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
August 22, 2025
Texas Rangers outfielder
Evan Carter (wrist) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday. Ouch, Carter is likely going to miss the rest of the regular season due to a fractured wrist. He was hit by a pitch on the wrist during Thursday's game which is going to sideline him for weeks. This is a shame considering Carter was beginning to come around at the plate. The potential is there, but the injuries continue to pile up for Carter. In a corresponding move, infielder/outfielder
Michael Helman has been recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. The absence of Carter means
Wyatt Langford will likely see a majority of his time in center field while
Alejandro Osuna probably goes to left field.
--Andy WebbSource: Texas Rangers PR
August 22, 2025
Texas Rangers outfielder
Adolis Garcia (ankle) is expected to be activated off the injured list ahead of Saturday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. Garcia was only forced to miss the minimum of 10 days due to a sprained ankle. He took batting practice ahead of Friday's contest without any issues. It appears Garcia is ready to return, barring a setback before Saturday's game. He has struggled with a .224/.266/.388 slash line with 16 home runs, 64 RBI, and 10 stolen bases this season. He's not someone that must be rostered in 12-team formats at the moment.
--Andy WebbSource: Shawn McFarland
August 22, 2025
Texas Rangers starting pitcher
Jacob deGrom (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday. The right-hander had his last turn in the rotation skipped due to shoulder fatigue. This seemed more like a precautionary measure than any sort of injury. The 37-year-old has a long history of injuries and has already thrown over 140 innings this season. If deGrom throws on Saturday without any issues, then he should start against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. Fantasy managers should check back on Saturday for another update.
--Andy WebbSource: Jeff Wilson
August 22, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
Tanner Scott (elbow) was activated off the 15-day injured list ahead of Friday's game against the San Diego Padres. Scott returns to the mix after missing the last month of the season due to left elbow inflammation. Before landing on the shelf, Scott posted a 4.14 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 50/11 K/BB ratio with 19 saves. The Dodgers have been using a committee approach in the ninth inning while Scott was sidelined. Now, Scott should move right back into the closer role. In a corresponding move, right-hander
Matt Sauer has been optioned to Triple-A. Scott should be rostered in most fantasy formats where saves matter.
--Andy WebbSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
August 22, 2025
Seattle Mariners outfielder
Dominic Canzone (arm) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Athletics. Canzone has been sidelined since being hit by a pitch on the arm during Monday's game. The X-rays didn't reveal any structural damage, so fantasy managers should consider Canzone as day-to-day for now. Hopefully, he'll be able to get back into the lineup at some point this weekend. In the meantime,
Luke Raley will take over in right field and bat seventh versus right-hander
Luis Morales. Fantasy managers should check back on Saturday for another update on Canzone.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
August 22, 2025
The Athletics reinstated shortstop
Jacob Wilson (forearm) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder
Max Schuemann to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Wilson is back at shortstop and is batting fifth for the A's in his return to the lineup on Friday night against the division-rival Seattle Mariners and right-hander
Bryan Woo at T-Mobile Park. Fantasy managers need to return the contact-orientd Wilson to their starting lineups in all leagues. The 23-year-old potential American League Rookie of the Year is due some regression to close out the year, but he's still one of the toughest players to strike out and enters Friday's action with a .311 average, 10 home runs, 45 RBI, 46 runs scored and five steals as the A's starting shortstop. He's also hitting .625 with a 1.542 OPS and an RBI against Woo, albeit in only eight career at-bats.
--Keith HernandezSource: A's Communications
August 22, 2025
San Diego Padres outfielder
Jackson Merrill (ankle) remains out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park.
Ramon Laureano is getting another start in center field and will bat seventh against Dodgers left-hander
Blake Snell. Merrill suffered a left-ankle contusion in last Sunday's loss to the Dodgers and hasn't played since, missing five straight games. The 22-year-old's injury wasn't considered serious, but if he's unable to play this weekend, the Padres will certainly be considering putting him on the injured list. Merrill was an All-Star in his rookie season in 2024, but things have been tougher in 2025. He has only two home runs while hitting .255 (27-for-106) in 27 games since the All-Star break. Laureano has been hot since joining the Pads at the trade deadline but is hitting .111 in nine career at-bats against Snell.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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