Elijah Arroyo Continues to Play Solid Ball in Preseason
Elijah Arroyo caught two passes for 19 yards in Friday's preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The second-round rookie has now caught four passes for 33 yards in two preseason games this season. He has displayed the athleticism that made him a second-round selection in the first place. The learning curve at tight end is difficult in the NFL, but reports on Arroyo have been solid throughout the summer, and he has played well this preseason. With veteran tight end Noah Fant out of the way following his recent release, Arroyo has a chance to rise the ranks in this offense in a hurry. Additionally, the Seahawks will likely employ two-tight-end sets relatively often. As such, Arroyo should see a lot of run with second-year tight end AJ Barner. Arroyo is a deep sleeper for 2025 and a great bet in dynasty leagues.Source: ESPN
Seattle Seahawks tight end Easton Stick Throws Another Preseason Touchdown in Loss
Easton Stick garnered most of the playing time under center in Friday's 23-20 loss to the Titans. The 29-year-old completed 19 of 32 attempts (59.4 percent) for 173 yards and a touchdown as well as an interception, while adding two rushes for 14 yards. The touchdown was a nice-looking 52-yard catch-and-run down the sideline to wide receiver Chris Blair. It was a solid follow-up performance to last week when he went 15-for-18 for 149 yards and a touchdown, and the seventh-year pro appears to be the frontrunner for the third quarterback spot as he battles it out with 25-year-old rookie Emory Jones, who completed two of his five attempts for 16 yards in the game. Without a starting job, though, neither warrants any fantasy attention.Source: ESPN
Atlanta Falcons third-string quarterback Lance McCullers Jr. Makes Rehab Start on Friday
Lance McCullers Jr. (finger) made a rehab start on Friday for Triple-A Sugar Land, allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks while striking out five batters in five innings of work. The 31-year-old threw 80 pitches in the contest, so he appears to be fully stretched out, and it's unclear whether or not he'll need another rehab start before rejoining the Astros. The veteran has been on the shelf due to a blister that could have been partially to blame for his ineffectiveness over his two starts before hitting the injured list. For the season, the right-hander owns a 6.90 ERA (5.86 FIP), 1.74 WHIP, and a 9.7 percent K-BB% and should only be rostered in deep leagues upon his return.Source: MiLB.com
Houston Astros starting pitcher Commanders Activate Terry McLaurin From PUP List
Terry McLaurin (ankle) from the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list on Saturday. While this transaction does not suggest a contract agreement is near, it does open the door for the star wideout to return to practice. Through training camp, the Ohio State product has been participating in a "hold-in" while seeking a contract extension. McLaurin formally requested a trade as well. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as this transaction could allow McLaurin to participate in light football activities, which could allow both sides to come to a contract agreement. Last season, McLaurin enjoyed a career year, catching 13 touchdowns and tallying 1,096 yards on 82 receptions. If he were to agree to a contract with the team, fantasy managers should feel confident viewing him as a high-end WR2 playing alongside superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels.Source: Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders have activated wide receiver Simeon Woods Richardson Strikes Out Four in Rehab Start
Simeon Woods Richardson (illness) made his first rehab start at Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four in two shutout innings for the Saints. The 24-year-old has been sidelined after having a parasite removed from his digestive tract earlier this month, having last pitched for the Twins on July 28. The right-hander threw just 34 pitches in the rehab start, so he will likely need a couple more before being activated from the injured list, so look for a late August or early September return. The 6-foot-3 hurler owns a 4.24 ERA (4.71 FIP), 1.40 WHIP, and a 9.7 percent K-BB% through 16 starts this season (80 2/3 innings pitched), so he should be left on the wiaver wire in most fantasy leagues even when he returns.Source: MiLB.com
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Rico Garcia Will be Opener for the Orioles on Saturday
Rico Garcia will be the team's opener for Saturday's game against the Astros, with left-hander Cade Povich to follow. The right-handed Garcia would theoretically see a trio of right-handed batters at the top of Houston's lineup, with the team's left-handed options typically hitting lower in the order. Garcia won't last very long in this game, so he would not be a viable DFS option, while Povich brings a 4.95 ERA and 1.43 WHIP into the contest and does not have much appeal beyond his 9.43 K/9 through 76 1/3 innings pitched this year. Houston also boasts the third-highest batting average against left-handed pitching this year, so DFS managers may want to look elsewhere for pitching while potentially stacking Houston batters.Source: Andy Kostka
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Alan Roden Diagnosed With Sprained Thumb
Alan Roden (thumb), who was scratched from Friday's lineup, has been diagnosed with a sprained left thumb ligament. There is no official word yet on whether or not he'll need to go on the injured list, but if he does, Austin Martin could be the beneficiary of more playing time. Roden was traded to the Twins at the beginning of the month, but has slashed just .158/.200/.263 in 12 games for his new club. Martin was recalled from Triple-A at the beginning of the month as well, and has slashed .250/.302/.400 in 14 games and offers some pop and some speed, however, neither Roden nor Martin are an appealing fantasy option in most leagues.Source: Aaron Gleeman
Minnesota Twins outfielder Casey Schmitt Departs After Being Hit by a Pitch
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Can Austin Dillon Repeat Magic at Richmond?
Last season at Richmond Raceway, we witnessed one of the most memorable races of the season, as Austin Dillon had the field covered until a late-race caution caused him to go kamikaze mode on Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin en routeJosh Berry Has Upside at Richmond
Source: ifantasyrace
Don't count out Josh Berry from getting a strong finish in Saturday night's Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. In three career Cup Series starts at this track, Berry has finished 14th or better each time, including a runner-up finish in the 2023 race when he was filling in in the No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Last season, when he was driving for Stewart-Haas Racing, he ended up 11th and 14th. This weekend, Berry qualified 17th and should be able to move up, as the No. 21 Ford looked pretty good on the long run in practice, ranking seventh-fastest in 25-lap average. At similar tracks this season, Berry has finished fourth at Phoenix and 13th at Iowa, so there is definitely upside here. In terms of DFS, though, Berry comes at a relatively high price tag, at $8,000 on DraftKings. You can still use him, maybe as a pivot in large-field tournament contests.Chandler Simpson Continues Stellar Run on Friday
Chandler Simpson went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs during their victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday evening. He also swiped a bag. In the sixth inning, Simpson ripped a two-run single, which scored Jake Mangum and Ha-Seong Kim. Over his last six contests, the 24-year-old has tallied at least one hit in each game and posted a remarkable .500/.538/.625 line with two stolen bases and a 1.163 OPS. Through his first 74 games in the major season, the Georgia Tech product has looked rather impressive, holding a .307/.342/.360 line with an eye-catching 34 stolen bases. Even though he carries minimal power upside, Simpson remains a must-start option given his elite batting average and speed production.Source: MLB.com
Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Michael McDowell Could Have Top-10 Upside at Richmond
Source: Driver Averages
Michael McDowell could be a driver that sneaks into the top 10 when it's all said and done at Richmond Raceway on Saturday night. The Spire Motorsports driver qualified 10th for this weekend's Cook Out 400 and had a pretty decent practice session, posting the 12th-fastest single lap and ranking 14th-best when it came to 20-lap average. McDowell's track history at Richmond is pretty awful, though, and over the last 13 races here, he has only cracked the top 20 twice. However, one of those times was last season (he finished 15th), and the other time was in 2023, when he ended up sixth--so they're both recent. One of McDowell's strengths is high-tire wear tracks, so that should help him in this weekend. In DFS, McDowell is a very risky play ($6,100 on DraftKings) that should be used sparingly in tournament-style lineups. For what it's worth, he ended up 12th at Martinsville earlier this season. Alex Bowman Has Struggled at Richmond Recently
Source: ifantasyrace
Alex Bowman was a part of one of the most memorable recent races at Richmond Raceway when he went to victory lane here in 2021, but since then, Bowman "The Showman" hasn't been great at "The Action Track." Although he did finish eighth here both in 2022 and 2023, Bowman has ended up 17th or worse in four of his last five starts at this race track, so it makes for an interesting decision for fantasy players to make on whether or not to pick him for this weekend's Cook Out 400. One positive thing when it comes to Bowman is that he has been solid on the shorter, flat tracks this season, with seventh-place finishes at both Phoenix and Iowa. He also finished fourth in the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro. As far as DFS goes, Bowman is $7,800 on DraftKings and has minimal Place Differential upside, as he starts ninth. He could be a pivot option in this price range, but you should only consider that in tournament-style lineups. Luis Pena Extends Hitting Streak with Home Run
Luis Pena went 1-for-5 with a home run during their contest against High-A Great Lakes on Friday evening. This was Pena's fourth-straight game, tallying a hit. Since joining High-A Wisconsin, Pena has looked quite productive. Through his first nine games at the High-A level, Pena has tallied at least one hit in all but one game and held an overall .278/.381/.611 slash line with three doubles, three home runs, and a stolen base. During this stretch, Pena has held an 11:5 K:BB. The 18-year-old opened the campaign with Low-A, where he posted an impressive .307/.374/.470 line with 14 doubles, six home runs, and an eye-catching 40 stolen bases. The No. 2-ranked prospect in the Milwaukee system is a prospect to monitor in all dynasty formats closely.Source: MiLB.com
Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect AJ Allmendinger Qualifies Third at One of His Worst Tracks
Source: Jayski
One surprising name near the top of the speed chart during qualifying at Richmond Raceway this weekend was AJ Allmendinger, who has struggled mightily at "The Action Track" for years. Over the last 10 races at Richmond Raceway, Allmendinger hasn't been able to finish better than 20th, and you have to go back to 2014 to find a race here where he finished inside the top 10. In other words, be leery about the speed that Allmendinger has shown this weekend. The qualifying effort was obviously great for this No. 16 Kaulig Racing team, but it's hard to imagine Allmendinger maintaining that track position during the race on Saturday night. In DFS, he is a full fade considering the very high potential for negative Place Differential.John Hunter Nemechek Could Have Potential at Richmond
Source: Driver Averages
If you're looking for a low-tier sleeper to take a shot on in this weekend's Cook Out 400, John Hunter Nemechek may be your guy. Richmond is a 0.75-mile short, flat track, and when you look at the comparable tracks from this season, JHN hasn't been half bad. He finished 14th at Phoenix (after starting 36th), finished second in his All Star Open race at North Wilkesboro, and then came home fourth in the Last Chance Race at Bowman Gray. Additionally, Nemechek ended up 15th at Iowa earlier this month. Now, as far as his track record here at Richmond specifically, it isn't very good (with no finish better than 25th), but it appears as though this No. 42 team is consistently finding speed at flat track this year. Nemechek qualified 34th for Saturday night's race at Richmond, making him an attractive Place Differential option in DFS that could go under the radar. Considering using John Hunter Nemechek ($6,200 on DraftKings) in tournament-style lineups.Aidan Miller Goes Deep, Swipes a Bag
Aidan Miller went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and a stolen base during their contest against Double-A Akron on Friday evening. This was his second straight multi-hit game and second straight contest tallying a double. Over his last 16 games at Double-A Reading, the former 27th overall pick has posted an elite .338/.442/.569 slash line with nine doubles, two home runs, and nine stolen bases. Through 93 total games at Double-A this season, the 21-year-old has enjoyed a solid campaign, posting a .239/.356/.390 line, but he appears to have begun to turn the corner in the second half. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as he could be given a brief taste of Triple-A later in the season.Source: MiLB.com
Philadelphia Phillies infield prospect J.J. Wetherholt Making Strong Case for MLB Promotion
J.J. Wetherholt continued to flash immense power upside at Triple-A on Friday evening. Facing Charlotte, the top-ranked prospect in St. Louis went 1-for-4 with a solo shot and a walk. This was his second round-tripper over his last three games. During these three games, Wetherholt has tallied at least one hit in each contest. Overall since earning the call to join the top ranks of the St. Louis system, the former West Virginia product has not disappointed, posting a .297/.394/.648 slash line with eight home runs and a 1.042 OPS through 24 games. Earlier in the campaign, Wetherholt held a .300/.425/.466 line through his first 62 games at Double-A. Given his elite hitting upside, Wetherholt is a top hitting prospect to stash in redraft leagues.Source: MiLB.com
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop prospect Leodalis De Vries Launches Two Home Runs
Leodalis De Vries had a monster day at the plate on Friday evening. Facing High-A Dayton, De Vries went 3-for-4 with a double, two home runs, and five RBI. He also drew a walk and scored three runs. Since joining the Athletics in a blockbuster deal that sent Mason Miller to San Diego, De Vries has held a .229/.326/.458 line with a double, two home runs, and a stolen base. During the first half of the season, playing with High-A Fort Wayne, De Vries posted a solid .245/.357/.410 line with 19 doubles, eight home runs, and eight stolen bases. Dynasty managers should continue to monitor De Vries's development as he is considered one of the top hitting prospects in the entire sport. Even though he is several seasons away from his MLB debut, he is a top stash option in all keeper formats.Source: MiLB.com
Athletics shortstop prospect Charlee Soto Undergoes Elbow Surgery
Charlee Soto (elbow) underwent surgery to repair a detached bone spur in his elbow. As a result, he will miss the remainder of the season but should be in a good position to be ready for spring training. Soto made his professional debut in 2024 and spent the entire season with Low-A. Through 74 innings, he held a modest 5.23 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP. During this stretch, Soto struck out 87 batters and allowed 33 walks. However, this season, Soto has taken the next step with High-A. Across 13 innings with Cedar Rapids, he has held a 1.38 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP before suffering the injury. Fantasy managers should expect the 19-year-old to spend most of the 2026 season with High-A, given the time he missed.Source: Bobby Nightengale
Minnesota Twins right-handed pitching prospect Carson Steele With Seven Rushes In Loss
Carson Steele led the backfield in the 16-33 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Steele paced the team with seven carries but only managed 22 yards, good for 3.1 yards per carry. He also brought in one catch for a loss of a yard. Despite having the most carries, Steele tied with fellow backup Brashard Smith in rushing yards. Steele figures to be the third-string running back at best and could still be competing for that role. Steele is best left undrafted heading into the 2025 season.Source: NFL.com
Kansas City Chiefs running back Gardner Minshew Productive In Loss
Gardner Minshew completed seven of nine passes (78%) for 70 yards and a touchdown in the 16-33 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Minshew found Robert Tonyan in the back of the endzone on a rollout for an easy score. It was a nice sign to see for Chiefs fans, knowing they have a capable backup behind Patrick Mahomes. That said, Minshew will not have any fantasy value this season unless Mahomes gets injured.Source: NFL - Twitter
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Robert Tonyan Scores In Preseason Loss
Robert Tonyan played a big role in the 16-33 preseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Tonyan had five catches for 41 yards and a touchdown in Friday's contest. It was the second week in a row that Tonyan led the Chiefs in receiving, which might mean that there is a role for him behind Travis Kelce as a backup tight end. The 31-year-old has been a red-zone threat in the past, so maybe he will be utilized in that area of the field in the regular season. Despite his production in the preseason, Tonyan's actual role is still undefined and should not be considered a fantasy asset during draft season.Source: NFL - Twitter
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Isiah Pacheco Looks Fast On Lone Touch
Isiah Pacheco only had one touch in the 16-33 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but he looked good on that play. Pacheco corralled a third-down reception and turned it into a 22-yard gain. Pacheco reached 17 miles per hour on that run, a good sign for his health. His work in the preseason has remained limited, which bodes well for his value in the regular season. After missing time due to injury last season, Pacheco is set to begin the year fully healthy and carry the load as Kansas City's lead back.Source: Michael F. Florio - NFL
Kansas City Chiefs running back David Bednar Converts 19th Save
David Bednar continued an eventful first couple of weeks with the club on Friday, securing the save in a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Bednar pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with two strikeouts to hold off the Cardinals for his 19th save of the year. Since the Yankees acquired him from the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 31, the right-hander has converted two saves, blown two saves, gotten a win, and picked up a hold in a six-appearance span. The Yankees traded for Bednar to add another high-leverage arm in front of then-closer Devin Williams, who has since lost the job to Bednar as a result of immense struggles. Bednar, meanwhile, has pitched to a stellar 2.35 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP, 65 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 46 innings.Source: ESPN
New York Yankees reliever Phil Maton Takes Second Straight Loss on Friday
Phil Maton suffered a blown save and took the loss for the second straight game on Friday. With the Rangers leading the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 in the eighth, they called on Maton to escape a jam with runners on first and third and no outs. Instead, Maton allowed the inherited runners to score and gave up an earned run of his own on a hit and two walks. He fell to 2-5 on the season and has yielded five earned runs on three hits with 5:3 K:BB in his past two appearances. Maton has still pitched well this year between St. Louis and Texas, having put up a 3.15 ERA with 57:19 K:BB in 45 2/3 innings, but he hasn't been able to seize the Rangers' wide-open closer's role since they acquired him on July 31.Source: ESPN
Texas Rangers reliever Jacob Misiorowski Stumbles in Return From Injury
Jacob Misiorowski returned from the 15-day injured list on Friday and struggled in a 10-8 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Misiorowski, back after missing two weeks with a tibia contusion, yielded five earned runs on four hits and three walks (with three strikeouts) over 1 1/3 innings. The 23-year-old threw just 28 of 54 pitches for strikes, though he did continue to show off jaw-dropping velocity, maxing out at 101.7 mph and reaching the 100 mph mark 12 times. Misiorowski's ERA climbed by over a run on Friday, going from 2.70 to 3.89, while he also holds a 1.15 WHIP with 50:17 K:BB across his first 34 2/3 frames in the majors. The Brewers haven't announced a date for his next start, but it's likely to come during a five-game series against the division-rival Chicago Cubs next week.Source: ESPN
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Victor Vodnik Picks Up Another Save on Friday
Victor Vodnik logged his fifth save of the year in a 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. The 25-year-old right-hander threw a perfect, 12-pitch ninth inning with two strikeouts to lock up his third save since Tuesday. Interim manager Warren Schaeffer said Vodnik and Juan Mejia would share closing duties when Seth Halvorsen went on the 15-day injured list Aug. 3, but Vodnik has recorded all of the Rockies' saves since then. Vodnik owns a respectable 3.62 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings, but he also carries a high WHIP (1.54) and an inflated walk rate (5.06 per nine).Source: ESPN
Colorado Rockies reliever Tanner Scott Throws Simulated Inning on Friday
Tanner Scott (elbow) threw a 22-pitch simulated inning against teammates on Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. It's the first time Scott has faced hitters since landing on the 15-day injured list on July 22 with inflammation in his left elbow. Scott went to the shelf with a 4.14 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and 50:11 K:BB over 45 2/3 innings. While the 31-year-old leads the Dodgers with 19 saves, he's also still ranked last in the league in blown saves (seven) despite missing the past three-plus weeks. The Dodgers are expecting Scott to return in late August, and he should jump right back into high-leverage situations when he rejoins their bullpen.Source: Fabian Ardaya - The Athletic
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Marcelo Mayer Questionable to Return This Season
Marcelo Mayer (wrist) has begun taking dry swings, but manager Alex Cora told reporters that he's unsure if the rookie will play again this season. Mayer went on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right wrist on July 24, and he received an anti-inflammation injection on Aug. 2. However, he hasn't recovered as quickly as hoped after the injection. Almost two weeks later, Mayer is doing "OK, not great," according to Cora. While Mayer has hit a subpar .228/.272/.402 with four homers, 10 RBI, and 20 runs scored in his first 136 plate appearances in the bigs this season, the 22-year-old remains an important part of Boston's long-term plans. With that in mind, the Red Sox aren't going to bring Mayer back this season unless they're certain he's fully healthy. As of now, his chances of returning in 2025 don't look great.Source: Mac Cerullo - Boston Herald
Injured Boston Red Sox infielder