August 18, 2025
Cincinnati Reds catcher
Tyler Stephenson (thumb) is out of the starting lineup for Monday's series opener in Anaheim against the hosting Los Angeles Angels.
Jose Trevino is doing the catching for right-hander
Brady Singer and will bat seventh against Angels right-hander
Victor Mederos. For now, the Reds are considering Stephenson as day-to-day with a sore left thumb. Check back on Tuesday to see if he's available to return in Game 2 of the series versus the Halos. The former 11th overall pick in 2015 has only played in 72 games in 2025 in his sixth year in the big leagues. Stephenson is still Cincy's primary catcher, but while battling injuries, he's hit a disappointing .226 (57-for-252) with nine home runs, 36 RBI and 32 runs scored in 288 trips to the plate. Since the All-Star break, he's gone 13-for-62 (.210) with three homers, four RBI, nine runs and 22 strikeouts in 18 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 18, 2025
Baltimore Orioles third baseman
Jordan Westburg (ankle) left Monday's series opener early against the Boston Red Sox with right-ankle discomfort, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN. Westburg was injured trying to get back to first base early in the game and was hitless in his only plate appearance before departing.
Luis Vazquez entered as a pinch-runner and took over at third base for the injured Westburg. It's been an injury-plaged season for the 26-year-old, but he remains the team's primary third baseman when he's healthy. The former first-rounder in 2020 out of Mississippie State has a .277/.327/.475 slash line with a career-best .802 OPS, 15 home runs, 34 RBI and 53 runs scored in 72 games played. Westburg is three homers away from matching his career-high that he set a year ago when he was a first-time All-Star. Vazquez and
Jeremiah Jackson could split playing time at third if Westburg misses more time.
--Keith HernandezSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
August 18, 2025
The second game of a doubleheader on Tuesday at Wrigley Field between the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs has been postponed by rain, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. The two teams will play a split doubleheader on Tuesday. Right-hander
Chad Patrick was scheduled to make the start in Game 2 for the Brewers and was set to be opposed by right-hander
Jameson Taillon (calf) for the Cubbies. Expect the two starters to be pushed back to one of Tuesday's contests during the rare five-game divisional series this week in Chicago. The red-hot Brewers shut out the struggling Cubs earlier on Monday in a 7-0 ball game, with right-hander
Freddy Peralta tossing six shutout frames with six strikeouts and only one hit to win his 15th game of the 2025 season. Taillon will have to wait another day to come off the 15-day injured list.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
August 18, 2025
Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that catcher
Kyle Higashioka (hamstring) has a "very very, very mild" hamtring injury that has lingered, which is why
Jonah Heim is making his third straight start behind the plate for Monday's series opener against the hosting Kansas City Royals and right-hander
Michael Wacha. Heim is batting ninth in the order. The Rangers are hoping that Higashioka will be able to catch one of the games against KC this week at Kauffman Stadium during their four-game series. Higashioka had a career year with the San Diego Padres in 2024 with 17 home runs and 45 RBI in 84 games, but he's taken a step back in Texas while sharing playing time with Heim. Going into this week, the 35-year-old veteran is slashing .256/.301/.417 with a .718 OPS, eight home runs, 33 RBI, 24 runs and a career-high three stolen bases.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
August 18, 2025
San Francisco Giants infielder
Casey Schmitt (forearm) is back in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival San Diego Padres and left-hander
Nestor Cortes at Petco Park, playing third base and batting cleanup. Schmitt has been cleared to return after missing the last two games due to a contusion on his right forearm. The 26-year-old former second-rounder in 2020 out of San Diego State University is currently seeing regular playing time at the hot corner with
Matt Chapman (hand) back on the injured list. Schmitt is slashing .251/.324/.405 on the year with seven round-trippers, 24 RBI and 20 runs scored in 195 at-bats. He's been better in August, though, going 12-for-42 (.286) with two homers, three doubles and seven RBI, and he's hit .800 with a homer and two RBI in only five career at-bats against Cortes.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 18, 2025
San Diego Padres outfielder
Jackson Merrill (ankle) is not in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival San Francisco Giants at Petco Park.
Bryce Johnson will make the start in center field and will bat ninth against Giants left-hander
Robbie Ray. Merrill initially tweaked his left ankle coming out of the box in Friday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers before being pulled early in Sunday's series finale at Dodgers Stadium. It sounds like more of a day-to-day injury for the 22-year-old, but fantasy managers will want to check back on Tuesday to see if he's able to return for the second game of the series. Johnson should be avoided as a DFS sleeper against Ray. Merrill got off to a strong start earlier this year but has been very mediocre with limited power since the All-Star break, going 27-for-106 (.255) with two homres, 19 RBI and nine runs in 27 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August
18,
2025
The
Texas
Rangers
placed
first
baseman
Jake
Burger
(wrist)
on
the
10-day
injured
list
on
Monday
with
a
left-wrist
sprain
and
recalled
outfielder
Alejandro
Osuna
from
Triple-A
Round
Rock
in
a
read more...
August 18, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Cristian Javier (illness) is expected to be fine in time for his next start this weekend against the Baltimore Orioles. Javier was pulled from his latest start over the weekend due to illness. He didn't travel with the team for their series against the Detroit Tigers. The Astros don't exactly need him with the team right now considering he's not slated to throw until later in the week. Fantasy managers shouldn't have anything to worry about as Javier appears to be fine.
--Andy WebbSource: Brian McTaggart
August 18, 2025
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Chris Sale (ribs) is scheduled to make a rehab start with Double-A Columbus on Saturday. Sale threw four innings during his most recent rehab outing on Sunday. If everything goes well, Sale should be cleared to rejoin the Braves rotation after his start on Saturday. The southpaw has been sidelined since late June due to a fractured left rib cage. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Sale on their IR with his return looming. There should be another update on his status following his rehab start this weekend.
--Andy WebbSource: Mark Bowman
August 18, 2025
Atlanta Braves third baseman
Austin Riley (abdominal) was able to run the bases on Sunday. However, Riley reportedly felt abdominal discomfort afterwards. Despite that, Riley is scheduled to run again on Tuesday, so hopefully there will be better results. Riley has been sidelined since early August due to an abdominal issue. There doesn't appear to be a timetable for his return at the moment. It's unclear if he'll require a rehab assignment or not. Fantasy managers should check back on Tuesday for another update on his status.
Nacho Alvarez Jr. figures to continue seeing playing time at third base.
--Andy WebbSource: Mark Bowman
August 18, 2025
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher
Bryce Miller (elbow) will be activated off the 15-day injured list and start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, according to manager Dan Wilson. This is great news as Miller has been sidelined since early June due to right elbow inflammation. He looked solid enough during his latest rehab start to clear him for this outing. It has been a struggle to keep Miller healthy and on the mound this season. He holds a 5.73 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and a 39/23 K/BB ratio across 10 starts this season. Miller figures to be limited during his first outing back on the mound. He won't be an ideal streaming option against the Phillies, but should have good long term value, assuming he can stay healthy.
--Andy WebbSource: Daniel Kramer
August 18, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals infielder/outfielder
Brendan Donovan (groin) was placed on the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday's game against the Miami Marlins. Finally, Donovan is placed on the IL after missing seven of the last nine games due to a lingering groin issue. It's a shame considering how well he has been playing, but Donovan needs some extra time to rest and recover. This was retroactive to August 15, so Donovan is eligible to return on August 25. The expectation is that
Thomas Saggese will see a majority of the playing time at second base. Also, infielder
Jose Fermin was recalled to take the spot on the active roster. He figures to be in the mix at second base as well.
--Andy WebbSource: Cardinals
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
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