August 17, 2025
The Philadelphia Phillies optioned infielder/outfielder
Otto Kemp to Triple-A Lehigh Valley before Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals. Philadelphia made the move to clear room for the return of third baseman
Alec Bohm (ribs) from the 10-day injured list. The 25-year-old Kemp has provided defensive versatility with double-digit appearances in left field and at both corner infield positions. However, he hasn't offered much with the bat in his first 46 games in the majors. Across 161 plate appearances, Kemp has hit a subpar .228/.298/.359 with four homers, 17 RBI, 17 runs scored, and a 30.4% strikeout rate. He got off to a 4-for-23 start with 11 strikeouts in eight games this month before the Phillies sent him down.
--Connor ByrneSource: Philadelphia Phillies
August 17, 2025
The Texas Rangers announced that they have placed right-hander
Jon Gray (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list. Gray is going on the shelf with thoracic outlet syndrome, manager Bruce Bochy revealed. It's an ominous injury that continues a brutal season for Gray. The 33-year-old suffered a fractured forearm in spring training and didn't make his debut until July 23. Since then, opposing offenses have crushed Gray in six appearances out of the bullpen. He has logged a 7.71 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB across 14 innings. It was reported on Saturday that Gray went through waivers unclaimed and would remain with Texas. Now, in light of this injury, it wouldn't be a surprise if he's done for the year.
--Connor ByrneSource: Shawn McFarland - Dallas Morning News
August 17, 2025
Houston Astros designated hitter/outfielder
Yordan Alvarez (hand) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday, manager Joe Espada told reporters. Alvarez has made a slow recovery from a fractured right hand that has shelved him since May 2. There's finally light at the end of the tunnel for the star slugger, though, with the Astros expecting him back later this month if he doesn't suffer any setbacks. Alvarez batted an uncharacteristically poor .210/.306/.340 line with four home runs and 18 RBI in 121 plate appearances before he went on the injured list. Nevertheless, considering the four-time 30-HR hitter's stellar track record, the Astros and fantasy managers will be thrilled to get him back for the last few weeks of the regular season.
--Connor ByrneSource: Matt Kawahara - Houston Chronicle
August 17, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles announced that they have reinstated outfielder
Colton Cowser (head) from the seven-day concussion injured list. He'll play center field and hit fifth Sunday against Houston Astros right-hander
Cristian Javier. Cowser, who last played Aug. 6, will try to get back on track after going 3-for-20 with one RBI, 11 strikeouts, and one walk in six games this month prior to his IL stint. The 25-year-old smacked 24 home runs and put up a .768 OPS as a rookie in 2024, but multiple injuries (including a broken left thumb) have limited him to 56 games this season. Cowser has taken 215 trips to the plate and hit a below-average .213/.279/.401 with nine homers, 22 RBI, 23 runs scored, and six stolen bases.
--Connor ByrneSource: Baltimore Orioles
August 17, 2025
The Texas Rangers recalled infield/outfield prospect
Cody Freeman from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday, and he will start at third base and bat eighth in the series finale against the hosting Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander
Jose Berrios. Freeman will get the nod at the hot corner with
Josh Jung taking a day off, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to receive everyday playing time moving forward. The 24-year-old right-handed hitter and former fourth-rounder in 2019 will be playing in just his fifth major-league game. In four games earlier this season, he had a double and RBI with two strikeouts in seven plate appearances. Freeman has slashed an impressive .336/.382/.549 with 19 home runs, 71 RBI and eight steals in 97 games at Round Rock this year in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He's ranked by MLB Pipeline as Texas' No. 24 prospect.
--Keith HernandezSource: Texas Rangers PR
August 17, 2025
Texas Rangers second baseman
Marcus Semien (wrist) is back at second base and will hit sixth for Sunday's series finale in Toronto against the Blue Jays and right-hander
Jose Berrios. Semien was hit by a pitch on his right wrist in Friday's loss and then was held out of Saturday's contest as a result. X-rays on the 34-year-old veteran's wrist came back negative, though, which will allow him to return for the final game of the series as Texas looks to avoid a sweep. It's been a disappointing 2025 campaign for the three-time All-Star, as he enters Sunday's tilt slashing .223/.299/.353 with a career-worst .652 OPS, 14 home runs, 59 RBI, 58 runs and 11 stolen bases in his 122 games played. He's been much worse in August, hitting .157 (8-for-51) with a homer, six RBI and seven strikeouts in 13 gaems. Semien has hit .250 with a homer and two RBI in 12 career at-bats versus Berrios.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 17, 2025
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena (illness) is feeling good enough to return to the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander
Dean Kremer. Pena is starting at shortstop and batting leadoff. The 27-year-old was under the weather and did not play in the first two games of the series at Daikin Park. He is having a fantastic year at the plate for the Astros, batting .317 (115-for-363) with 13 home runs, 45 RBI, 52 runs scored and 17 stolen bases in 94 games played. The Dominican has kept it up in the month of August, too, going 13-for-46 (.283) with two home runs, two doubles, a triple, five RBI, four runs and two stolen bases in 12 games played. Fantasy managers will want to get Pena back in their starting lineups, even though he has just one hit in 10 career at-bats against Kremer.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 17, 2025
The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Sunday that they reinstated outfielder
Blake Perkins from the bereavement list and optioned outfielder
Steward Berroa to Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move. Perkins is starting in center field and is batting sixth for Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds and left-hander
Andrew Abbott. The 28-year-old Perkins missed the team's last two games due to a personal issue, but he's back now and will continue to serve as the red-hot Brewers' starting center field until
Jackson Chourio (hamstring) returns from the injured list. Perkins is hitting a very modest .264/.338/.472 on the year with an .810 OPS, three home runs, nine RBI, 19 runs and five steals in 72 at-bats, but all three of his home runs have come in August. Perkins is hitless in 11 career at-bats against Abbott.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Brewers
August 17, 2025
Boston Red Sox rookie infielder
Marcelo Mayer (wrist) will undergo season-ending surgery on his right wrist, according to manager Alex Cora. Mayer was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 25 with a right-wrist sprain and received an anti-inflammatory shot, but it won't prevent him from missing the rest of the year. The 22-year-old is expected to be out for three months, so he should be fully ready for spring training next year and the start of the 2026 campaign. Mayer was one of the team's top prospects at the time of his call-up earlier this year, but the former fourth overall pick in 2021 struggled at the plate in his first 44 games, going 29-for-127 (.228) with four home runs, 10 RBI and 20 runs scored over 136 trips to the plate. He will most likely be competing for a starting role in Boston's infield in spring training next year.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Ian Browne
August 17, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles have called up their top prospect, catcher
Samuel Basallo, for his major-league debut. MLB.com's No. 8 prospect overall was slashing .270/.377/.589 with 23 home runs in 76 games for Triple-A Norfolk. The 21-year-old has big-time power potential with at least 19 home runs in each of the last three seasons in the minors and has shown a keen eye at the plate as well, recording a 13.7 percent walk rate this year for the Tides. While he's a catcher by trade, the 6-foot-4 Dominican has logged 20 games at first base in 2025, and he's eligible at both positions in Yahoo leagues. With the fantasy upside he can provide, assuming the Orioles are going to give him regular at-bats, the left-handed slugger should be rostered in most 12-team leagues.
--Jarod RuppSource: Baltimore Orioles
August 17, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect
Ryan Waldschmidt continued to impress at Double-A Amarillo on Saturday, going 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs, three RBI, and two runs scored for the Sod Poodles. It was the third straight game with a home run and fourth straight multi-hit contest for the D-backs' second-ranked prospect, who is 16-for-30 (.533) over his last eight games. The 2024 first-rounder is hitting .279 at Double-A with a .401 OBP thanks to a strong 15.9 percent walk rate and has stolen 13 bases in just 41 games at that level, now slashing .272/.410/.460 with 15 home runs, 23 steals, and an 80:88 BB:K in 110 games this year between High-A and Double-A. He doesn't appear to be overmatched, with just a 19.2 percent strikeout rate at Double-A, so look for him to see time at Triple-A in 2026 and potentially push for a major league debut. With a well-rounded skill set, dynasty managers should consider stashing the 22-year-old if he's still available.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
August 17, 2025
Athletics rookie shortstop
Jacob Wilson (forearm) began his rehab assignment at Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday, lacing a double in his first at-bat and finishing the game 2-for-4 with a run scored. The 23-year-old has been out since late July due to a fractured left forearm, but was a leading candidate for AL Rookie of the Year before going down with the injury, slashing .312/.354/.439 with 10 home runs and five steals in 94 games for the A's. The 2025 All-Star's rehab shouldn't be lengthy, so look for him to rejoin the club at some point in the coming week.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
August 17, 2025
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher
Casey Mize had his swing-and-miss stuff going for him during Saturday's game against the Minnesota Twins. Mize was blasted for three runs in the fifth inning, but was sharp outside of that. He tossed 6.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits while striking out 10 batters in the win. The 10 punchouts tied a career high as Mize looked untouchable throughout most of this outing. He'll take a 3.63 ERA into his next matchup which is a favorable start against the Kansas City Royals next week.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
August
17,
2025
Tampa
Bay
Rays
outfield
prospect
Theo
Gillen
(finger)
was
placed
on
the
Single-A
seven-day
injured
list
on
Saturday
with
a
broken
middle
finger
on
his
left
hand.
It
appears
to
have
happened
on
an
attempted
steal
during
Single-A
Charleston's
game
on
read more...
August 17, 2025
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher
Justin Verlander posted arguably his best outing of the season versus the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. The right-hander looked like prime Verlander during this start. He threw seven shutout innings, allowing two hits, while striking out eight batters in the no-decision. Verlander has looked better on the mound lately with one earned run or less in four of his last five starts. Overall, Verlander holds a 4.23 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and a 95/36 K/BB ratio across 21 starts this season. His late season turnaround has given Verlander some more streaming appeal lately. However, he's not a great streaming option against a tough San Diego Padres squad next time out.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
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