August 9, 2025
The Miami Marlins have recalled right-hander
Ryan Gusto from Triple-A Jacksonville as the 27th man for their Saturday doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves. The 26-year-old Gusto will start game one of the doubleheader. It will be his first appearance as a member of the Marlins after Miami acquired him from the Houston Astros at the trade deadline as part of the return for outfielder
Jesus Sanchez. In 86 innings (14 starts) for the Astros in 2025, Gusto was 7-4 with a 4.92 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 87 strikeouts. The Marlins have been getting solid work out of their starters of late, so this is likely just a spot start for Gusto.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
August 9, 2025
New York Yankees right-handed reliever
Fernando Cruz (oblique) is set to throw a live bullpen session on Sunday at Double-A Somerset. The 35-year-old had recently completed mound work without any setbacks or complications. If he can have a successful session here, there is a good chance that a rehab assignment could take place soon afterward. Cruz has been an outstanding option for the Yankees out of the bullpen this season. Over 33 innings pitched, he has recorded two saves, nine holds, and posted a 41.2% strikeout rate. When he returns, he will join an incredibly talented bullpen, giving New York another solid option near the end of games.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: Peter Sblendorio - Daily News
August 9, 2025
New York Yankees second baseman
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is not in the starting lineup for his team's game against the Houston Astros on Saturday.
Jose Caballero will take his place at second base and bat eighth against Astros left-hander
Framber Valdez. Chisholm Jr. has struggled so far in August, hitting .154 with eight strikeouts in 28 plate appearances this month. He also holds just a .329 slugging percentage against left-handed pitching for the season, which could be part of why he's getting the day off against a tough lefty in Valdez. Chisholm Jr.'s season-long slash line of .237/.329/.461 with 19 home runs and 14 stolen bases is still very solid, so this is likely just a scheduled day off for the 27-year-old.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
August 9, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher
Justin Lawrence (elbow) has begun throwing side sessions and has been transferred to the team's Florida complex. The plan here is for the 30-year-old right-handed reliever to continue throwing like he has been, and also begin throwing to live batters by the third week of August. If things go smoothly without any setbacks, he could begin a rehab assignment shortly after that. The team remains focused on his return to the Pirates' bullpen. Over 11 appearances this season, Lawrence has posted a minuscule 0.79 ERA, accompanied by 15 strikeouts over 11 1/3 innings pitched.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh Pirates
August 9, 2025
New York Yankees slugger
Giancarlo Stanton is getting his first start in the outfield this season on Saturday against the Houston Astros. Stanton has not appeared in a big-league game in the outfield since 2023. However, with
Aaron Judge currently limited to designated hitter duties while he plays through a right flexor strain, the Yankees have been prepping Stanton for defensive work. In 142 plate appearances so far this season, Stanton is slashing .268/.345/.528 with 10 home runs, 28 RBI, and 18 runs scored. The 35-year-old is unlikely to play every day in the field, so his playing time could remain spotty as long as Judge is only able to DH. With Stanton in the lineup on Saturday,
Cody Bellinger will shift from right field to left field, and
Jasson Dominguez will hit the bench.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
August 9, 2025
The Atlanta Braves have recalled right-handed pitcher
Hurston Waldrep from Triple-A Gwinnett, optioning left-hander
Dylan Dodd as the corresponding move. Waldrep will start the first game of Atlanta's Saturday doubleheader against the Miami Marlins. The 23-year-old has spent most of 2025 in the minor leagues. In 91 2/3 innings (19 starts) at Triple-A, Waldrep is 7-8 with a 4.42 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 92 strikeouts. However, he's been better of late, pitching to a 0.78 ERA over his last 23 innings. If Waldrep pitches well, he could earn an extended look at the big league level down the stretch of the season.
--Will BradySource: Atlanta Braves
August 9, 2025
San Francisco Giants reliever
Erik Miller (elbow) made his first appearance in a rehab game on Friday, appearing in the fifth inning for Triple-A Sacramento. He labored through one-third of an inning and 24 pitches, surrendering three hits and one earned run. The good news is that he was able to throw all four of his pitches and generated three whiffs in the process. He will likely need at least one more appearance with some improved results before returning to the Giants' bullpen later this month. Over 36 appearances this season, the 27-year-old left-handed reliever has posted an impressive 1.50 ERA, albeit with a 15.6% walk rate. Miller has been on the shelf since July 5 and is seemingly on pace to return to the Giants within the next week if all goes well.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: Sacramento Space Cowboys
August 9, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Clayton Kershaw tossed six innings of one-run ball on Friday, earning his sixth victory of the year. The veteran scattered seven hits and walked one while striking out four batters. He's now 6-2 on the year with a sterling 3.14 ERA, although a 1.26 WHIP and 46 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings are not very fantasy-friendly. The southpaw's next start lines up with San Diego at home next week on Friday, a team that is bottom-third this season in terms of batting average, ISO, wOBA, and wRC+ versus left-handed pitchers.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
August 9, 2025
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Walker Buehler did not allow any runs over six innings of work on Friday, yielding four hits and two walks while striking out four batters on the way to earning his seventh win of the year. It was his third quality start in his last five starts, pitching to a 3.21 ERA over that stretch, but it has come with a 1.50 WHIP and a 0.0 percent K-BB%. The 31-year-old has been roughed up to the tune of a 5.40 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with just 75 strikeouts in 100 innings pitched (6.75 K/9) this season. The righty will take on the Astros on the road in his next start on Wednesday, a team he faced recently and allowed three earned runs on nine hits and three walks while not striking out a batter, so he can probably be avoided in DFS.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
August 9, 2025
Kansas City Royals outfielder
Mark Canha (elbow) began his rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas in a big way, finishing 2-for-4 and hitting a grand slam in the process. It remains to be seen how long he will be rehabbing, but it's a promising sign that his issue with tennis elbow is feeling better after this initial performance. The 36-year-old first baseman/outfielder has only played in 46 games this season, posting a pedestrian .212/.272/.265 slash line while hitting just one home run. When he does return, he will likely continue to be used primarily against left-handed pitchers.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: Northwest Arkansas Naturals
August 9, 2025
Los Angeles Angels' outfielder
Bryce Teodosio (head) left Friday night's game after colliding with the outfield wall in the third inning. The team said after the game that he was feeling better, but that he was still in the process of being evaluated. There should be updates throughout the weekend, but there's a good chance that he misses at least one game while the team figures out the physical well-being of the 26-year-old. Teodosio recently had his contract from Triple-A Salt Lake purchased, and had played in six straight games before the injury. In that time, he has gone 5-14 with three stolen bases. He is someone to consider adding in AL-only leagues, although he appears destined to return to the bench once
Jo Adell returns from his injury.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Fletcher
August 9, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop
Mookie Betts hit his first home run in over a month on Friday, going 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. The veteran's bat has come around recently, going 6-for-12 (.500) over the last three games after going 0-for-20 during the previous five. It hasn't been a Mookie Betts-like season in 2025, with his slash line sitting at .239/.309/.371 along with a .298 wOBA and 90 wRC+, but perhaps he can get on a roll from here on out. August is far and away his most productive month throughout his career in terms of wRC+, registering a 163 wRC+ during the month.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
August 9, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder
Blaze Alexander did most of the heavy lifting in a 6-1 win over the Rockies on Friday, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, and four RBI in the contest. The 26-year-old has been getting regular playing time since
Eugenio Suarez departed for Seattle and is making the most of it, hitting safely in six of the last seven games, going 8-for-25 (.320) over that stretch with a pair of doubles and two home runs. The right-handed hitter has a 65.1 percent contact rate, 16.4 percent swinging-strike rate, and is striking out at a 29.9 percent clip, though, so this stretch of solid hitting may fizzle soon. Nevertheless, he does have a 20-homer season to his name in the minors and has stolen double-digit bases on multiple occasions, so there is potential for fantasy production here, but outside of NL-only leagues, the former 11th-rounder can probably be left on the waiver wire.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
August 9, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder
Brandon Marsh collected four hits in five at-bats on Friday in a 9-1 win over the Rangers, which included a pair of doubles and a solo home run. It continued a stretch of hot hitting for the 27-year-old, who is 16-for-33 (.516) over the last 10 games in which he logged at least one at-bat, with six doubles and four home runs during that stretch. The left-handed slugger is on the strong side of a platoon, as he does most of his damage against right-handed pitching (.216/.293/.294 vs. LHP, .294/.357/.468 vs. RHP), so the counting stats aren't there in 2025, but the performance pushed his season batting average to .278 with seven home runs and five steals. Marsh is 1-for-3 against the Rangers' starter on Saturday,
Jacob deGrom, but there are likely better DFS plays available despite Marsh's recent hot stretch.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
August 9, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop
Trea Turner went 2-for-4 in Friday's 9-1 win over the Rangers, including a double, a home run, and five RBI. He also walked twice and stole a base in the contest. The 3x All-Star's bat was cold for about a week, going 2-for-25 (.080) over a six-game stretch before getting on base eight times in the last two games, so he appears to have put that behind him. For the season, the 32-year-old is slashing .286/.342/.434 with 12 home runs, 51 RBI, 74 runs scored, and 26 steals, putting him comfortably in the top five fantasy producers at the position. He'll go up against a familiar face on Saturday in
Jacob deGrom, whom he is 12-for-48 (.250) off of, including a double, a triple, and a home run, but also 17 strikeouts, so there are likely better DFS options.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
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