Colton Cowser, Tyler O'Neill Not Ready Yet
Colton Cowser (concussion) and Tyler O'Neill (wrist) aren't quite ready to return from the injured list yet. On Wednesday, O's interim manager Tony Mansolino said Cowser won't be activated from the 7-day concussion list when first eligible on Thursday. The left-handed slugger is still going through concussion protocol, so he can't be activated until he has cleared that. As for O'Neill, he'll likely be sidelined until late August or early September. He's eligible to be activated off the injured list this weekend, but hasn't been making great progress in his recovery from his right wrist injury. He'll likely require a rehab assignment before being cleared to return to the O's lineup. Fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked if O'Neill is out until early September.Source: Jacob Calvin Meyer
Baltimore Orioles outfielders Austin Riley Unlikely to Return This Week
Austin Riley (abdominal) reportedly felt discomfort while doing some throwing on Tuesday. The hope was that Riley and Ronald Acuna Jr. (calf) would both be able to return from the injured list this week. Now, it seems unlikely that Riley is going to return to play when first eligible to come off the injured list on Thursday. Given the setback, it's possible that Riley does require a rehab assignment before returning to the Braves lineup. The Braves haven't given much information on that, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect Riley back in the lineup this weekend. Fantasy managers should check back throughout the week for more updates.Source: Mark Bowman
Atlanta Braves third baseman Yordan Alvarez to Take Live Batting Practice This Weekend
Yordan Alvarez (hand) is scheduled to take live batting practice this weekend, according to Brian McTaggart. This is big news as it'll be the first time that Alvarez has faced live pitching since suffering a setback with his fractured hand over a month ago. If everything goes well, Alvarez should be cleared to go on a minor league rehab assignment after this session. He has been sidelined since early May, so he figures to need a handful of games before he's ready to rejoin the Astros lineup. The hope is that Alvarez is ready to rejoin Houston by the end of August. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Alvarez on their IR with his return on the horizon.Source: Brian McTaggart
Houston Astros designated hitter Josh Hader Will be Out Longer Than Two Weeks
Josh Hader (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a left-shoulder strain. On Wednesday, Astros' manager Joe Espada said Hader will seek a second opinion on his left shoulder strain. He continued by saying that Hader will be out longer than two weeks. The team didn't reveal what the first diagnosis was, but it was bad enough for the southpaw to get another opinion. It's unclear if fantasy managers are going to get anything from Hader the rest of the way. That being said, Bryan Abreu figures to be the favorite for saves in Houston going forward. He should be rostered in most fantasy formats where saves matter.Source: Brian McTaggart
Houston Astros relief pitcher George Springer Set to Begin Rehab Assignment After Clearing Concussion Protocol
George Springer (concussion) has cleared the league's concussion protocol, and barring something unforeseen, will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, likely as the designated hitter. Springer might also need an extra game in the outfield after that with the Bisons. The 35-year-old veteran went on the seven-day concussion injured list on Aug. 1 but could be ready to rejoin the Blue Jays this weekend for their series at Rogers Centre against the Texas Rangers. When he returns, Springer should be Toronto's primary DH while also seeing some playing time in left field. He's been worth stashing in all fantasy formats during his resurgent 2025 campaign in which he's slashing .291/.383/.506 with an .889 OPS, 18 home run, 57 RBI, 66 runs and 12 steals in 101 games.Source: Sportsnet.ca - Shi Davidi
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that outfielder Paul Blackburn Reinstated From Injured List
Paul Blackburn (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday and optioned pitcher Jusin Hagenman to Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday. Blackburn threw 97 pitches in his final minor-league rehab outing last Friday and is fully stretched out should manager Carlos Mendoza need another rotation arm down the stretch. Struggling right-hander Frankie Montas has been sent to the bullpen, although prospect Nolan McLean is going to get the first shot at taking Montas' spot in his MLB debut on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners. If McLean struggles and is sent down after that, Blackburn could be the next man up for starts in New York. Blackburn isn't a big upside pitcher for fantasy and has not looked good for the Mets since being acquired in a midseason trade in 2024.Source: Newsday - Laura Albanese
The New York Mets reinstated right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long Activated From Injured List
Sawyer Gipson-Long (neck) from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday and optioned Codi Heuer to Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Gipson-Long will return to the big-league level after being out since the middle of July with a neck injury. The 27-year-old made five appearances (two starts) for the Tigers earlier this season and allowed 13 runs (12 earned) on 21 hits (four homers) while walking four and striking out 18 in 23 frames. Gipson-Long allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings on his minor-league rehab assignment this month before being activated. He was not a high-end prospect in Detroit's system but impressed in his rookie year in 2023 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in only four starts. Gipson-Long won't have any fantasy appeal in a long-relief role.Source: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
The Detroit Tigers activated right-hander Aaron Nola Could Make his Return on Sunday
Aaron Nola (ankle, rib) will work out at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednessday and will then meet the team in Washington D.C. for their series this weekend, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Lochlahn March. Manager Rob Thomson hasn't announced his starter for Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Washington Nationals, so it's possible that Nola could take that start. The 32-year-old built up to 84 pitches in his third minor-league rehab start for Lehigh Valley on Tuesday and gave up two runs while walking none and striking out 11 in 5 2/3 innings of work, so it appears he's ready to return to the big leagues. Nola has looked much more like himself on his rehab assignment, giving hope for fantasy managers that he can bounce back after sporting a 1-7 record, 6.16 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in nine starts before landing on the injured list.Source: Philadelphia Inquirer - Lochlahn March
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Sal Stewart Homers, Extends Triple-A Hit Streak to Six Games
Sal Stewart homered in a 1-for-3 day at the plate for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. He also walked twice, recorded one RBI, and scored two runs in the contest. The Reds' top-ranked prospect is now riding a six-game hit streak for the Bats, while hitting safely in 19 of the 22 games he's played so far at Triple-A. The result is a .313/.383/.614 slash line while recording nearly as many walks (10) as strikeouts (12). For the season, the 21-year-old is slashing .308/.378/.504 with 29 doubles, 15 home runs, and 16 stolen bases in 102 games. With the type of success he's had, it wouldn't be a surprise to see a late-season call-up in September, but whether that happens or not, the right-handed slugger should have a fantasy impact at some point next year.Source: MiLB.com
Cincinnati Reds infield prospect Martin Perez Back From the Injured List
Martin Perez (elbow) from the 60-day injured list and optioned left-hander Cam Booser to Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move. In addition, the team also designated left-hander Jared Shuster for assignment. Perez made only two minor-league rehab starts and gave up three runs while striking out five and walking three in 6 2/3 innings pitched. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw has not pitched in the big leagues since late April due to a flexor strain in his left elbow, and he will return to Chicago in a long-relief role. Perez was already not much to look at in fantasy outside of AL-only leagues, and now that he's returning to a bullpen role, he can pretty much be ignored everywhere. In four starts before his injury, Perez had a decent 3.15 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 18 K's and 11 walks in 20 innings.Source: Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox announced on Wednesday that they reinstated left-hander Braden Montgomery Scores Three Times in Multi-Hit Effort
Braden Montgomery went 2-for-4 with a walk, a pair of doubles, two RBI, and three runs scored on Tuesday for Double-A Birmingham. It was the second straight multi-hit game for Chicago's top-ranked prospect, now slashing .260/.327/.380 through 13 games for the Barons, and slashing .268/.354/.445 with 12 home runs and 13 steals on the year. The switch-hitter should get to Triple-A next year and will be knocking on the door to the majors. With the well-rounded toolset he possesses, there is certainly some fantasy appeal that the 22-year-old could bring to the table whenever he arrives.Source: MiLB.com
Chicago White Sox outfield prospect Anthony DeSclafani Goes on Injured List With Thumb Inflammation
Anthony DeSclafani (thumb) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday with right-thumb inflammation and recalled right-hander Casey Kelly from Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move, according to Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. The veteran DeSclafani has made only 11 appearances (four starts) for the Snakes in 2025 after not pitching at all in the big leagues in 2024. The 35-year-old recently moved to Arizona's starting rotation after they traded right-hander Merrill Kelly away at the July 31 deadline. He didn't go deep in his last two starts against the Padres and Rangers but was decent, giving up only two runs while fanning seven in 7 1/3 innings pitched. DeSclafani will now miss at least the next two weeks, and it's unclear who might take his rotation spot in the desert.Source: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
The Arizona Diamondbacks placed right-hander Bailey Falter Demoted to the Bullpen
Bailey Falter will move to the bullpen with right-hander Michael Lorenzen (oblique) returning from the injured list for this weekend's series against the division-rival Chicago White Sox, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Rookie right-hander Ryan Bergert will remain in the rotation and make his next start in Sunday's series finale. Falter, who began the year with the Pittsburgh Pirates before being acquired by KC at the trade deadline, allowed nine earned runs on 11 hits (two home runs) while walking five and striking out seven in eight innings in his two starts for the Royals after the trade. The 28-year-old southpaw has a career-low 5.7 K/9 in his 24 total starts in 2025 and will lose what little fantasy value he had left with his move to a relief role for the Royals.Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
Kansas City Royals left-hander Michael Lorenzen to Return to the Rotation on Saturday
Michael Lorenzen (oblique) will come off the injured list and slot back into the starting rotation on Saturday against the division-rival Chicago White Sox, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Rookie right-hander Ryan Bergert is scheduled to start the series finale on Sunday, while lefty Bailey Falter will head to the bullpen, according to manager Matt Quatraro. The 33-year-old Lorenzen just doesn't have much fantasy upside, but he did throw 85 pitches in his final minor-league rehab start and is getting one of the best matchups in baseball for his first start back. He's been out since mid-July with a strained left oblique and had a middling 4.61 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in his first 99 2/3 innings before getting hurt. In his lone start against the White Sox this year, Lorenzen picked up a win by allowing two earned runs with two walks and seven K's in six innings pitched.Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
Kansas City Royals right-hander Wehiwa Aloy Assigned to Single-A Delmarva
Source: MiLB Central
Baltimore Orioles shortstop prospect Wehiwa Aloy was assigned to Single-A Delmarva on Tuesday. The 31st-overall pick in this year's MLB Draft played in his first professional game after the assignment, going 2-for-5 with a pair of singles and one run scored for the Shorebirds. With a freshly updated prospects list at MLB.com that includes the 2025 draft class, Aloy slots in as the Orioles' fifth-ranked prospect after coming off a season at Arkansas in which he slashed .350/.434/.673 with 21 home runs and nine steals in 65 games for the Razorbacks. With big power and a solid hit tool, it's worth keeping an eye on how the Hawaiian performs over the remainder of this season and into next to see if he becomes a must-stash in dynasty leagues.