August 18, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman
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.
--Andy WebbSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
August 18, 2025
Kansas City Royals catcher
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
August 18, 2025
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that struggling outfielder
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
August 18, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
August 18, 2025
Chicago White Sox left-hander
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
August
18,
2025
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August 18, 2025
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.
--Jarod RuppSource: Mariners Player Development
August 18, 2025
The Chicago White Sox announced on Monday that they optioned right-hander
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.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chicago White Sox
August 18, 2025
Atlanta Braves outfield prospect
Luis Guanipa (undisclosed) was placed on the Single-A 7-day injured list on Monday. It's unfortunate news for a player who missed two months earlier this season due to injury and who was in the midst of an eight-game hit streak, hitting .293 in the 26 games since coming off the IL in late June. The Braves' 22nd-ranked prospect has good bat-to-ball skills, striking out at just an 11.9 percent rate at Single-A Augusta this year, and he also has a ton of speed with 20 steals in 43 games in 2023 and 10 more last season in 52 games. He has the tools to be a potential future fantasy impact player, but he needs to stay on the field and put together a full campaign in order for it to show up in the stats. Thankfully, the Venezuelan is still only 19 years old, so he can continue to climb the ladder next season, although he's still a few years away from the majors.
--Jarod RuppSource: Augusta GreenJackets
August 18, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) underwent a successful thrombolysis procedure performed by Dr. Paul DiMuzio on Monday to remove a blood clot in his right upper extremity, according to the team. Further treatment and a timeline for Wheeler's recovery will be determined at at future date. Fantay managers must stash the 35-year-old All-Star for now, but there's a chance the Phillies might not get him back at all this season, depending on how his recovery goes. It would be a massive hit to one of the best teams in baseball down the stretch. With Wheeler on the shelf, veteran right-hander
Taijuan Walker should remain in the team's rotation. Wheeler currently leads baseball with 195 strikeouts and has also gone 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA (2.98 FIP) a 0.93 WHIP and 33 walks in 149 2/3 innings (24 starts).
--Keith HernandezSource: Philadelphia Phillies
August 18, 2025
Chicago Cubs right-handed rookie
Cade Horton (finger) left his outing early in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Monday against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers in the third inning with a middle-finger blister on his right hand. Horton officially went only 2 2/3 innings in the outing and was visited twice by manager Craig Counsell and head athletic trainer Nick Frangella before being pulled. The 23-year-old allowed a solo home run and four hits while walking one and striking out three in the abbreviated outing. It's unclear if Horton's injury will cause him to have his next start skipped, but we should have more clarity on the specific issue soon. The Cubs can ill-afford to lose Horton, who has been their best starter since the All-Star break. Coming into Monday's start, Horton had gone 7-3 with a 3.07 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 67:27 K:BB in 85 innings.
UPDATE: Horton said he thinks he'll be able to make his next start.--Keith HernandezSource: 670 The Score - Bruce Levine
August 18, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect
Nolan Hoffman has been called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley for what will be his major league debut whenever he enters a game. The 28-year-old was drafted back in 2018 and was acquired by the Phillies from the Rangers this season. By the numbers, the 6-foot-4 hurler didn't post very good stats with Texas this season, but they were modestly better in 17 appearances with the Philadelphia organization, recording a 3.32 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched. The right-hander was striking batters out at a 31.8 percent clip, but owns a 13.3 percent walk rate during his time at Triple-A over the last two seasons. Regardless, he'll likely fill a middle relief role for the Phillies, and as such, has little fantasy relevance at this time.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
August 18, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman
Willson Contreras (foot) and outfielder
Lars Nootbaar (cramps) are both in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener on the road against the Miami Marlins and right-hander
Eury Perez. Contreras is at first and is batting cleanup, while Nootbaar is in right field and will hit leadoff. Contreras will return after missing the last four games, while Nootbaar sat out of Sunday's series finale against the New York Yankees after being pulled from Saturday's contest due to muscle cramps. Contreras has a hit in just two career at-bats against Perez, while Nootbaar is hitless in his three at-bats. Contreras has gone 7-for-29 (.241) with two home runs, a double and four RBI in 10 games in the month of August, while Nootbaar is hitting .286 (12-for-42) with a homer, three doubles and four RBI in 11 games in August.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 18, 2025
Miami Marlins infield prospect
Maximo Acosta has been called up from Triple-A Jacksonville for what will be his major league debut. The Marlins' 25th-ranked prospect was hitting just .232 with an elevated 26.3 percent strikeout rate at Triple-A, however, he does possess some power, as evidenced by the 12 home runs in 106 games. He can also provide a speed element, having swiped 28 bags so far this season. The 22-year-old is starting at second base on Monday and will bat eighth in the order. It remains to be seen how much playing time he will receive, as
Xavier Edwards should be back at the keystone on Tuesday, so for now, the Venezuelan is best left on fantasy waiver wires.
--Jarod RuppSource: Miami Marlins
August 18, 2025
The Boston Red Sox announced on Monday that they placed outfielder
Rob Refsnyder (oblique) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 15) with a left-oblique strain and recalled infielder/outfielder
Nate Eaton from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. The team also designated catcher
Ali Sanchez for assignment. Given the nature of Refsnyder's injury, it's likely he'll be out beyond 10 days. The 34-year-old veteran typically only plays for Boston against left-handed pitchers, and he hadn't played since last Wednesday. Refsnyder is only outfield depth in AL-only leagues when he's healthy and he's slashed .272/.357/.471 on the year with an .827 OPS, six home runs, 22 RBI, 23 runs scored and three stolen bases in 157 plate appearances over 54 games. His playing time has been even more sparse since
Roman Anthony was called up.
--Keith HernandezSource: Boston Red Sox
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