August 28, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop
Joey Ortiz (hamstring) said on Thursday morning that he's running at around 100 percent and is on track to return for the series against the Texas Rangers that starts on Monday, Sept. 1, after a minimum stay on the 10-day injured list. It's possible that Ortiz does not have to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, but if he does, it will be a short one this weekend. The 27-year-old is rehabbing a minor left-hamstring strain and should be back as the Brewers' starting shortstop next week. Ortiz has an excellent glove at the 6 but is a better real-life player than a fantasy one. His biggest contribution on offense for fantasy managers in 2025 has been his 11 stolen bases in 125 games. Otherwise, he's hit a mediocre .233/.284/.328 with a weak .612 OPS, seven home runs, 43 RBI and 56 runs scored.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
August 28, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
Lance McCullers Jr. is available out of the bullpen, according to manager Joe Espada. The skipper characterized the decision to move McCullers from the starting rotation to the bullpen as a "short-term" move and hopes it will get him going. He will be an option to start Monday's series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels, though. Whether the 31-year-old veteran makes the start on Monday will likely depend on whether right-hander
Luis Garcia (elbow) is activated to make his season debut this weekend. In his first start off the IL last Friday, McCullers allowed three runs while walking five in four innings against the Baltimore Orioles. The former first-rounder made his return to the big leagues in 2025 after not pitching since 2022 due to arm injuries, and he's been highly erratic with a 6.89 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 54:34 K:BB in his 12 starts (48 1/3 frames).
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
August 28, 2025
Arizona Diamonbacks first baseman
Pavin Smith (quadriceps) is likely to land on the 10-day injured list after being pulled from Wednesday's game early against the Milwaukee Brewers with tightness in his left quadriceps muscle, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. Smith is heading back to Phoenix for imaging, and the D-backs will likely make a roster move when they get to Los Angeles on Friday for the start of a weekend series against the division-rival Dodgers. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter was not in the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale in Milwaukee, with
Tyler Locklear making the start at the cold corner. Locklear, who was acquired from the Mariners in July in the trade that sent
Josh Naylor to Seattle, should see most of the starts at first with Smith out. Smith has hit .258 (63-for-244) with eight homers, 28 RBI and 36 runs scored for the Snakes in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Steve Gilbert
August 28, 2025
Houston Astros catcher
Yainer Diaz (hand) remains out of action for Thursday's series finale against the visiting Colorado Rockies at Daikin Park.
Cesar Salazar is starting again behind the plate and will catch right-hander
Jason Alexander while batting ninth against Rockies left-hander
Kyle Freeland. This will be the third straight game that Diaz has not played due to a hand injury, but he should be considered day-to-day. With
Victor Caratini going on the seven-day concussion injured list on Wednesday, Salazar will continue to back up Diaz for now. The 29-year-old Mexican catcher is in his third big-league season, but Thursday's game will only be his 35th in the big leagues since debuting in Houston in 2023. So far through nine games in 2025, he's gone 1-for-9 at the plate with a walk and a strikeout. Fantasy managers will want to avoid him in DFS.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 28, 2025
Athletics right-hander
Luis Severino (oblique) is not expected to go on a rehab assignment before he returns from the 15-day injured list in early September. Severino, out since Aug. 6 with a strained left oblique, threw a simulated game on Wednesday and maxed out at 97 mph. The 31-year-old has gone 6-11 and stumbled to a 4.82 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP and 103:44 K:BB over 136 1/3 innings in 20 starts this season. However, Severino was trending upward before he went on the IL, as he managed to throw five or more innings and allow three or fewer earned runs in four straight starts.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 28, 2025
Boston Red Sox right-hander
Dustin May's next start has been pushed from Friday to Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Red Sox have not named a starter for Friday, but 22-year-old southpaw Payton Tolle is a candidate to make his debut then, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Tolle, who ranks as MLB Pipeline's 28th-best prospect, has combined for a 3.04 ERA with a .99 WHIP and 133:23 K:BB over 91 2/3 innings divided among High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A this season. On the other hand, 2025 has been a struggle for May. The 27-year-old has gone 7-10 with a 4.79 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP and 117:50 K:BB in 124 frames between the Dodgers and Red Sox. The good news for May is that the Pirates have scored the fewest runs in the majors (483).
--Connor ByrneSource: Christopher Smith - MassLive.com
August 28, 2025
Cincinnati Reds right-hander
Chase Burns (elbow) threw a bullpen session without any problems on Tuesday. His next session is scheduled for Saturday, as he works back from a Grade 1 flexor tendon strain. The flamethrowing 22-year-old rookie has been on the 10-day injured list since Aug. 12, but the injury may not be serious enough to prevent him from coming back this season. While Burns' 5.24 ERA through eight starts and 34 1/3 innings doesn't look impressive, he has already struck out a whopping 57 batters (against 13 walks). As the third pitcher since 1893 to record 10-plus strikeouts in four of his first eight starts, the former second overall pick carries ace-level upside. With that in mind, the Reds will be cautious with Burns and are likely to limit his workload if he returns this season.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 28, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
Luis Garcia (elbow) could come off the 60-day injured list this weekend to start against the Los Angeles Angels, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. Whenever Garcia comes back, he'll be making his first start since May 2023. He has been recovering from Tommy John surgery for almost 28 months, far longer than the typical rehab, which has thrown a promising career off course. The 28-year-old owns a lifetime 3.61 ERA across 69 appearances (63 starts) and 352 innings, but it's anyone's guess if he'll be able to approach that type of production after two-plus seasons away. While Garcia's velocity has dipped in the minors this year, he has still logged a 3.30 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP and 38:7 K:BB over nine appearances (eight starts) and 30 frames.
--Connor ByrneSource: Chandler Rome - The Athletic
August
28,
2025
The
Boston
Red
Sox
have
activated
outfielder
Rob
Refsnyder
(oblique)
from
the
10-day
injured
list
and
right-handed
reliever
Justin
Slaten
(shoulder)
from
the
60-day
IL.
To
make
room,
the
team
placed
read more...
August 28, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman/designated hitter
Pavin Smith (quadriceps) is out of the lineup on Thursday against Milwaukee Brewers left-hander
Jose Quintana.
Tyler Locklear will play first base and hit seventh, while
Ildemaro Vargas will DH and bat ninth. It's no surprise that Smith is sitting after he departed the Diamondbacks' 3-2 win over the Brewers on Wednesday with tightness in his left quadriceps. Furthermore, Smith has only gone 3-for-18 with no extra-base hits or RBI against lefties this year, so he may not have played Thursday even if fully healthy. It's unclear if Smith will be ready to return on Friday when the Diamondbacks are scheduled to face another southpaw, the Los Angeles Dodgers'
Blake Snell.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 28, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher/designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani worked five solid innings against the Reds on Wednesday night, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out nine. This was the first start of the season that Ohtani was able to go the minimum five innings required for a win, and he picked up his first win of the year since the Dodgers cruised to a 5-1 win to complete the series sweep. Ohtani ramped up to 87 pitches and retired the last eight batters he faced. He also went 1-for-5 at the plate with a run scored. Ohtani's progress on the mound will be huge for the Dodgers in the postseason since it gives them more options with how to attack short series. His increased workload is also a great sign that he'll be ready for a full starting pitcher's role next year, as he looks to return to his unique dominance as both a pitcher and hitter.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN.com
August 28, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher
Logan Henderson (elbow) will not be able to return this season after landing on the injured list with elbow inflammation on August 8. While he has started a plyometric progression that will set him up to start a throwing program, this move means he will not be part of the Brewers' plans for this year. The 23-year-old righty was impressive in his five major league starts this year, going 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA, 3.00 FIP, and 33 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings. He also looked good at Triple-A, going 10-4 with a 3.59 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings over 16 games. He remains a huge part of the Brewers' future and a key prospect to watch for dynasty leagues, but he can be dropped in re-draft leagues since he won't be back in the majors until 2026.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Brewers
August 28, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Victor Scott II (ankle) is headed out on his rehab assignment this weekend after an extensive pregame workout went well on Wednesday. He will join Double-A Springfield on Thursday and play there on Friday, according to manager Oli Marmol. He was targeting a return in late August or early September, and he appears to remain on track for that timeframe. The 24-year-old speedster sprained his ankle on August 17, but an MRI revealed no structural damage, allowing him to return before the end of the year. He is hitting .223 on the season with a career-high 31 stolen bases in his 116 games. He is a solid source of cheap speed production and should return to an everyday role when he's healthy since the Cardinals view him as a big part of their future core. Monitor his return in mixed leagues, especially if you're in the market for stolen bases in the final month of the season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: John Denton
August 28, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman
Nolan Arenado (shoulder) started hitting earlier this week and has now also begun the early stages of his throwing program in Jupiter, Florida, according to manager Oli Marmol. The veteran has been sidelined since July 30 and was having a very rough year prior to the injury. In 96 games, his triple-slash dropped to .235/.294/.366 with 10 home runs and 43 RBI. While he does still have a little pop in his bat, he remains without a timetable for his return, and he isn't someone who deserves a roster spot in standard mixed leagues. He does seem to be working his way back, though, so he has not closed the book on this season just yet. He has two years remaining on his contract with the Cards and isn't scheduled to hit the open market until 2028.
--Zach ThompsonSource: John Denton
August 28, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman/outfielder
Brendan Donovan (foot/groin pain) has not been able to advance past work in the batting cage since he is still dealing with significant soreness, according to manager Oli Marmol on Wednesday. He tried to play through his multiple issues early in August, but was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to August 15. Before the injury, Donovan was having a strong season for the Cardinals, hitting .279 with nine homers and a .328 wOBA, while doing good work out of the leadoff spot. Since his progress seems to be stalled for now,
Thomas Saggese will continue to get extended playing time at second base. Donovan is eligible to return, but it doesn't sound like he's especially close, based on these comments from Marmol.
--Zach ThompsonSource: John Denton
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