August 23, 2025
Cincinnati Reds catcher
Tyler Stephenson (thumb) has been getting himself fitted for a padded thumb guard for his fractured thumb. This guard will then be inserted inside the catcher's mitt, as the team believes that he can play again this season. The 29-year-old catcher suffered an injury to his thumb on August 8, and then re-aggravated it one week later in a game on August 15. It was revealed shortly afterward that he had, in fact, suffered the fracture, and he has been out of action since then. Stephenson has had a disappointing season at the plate. Over his 72 games played, he has mustered a .226 batting average with just nine homers, 36 RBI, and 32 runs scored. The team will likely take a cautious approach to his return.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
August 23, 2025
Texas Rangers second baseman
Marcus Semien (foot) was held out of action on Friday, after X-ray imaging came back negative on his left foot contusion. He remained in a walking boot after an inconclusive MRI on Friday, indicating that the injury could be more serious than first believed.
Ezequiel Duran played in place of the injured 34-year-old and may see additional playing time should Semien's absence persist. The three-time All-Star has struggled all season with a .230 batting average to go alongside 15 homers and 11 steals. A trip to the Injured List has not yet been ruled out.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
August 23, 2025
New York Mets outfielder
Juan Soto reached base five times in a 3-for-4 effort during Friday's 12-7 win over the Braves, including two walks, a home run, four RBI, and two runs scored. It was his seventh home run in his last 14 games, now up to 32 on the year, and he's now slashing .251/.386/.500 with a .377 wOBA and 147 wRC+ through 126 games. He'll face off with the Braves' newly acquired
Cal Quantrill on Saturday, who brings a 5.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and a lowly 6.73 K/9 into the contest. Soto is also 1-for-2 with a walk against the righty, and with the Mets having one of the highest implied run totals on the board Saturday, Soto should once again be a strong DFS option.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
August 23, 2025
Los Angeles Angels third baseman
Yoan Moncada went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Cubs. Moncada's home runs accounted for two of the Angels' three hits on the night, and it was his second straight game with a home run. It has been another injury-riddled season for the 30-year-old, limited to just 59 games, but he's now up to 11 home runs despite the limited playing time, and is 10-for-28 (.357) over his last nine games, including two doubles, three home runs, six RBI, and five runs scored. Season-long fantasy managers may shy away, but the switch-hitter could be a sneaky DFS play while he's hot.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
August 23, 2025
San Francisco Giants shortstop
Willy Adames went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Brewers. It was the second straight game with a home run for the 29-year-old, and it gives him four home runs in his last seven games. The right-handed slugger's batting average sits at a paltry .224 with a .315 wOBA and 104 wRC+ for the season, but he's now up to 22 home runs, 65 RBI, and 76 runs scored. He's hitting just .149 (11-for-74) in August, but for what it is worth, the Dominican is still barreling the ball at a 14.9 percent rate this month and his xSLG for the year is .454 compared to his actual SLG of .410, so there should be more power to come over the remainder of the season, although it looks like he'll fall short of the 32 home run total he tallied last year.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
August 23, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks reliever
Ryan Thompson (shoulder) threw a simulated game at Chase Field on Friday. The 33-year-old is working his way back from a right scapular strain and hasn't pitched since July 4. Before the injury, the right-hander posted a 4.45 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, a 12.9 percent K-BB%, and also earned one save and 11 holds for the D-backs in 32 1/3 innings pitched. The next step in the progression will be to pitch against live hitters, either in a minor league or camp game, before being activated off the injured list. Without a dedicated closer in Arizona, Thompson could be in the mix for save chances, so fantasy managers desperate for saves should keep an eye on the situation when he returns.
--Jarod RuppSource: MLB.com
August 23, 2025
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher
Paul Sewald (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session prior to Saturday's home matchup against the Royals. The veteran has been on the shelf with a shoulder strain and hasn't pitched since July 11. The right-hander began a throwing progression on August 4, but this session will mark the first time he'll be throwing off a mound. The 35-year-old posted a 4.70 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a strong 22.6 percent K-BB% in 15 1/3 innings pitched earlier this season, and so long as he does not suffer a setback, he appears to be on track to be ready when he is first eligible to return on September 10.
--Jarod RuppSource: Evan Petzold
August 23, 2025
Making his long-awaited return from April 2024 Tommy John surgery and his debut with the Toronto Blue Jays, right-hander
Shane Bieber was spectacular in a 5-2 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday. The former AL Cy Young winner went six innings, allowed one earned run on two hits, and recorded nine strikeouts against no walks to notch his first win in 16 months. Bieber threw 87 pitches (55 strikes) and generated 15 whiffs on the night. Toronto couldn't have asked for a better first outing when it took a gamble on Bieber in a deal with the Cleveland Guardians at the July 31 trade deadline. The 30-year-old will have a chance to keep rolling Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins, whose offense has been among the league's worst over the past few weeks.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
August 22, 2025
Cleveland Guardians reliever
Cade Smith was unable to shut the door on the Texas Rangers in a 4-3 loss on Friday. Smith came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning with a 3-2 lead and proceeded to allow three straight hits, including a walk-off double by
Joc Pederson. The 26-year-old picked up his fifth blown save and fell to 5-5 on the season. The normally effective Smith has now surrendered at least one earned run in three consecutive appearances and blown back-to-back saves. Considering Smith has been among the game's best high-leverage arms since he debuted in 2024, there's no reason to panic over his recent struggles. The right-hander still owns a 3.14 ERA (2.26 FIP) with a 1.13 WHIP, 77:19 K:BB, 19 holds, and seven saves in 57 1/3 innings this season.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
August 22, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates standout pitching prospect
Bubba Chandler more than matched the hype in his major league debut against the Colorado Rockies on Friday. The 22-year-old right-hander, who ranks as MLB Pipeline's top pitching prospect, came out of the bullpen and threw four scoreless innings to earn the save in a 9-0 victory. Chandler became the fourth pitcher ever to collect a four-inning save in his first game in the majors. He did it on 40 pitches (29 strikes) while allowing two hits, striking out three, and issuing no walks. Chandler flashed his intimidating velocity along the way, throwing the game's 13 fastest pitches, which ranged from 98.2 to 100.4 mph. Although he's beginning his career in relief, saves should be a rarity for Chandler, especially with the team expected to give him some starts over the final few weeks of the season. Regardless, his first appearance in the bigs couldn't have gone much better.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
August 22, 2025
Baltimore Orioles first baseman
Coby Mayo (hand) had an injury scare Friday when he took a 97 mph fastball off the right hand in a 10-7 loss to the Houston Astros, but X-rays came back negative after the game. The 23-year-old stayed in to finish the contest after Astros reliever
Bryan Abreu hit him to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning. Mayo ended the night 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored to continue a disappointing offensive season. Across 182 plate appearances, Mayo has hit .201/.280/.348 with five homers, 19 RBI, and 18 runs. It's unclear if he'll be in the lineup when the Orioles face the Astros on Saturday.
--Connor ByrneSource: Roch Kubatko - MASNSports.com
August 22, 2025
The Los Angeles Angels activated right-hander
Robert Stephenson (biceps) from the 60-day injured list on Friday and optioned fellow righty
Chase Silseth to Triple-A Salt Lake. Stephenson is back after missing two-plus months with a stretched nerve in his bicep, continuing an injury-marred Angels tenure for the 32-year-old. Stephenson joined the Angels on a three-year, $33 million contract heading into 2024, but he has barely pitched since then. He missed all of last year as a result of Tommy John surgery, and after working back to make his 2025 debut on May 28, he made just two appearances before the team placed him back on the IL. Having logged a mere one inning with the Halos, Stephenson will aim to stay healthy for the rest of the season and head into the winter on a positive note.
--Connor ByrneSource: Los Angeles Angels
August 22, 2025
Miami Marlins reliever
Jesus Tinoco (forearm) is set to undergo surgery to repair his right forearm flexor muscle. The procedure will cost Tinoco the rest of this season and likely a sizable portion of the 2026 campaign. The 30-year-old last pitched June 2 and landed on the 15-day injured list shortly after that outing. Tinoco tried to work his way back, but the Marlins had to shut him down on Aug. 12 when it became clear that he wasn't recovering well the day after throwing. He made 20 appearances for the Marlins in 2025 and went 2-1 with a 5.12 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, 10:8 K:BB, four saves, and four holds over 19 1/3 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 22, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays optioned right-hander
Joe Boyle to Triple-A Durham on Friday and recalled righty
Brian Van Belle to take his roster spot. Boyle had been working out of Tampa Bay's rotation, but the team demoted him after three straight rough starts in which he yielded a combined 15 earned runs on 17 hits and 10 walks (13 strikeouts) in 9 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old owned a 2.30 ERA before that stretch, but that figure has ballooned by over three runs in two weeks. As a result, Boyle will head back to Durham 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts against 21 walks across 36 2/3 frames. He had been scheduled to make his next start for the Rays on Wednesday against the Cleveland Guardians, but the club hasn't named a replacement yet.
--Connor ByrneSource: Tampa Bay Rays
August 22, 2025
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Walker Buehler is officially shifting to the bullpen, according to manager Alex Cora. There has been speculation about this with how poorly Buehler has been pitching this season. He currently holds a 5.40 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and a 82/54 K/BB ratio across 22 starts this season. The Red Sox could use the help in the bullpen with multiple relievers currently sidelined with injuries. The move to the bullpen will eliminate any fantasy value that Buehler still had left. The Red Sox haven't named a starting pitcher for Monday's game, but
Richard Fitts and
Kyle Harrison seem like the favorites.
--Andy WebbSource: Chris Cotillo
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