August 25, 2025
Chicago Cubs right-hander
Daniel Palencia earned his 20th save on Sunday as the Cubs went on to beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3. Palencia entered the game with a one-run lead and had to work his way around a leadoff single and a one-out walk. Palencia proceeded to strike out his final two batters and has now converted 20 out of 22 saves on the season to go along with six holds, a 1.89 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 54/15 K/BB ratio in 47 2/3 innings pitched. Palencia had a bit of a challenging stretch in early August, where he allowed an earned run in three of his four outings, but has since recorded four saves in his last four outings. He remains one of the top closers to own in fantasy baseball.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: MLB.com
August 25, 2025
San Francisco Giants right-hander
Ryan Walker notched his 11th save on Sunday as the Giants went on to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3. With
Randy Rodriguez (arm) unavailable Sunday, the Giants turned to Walker in the ninth inning to protect a one-run lead. The right-hander was able to work around
Sal Frelick's two-out single to lock down his 11th save in 16 opportunities to go along with his eight holds. Even after losing his closer role earlier this season, overall, Walker has been solid out of the bullpen with a 3.63 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP in 52 innings pitched. Should Rodriguez miss any time down the stretch, Walker would likely be the leading candidate to be in line for more save opportunities down the stretch. In the meantime, he remains a solid reliever to have in all formats that reward saves and holds.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: MLB.com
August 25, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Orion Kerkering notched his fourth save of the season on Sunday against the Washington Nationals as the Phillies went on to win the ballgame 3-2. Although he converted the save, he allowed one earned run on one hit and no walks with one strikeout in the ninth inning. With
Jhoan Duran unavailable after pitching on back-to-back days, Kerkering was called on in the ninth to close things out for the Phillies. The one run he allowed came on a solo homerun to Luis García. The 24-year-old now owns an impressive 2.92 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 51/21 K/BB to go along with 19 holds and four saves across 49.1 innings this season. Kerkering remains a strong reliever option for leagues that reward holds and ERA.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: MLB.com
August 25, 2025
The Athletics' right-handed reliever
Grant Holman (finger/shoulder) has started gripping drills and is building toward a throwing progression, MLB.com reported. Holman has been on the injured list since June 19 (retroactive to June 16), and though he's no longer shut down from activity, he remains without a clear timeline for a return. Holman was first placed on the injured list because of a shoulder injury. However, the Athletics are now classifying his injury as a strain to the middle finger on his right hand. Regardless, Holman's return is still uncertain, which means that fantasy managers will want to keep tabs on him in the coming days/weeks to see how he progresses, including when he actually throws, pitches out of the bullpen, and faces live hitters. Through the season, Holman has appeared in 22 games, covering 23 innings, and has a poor 5.09 ERA and 1.52 WHIP.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: MLB.com
August 25, 2025
The Los Angeles Angels placed right-hander
Carson Fulmer (elbow inflammation) on the 15-day injured list on Sunday with right elbow inflammation. It appeared Fulmer felt discomfort after throwing a pitch on Saturday during the Angels' 12-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. It was a rough outing for Fulmer on the afternoon, as he allowed seven hits, six earned runs, and one walk in 1 1/3 innings of work. Fulmer saw his ERA go from 4.18 to 5.83 after the tough outing. It appears that Fulmer will undergo further testing to ensure the elbow injury is not long-term, so fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on the results that will come in over the coming days. With Fulmer landing on the injured list, recently recalled
Chase Silseth will likely get some more opportunities out of the bullpen.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: Angels PR
August 25, 2025
Los Angeles Angels right-hander
Chase Silseth was called up to the big league club on Sunday before the Angels' game against the Chicago Cubs. Silseth ended up pitching in that game and threw one scoreless frame, allowing two hits, one walk, and one strikeout. Silseth has some history with the Angels as a starter over the past few seasons, and has since transitioned to a relief role in July of this year. Since doing so, he has been very solid. In Triple-A Salt Lake, he threw 8 2/3 scoreless frames while striking out 13 over his last nine appearances. Now with the big league club again, it's likely he will get some lower-leverage situations out of the bullpen and work his way up to earning more high-leverage situations. For now, Silseth will not get any, if any, close situations, making his fantasy value reliant on long relief outings and holds.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: Angels PR
August 25, 2025
New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect
Carlos Lagrange tossed five innings of one-run ball during their contest against Double-A Hartford on Sunday. In this outing, Lagrange struck out five hitters and allowed only one walk. This was a much-needed bounce-back outing for Lagrange as he held a 3.91 ERA with a high 1.57 WHIP over his last 23 innings of work. However, before this brief skid, Lagrange was flashing immense upside, striking out 41 hitters over his last 25 2/3 innings. During this stretch, Lagrange posted a 2.01 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. Overall, across his first 63 2/3 innings at Double-A, Lagrange has had a 3.68 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. The 22-year-old could be in the mix to earn a brief taste of Triple-A late in the regular season.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
August 25, 2025
Chicago Cubs catching prospect
Moises Ballesteros went 2-for-3 with a home run and two walks during their contest against Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday. This performance extended his hitting streak to an impressive eight games. During this stretch, Ballesteros has held a .303/.395/.485 line with two home runs and a 6:4 K:BB. Throughout the 2025 campaign, Ballesteros has been given two brief looks in the major leagues. However, he has never been given consistent at-bats given the deep Chicago lineup. During his first six games in Chicago, the backstop has held a .222/.300/.278 line with one double. Given his impressive production at Triple-A this season, Ballesteros should be in the mix to join Chicago for a third time before the postseason.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
August 25, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitching prospect
Jarlin Susana posted another dominant outing on Sunday, facing Double-A Erie. In this start, Susana tossed five innings of one-run ball with two hits and three walks. He struck out 10 hitters. This was his second straight contest, racking up double-digit punchouts. In his previous start, Susana struck out 13 hitters across five innings of one-run ball. Through 45 2/3 innings at Double-A Reading this season, Susana has posted a solid 3.5 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and a 76:29 K:BB. The 21-year-old right-hander is currently considered the No. 48-ranked prospect in the sport and the No.2-ranked prospect in the Philadelphia system. If he continues this impressive run, he could earn a taste of Triple-A later this season.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
August 25, 2025
The Chicago White Sox are promoting shortstop prospect Caleb Bonemer to High-A Winston-Salem Dash. Bonemer made his professional debut earlier this season with Low-A. During his first taste of professional baseball, Bonemer has looked quite productive, posting a .281/.400/.458 slash line with 26 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs, and an impressive 27 stolen bases. During this stretch, Bonemer has held a 91:68 K:BB. The former second-round pick from the 2024 MLB Draft is currently considered the No. 5-ranked prospect in the system and the No. 99-overall ranked prospect in the sport on MLB.com. He is a name to continue to monitor in dynasty formats, as he could push to join Double-A early in the 2026 season if he can find his footing at High-A.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB Central
August 25, 2025
Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitching prospect
Chase Burns (elbow) is set to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday. The 22-year-old has been on the injured list with a Grade 1 right flexor strain since August 15. However, seeing him already begin a throwing program leaves the door open for a late-season return. Before their injury, Burns flashed immense strikeout upside during his first taste of the big leagues. Across 34 1/3 innings, the Wake Forest product racked up 57 strikeouts. However, he struggled at times, spotting a modest 5.24 ERA with a 1.38 WHIP. Fantasy managers in deeper 12+ team formats should continue to stash Burns on their injured reserve as he seems to be in a good position to return to the bump before the end of the regular season. While he remains out,
Nick Martinez should remain in the starting rotation.
--Andy SmithSource: Charlie Goldsmith
August 25, 2025
Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitching prospect
Rhett Lowder (oblique) is set to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday and Friday. Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19 noted that Lowder has not been ruled out for the remainder of the season. The former seventh overall pick from the 2023 MLB Draft has only made four appearances in the minor league this season. He was initially working his way back from a forearm injury during the opening months of the season, but then suffered an oblique strain which has kept him sidelined since. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress as he could be in the mix to join the Reds for the stretch run. Last summer, Lowder made his MLB debut and looked quite impressive, posting a 1.17 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP across 30 2/3 innings.
--Andy SmithSource: Charlie Goldsmith
August 24, 2025
Seattle Mariners right-hander
Logan Gilbert (4-5) dominated the Athletics on Sunday and picked up his fourth win of the year in an 11-4 blowout. The 28-year-old struck out a career-high 13 over six innings of one-run ball while allowing three hits and a walk. Gilbert threw 93 pitches, 65 of which were strikes, and generated a whopping 25 whiffs. It was a great bounce-back effort by Gilbert after the Philadelphia Phillies torched him for six runs on nine hits in two innings this past Monday. He'll head into his next start on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians with a 3.69 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and 138:24 K:BB over 97 2/3 innings. Among pitchers who have amassed 90-plus frames, Gilbert ranks second in strikeout percentage (33.2) and third in K-BB percentage (27.1).
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
August 24, 2025
Kansas City Royals first baseman/designated hitter
Vinnie Pasquantino went deep for the sixth time in seven games and the 10th time in August in a 10-8 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. Pasquantino swatted a 429-foot, two-run shot off right-hander
Jack Flaherty in the third inning to highlight a 2-for-5 day. He has now driven in 27 runs this month, giving him 92 RBI for the season, and has slashed .264/.324/.480 with 28 homers, 55 runs scored, and a paltry 16.0% strikeout rate in 549 plate appearances. The 27-year-old somewhat quietly ranks near the top of the majors in HRs (12th) and RBI (seventh).
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
August 24, 2025
Baltimore Orioles reliever
Keegan Akin retired five Houston Astros en route to his third save of the season in a 3-2 win on Sunday. Akin entered a bases-loaded jam with one out and a 3-1 lead in the top of the eighth, and after allowing an inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly, he retired
Mauricio Dubon on an inning-ending lineout. The left-hander stayed in for the ninth and mowed down the Astros, striking out the side in 1-2-3 fashion to end it. Akin lowered his ERA to 3.12 with a 1.37 WHIP and 44:26 K:BB in 49 innings. The Orioles no longer have a set closer with
Felix Bautista (shoulder) out for the season, which means Akin will be among a few O's relievers in the mix for saves for the rest of 2025.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
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