August 21, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect
Carson Williams is getting called up for his major-league debut. The Rays' top-ranked prospect (MLB No. 47) is an elite defender, but also brings both power and speed on the offensive side. The former first-round draft pick belted 23 home runs in 111 games at Triple-A Durham this season, including five in his last 10 contests, and he stole 22 bases, but struggled to put the bat on the ball consistently this year. He was batting a paltry .213 with a high 34.1 percent strikeout rate and a 17.2 percent swinging-strike rate. It's hard to imagine those things getting better in the majors, but for fantasy managers looking for a potential power boost, the 22-year-old is worth a flier in deep leagues.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jeff Passan
August 21, 2025
New York Mets outfielder
Brandon Nimmo (neck) will take a seat for Thursday's divisional clash against the Washington Nationals in D.C.
Tyrone Taylor will get the nod in left field and will hit seventh in the batting order against Nationals left-hander
MacKenzie Gore. Nimmo will be left out of the starting lineup after leaving Tuesday's contest early with neck stiffness. It's something to keep an eye on for the 32-year-old, as neck issues have cropped up for him in the past. While Nimmo is day-to-day for now, this has a higher probability of turning into a trip to the injured list. Check back to see if he's available to play in Friday's series opener against the division-rival Atlanta Braves. For what it's worth, the Mets are hopeful Nimmo will be able to play this weekend. Taylor hasn't had much success against Gore, hitting .182 against him in 11 at-bats, although he does have a solo homer.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 21, 2025
Colorado Rockies rookie infielder
Kyle Karros (back) is out of the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field.
Orlando Arcia is starting at the hot corner and will bat eighth against Dodgers left-hander
Clayton Kershaw. Back tightness will keep Karros out of action for the second straight day, but hopefully the 23-year-old will be able to return for Friday's series opener in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. The son of former Dodgers first baseman Eric Karros has held his own in his first 37 big-league at-bats for the last-place Rockies, recording 10 hits, a homer, five RBI and 10 runs scored. With the Rockies yet again playing out the string in the second half, Karros should continue to see regular playing time if he can get over his back injury. Arcia is a light-hitting infielder who has gone 2-for-10 in his career against Kershaw.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 21, 2025
Minnesota Twins catcher
Christian Vazquez (shoulder) has undergone surgery to remove an infection from his left shoulder, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports. The issue forced Vazquez to the 10-day injured list on Aug. 6, and though the Twins haven't ruled out a return this year, Vazquez is not close to starting baseball activities, according to Leach. While the 35-year-old typically hasn't posed much of a threat with the bat, this has likely been the worst offensive season of his career. Vazquez has hit just .174/.251/.247 with two homers, 13 RBI, and 12 runs scored in 199 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: Matthew Leach - MLB.com
August
21,
2025
The
San
Francisco
Giants
will
place
right-hander
Landen
Roupp
(knee)
on
the
15-day
injured
list
with
a
sprained
left
knee,
manager
Bob
Melvin
announced.
Roupp
suffered
the
injury
during
an
8-1
loss
to
the
San
Diego
Padres
read more...
August 21, 2025
Minnesota Twins right-hander
David Festa (shoulder) will throw two simulated innings of live batting practice with Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday. Assuming Festa gets through that session unscathed, he'll be ready to start a rehab assignment. Festa has been on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation since July 22, so he'll need time to ramp back up in the minors before making a late-season return. The 25-year-old has started in 10 of 11 appearances in 2025 and gone 3-4 with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and 53:19 K:BB in 53 1/3 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 21, 2025
Los Angeles Angels shortstop
Zach Neto (wrist) exited a 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds early on Wednesday with a sore left wrist, but it's not a serious injury. X-rays came back negative after the game, and interim manager Ray Montgomery told reporters that Neto is fine. The 24-year-old took a pitch off the hand in the third inning and remained in the game until the Angels pulled him in the sixth. The Halos and fantasy managers are breathing a sigh of relief that Neto is OK, as he's enjoying a second straight highly productive season. Across 471 plate appearances, Neto has slashed .267/.325/.479 with 21 homers, 55 RBI, 74 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases. The Angels are off Thursday, but Neto will presumably be in the lineup to start a series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
--Connor ByrneSource: Erica Weston
August 21, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani (thigh) was diagnosed with a contusion in his right thigh after leaving an 8-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies early on Wednesday. Ohtani started the game on the mound and suffered the injury when
Orlando Arcia struck him with a 93.7 mph comebacker in the fourth inning. The right-hander stayed in to complete the frame and wound up yielding five earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts against no walks on the night. Ohtani, also the Dodgers' designated hitter, went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk before the team pinch-hit
Alex Call for him in the eighth. The Dodgers had already scheduled an off day for Ohtani on Thursday before this minor injury cropped up, and manager Dave Roberts said he's "hopeful" the three-time MVP will return to the lineup Friday against the San Diego Padres.
--Connor ByrneSource: Manny Randhawa - MLB.com
August 21, 2025
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Kyle Tucker (hand) is returning to the lineup on Thursday in a meeting with the Milwaukee Brewers. Tucker will play right field and hit second against right-hander
Quinn Priester. With Tucker amid an extended slump, manager Craig Counsell held the four-time All-Star out of the lineup for three straight games. Tucker's numbers have experienced a severe drop-off since he suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand on June 1 and continued to play through it. The 28-year-old has recovered from the injury, but he has gone a brutal 8-for-54 (.148) with no extra-base hits and one RBI in 15 games this month. After a brief respite, the Cubs and fantasy managers are hoping he'll return to form during the final weeks of the season.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 21, 2025
Minnesota Twins right-hander
Jose Urena will get the start against the Athletics on Thursday. The 33-year-old has appeared in the majors with four teams this season (the Mets, Blue Jays, Dodgers, and Twins) and pitched to a 4.06 ERA (7.23 xERA) with a 1.42 WHIP, 17 strikeouts, and 11 walks over 31 innings. Urena has made three appearances with the Twins and recorded a stingy 2.13 ERA in 12 2/3 frames, but that success has come despite just seven strikeouts against six walks. He's in line for negative regression, and it could come against an A's offense that ranks fifth in the majors in wOBA and 12th in runs.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 21, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks infield prospect
Jordan Lawlar went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a rehab game against Triple-A Salt Lake. The 23-year-old is 6-for-21 with four extra-base hits and a stolen base through five rehab games, striking out just three times while drawing two walks. He appears to be healthy as he has been hitting the ball hard and recorded a stolen base in a game during the trip. The top prospect will look to take over a long-awaited everyday role in Arizona upon his activation. He's been given brief looks in the majors on two separate occasions, but struggled mightily and ended up returning to the minors. Lawlar is still one of the most talented players in the minors, and dynasty managers should have high hopes with his blend of power, speed, and contact.
--Kyle McCarthySource: MiLB.com
August 21, 2025
Houston Astros pitching prospect
Miguel Ullola allowed only two runs and one walk while striking out five over six scoreless innings against Triple-A Iowa. The right-hander threw his longest outing of the season on Wednesday, and it was the fifth time this season that he threw at least five innings and didn't allow a run. It was an impressive bounce-back outing for Ullola, as in his most recent outing on August 14, he had the shortest outing of the season, recording only two outs and coughing up four runs. He is a bit inconsistent start to start in due to his erratic control, but he has intriguing strikeout stuff. With some injuries to the Houston bullpen, Ullola could be in the mix to chew up some innings in the pen down the stretch.
--Kyle McCarthySource: MiLB.com
August 21, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect
Carson Williams went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a stolen base in a 5-4 loss against Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday. Williams hit his 23rd homer and swiped his 22nd base of the year. The 22-year-old has been streaky at the plate this season, opening with a .564 OPS in April and .632 in May before breaking out with a .999 mark in June. He's followed a similar theme in the second half of the year, with a mediocre .714 OPS in July, and has now heated back up with a .948 mark in August. The hit tool continues to be the biggest drawback for the top shortstop prospect, as a 34.2% strikeout rate at Triple-A is tough to overcome. Williams is a candidate to be promoted when rosters expand, and his power and speed combo would make him a decent speculative add.
--Kyle McCarthySource: MiLB.com
August 20, 2025
New York Yankees outfield prospect
Spencer Jones went 1-for-4 with a solo home run against Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. Jones got the scoring started in the game with a 443-foot blast off starter Alek Manoag in the top of the first inning. It was the lefty slugger's second home run of August after he belted 11 in July. Overall, it hasn't been a kind stretch for Jones, as he is slashing .159/.250/.261 with a 7:26 BB:K ratio in 69 at-bats. Predictably, Jones has fared much worse against same-handed pitchers this year, with a .719 OPS against lefties compared to a 1.058 OPS against righties. Jones has still been incredible at Triple-A this season despite the glaring hit tool concerns, and it wouldn't be too surprising if he were given a shot in the majors before the season ends.
--Kyle McCarthySource: MiLB.com
August 20, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever
Dennis Santana slammed the door on the Toronto Blue Jays in a 2-1 win on Wednesday to record his ninth save of the year. Santana threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning on eight pitches, all strikes, and fanned one hitter. The right-hander has gone 3-for-4 on save chances since the Pirates dealt closer
David Bednar to the New York Yankees at the July 31 trade deadline. While Santana yielded seven earned runs in 1 2/3 innings over his first three August appearances, he has now tossed 5 1/3 scoreless frames in a row. The 29-year-old's ERA is down to 2.36 with a .88 WHIP and 43:11 K:BB in 54 1/3 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
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