August 20, 2025
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher
Nick Lodolo (finger) threw a side session near full speed on Tuesday and is set to throw one more in the coming days. Lodolo was placed on the 15-day injured list on August 5 with a left index finger blister. Manager Terry Francona said there is a chance he could return for the August 25-27 series against the Dodgers, provided he remains on schedule. The 27-year-old has dealt with blisters throughout his career. He was putting together a strong season before hitting the IL, going 8-6 with a 3.05 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and a 23.6% strikeout rate in 23 starts and 129 2/3 innings pitched. Hopefully, he can return on the projected dates, although fantasy managers may not want to throw him into their lineups right away, given the tough matchup.
--Connelly DoanSource: MLB.com
August 20, 2025
Washington Nationals pitching prospect
Jarlin Susana allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out 13 on Tuesday against Double-A Erie. The big right-hander mowed hitters down all night, racking up 20 swings and misses. Susana has been cruising in four starts during August, holding a 1.45 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and a 34:6 K:BB ratio in 18.2 innings. The walk rate is still high for the season, but he consistently touches 100 MPH and has a future 80-grade slider that carves up hitters. He's spent time on the injured list this season, but looks to be rounding into form over the last month. He'll look to finish out strong and make a push to be considered for a role in the Nationals' pitching staff in 2026.
--Kyle McCarthySource: MiLB.com
August 20, 2025
New York Mets manager
Carlos Mendoza announced Tuesday that catcher
Francisco Alvarez (thumb) will need surgery on his thumb. Alvarez was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Monday with a right thumb UCL sprain. However, Mendoza said they will see if he can play through it and that they are "hopeful", as Alvarez's season may be done if he receives the surgery. The 23-year-old has put together a decent offensive season when he has been up with the Mets, slashing .265/.349/.438 with seven home runs and 24 RBI in 209 plate appearances. His current injury timing is unfortunate, as he had been hitting well since returning from Triple-A Syracuse at the end of July.
Luis Torrens should see increased playing time in Alvarez's absence.
--Connelly DoanSource: Anthony DiComo - X.com
August 20, 2025
Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough announced Tuesday that relief pitcher
Anthony Bender (leg) will be out for the rest of the season with a right tibial stress reaction. Bender was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier in the day. This will hurt the Marlins' bullpen down the stretch, as the 30-year-old was a solid option, notching four saves and 19 holds with a 2.16 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and a 20.6% strikeout rate in 50 innings of work. From a fantasy perspective, Bender was likely only rostered in saves-plus-holds leagues, as he had not seen any save opportunities lately.
--Connelly DoanSource: Stephen Strom - X.com
August 20, 2025
New York Mets pitching prospect
Brandon Sproat allowed one run on two hits and a walk while punching out eight in a 6-5 loss against Triple-A Indianapolis. Sproat bounced back with a gem after allowing five runs in his previous start. The right-hander generated 12 whiffs on 40 swings for the night, all coming from his four-seam and breaking ball combination. It's been a tale of two halves for Sproat as he struggled to a 5.95 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 62 innings in the first half. He holds a 2.05 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 48.1 innings since the break. When he's consistently throwing strikes and letting his stuff play in the zone, he's found success. He could be a candidate to come up to the majors when the rosters expand and would be a good add in deeper formats.
--Kyle McCarthySource: MiLB.com
August 20, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop
Joey Ortiz (knee, stomach) will not play in Wednesday's game against the Cubs due to a right knee bruise and stomach issues, per manager Pat Murphy. Ortiz fouled a ball off of his knee in the seventh inning of Tuesday's Game 2's 4-1 loss to the Cubs and was replaced defensively in the bottom half of the inning by
Andruw Monasterio. Ortiz went 1-for-5 with a single, a walk, and a strikeout across both games. Fortunately, X-rays came back negative, and it sounds like the 27-year-old is day-to-day, although fantasy managers should keep an eye out for more news on Wednesday. Ortiz's offensive season stats are not impressive, but he has put together an excellent August with a .354/.400/.462 slash line and two stolen bases.
--Connelly DoanSource: Adam McCalvy - X.com
August 19, 2025
New York Yankees reliever
Jonathan Loaisiga (back/elbow/triceps) is dealing with soreness in his right elbow/triceps area and will undergo an MRI, manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday. Loaisiga, who has been on the 15-day injured list since Aug. 2 with back stiffness, had been on a rehab assignment and targeting a Sept. 1 return. That won't happen in the wake of this setback, though, and it's all the more concerning given that Loaisiga has undergone multiple elbow surgeries in his career. He missed almost all of the 2024 season after having surgery on a torn UCL that April and didn't make his debut this year until mid-May. Loaisiga posted a 4.25 ERA with a 1.48 WHIP, 25:10 K:BB, and seven holds in 29 2/3 innings before he went on the IL.
--Connor ByrneSource: Bryan Hoch - MLB.com
August 19, 2025
San Diego Padres left-hander
JP Sears will start against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. The Padres acquired Sears from the Athletics at the July 31 trade deadline, but after he gave up five earned runs on 10 hits over five innings in his debut on Aug. 4, they optioned him to Triple-A El Paso. The 29-year-old was a competent back-end starter with the A's from 2022-24, but he has posted a career-worst 5.12 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP and 101:30 K:BB in 116 innings this season. He'll have a chance to get on track facing a San Francisco offense that ranks 25th in the majors in runs and has recorded the league's worst wOBA (.272) against lefties.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 19, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
Luis Garcia (elbow) was hit around in a Double-A rehab start on Tuesday. In his eighth rehab outing of the season, the 28-year-old yielded five earned runs on seven hits and logged six strikeouts against two walks over 4 1/3 innings. Despite the poor results, Garcia built up to 84 pitches as he continues getting closer to his long-awaited return to the majors. Garcia, who hasn't pitched for the Astros since May 1, 2023, has dealt with multiple setbacks in his two-plus years since undergoing Tommy John surgery. It's unclear if he'll rejoin the Astros or make another rehab start.
--Connor ByrneSource: MiLB.com
August 19, 2025
The Miami Marlins announced that they have placed right-handed reliever
Anthony Bender (leg) on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Aug. 18, with a right tibial stress reaction. The team recalled lefty
Cade Gibson from Triple-A Jacksonville to take Bender's roster spot. One of the Marlins' most effective high-leverage relievers, Bender heads to the shelf with a 2.16 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, 42:21 K:BB, and 19 holds in 50 innings. He picked up his fourth save of the year on Sunday with a scoreless ninth in a 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox.
--Connor ByrneSource: Miami Marlins
August 19, 2025
San Francisco Giants shortstop
Willy Adames (side) is dealing with soreness in his right side and isn't in the lineup against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, John Shea of the San Francisco Standard reports.
Christian Koss will fill in for Adames at short and hit sixth in a meeting with right-hander
Nick Pivetta. It's a rare night off for Adames, who will miss his second game out of 126 in his first season with the Giants. After a white-hot July (.337/.422/.674 with seven home runs and 21 RBI in 24 games), Adames has gotten off to a terrible start in August. He's just 8-for-65 (.123) with three homers, five RBI, and 25:6 K:BB in 17 games this month. The 29-year-old has put together a middling .222/.308/.392 line with 19 HRs, 62 RBI, 73 runs scored, and six stolen bases over 531 plate appearances this season.
--Connor ByrneSource: John Shea - The San Francisco Standard
August 19, 2025
San Diego Padres outfielder
Jackson Merrill (ankle) is not in the lineup on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants.
Ramon Laureano will take over in center field and hit sixth versus Giants right-hander
Kai-Wei Teng, while
Gavin Sheets will play left and bat seventh. This is the second straight night off for Merrill, who rolled his left ankle in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers last Friday. He started the Padres' next two games against the Dodgers over the weekend, but he left early on Sunday and hasn't played since. While it doesn't appear likely that Merrill will require a stint on the 10-day injured list, fantasy managers should check back on Wednesday to see if he returns to the lineup.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 19, 2025
Cincinnati Reds catcher
Tyler Stephenson (thumb) will miss his fourth straight game on Tuesday as a result of a sore left thumb.
Jose Trevino will do the catching and hit seventh against Los Angeles Angels right-hander
Kyle Hendricks. Stephenson, who hasn't played since last Friday, has hit a woeful 3-for-27 (.111) with one home run and two RBI in eight games this month. This has been a disappointing campaign overall for the 29-year-old, owner of a .226/.313/.393 line with nine homers, 36 RBI, and 32 runs scored across 288 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: mlb.com
August 19, 2025
Texas Rangers catcher
Kyle Higashioka (hamstring) remains out of action for Tuesday's game on the road against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Jonah Heim will do the catching again for right-hander
Merrill Kelly and will bat ninth against Royals right-hander
Seth Lugo. Higashioka is dealing with what is considered a mild hamstring injury, but it has now caused him to miss the last four games. It could quickly become an injured list situation if the 35-year-old veteran cannot return to the diamond soon. Higgy hasn't been as productive at the plate in Texas while sharing time behind the dish with Heim as he was for the San Diego Padres last year. He's currently batting .256 (57-for-223) with eight homers, 33 RBI and 24 runs. Heim has one more homer than Higashioka but is hitting a meager .218 (70-for-321) in 97 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August
19,
2025
Kansas
City
Royals
catcher
Salvador
Perez
(illness)
is
out
of
the
starting
lineup
for
the
second
straight
day
due
to
an
illness
in
the
second
game
of
the
series
on
Tuesday
against
the
visiting
Texas
Rangers.
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