August 18, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman
Willson Contreras (foot) and outfielder
Lars Nootbaar (cramps) are both in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener on the road against the Miami Marlins and right-hander
Eury Perez. Contreras is at first and is batting cleanup, while Nootbaar is in right field and will hit leadoff. Contreras will return after missing the last four games, while Nootbaar sat out of Sunday's series finale against the New York Yankees after being pulled from Saturday's contest due to muscle cramps. Contreras has a hit in just two career at-bats against Perez, while Nootbaar is hitless in his three at-bats. Contreras has gone 7-for-29 (.241) with two home runs, a double and four RBI in 10 games in the month of August, while Nootbaar is hitting .286 (12-for-42) with a homer, three doubles and four RBI in 11 games in August.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 18, 2025
Miami Marlins infield prospect
Maximo Acosta has been called up from Triple-A Jacksonville for what will be his major league debut. The Marlins' 25th-ranked prospect was hitting just .232 with an elevated 26.3 percent strikeout rate at Triple-A, however, he does possess some power, as evidenced by the 12 home runs in 106 games. He can also provide a speed element, having swiped 28 bags so far this season. The 22-year-old is starting at second base on Monday and will bat eighth in the order. It remains to be seen how much playing time he will receive, as
Xavier Edwards should be back at the keystone on Tuesday, so for now, the Venezuelan is best left on fantasy waiver wires.
--Jarod RuppSource: Miami Marlins
August 18, 2025
The Boston Red Sox announced on Monday that they placed outfielder
Rob Refsnyder (oblique) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 15) with a left-oblique strain and recalled infielder/outfielder
Nate Eaton from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. The team also designated catcher
Ali Sanchez for assignment. Given the nature of Refsnyder's injury, it's likely he'll be out beyond 10 days. The 34-year-old veteran typically only plays for Boston against left-handed pitchers, and he hadn't played since last Wednesday. Refsnyder is only outfield depth in AL-only leagues when he's healthy and he's slashed .272/.357/.471 on the year with an .827 OPS, six home runs, 22 RBI, 23 runs scored and three stolen bases in 157 plate appearances over 54 games. His playing time has been even more sparse since
Roman Anthony was called up.
--Keith HernandezSource: Boston Red Sox
August 18, 2025
The Miami Marlins announced on Monday that they placed infielder
Graham Pauley (oblique) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 17) with a right-oblique strain and recalled infield prospect
Maximo Acosta from Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move. Pauley suffered an oblique strain over the weekend that will most likely sideline him beyond the 10 days on the IL. In the 24-year-old's absence, the Fish will probably split playing time at the hot corner between
Javier Sanoja and
Eric Wagaman. Sanoja is starting at third and is batting seventh for Monday's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals. Pauley is hitting just .229/.310/.371 with a below-average .682 OPS, four home runs, 11 RBI, 15 runs and two steals in 54 games in his first year in Miami. He was not on the fantasy radar in mixed leagues to begin with.
--Keith HernandezSource: Miami Marlins
August 18, 2025
Chicago White Sox pitching prospect
Noah Schultz (knee) has not pitched in a game at Triple-A Charlotte since July 3 after being scratched due to knee discomfort prior to his start on July 19. Chicago's second-ranked prospect is progressing and could return before the end of the month, however, the team is being cautious with their top pitching prospect. Even if he doesn't return before the end of the season, the left-handed hurler will participate in the Arizona Fall League (AFL). The 22-year-old earned a promotion to Triple-A in June, but had a rough three starts in which he allowed 15 earned runs on 18 hits and eight walks while striking out 13 in 11 1/3 innings pitched. Hopefully he can make up for lost time and iron out some things in the AFL, and fantasy managers should expect the southpaw to arrive in the big leagues next year.
--Jarod RuppSource: MLB.com
August 18, 2025
Cincinnati Reds rookie right-hander
Chase Burns (elbow) is scheduled to throw on Monday, and the Reds fully expect him to contribute before the end of the 2025 season. "We think (Chase Burns) can be a weapon for us going down the stretch," manager Terry Francona said. Burns landed on the 15-day injured list last Friday with a Grade 1 flexor strain in his right elbow. The 22-year-old isn't facing an extended absence, but his IL stint actually works as a natural way for the Reds to limit the young hurler's workload in his first big-league season. Burns is a fantastic dynasty/keeper asset for his long-term strikeout upside, but managers in single-year leagues shouldn't expect too much for the rest of the 2025 campaign, especially since it's possible he'll pitch out of the bullpen when he returns. The former second overall pick has gone 0-3 with a 5.24 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 57 K's in his first eight MLB starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM
August 18, 2025
New York Mets right-hander
Tylor Megill (elbow) looked good in his minor-league rehab start with Double-A Binghamton on Sunday, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing one hit, walking none and striking out nine. Megill threw 39 of his 55 pitches for strikes in what was his second rehab outing. The 30-year-old is returning from a right-elbow strain that has kept him out since June 14, so he will likely require at least one more start in the minors before the Mets activate him from the injured list. It's unclear what Megill's role will be in New York when he returns, and it will likely depend on how well rookie
Nolan McLean is pitching in the starting rotation. Megill made 14 starts before his elbow injury this year, going 5-5 with a career-best 3.95 ERA (3.41 FIP) and 1.36 WHIP with 89 strikeouts and 33 walks in 68 1/3 innings pitched.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
August 18, 2025
Boston Red Sox outfielder
Wilyer Abreu (calf) is likely to miss the team's two-game series against the Baltimore Orioles as he deals with tightness in his right calf. It doesn't appear Abreu will land on the 10-day injured list, though, as he plans to return to the lineup on Thursday to start a four-game set against the New York Yankees. Abreu suffered the injury on Sunday and had to leave early in a 5-3 loss to the Miami Marlins. After going 2-for-3 with a homer in that game, the 26-year-old is slashing .253/.325/.486 with 22 HRs, 69 RBI, 52 runs scored, and six stolen bases over 395 plate appearances.
UPDATE: Manager Alex Cora said Abreu is feeling better on Monday, but the team continues to take it day to day, and he isn't out of the woods for a trip to the injured list.--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 18, 2025
The Chicago Cubs have optioned right-hander
Javier Assad to Triple-A Iowa and recalled lefty
Luke Little, according to Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network. Assad missed the first four-plus months of the season with an oblique strain and finally returned Aug. 12 to make two starts. The 28-year-old combined for eight frames in those outings and went 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA, 13 hits allowed, and five strikeouts against two walks. After Assad threw four innings of one-run ball in a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, the Cubs are sending him down as
Jameson Taillon (calf) prepares to come off the 15-day injured list and rejoin the rotation.
--Connor ByrneSource: Andy Martinez - Marquee Sports Network
August 18, 2025
The Milwaukee Brewers announced that they have reinstated outfielder
Isaac Collins (personal) from the paternity list and optioned infielder
Tyler Black to Triple-A Nashville. Collins is back after missing the Brewers' weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds, but he is not in the lineup for Game 1 of a doubleheader versus the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
Christian Yelich is in left field, Collins' typical spot, and hitting cleanup in a meeting with right-hander
Cade Horton. The 28-year-old Collins has emerged as one of many standouts for a Milwaukee team that owns the majors' best record (78-45). He has slashed .288/.384/.448 with eight homers, 41 RBI, 48 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases in 331 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: Milwaukee Brewers
August 18, 2025
Colorado Rockies right-handed reliever
Zach Agnos (elbow) hopes to begin playing catch on Monday, but there's still no clear timetable for his return from the 15-day injured list. Agnos went on the IL on July 27 with a flexor strain, and with time running out on the Rockies' season, he may not pitch again this year. The 25-year-old got off to a superb start through May, boasting a 1.13 ERA over 16 innings, but his season went haywire after that. Agnos allowed at least one earned run in 12 of 14 appearances between June 1 and his placement on the IL. Thanks to that awful stretch, his ERA skyrocketed to 6.98 with a 1.58 WHIP and 17:16 K:BB in 29 2/3 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 18, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman/outfielder
Brendan Donovan (foot/groin) will sit out Monday's series opener against the Miami Marlins, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Donovan hasn't played since last Wednesday as he continues to deal with pain in his left foot that has caused soreness in his groin. The Cardinals do not intend to place Donovan on the 10-day injured list, though, and are holding out hope that he'll return to the lineup on Tuesday. In nine games this month, Donovan has gone just 7-for-34 with one extra-base hit (a double), three RBI, five strikeouts, and a walk. The first-time All-Star has taken 476 trips to the plate this season and slashed an above-average .279/.348/.402 with nine homers, 45 RBI, and 57 runs scored.
--Connor ByrneSource: Derrick Goold - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
August 18, 2025
Houston Astros designated hitter/outfielder
Yordan Alvarez (hand) has a chance to return from the 60-day injured list later this week, according to general manager Dana Brown. Alvarez, out since May 2 with a fractured right hand, will begin a rehab assignment at the Double-A level on Tuesday. He'll get Wednesday off and then try to play in back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday. If the three-time All-Star isn't back in the majors by this weekend, he should be in the Astros' lineup for the start of a series against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 26. Alvarez hit just .210/.306/.340 with three home runs and 18 RBI in 121 plate appearances before he suffered his injury, but he was an elite hitter from 2021-24. Based on his track record, the 28-year-old slugger should provide a boost to the Astros and fantasy managers during the last several weeks of the season.
--Connor ByrneSource: Chandler Rome - The Athletic
August 18, 2025
Seattle Mariners All-Star catcher
Cal Raleigh gave the kids at the 2025 MLB Little League Classic something to cheer about on Sunday night, as he went 2-for-5 with two RBI, one run scored, and a two-run blast in the seventh inning as the Mariners were defeated by the New York Mets 7-3. The home run was Raleigh's 47th long ball of the season, and he leads the league in that category, with the next closest being
Kyle Schwarber with 43. Raleigh continues to put together one of the best offensive seasons for a catcher in MLB history. With
Aaron Judge missing some time in late July with an elbow injury and being limited to designated hitter of late, the odds for the AL MVP race have gotten significantly tighter and in favor of Raleigh (plus-110, according to ESPN). Fantasy managers can continue to lock Raleigh into their lineups without thinking twice, as he's been the best fantasy catcher by far.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: ESPN
August 18, 2025
Boston Red Sox utilityman
Kristian Campbell has continued to play well in Triple-A Worcester of late, hitting .323 with a .943 OPS in 26 games since the All-Star break. When asked this weekend about Campbell's progress, though, Alex Cora was evasive and said, "I've been watching the at-bats," Cora said. "He's producing, but there's still work to do", Jen McCaffrey of the Athletic reports. Cora also went on to say that pitch recognition is something that Campbell needs to work on, and that it's hard to replicate in Triple-A, because the pitching down there is not as good as it is in the majors. Campbell was sent down to the minors in June after struggling at the MLB level in his first stint, slashing .223/.319/.345 with six home runs, 21 RBI, 24 runs scored, and a 27.4 percent strikeout rate over 229 at-bats. Campbell is still one of the Red Sox's top prospects, but at this time, he remains a dynasty stash.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: The Athletic
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