninth on Tuesday against Marlins right-hander Tyler Phillips. The 28-year-old Rutschman has had an injury-plagued and disappointing 2026 campaign, and he has gone just 6-for-41 (.146) at the plate with a homer, a double, four RBI, three runs, six walks, and 12 strikeouts in 12 games since the Red Sox acquired him from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline in early August. Overall, the three-time All-Star has slashed .236/.320/.406 with a .726 OPS, nine home runs, 51 RBI, and 33 runs scored in 79 total games and 331 plate appearances. Rutschman is day-to-day and could return as early as Wednesday.

New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried (elbow) threw four innings in a live bullpen session on Monday and could be in play to come off the 15-day injured list for Saturday's doubleheader against the division-rival Boston Red Sox, manager Aaron Boone told Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Fried has recovered quickly from a left elbow bone bruise that caused him to miss over two months earlier this season, and he appears ready to rejoin New York's starting rotation without going on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw has only made 15 starts (86 1/3 innings) for the Yanks in his second season in the Bronx, but he's been good when available, going 4-4 with a 2.81 ERA (2.56 FIP) and 0.99 WHIP with 79 strikeouts and 27 walks in his 10th MLB campaign. Fried will be much riskier for fantasy purposes if he returns this weekend without making a rehab start, although he did toss eight shutout innings with two walks and a season-high nine strikeouts against Boston earlier this year at Fenway Park on April 22.

Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (ankle) will sit out of Tuesday's tilt against the Toronto Blue Jays on the road due to soreness in his right ankle, per MLB.com. Caglianone will miss a second straight start with an ankle injury that has been bothering him for the last week. For now, fantasy managers should consider Cags to be day-to-day and check back on him to see if he is playing on Wednesday. If his injury lingers into the weekend, though, the Royals could consider placing him on the 10-day injured list. John Rave is making the start in right field on Tuesday and will hit eighth for the Royals at the Rogers Centre against Blue Jays veteran right-hander Max Scherzer. Caglianone, a former sixth overall pick in 2024 from the University of Florida, has quickly developed into a strong left-handed power bat for fantasy managers in his first full year in the big leagues in 2026. The 23-year-old came into Tuesday's action sporting a .276/.328/.491 slash line with an .819 OPS, 22 home runs, 60 RBI, 59 runs scored, and six steals in 434 at-bats. He is now rostered in 82% of Yahoo leagues.

The Colorado Rockies announced on Tuesday that they reinstated catcher Hunter Goodman (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list and optioned catcher Braxton Fulford to Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move. Goodman is behind the plate on Tuesday to catch right-hander Mason Adams and will bat in the three-hole against Washington Nationals left-hander Andrew Alvarez. The All-Star backstop returned quickly from the IL after suffering a strained left shoulder in the middle of August. Fantasy managers will want to get the power-hitting right-handed backstop in their fantasy lineups immediately now that he is back, even though he went 5-for-31 (.161) with a homer and 10 strikeouts in his last nine games before landing on the shelf. The 26-year-old leads all catchers with 34 home runs on the season and has driven in 69 runs, scored 69 runs, and stolen five bases in his 414 at-bats in 2026. The two-time All-Star burst onto the scene in 2025 with 31 homers and 91 RBI in his 144 games played in Colorado.