Jackson Merrill Starting on the Bench on Monday
Jackson Merrill (ankle) is not in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Bryce Johnson will make the start in center field and will bat ninth against Giants left-hander Robbie Ray. Merrill initially tweaked his left ankle coming out of the box in Friday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers before being pulled early in Sunday's series finale at Dodgers Stadium. It sounds like more of a day-to-day injury for the 22-year-old, but fantasy managers will want to check back on Tuesday to see if he's able to return for the second game of the series. Johnson should be avoided as a DFS sleeper against Ray. Merrill got off to a strong start earlier this year but has been very mediocre with limited power since the All-Star break, going 27-for-106 (.255) with two homres, 19 RBI and nine runs in 27 games.Source: MLB.com
San Diego Padres outfielder Jake Burger Goes Back on Injured List
Jake
Burger
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on
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10-day
injured
list
on
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with
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left-wrist
sprain
and
recalled
outfielder
Alejandro
Osuna
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Cristian Javier Expected to Make Next Start
Cristian Javier (illness) is expected to be fine in time for his next start this weekend against the Baltimore Orioles. Javier was pulled from his latest start over the weekend due to illness. He didn't travel with the team for their series against the Detroit Tigers. The Astros don't exactly need him with the team right now considering he's not slated to throw until later in the week. Fantasy managers shouldn't have anything to worry about as Javier appears to be fine.Source: Brian McTaggart
Houston Astros starting pitcher Chris Sale Making Final Rehab Start This Weekend
Chris Sale (ribs) is scheduled to make a rehab start with Double-A Columbus on Saturday. Sale threw four innings during his most recent rehab outing on Sunday. If everything goes well, Sale should be cleared to rejoin the Braves rotation after his start on Saturday. The southpaw has been sidelined since late June due to a fractured left rib cage. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Sale on their IR with his return looming. There should be another update on his status following his rehab start this weekend.Source: Mark Bowman
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Austin Riley to Run Again on Tuesday
Austin Riley (abdominal) was able to run the bases on Sunday. However, Riley reportedly felt abdominal discomfort afterwards. Despite that, Riley is scheduled to run again on Tuesday, so hopefully there will be better results. Riley has been sidelined since early August due to an abdominal issue. There doesn't appear to be a timetable for his return at the moment. It's unclear if he'll require a rehab assignment or not. Fantasy managers should check back on Tuesday for another update on his status. Nacho Alvarez Jr. figures to continue seeing playing time at third base.Source: Mark Bowman
Atlanta Braves third baseman Bryce Miller to be Activated on Tuesday
Bryce Miller (elbow) will be activated off the 15-day injured list and start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, according to manager Dan Wilson. This is great news as Miller has been sidelined since early June due to right elbow inflammation. He looked solid enough during his latest rehab start to clear him for this outing. It has been a struggle to keep Miller healthy and on the mound this season. He holds a 5.73 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and a 39/23 K/BB ratio across 10 starts this season. Miller figures to be limited during his first outing back on the mound. He won't be an ideal streaming option against the Phillies, but should have good long term value, assuming he can stay healthy.Source: Daniel Kramer
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Brendan Donovan Heading to Injured List
Brendan Donovan (groin) was placed on the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday's game against the Miami Marlins. Finally, Donovan is placed on the IL after missing seven of the last nine games due to a lingering groin issue. It's a shame considering how well he has been playing, but Donovan needs some extra time to rest and recover. This was retroactive to August 15, so Donovan is eligible to return on August 25. The expectation is that Thomas Saggese will see a majority of the playing time at second base. Also, infielder Jose Fermin was recalled to take the spot on the active roster. He figures to be in the mix at second base as well.Source: Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals infielder/outfielder Pavin Smith Activated, Playing on Monday
Pavin Smith (oblique) was activated off the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. Smith is back in the mix after being sidelined since early July due to a right oblique strain. Before going down, Smith was slashing .261/.371/.446 with eight home runs and 28 RBI across 79 games. On Monday, Smith will cover first base and bat fifth versus right-hander Gavin Williams. It's unclear how much playing time Smith is going to see down the stretch with the D-Backs likely headed towards a rebuild. Smith is probably only worth a look in deep leagues.Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Salvador Perez Scratched on Monday With Illness
Salvador Perez (illness) has been scratched from Monday's series opener against the visiting Texas Rangers at Kauffman Stadium due to an illness, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Luke Maile will take over behind the plate to catch right-hander Michael Wacha and will hit eighth against Rangers right-handeer Jack Leiter. Perez is under the weather to begin the week, but there's a good chance he'll return on Tuesday for the second game of the series. Fantasy managers should check back then. The 35-year-old nine-time All-Star's play of late has left a lot to be desired in fantasy, as he's gone just 11-for-62 (.177) in 15 games in the month of August, although four of his 11 hits have cleared the fences and he's driven in six. Maile should be avoided in DFS lineups and has never faced Leiter in his career.Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
Kansas City Royals catcher Kyle Tucker to Get Multiple Days Off
Kyle Tucker will get multiple days off and will sit out of Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers. Tucker went 0-for-4 in the Game 1 loss at Wrigley Field and has a 57 percent ground-ball rate this month. He's in need of a reset. Since the All-Star break in mid-July, Tucker has gone 16-for-84 (.190) with a homer, two doubles, six RBI, 11 runs, three steals and a 19:17 BB:K in 25 games played. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger isn't the only Cubs hitter that is struggling right now, but it appears that Tucker is really pressing and has been visibly upset and uncomfortable at the dish. His second-half slump has dropped his season slash line to .263/.376/.451 with an .828 OPS. With Tucker out the next few days, Willi Castro and rookie Owen Caissie could see more at-bats.Source: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that struggling outfielder Shane Bieber to Make Season Debut on Friday
Shane Bieber (elbow) will make his 2025 debut in Friday's series opener on the road in Miami against the Marlins, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. Bieber will be making his first big-league start since April of 2024 after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for the 30-year-old veteran for the rest of the season, but his minor-league rehab assignment was encouraging, as he posted as 1.86 ERA with 37 strikeouts and only three walks in seven starts. He was able to throw 90 pitches in his final rehab start, so he's fully stretched out and shouldn't face any innings limitations on Friday in a solid matchup against the Fish on the road. If Bieber is still floating around on the waiver wire, he should be picked up if you are in need of pitching.Source: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Martin Perez to Start on Wednesday
Martin Perez will move into the team's starting rotation and toe the rubber on Wednesday versus the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Right-hander Aaron Civale will be pushed to Friday against the division-rival Minnesota Twins. Perez will take the rotation spot of right-hander Sean Burke, who was sent to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday. The matchup on Wednesday against Atlanta is a middling one for Perez, who has virtually no fantasy upside despite the move to a starting role. The 34-year-old veteran Venezuelan has made only five appearances (four starts) for the Pale Hose this year, and although he has a decent 3.09 ERA (3.59 FIP) and 1.29 WHIP, he's fanned only 22 and walked 13 in his 23 1/3 innings. Perez has a career 6.4 K/9 in 1,599 innings and is only worth a look in AL-only leagues.Source: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
Chicago White Sox left-hander Alex Lange Activated From 60-Day Injured List
Alex
Lange
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60-day
injured
list
on
Monday
and
optioned
left-hander
Bailey
Horn
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Triple-A
Toledo
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Tigers
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Felnin Celesten Promoted to High-A Everett
Source: Mariners Player Development
Seattle Mariners shortstop prospect Felnin Celesten has been promoted to High-A Everett after a successful 93 games at Single-A Modesto to begin the year. The Mariners' ninth-ranked prospect slashed .285/.349/.384 with five home runs and 20 steals for the Nuts, but was even better as of late, hitting safely in 20 of his last 24 games with a .309 batting average during that stretch. He'll get a shot at some stiffer competition to finish out the year, and hopefully he can carry this momentum into next season. The 19-year-old still has time to develop into more power, but already has solid hit and run tools, although it will be a few years before we see it in the major leagues.White Sox Send Sean Burke to Triple-A
Sean Burke to Triple-A Charlotte and recalled right-hander Owen White from Charlotte in a corresponding move. Burke gets the boot out of the team's big-league starting rotation after going 4-10 with a 4.28 ERA (4.85 FIP) and 1.44 WHIP with 110 strikeouts and 54 walks in 117 2/3 innings pitched over his 24 appearances (20 starts) in his second year in the big leagues for the Pale Hose. The 25-year-old did not go five innings in four of his last five outings and will now try to get right in the minors leagues for the Knights. Left-handed veteran Martin Perez will likely take Burke's spot in Chicago's starting rotation, but he will only be worth a look for rotation dept for fantasy managers desperate for innings in AL-only leagues.Source: Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox announced on Monday that they optioned right-hander