MLB News

Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles (finger) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The speedy outfielder will miss his second game in a row due to a bruised right finger. He suffered the injury during Saturday's game, but will hopefully only need a few days off to recover. In the meantime, Dominic Canzone will start in right field and bat eighth versus right-hander Ryan Pepiot on Monday. Canzone doesn't offer much upside with the bat outside of some occasional pop. Fantasy managers should check back for another update on Robles. He has come alive at the plate in Seattle with 40 hits in 51 games with the team.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle (leg) has been scratched ahead of Monday's game against the Miami Marlins. The team has decided to pull Doyle from the game due to right leg soreness. For now, Doyle is considered as day-to-day, so it looks like he'll avoid a trip to the injured list. In the meantime, Jake Cave will bat leadoff and cover right field versus right-hander Edward Cabrera. Doyle is in the middle of breakout campaign, so hopefully he doesn't miss much time. He's hitting .269 with 21 home runs and 63 RBI in 126 games this season. Fantasy managers might want to consider using Cave as a streaming option while Doyle is out. Cave is hitting .281 with seven home runs and 30 RBI against right-handed pitching this season.

Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers will head to the bench ahead of Monday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Jeffers returned to the lineup on Sunday after leaving Friday's game due to a right hand injury. It's uncertain if Jeffers suffered a setback or if he's just getting a rest day on Monday. Regardless, Christian Vazquez will do the catching and bat seventh against left-hander Max Fried. Vazquez hasn't been much of a fantasy option this season. Through 75 games, Vazquez is hitting .231 with seven home runs and 27 RBI this season. Fantasy managers should be able to find a better streaming option ahead of Monday's game. It sounds like a rest day for Jeffers, but fantasy managers should check back for another update.

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Minnesota Twins. This appears to be a routine rest day for Murphy who has started in six of the last seven games. It's worth noting that fellow catcher Travis d'Arnaud returned from the injured list over the weekend. He'll do the catching and bat fifth versus right-hander Bailey Ober on Monday. The 35-year-old is hitting .253 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI in 81 games this season. Between the two, d'Arnaud is the better option in fantasy leagues, but his value is dependent on his playing time.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (hand) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Minnesota Twins. This isn't too shocking, considering Harris was forced to exit early during Sunday's game after getting hit by a pitch in the hand. Luckily, it appears Harris has avoided any fractures and should be ready to go in a few days. It doesn't sound like Harris will require a trip to the injured list, which is good news for fantasy managers. Jarred Kelenic will cover center field and bat seventh versus right-hander Bailey Ober on Monday. Kelenic is sporting a lowly .236 batting average, but he has 13 home runs and 39 RBI this season. He could be worth a look as a streaming option due to his power numbers while Harris is out.

Washington Nationals outfield prospect Dylan Crews is starting in right field and is batting second against the New York Yankees and left-hander Nestor Cortes in his major-league debut on Monday night at Nationals Park. As expected, Crews was called up from Triple-A Rochester on Monday to make his MLB debut against the Bronx Bombers. The 22-year-old former second overall pick last year out of LSU hit a combined .270/.342/.451 with 13 home runs and 25 stolen bases with Double-A Harrisburg and Rochester this year to earn his first big-league promotion. Crews figures to be here to stay and should see regular playing time to close out the 2024 season with the Nats out of playoff contention. The club's top prospect and No. 3 in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, has the ability to contribute across all categories and should already be rostered in all fantasy formats.

The Philadelphia Phillies placed infielder/outfielder Weston Wilson on the paternity list on Monday and recalled right-hander Max Lazar from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move. The Phillies also optioned left-hander Kolby Allard to Lehigh Valley and recalled infielder Buddy Kennedy from Lehigh Valley. Wilson can miss up to three days and is likely to be unavailable for the entire series against the visiting Houston Astros this week in a rematch of last year's World Series. The 29-year-old has hit a strong .353/.370/.647 with a 1.017 OPS in his 51 at-bats for the Phillies this year, albeit with only three home runs, seven RBI and 10 runs scored on the short side of a platoon in the outfield. Austin Hays is starting in left field for the Phils on Monday and is hitting ninth against Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco.

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is getting a day off on Monday for the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in a rematch of last year's World Series. With Altuve out, rookie Shay Whitcomb will make the start at the keystone and bat ninth for Houston against Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler. Altuve was hitless in his five at-bats with three strikeouts in Sunday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, prompting the team to give him just his sixth game off of the season. Whitcomb will be a deep DFS sleeper to ignore in a tough matchup while hitting in the nine-hole. The 25-year-old has handled himself well in his first 21 big-league at-bats, though, going 6-for-21 (.286) with two RBI and a run scored while getting on base at a .423 clip. Altuve should return to the keystone for Game 2 of the series on Tuesday.

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (neck) is back in left field and is hitting second on Monday for the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Zack Wheeler at Citizens Bank Park in a matchup of last year's World Series. Alvarez returns to the lineup after missing the last three games with neck discomfort. The 27-year-old's injury was never considered serious, as evidenced by the fact that he's back playing the outfield to begin the new week. Alvarez is a must-start in all fantasy lineups and is currently riding an 18-game on-base streak in which he has gone .364/.475/.652 with five home runs. The matchup against Wheeler isn't great, but Alvarez does have two hits in his only two career at-bats against him. The left-handed Cuban slugger is hitting over .300 for the year with 25 home runs and 67 RBI in 451 at-bats.

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington reiterated that he is confident that left-hander Ryan Borucki (triceps) will return this season. Borucki started a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 17 and has made three appearances, allowing a run in three innings of work. He had his first rehab assignment shut down in July after feeling symptoms in his left forearm and elbow but started throwing again after receiving an injection in early August. The 30-year-old veteran reliever should be able to rejoin Pittsburgh's bullpen for the final month of the season, but he's completely off the fantasy radar. Borucki has only appeared in four games for the Bucs in relief in 2024 and has allowed two earned runs on four hits while walking none and striking out six batters in 3 1/3 innings.

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales (groin) was activated from the 10-day injured list on Monday. The team designated right-hander Jake Woodford for assignment in a corresponding move. The 25-year-old infielder landed on the shelf on July 28 with a groin pull but will return to being Pittsburgh's everyday starter at the keystone now that he's healthy. The former seventh overall pick in 2020 out of New Mexico State didn't make his 2024 debut until May 10. In his 248 at-bats this year, he's hit .258/.293/.387 with a .680 OPS, only five home runs, 39 RBI and 28 runs scored. Gonzales' counting stats don't stand out, but he can be a useful middle infielder in deep-mixed and NL-only leagues for the final month of the season in an everyday role. He is back at second base on Monday and is hitting cleanup against Chicago Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Colin Holderman (wrist) will make at least one more minor-league rehab appearance with Triple-A Indianapolis, even though he was around the major-league club at PNC Park this past Saturday and Sunday. Holderman started his rehab assignment on Aug. 20. Right-handed reliever Carmen Mlodzinski (shoulder) is on a rehab assignment with Indianapolis and is in a similar spot to Holderman for a potential return to the major-league bullpen. Holderman is recovering from a right-wrist sprain suffered on Aug. 8. The 28-year-old reliever is sporting a 3.43 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 42 innings of work this year for the Bucs. Mlodzinski has been on the shelf since late July 30 with a right-shoulder sprain. Both relievers should be able to rejoin Pittsburgh's bullpen soon, but they aren't on the fantasy radar.

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said on his 93.7 The Fan radio show on Sunday that he was optimistic that third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) will play again in 2024. Hayes was placed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 19 due to lower-back inflammation, which also kept him out in May for an 18-day stint on the IL. In his last six games, Hayes hit just .042 (1-for-24), and he's hitting .196 in the month of August. It's clear that the 27-year-old's back injury has been affecting his performance for a while. The former first-round pick's numbers have crashed hard this year and he's currently slashing .233/.283/.290 with a .573 OPS, only four home runs, 25 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 38 runs scored. It's unclear how much Hayes might play when he returns, especially if Pittsburgh is eventually eliminated from playoff contention. Hayes' injury has opened up more playing time for Jared Triolo.

Pittsburgh Pirates middle-infield prospect Termarr Johnson, the team's No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was promoted to Double-A Altoona on Sunday, according to a source. The team's first-round pick in 2022 and the No. 83 prospect in all of baseball has posted a .372 on-base percentage with 13 home runs and 20 stolen bases for High-A Greensboro this year to earn the promotion to Double-A. The 20-year-old has split playing time on defense between shortstop and second base this year, but second base is expected to be where he sticks in the long term down the road at the major-league level. Johnson bats from the left side of the plate and is mostly known for his contact skills on offense, but he also has plenty of power potential. It was a good sign that Johnson dropped his high strikeout rate from last year to this year. A big-league promotion could be coming in 2025 if he continues to excel in the minors.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have recalled catcher and former No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, according to sources. In a corresponding move, catcher Joey Bart (hamstring) will be placed on the 10-day injured list. A left-hamstring injury that Bart suffered on Sunday against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds will now force him to the shelf for at least 10 days. The 27-year-old former San Francisco Giants catcher has been Pittsburgh's most fantasy relevant catcher in 2024 with a .272 average (53-for-195), 12 home runs, 39 RBI and 32 runs scored. For however long Bart is sidelined, Davis and Yasmani Grandal figure to split the catching duties. In his time at Indy, Davis hit .301 with six homers, 26 RBI and seven steals. He could be worth a pickup in deeper fantasy leagues if he sees enough playing time, but he has yet to put it together at the big-league level.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed rookie Jared Jones (lat) will come off the 15-day injured and start on Tuesday versus the division-rival Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Jones will make his return to the team's starting rotation for the stretch run for the first time since suffering a Grade 2 right-lat strain in early July. The Pirates weren't in a rush to bring the 23-year-old back to the majors so that they could limit his innings in his first big-league season. But now that Jones is back in the fold, he should be immediately thrown back into starting fantasy lineups in a good matchup against Chicago. Jones made three minor-league rehab starts with Triple-A Indianapolis and struck out 10 over five shutout innings his last time out while getting up to 73 pitches. In 16 MLB starts earlier this year, he went 5-6 with a 3.56 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 98 punchouts in 91 innings of work.

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton announced during his pre-game press conference on Monday that shortstop Oneil Cruz will start seeing time in center field. The Pirates haven't released their starting lineup for Monday's contest against the division-rival Chicago Cubs at PNC Park, but fantasy managers should expect the change to take effect immediately. It means that Cruz's already high fantasy value will be further boosted when he eventually gains outfield eligibility. With Cruz moving to center field, the Bucs plan to use Isiah Kiner-Falefa as their starting shortstop and Nick Gonzales as their starting second baseman the rest of the way in 2024. The 25-year-old Cruz has never played in a professional game in center field before. If the Pirates choose to ease Cruz into his new position, on days he's not in center field, he's expected to serve as the designated hitter.

Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (calf, hamstring) was pulled early from Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field with a left-calf/hamstring cramp. Ragans was pulled in the fifth inning after giving up a walk to open the frame. The 26-year-old southpaw went four innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking four and striking out four. He didn't make it long enough to qualify for a victory in the team's 4-3 win. Although we don't know for sure yet, it doesn't seem like Ragans' injury is serious enough to keep him from making his next start for the Royals. His poor command in this one could have been attributed his calf/hamstring injury. Ragans has been a solid fantasy starter in all formats in 2024, as he came into Monday's game 10-8 with a 3.31 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 183 K's in 152 1/3 innings over his 26 starts. UPDATE: Manager Matt Quatraro said Ragans is "fine" after he cramped up. The Royals were about to pull him from the game anyway, and there are no concerns health-wise about Ragans.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitching prospect Chad Patrick had an impressive performance on Sunday for Triple-A Nashville, earning his 12th win of the year. Facing the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for the second time in the series, the 26-year-old right-hander threw six shutout innings and struck out eight batters, allowing four hits and no walks. Through 116 1/3 innings, Patrick has posted a 3.02 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 114:34 K/BB. If he continues to impress in the minors, there's a chance the Brewers will give him a shot to prove himself in the majors, but there is no ETA as it currently stands.

Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Owen Caissie went 3-for-4 with a double and two home runs on Sunday for Triple-A Iowa. Overall, Caissie has been solid this year in Triple-A, slashing .268/.368/.455 with 23 doubles, 15 homers, 60 RBI, nine stolen bases, and 59:128 BB/SO. In the Cubs' stacked farm system, he's currently ranked No. 3, behind only Matt Shaw and Cade Horton (per MLB.com). At just 22 years old, Caissie is expected to make his MLB debut at some point in 2025.