MLB News

Zach Eflin • SP • Orioles

Zach Eflin Could Start On Sunday

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin (shoulder) could come off the 15-day injured list to start on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Eflin was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday in what is one of the final hurdles for him. Hitter-friendly Coors Field isn't the ideal place to make your first start off the IL, but the way that the 30-year-old had been pitching before his shoulder injury will probably persuade fantasy managers to roll the dice. In his first four starts with the O's after being acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, he gave up only six earned runs on 24 hits while walking only two and striking out 25 in 25 1/3 innings for four wins. He wasn't nearly good in his 19 starts with Tampa, going 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 87 punchouts in 110 frames.

Aug 30

Grayson Rodriguez • SP • Orioles

Grayson Rodriguez Plans To Throw Off A Mound "Soon"

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat) threw from flat ground at Dodgers Stadium before the series finale on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and said he plans to throw off a mound "soon." Rodriguez is deferring to the team's medical staff on what a timeline might look like for his return. It's good progress for the 24-year-old, but with just a month left in the regular season, fantasy managers aren't going to get much usage out of Rodriguez the rest of the way, even if he doesn't encounter any setbacks. The fact that Rodriguez last started for the O's on July 31 means he needs a bit longer to get his arm built back up as well. At this point, Baltimore's primary concern is most likely having him ready for a postseason run. In his second year in the big leagues, G-Rod has a 13-4 record, 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 26.5% strikeout rate in 116 2/3 innings over 20 starts.

Aug 30

Tyler Glasnow • SP • Dodgers

Tyler Glasnow To Resume Playing Catch On Friday

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander Tyler Glasnow (elbow) will resume playing catch on Friday, and the team is "hopeful" that he can return before the end of the season. The Dodgers never considered Glasnow's right-elbow injury to be serious, but the 31-year-old hasn't bounced back the way they had hoped, putting his availability in question for the final month of the regular season in question. It's good news that Glasnow will resume throwing on Friday, but it doesn't mean that fantasy managers stashing him will get much use out of him to close things out in 2024. At this point, LA's primary objective is to have him stretched out and healthy for the postseason in October. In his first year in LA, Glasnow was a first-time All-Star with a dominant 32.4% strikeout rate while going 9-6 with a 3.49 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 22 starts (134 innings).

Aug 30

Alec Bohm • 3B • Phillies

Alec Bohm Leaves Game After Hand Injury; X-Rays Come Back Negative

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (hand) was pulled from Thursday's game early against the division-rival Atlanta Braves after injuring his left hand, but X-rays came back negative, according to the team. Bohm injured his hand on his only at-bat of the game and was replaced at third base by Edmundo Sosa. The Phillies could opt to send Bohm for more testing, but for now, it looks like he's avoided a serious injury and should be considered day-to-day heading into the second game of the series at Citizens Bank Park on Friday. Losing Bohm for an extended period of time would be really bad news for the Phils and fantasy managers. The former third overall pick in 2018 out of Wichita State was an All-Star for the first time in 2024, and although his 13 homers aren't all that impressive, he has a career-best .290 average, 89 RBI and leads the league with 44 doubles in 131 games.

Aug 30

Gerrit Cole • SP • Yankees

Gerrit Cole Expected To Opt Out Of The Final Four Years Of His Deal

There is a strong expectation that New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole will opt out of the final four years and $144 million of his nine-year, $324 million contract with the team as he tries to get into the free-agent mix this winter now that he's back from an early-season elbow injury and pitching well. However, if Cole chooses to opt out, the Yankees can nullify it by adding a 10th year at $36 million onto his original deal. The 33-year-old six-time All-Star and reigning American League Cy Young winner has only made 12 starts in 2024 due to a right-elbow injury that cropped up in spring training. After a small hiccup at the end of July, he has been the ace we've come to know him as in his last five starts, posting a 1.93 ERA with 10 walks and 31 strikeouts in 28 innings pitched.

Aug 29

Juan Soto • RF • Yankees

Juan Soto's Free Agency To Come Down To Yankees, Mets?

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto will be the biggest free agent on the market this winter, and ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that high-ranking front office and ownership-level sources think that it will come down to a bidding war between the Yankees and New York Mets. The industry agrees the floor for Soto's next contract will be $500 million. The Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers and Angels could likely afford Soto but are long shots to make a real push. Believe it or not, the four-time All-Star will turn just 26 this October. He's already considered one of the best all-around players of his generation and has excelled in the Bronx, slashing .291/.421/.590 with a 1.012 OPS, a career-high 37 home runs, 95 RBI, five steals and 108 runs scored in 130 games played. It seems hard to believe that the Yankees will let him walk out of the Bronx, and if he does, it might not be to go very far.

Aug 29

John Brebbia • RP

White Sox Release John Brebbia

The Chicago White Sox released right-handed reliever John Brebbia on Thursday. Brebbia cleared waivers after being designated for assignment earlier this week and is now free to sign with any club. Brebbia opened his lone season with the Pale Hose as a candidate to see save opportunities in a really bad bullpen. He did pick up the third and fourth saves of his career, but he also wasn't very good in general, going 0-6 with a career-worst 6.29 ERA (4.43 FIP), a 1.42 WHIP and a 58:17 K:BB in 48 2/3 relief innings before being cut. The 34-year-old may have to wait until the offseason to find a new team as he looks to make his way back to the big leagues. The former 30th-round selection of the New York Yankees in 2011 out of Elon University holds a 3.82 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, four saves and a 25.7% strikeout rate in his seven seasons in the big leagues with three different teams.

Aug 29

Freddie Freeman • 1B • Dodgers

Freddie Freeman Missing Another Game

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (finger) is out of the starting lineup for a third straight game on Thursday in the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium. Veteran utility man Enrique Hernandez will make another start at first and will hit sixth for the Blue against Orioles rookie left-hander Cade Povich. Freeman initially suffered a hairline fracture in his right middle finger on Aug. 17 but was playing through the injury before this week. In the six games that he's played in since the injury, though, he's gone 3-for-23 (.130) with two doubles, an RBI, two walks and seven strikeouts, so perhaps his finger is giving him more issues than initially expected. If Freeman ends up needing a stint on the injured list, Hernandez would soak up even more playing time in the final month of the regular season. Hernandez has hit just .218 in 303 at-bats in 2024 with nine homers and 33 RBI. UPDATE: Manager Dave Roberts said that Freeman will be back in the starting lineup for the start of a big series on Friday in Arizona against the Diamondbacks.

Aug 29

Matt Shaw • SS • Cubs

Matt Shaw Dealing With Strained Back

Chicago Cubs shortstop prospect Matt Shaw (back), the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, reportedly strained his back making an impressive play to record the final out in the bottom of the second inning for Triple-A Iowa on Sunday when he ranged deep into the hole at the 6 to make a leaping throw to first base. Shaw was replaced with a pinch-hitter in the top of the third frame. He could end up missing a few days because of the injury. Shaw, the 13th overall pick last year out of Maryland, has slashed .254/.389/.441 with three long balls and nine RBI in 18 games for Iowa since his promotion. The 22-year-old is a pretty complete hitter who uses the entire field. He has picked it up offensively after a sluggish start early in 2024 and is now slashing a combined .275/.376/.464 with an .839 OPS, 17 homers, 59 RBI and 28 steals in 104 games at Iowa and Double-A Tennessee.

Aug 29

Enoli Paredes • RP • Brewers

Enoli Paredes Has "A Ways To Go" In His Rehab

Milwaukee Brewers right-handed reliever Enoli Paredes (forearm), who has been sidelined since July 2 with right-forearm tendinitis, still has "a ways to go" in his rehab, according to manager Pat Murphy. Paredes was moved from High-A Wisconsin to Triple-A Nashville on Aug. 22 and started to work out of the Sounds' bullpen. He was then moved to the 60-day injured list on Aug. 11 and is eligible to return on Sept. 1, although it doesn't sound like he'll be back by this Sunday. The 28-year-old Dominican began the year as an option for saves in Milwaukee's bullpen with Devin Williams hurt, and he picked up his first career save while allowing only two earned runs with eight walks and 12 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings before being sent to the minors to work on his command. Paredes could be an interesting late-inning arm for the Brewers down the road, but that probably won't come again until 2025.

Aug 29

Rafael Devers • 3B • Red Sox

Rafael Devers Out Again On Thursday

Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers (shoulders) remains out of the starting lineup on Thursday for the series finale at Fenway Park against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays. Rookie Nick Sogard will make the start at the hot corner and will bat eighth against Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis. Devers has been battling through issues in both of his shoulders for much of the year and will now miss his third straight game as a result. However, the Red Sox expect him back for Friday's series opener in Detroit against the Tigers, so fantasy managers shouldn't have to wait much longer to get him back. Devers is one of the best hitters in the game, but he has had a down month in August, going 21-for-88 (.239) with four home runs, seven doubles, 11 RBI, 11 walks and 25 strikeouts in 22 games played. Hopefully, the time off this week will get him back on track when he returns this weekend.

Aug 29

Taijuan Walker • SP • Phillies

Taijuan Walker Being Moved To The Bullpen

The Philadelphia Phillies will be moving right-hander Taijuan Walker to the bullpen, according to manager Rob Thomson. The Phillies will call someone up from the minors to make the start next Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, and there's a good chance it will be Tyler Phillips. The Phillies have seen enough after Walker allowed six earned runs on 13 hits with one walk and no strikeouts in six innings in a blowout loss to the Houston Astros on Wednesday. The 32-year-old veteran is now 3-6 with a rough 6.50 ERA (6.30 FIP), a 1.64 WHIP, 53 strikeouts and 29 walks in 70 2/3 innings over his 14 starts in 2024. Walker's 16.8% walk rate is the lowest of his career and it's the third year it's been in decline. Phillips made his MLB debut earlier this year and hasn't been much better with a 5.50 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with a 6.8 K/9 in 36 innings over seven outings (six starts).

Aug 29

David Hamilton • SS • Red Sox

Red Sox Place David Hamilton On 10-Day Injured List

The Boston Red Sox placed middle infielder David Hamilton (finger) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left index-finger fracture and recalled infielder/outfielder Nick Sogard from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. Hamilton suffered the injury in Wednesday's win over the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays when he attempted to bunt late in the game. The injury typically requires four to six weeks of rest, but the 26-year-old is hoping to return in two to three weeks to help the Red Sox at the tail end of the regular season. Sogard will return to the big-league roster and will be an option at the keystone in Boston, along with Romy Gonzalez and Mickey Gasper. Gasper is getting the nod at second on Thursday and will hit second against Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis. Hamilton's injury is a tough break for Boston and fantasy managers, as he has 33 steals on the year as the team's primary second baseman.

Aug 29

Hoby Milner • RP • Brewers

Hoby Milner Expects To Begin Rehab Assignment On Friday

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Hoby Milner (shoulder) said he's experienced similar left-shoulder impingements at least a half-dozen times before, including earlier this year, and that they usually clear up with a modest rest period. Milner expects to begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Friday with High-A Wisconsin, and if that goes well, he would pitch again the following Sunday. The 33-year-old southpaw reliever could rejoin Milwaukee's bullpen early next week if he doesn't suffer any setbacks in two rehab appearances this weekend. He has been away from the team since the middle of the month due to his shoulder ailment. The former seventh-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2012 out of Texas has a bloated 4.92 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with a save and 52 K's in 53 innings over 51 outings (one start) in his fourth year with the Brew Crew.

Aug 29

Tommy Pham • CF • Cardinals

Cardinals Put Tommy Pham On Waivers

The St. Louis Cardinals are placing veteran outfielder Tommy Pham on waivers on Thursday, according to team sources. The move comes just ahead of the league's postseason eligibility deadline of Sept. 1. Pham is eligible to play for the Cards until he is claimed by another team. If he's not claimed, he'll remain with St. Louis. If a team doesn't claim him ahead of Sunday's deadline, he will not be eligible to play in the playoffs with a new team. Entering play Thursday, the Cardinals had less than a one percent chance of making the postseason, according to FanGraphs. The Cardinals could gain some financial relief with the move, and it also suggests they could move to some younger talent in the final month in September. Since joining St. Louis, Pham has been operating in a platoon role and has hit just .206 (14-for-68) with two homers, 12 RBI and 16 K's in 23 games.

Aug 29

Jason Heyward • RF • Astros

Astros Officially Sign Jason Heyward

The Houston Astros officially signed free-agent outfielder Jason Heyward to a one-year deal on Thursday and designated pitcher Janson Junk for assignment in a corresponding move to open up a spot on the 40-man roster. The Astros continue to look for platoon help in right field with Kyle Tucker (shin) still out, especially after they optioned Chas McCormick to the minors on Thursday. Tucker is expected back at some point in September, but until then, the 35-year-old Heyward could see ample playing time in right field against right-handed pitchers in Houston. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues can leave Heyward to the waiver wire, but he could be an interesting short-term flier in AL-only leagues. The Los Angeles Dodgers cut Heyward recently after he hit just .208/.289/.393 with a .682 OPS, six homers and 28 RBI in 173 at-bats this year.

Aug 29

Caden Dana • SP • Angels

Caden Dana To Make Major-League Debut On Sunday

The Los Angeles Angels are calling up top pitching prospect Caden Dana to make his major-league debut with a start on Sunday against the division-rival Seattle Mariners, according to a source. The 20-year-old gets his first big-league promotion after going 9-7 with a 2.52 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with 147 strikeouts and 39 walks in 135 2/3 innings in his 23 starts this year with Double-A Rocket City. The future is now for the last-place Angels, as they are also calling up left-hander Samuel Aldegheri from Rocket City to make his MLB debut on Friday. Both pitchers are skipping the Triple-A level entirely. Dana is worth a pickup in most fantasy formats for pitchers looking for strikeouts late in the season, and he'll be facing a Seattle club that leads the majors in K's this year. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder is very polished for his age and has drawn comparisons to Noah Syndergaard.

Aug 29

Sam Aldegheri • SP • Angels

Samuel Aldegheri Being Called Up, Will Start On Friday

The Los Angeles Angels are calling up left-handed pitching prospect Samuel Aldegheri from Double-A Rocket City, according to sources. The 22-year-old southpaw will be the first pitcher born and raised in Italy to play in the major leagues, and he is expected to make his big-league debut on Friday against the division-rival Seattle Mariners. The Angels acquired Aldegheri from the Philadelphia Phillies at the trade deadline at the end of July in the deal that sent reliever Carlos Estevez to the Phils. Aldegheri is the team's No. 8 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder has made only six starts at the Double-A levels of the Angels and Phillies, but he has fanned 134 hitters while walking 41 in 95 1/3 innings over 19 total starts in the minors in 2024. He's primarily a fastball-slider pitcher that could stick in the Angels' rotation beyond his start on Friday. Aldegheri will be a pretty risky streamer in his debut.

Aug 29

Jacob Wilson • 3B |

Shea Langeliers • C • Athletics

Jacob Wilson, Shea Langeliers Out Against Reds

Oakland Athletics rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson and catcher Shea Langeliers are sitting out of Thursday's contest against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Nick Allen will get the nod at shortstop for the A's and will hit in the nine-hole, while Kyle McCann will do the catching for rookie right-hander J.T. Ginn in his first big-league start against Reds right-hander Julian Aguiar. Wilson will get a day off after recently returning from the injured list due to a hamstring strain. The 22-year-old has gone 1-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored in his second and third big-league games this week. The team's top prospect will get the rest of the season as the club's starting shortstop and is worth rostering in most fantasy leagues. Langeliers needs one homer to set a new career-high in that category with 23 in his second full MLB season.

Aug 29

Brandon Woodruff • SP • Brewers

Brandon Woodruff Throws First Bullpen Session

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder), who won't pitch in the majors this year after undergoing shoulder surgery last October, will be a notable addition to the team's traveling party this weekend in Cincinnati and will throw another bullpen after throwing his first bullpen session of 15 pitches this Tuesday at American Family Field before the series opener against the San Francisco Giants. His next session is scheduled for Friday or Saturday at Great American Ball Park, depending on the weather. These are early days in Woodruff's recovery as he makes a bid to return to the form that produced a 3.10 ERA over his first seven seasons in Milwaukee. The 31-year-old is signed for 2025 and has a mutual option for 2026. If healthy next year, he'll be rostered in all fantasy formats.

Aug 29

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