MLB News

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck) is expected to rejoin the team on Tuesday, according to Sonja Chen of MLB.com. Smith has been out since early June due to a neck injury. He began a rehab assignment on August 25 and appears to be on the verge of returning to the big league roster. His return is a welcoming sight for the Dodgers, who have struggled to find consistent production from the catcher spot lately. This season, Smith is slashing .249/.338/.382 with six home runs and 23 RBI across 52 games. It hasn't been a great year for Smith offensively, but he could be worth scooping up off the waiver wire for fantasy managers seeking help at the catcher spot.

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher George Klassen (back) was placed on the 15-day Injured List on Sunday, according to Jeff Fletcher. This is a tough break for the Halos, with Klassen actually pitching pretty well over his first few outings. He owns a 3.67 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and a 24/21 K/BB ratio across 27 innings of work. The walks have been a problem for Klassen, but he's still worth a stash in deep league formats. The Angels haven't given a timetable for his return to the mound, but this isn't expected to be a long stint on the Injured List. The team hasn't announced who is going to take his spot in the rotation yet.

Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo (hand) is being held out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. The O's have decided to keep Basallo on the bench for this one due to a hand issue, according to Matt Weyrich. Basallo was removed early from Saturday's game due to a right-hand injury that he suffered while attempting to block a wild pitch. He's considered day-to-day, so fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried at the moment. Pete Alonso will serve as the designated hitter while Carlos Narvaez does the catching during Sunday's contest. Fantasy managers should check back on Monday for another update on his status.

Miami Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards (thumb, elbow) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals. Edwards was pulled from this game with a hand or elbow injury, according to Mark Zuckerman. He got tangled up while attempting to make a tag on Jorbit Vivas at second base. The expectation is that Edwards will undergo further testing to determine the severity of this injury. He finished Sunday's game 0-for-1 with a walk in the win over Washington. Fantasy managers should consider Edwards as day-to-day for now. There should be more information on his status in the next day or two.

According to Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones will have his scheduled start pushed back. Jones was scheduled to start on Thursday, but he will instead take the ball against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. It's unclear at the moment who is going to get the ball during Thursday's game. Both Carmen Mlodzinski and Lake Bachar are options for that one. Jones has allowed three runs or more in four of his last six starts. He's also coming off elbow surgery, so the Pirates want to limit his innings as much as possible. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly with Jones moving back a day.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) was placed on the 10-day Injured List on Sunday. Buxton will head to the shelf due to a right hip impingement that he has been dealing with for most of the season. The team decided to make a move after Buxton missed his fourth straight game on Sunday. The Twins haven't given a timetable on Buxton, but the veteran outfielder may require surgery to fix the issue. That'll be a last resort as the Twins will likely wait and see how Buxton progresses over the next few weeks. Top prospect Walker Jenkins figures to gain the most fantasy value from the loss of Buxton. He'll likely operate as the full-time center fielder, so fantasy managers should scoop him up if they need a bat.

Detroit Tigers pitching prospect River Ryan (hamstring) is currently on the injured list and rehabbing at Triple-A Toledo following his trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Tarik Skubal deal. Ryan has not pitched yet for the Tigers organization and is on the mend from a hamstring strain. The right-hander pitched eight games for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season and went 3-1 with a 4.46 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings pitched. Ryan is the No. 4 prospect in the Tigers' system at age 28 with a 65-grade fastball, a 60-grade slider, a 55-grade curveball, and changeups. With the Tigers quickly falling out of contention this season, it is becoming more likely for them to look toward Ryan for a late-year call-up. Ryan has the stuff to warrant a look in fantasy leagues should they turn to him when he comes back from his injury.

Miami Marlins corner infield prospect Jonathon Long has played 18 games for Triple-A Jacksonville since he was traded to the Marlins from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline. In those 18 games, Long has one homer and nine RBI to go with 16 runs scored and a .246 batting average. Before the trade, in 99 games with Triple-A Iowa, Long hit .283 with 12 homers and 62 RBI. Long is the No. 19 prospect in the Marlins' organization and has a 50-grade hit tool with 50-grade power. Miami has good depth around the board so it might be tough for Long to break through with the big-league club this season. But the 24-year-old right-handed hitter has good potential in dynasty league formats and looks more likely to make it to the big leagues following the trade deadline deal.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III continues to hit at Triple-A Oklahoma City with six homers and 21 RBI in the month of August while hitting .326 with 30 runs scored. That brings the Triple-A totals this season to 27 homers and 96 RBI this season for Tibbs III with a .295 batting average. With the injury to Andy Pages, that could potentially open the door to the big leagues for Tibbs III and if so, the 23-year-old left-handed hitter is a strong potential addition to fantasy rosters. Tibbs III is the No. 7 overall prospect in the Dodgers' organization and has a 50-grade hit tool with 55-grade power. His statistical output this season is hard to ignore and the Dodgers should look to him as a potential September call-up. Fantasy managers should pay attention because Tibbs III has a high ceiling right off the bat in the big leagues.

San Diego Padres catcher prospect Ethan Salas is on fire at Triple-A El Paso with three homers and 23 RBI in 86 at bats while hitting .326. The star left-handed hitter was called up to Triple-A on July 29 after hitting seven homers with 37 RBI at Double-A San Antonio in 259 at bats. Look for the 20-year-old to be a fantasy factor if he is to debut this season in San Diego. He is well worth stashing and waiting for a potential call-up to San Diego this season. Salas is the Padres' top overall prospect and has a 50-grade hit tool with 50-grade power and has the hitting tools to be successful right away in fantasy leagues at the catcher position. Right now the Padres have the catching duo of Luis Campusano and Freddy Fermin but if Salas is to break through and get a look this year, he should be an instant fantasy success.

San Francisco Giants third base prospect Parks Harber is having a good year in the minor leagues at age 24 but is likely not to factor into the Giants' thinking at the end of this season. Harber has split time this season between Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento and has combined to hit .284 in 401 at-bats with 17 homers and 73 RBI. The Giants recently recalled Shay Whitcomb from Sacramento at third base ahead of Harber so it looks like it might not be until next year that Harber debuts in San Francisco. Harber is the No. 13 prospect in the Giants' system and has 55-grade power with a 45-grade hit tool. The right-handed hitter has a nice power profile for fantasy and has hit well in the minors. Look for Harber to make an impact at some point next season.

Cincinnati Reds middle-infield prospect Edwin Arroyo was recalled by the Reds from Triple-A Louisville on Friday and has the potential to be a difference-maker in fantasy leagues down the stretch. Arroyo was 0-for-1 in his return to Cincinnati on Saturday after making an appearance in the big leagues earlier this season. The infielder was hitting pretty well for Louisville in August with four homers and nine RBI while hitting .261. At Louisville this season, Arroyo had 285 at-bats in 72 games with 15 homers and 43 RBI and hit .309. Arroyo made his first appearance with the Reds on June 1, and he spent two full months playing in Cincinnati with the big-league club. The 23-year-old switch-hitter hit .242 in 132 at-bats with no homers and five RBI and 13 runs scored. Look for Arroyo to be a help in the batting average and runs scored categories specifically.

Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood (oblique) will play seven innings in left field for Double-A Harrisburg in a minor-league rehab game on Sunday, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. Wood wanted to see live pitching before the Nats reinstated him from the 10-day injured list. If everything goes well on Sunday, manager Blake Butera said that the team will likely give the left-handed slugger Monday off. Barring a setback, it looks as though Wood will return from the IL to rejoin the starting nine in D.C. for the start of a series against the division-rival Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. The 23-year-old two-time All-Star will immediately be a must-start again in all fantasy baseball leagues when he returns to a .265/.393/.535 slash line, a .928 OPS, 30 home runs, 73 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and 100 runs scored in his 437 at-bats in 2026. Even though Wood has hit .191 (13-for-68) with just two of his 30 homers in 17 games since the All-Star break, he could carry fantasy teams down the stretch in the final month of the regular season in September after recovering from a strained oblique muscle.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) remains out of the team's starting lineup for Sunday's series finale at Target Field against the division-rival Chicago White Sox, per MLB.com. Rookie Walker Jenkins is making another start in center field for the Twins and will bat ninth against White Sox right-hander Jordan Hicks. Right-hip discomfort will keep Buxton out of Minnesota's lineup for the fourth straight game, and when considering that it is an injury that has already sent him to the injured list twice in the second half of the season, things are not looking great for the veteran outfielder heading into the final month of the regular season. The 32-year-old three-time All-Star picked up where he left off in 2025, hitting .271 (83-for-306) with 25 home runs, 45 RBI, 57 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 75 games in the first half this year. But that is where the good news has ended for Buxton in 2026, as he has played in only 18 games in the second half with a .172/.274/.203 slash line, zero homers, one RBI, seven walks, and 17 strikeouts. If Buxton lands on the IL a third time, it is possible that he will be shut down for the rest of the season if the Twins fall further out of the American League wild-card race.

The Boston Red Sox reinstated shortstop Trevor Story (hernia) from the 60-day injured list on Sunday, according to The Boston Globe's Tim Healey. Story is immediately back in the team's starting lineup, starting at shortstop and batting eighth versus the division-rival New York Yankees and right-hander Will Warren in the series finale. The 33-year-old veteran is returning to the major-league roster for the first time since mid-May after having surgery to fix a sports hernia. Before his injury, the two-time All-Star was struggling with a .206/.244/.303 slash line, a .547 OPS, three home runs, 19 RBI, 16 runs scored, four stolen bases, eight walks, and 57 strikeouts across 41 games and 176 plate appearances. The 11-year veteran had a resurgent 2025 campaign in Beantown with 25 home runs, 96 RBI, and 31 stolen bases in 157 regular-season games, so fantasy managers should not be completely ignoring him because of his rough start to 2026. The BoSox will likely give him every chance to return as their starting shortstop, but he did go just 6-for-35 (.171) with 11 strikeouts in 10 games on his minor-league rehab assignment. Story is currently rostered in 37% of Yahoo leagues.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (finger) has been activated from the 60-day injured list and is serving as the designated hitter and batting leadoff for Sunday's series finale in the Bronx against the division-rival New York Yankees and right-hander Will Warren, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Anthony, who was the team's top outfield prospect a year ago, is returning to the big leagues for the first time since early May after suffering a partially torn tendon in his right ring finger. The Red Sox could ease Anthony back into the fold as the DH after his long layoff, although he looked good at the plate in eight minor-league rehab games, posting a .967 OPS. The 22-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 was only hitting .229 (15-for-109) with a homer, five RBI, 12 runs scored, and two steals in 30 games earlier this year before injuring his finger, but he has high-end power/speed upside and could be a difference-maker in the final month of the regular season for both fantasy managers and the BoSox as they seek a playoff spot. Anthony had a .292/.396/.463 slash line with an .859 OPS, eight homers, 32 RBI, 48 runs, and four stolen bases in his first 71 major-league games in 2025.

The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Sunday that they placed rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (wrist) on the 10-day injured list with right-wrist tendinitis and recalled infielder Cesar Prieto from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. It is the first time that Wetherholt will head to the IL while battling wrist issues of late. In his first year in the big leagues in 2026 with the Cards, Wetherholt has slashed .242/.343/.370 with a .713 OPS, 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 88 runs scored across 130 games and 586 plate appearances. His wrist might have been bothering him for a while, though, as he has hit just .200 (19-for-95) with a .595 OPS, one homer, four doubles, seven RBI, 19 runs scored, two stolen bases, 15 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 25 games in August. Wetherholt has also hit just over the Mendoza Line (.201) with just four homers, four doubles, 12 RBI, five steals, 30 runs scored, 23 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 40 games in the second half. Perhaps a little break is what is needed so that he can finish his first MLB season strong in September. It is unclear if Wetherholt will be ready to return when his 10 days on the IL are up. He is currently rostered in over 90% of Yahoo leagues.

San Diego Padres infielder/outfielder Luis Rengifo (knee) was removed early during Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Rengifo was pulled late in the game due to a right knee sprain. He appeared to have suffered the injury while attempting a throw to home plate in the seventh inning. He finished this game 0-for-2 at the plate with a run scored and a walk. He's flying back to San Diego, where he'll undergo further evaluation. Fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked if Rengifo ends up getting placed on the Injured List. If that happens, Gavin Sheets and Austin Hays would be in line for increased playing time.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong helped his case in the National League MVP race with his performance against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Crow-Armstrong went 4-for-6 at the plate with three home runs and six RBI in the blowout win. This was the first three-homer game for PCA during his young career. He started the first inning with a bang when he took Andrew Abbott deep for a solo shot. It didn't take long for Crow-Armstrong to homer again as he got Abbott again in the second frame. In his finale, he connected on a three-run shot off reliever Tony Santillan in the seventh inning. The 24-year-old is slashing .282/.377/.567 with 36 homers, 89 RBI, and 32 stolen bases this season. He'll continue to battle with Shohei Ohtani for the MVP award during the final month of the season.

New York Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. was placed on outright waivers on Saturday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. Robert missed nearly three months of action due to a back injury. He hasn't been much of a help to the Mets this season, but he has been hot at the plate since August. He's slashing .286/.342/.557 with six home runs and 11 RBI across 79 plate appearances in August. Given his recent success, the Mets are trying to see if any other organization is willing to claim him and take on his remaining salary for the rest of the season. It's not unusual for non-contending teams to place expensive veterans on waivers to see if another organization will bite. His fantasy value has been on the rise this season, but it could drop if he remains in New York. The Mets have little incentive to play Robert down the stretch of the season.