August 26, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers third base prospect
Brock Wilken (knee) was activated from the Double-A Biloxi 7-day injured list on Tuesday. The Brewers' 17th-ranked prospect was recovering from a dislocated patella tendon in his left knee and has not played in a game since June 18. The 23-year-old was hitting just .230 on the season, but had hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games before the injury, going 17-for-50 (.340) with nine doubles and six home runs (.880 SLG) during that stretch. With 18 home runs in 65 games, the former first-rounder has big-time power, and although it comes with an elevated strikeout rate, he's been able to offset that with a career 15.9 percent walk rate in the minors (20.1 percent in 2025). He'll make a push toward Triple-A over the remainder of the season and into next, and should be in line for a major league debut next year.
--Jarod RuppSource: Biloxi Shuckers
August 26, 2025
Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Brandon Clarke (finger), who has been on the seven-day injured list since Aug. 15, likely won't pitch again this season due to a recurring blister issue on his pitching hand. Boston's fifth-ranked prospect was drafted in 2024 but did not begin his professional career until this year, and while he pitched well in three starts at Single-A to begin the season, things did not go so well at High-A. The former fifth-round draft pick recorded a 5.08 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and a 13.0 percent K-BB% in 11 starts for Greenville. The K-BB% would have looked better if not for an ugly 18.1 percent walk rate. The 6-foot-4 hurler will have the offseason to get his fingernail/blister issue under control, and could start climbing the ranks with a fastball that comes out of the left-hander's hand in the upper 90s that is paired with a devastating slider.
--Jarod RuppSource: Alex Speier - Boston Globe
August 26, 2025
Houston Astros outfielder
Jake Meyers (calf) will start a minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday with Triple-A Sugar Land, according to manager Joe Espada. Meyers could rejoin the big-league roster this weekend or early next week if everything goes well on the farm this week. The 29-year-old right-handed-hitting outfielder has been sidelined since just before the All-Star break due to a calf strain, but he should be able to rejoin the first-place Astros soon. Although the former 13th-rounder doesn't have much power to speak of (three homers this year), he has hit a career-best .308 (89-for-289) this year with 21 RBI, 47 runs scored and a career-high 14 stolen bases in 89 games played. When he's activated from the IL, Meyers should return to regular playing time in center field for the 'Stros to close out the 2025 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
August 26, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Chen-Wei Lin has been promoted to Double-A Springfield. The Cards' 16th-ranked prospect made 12 starts at High-A Peoria, posting a 4.89 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and struck out 46 batters in 38 2/3 innings pitched. He allowed just one home run all season and held opposing hitters to a .194 batting average, but the righty owned a sky-high 17.2 percent walk rate, which has been a problem for much of his time in the minors. The 6-foot-7 hurler can touch 100 mph on his fastball, but will need to work on his control in order to continue to be successful at the next level.
--Jarod RuppSource: Cardinals Player Development
August 26, 2025
Detroit Tigers outfielder
Parker Meadows (quadriceps) was running at 90 percent as of Monday, according to manager A.J. Hinch. However, Meadows isn't currently traveling with the team on their road trip, and he'll be set for a big running test this week. If he's able to clear that test, Meadows could start a minor-league rehab assignment later this week. The 25-year-old has been on the 10-day injured list since July 28 with a right-quadriceps strain, but he's nearing a return and could make it back to the big-league roster before the calendar flips to September. When he returns to Detroit, Meadows will play regularly in center field for the first-place Tigers against right-handed pitchers. Meadows can't seem to get over injuries, and he was hitting jut .200 (25-for-125) with two home runs, nine RBI and three steals in 38 games at the time of his quad injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 26, 2025
Cleveland Guardians left-hander
John Means (elbow) will make his next minor-league rehab start on Tuesday with Triple-A Columbus, according to MLB.com. In his second rehab outing with High-A Lake County on Aug. 20, Means tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings and got up to 51 pitches last Wednesday. He has been on the injured list all year after having Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in June of 2024. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw is working his way back, though, and is expected to be available to pitch for the Guardians at some point in September, barring a setback. If Means looks good in his third rehab outing on Tuesday, it's possible he'll be in line to come off the 60-day injured list after that. Because of his long layoff and unclear role in Cleveland when he's cleared to return, fantasy managers in 12-team leagues can continue to ignore him.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 26, 2025
Cleveland Guardians outfielder
Lane Thomas (foot) took on-field batting practice on Monday, and the team is hopeful that he can return at some point in September, according to manager
Stephen Vogt. However, there is still no timetable for Thomas to return from plantar fasciitis in his right foot that landed him on the injured list on July 6. Even in deeper fantasy leagues, there's just not much incentive to keep Thomas stashed at this point. The 30-year-old veteran has been injured for most of the year in his first season with Cleveland. He has played in only 39 games to this point and hasn't been good when he's been healthy, either, going 20-for-125 (.160) with four home runs, 11 RBI, 10 runs and four stolen bases. With Thomas still away from the team, the Guards will continue to trot
Angel Martinez out as their primary center fielder.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 26, 2025
Detroit Tigers right-hander
Alex Cobb (hip) will be pulled off his rehab assignment and shut down for a week, manager AJ Hinch told MLB Network Radio on Tuesday. This move enables Detroit to reset Cobb's 30-day rehab window in the minors. The Tigers signed Cobb to a one-year, $15 million contract in free agency last winter, but he hasn't pitched in the majors in 2025 as a result of left-hip inflammation. Cobb has made nine rehab appearances (seven starts) in the minors and walked 12 hitters over 19 2/3 innings, but he has still managed a 1.83 ERA with 24 strikeouts. If the 37-year-old does pitch in the majors this season, he's expected to come out of the bullpen in a multi-inning role.
--Connor ByrneSource: Chris McCosky - Detroit News
August 26, 2025
Cincinnati Reds catcher
Tyler Stephenson (thumb) will take batting practice on Friday as he works back from a fractured left thumb. The 29-year-old, who hasn't played since Aug. 15, has been fitted for a padded thumb guard and is on track to return sometime in September. Between multiple injuries (thumb and oblique) and a dip in output from last season, 2025 has been a struggle for Stephenson. He has played in 72 games and batted an underwhelming .226/.313/.393 with nine homers, 36 RBI, and 32 runs scored over 288 plate appearances. However, that's still better offensive production than what backup catcher
Jose Trevino has offered. Trevino has hit .246/.283/.377 with four HRs, 20 RBI, and 27 runs in 255 trips to the plate.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 26, 2025
Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington opened up about his health problems on Monday, revealing to the media that he underwent quadruple bypass surgery on June 30. Washington has been on medical leave since June 20 and will not return to the dugout in 2025. At 73, Washington is the game's oldest manager, but he made it clear that he wants to come back as the Angels' skipper for a third season in 2026. "Without a doubt," said Washington, who added that his fate is in general manager Perry Minasian's hands. Minasian will have to decide whether to pick up Washington's option for next season. In the meantime, the Angels will finish this season under bench coach and interim manager Ray Montgomery. At 62-69, the club is on pace to miss the playoffs for the 11th year in a row.
--Connor ByrneSource: Jeff Fletcher - Orange County Register
August 26, 2025
Chicago Cubs right-hander
Michael Soroka (shoulder) is scheduled to throw off a mound Tuesday for the first time since a shoulder strain forced him to the 15-day injured list on Aug. 5. Soroka suffered the injury in his Cubs debut on Aug. 4, just a few days after the team acquired him from the Washington Nationals. The 28-year-old has started in all 17 appearances this season and put up a 4.86 ERA (3.39 xERA) with a 1.13 WHIP, 90 strikeouts, and 25 walks in 83 1/3 innings. The Cubs estimate that Soroka will return in mid-September, at which point he could rejoin their rotation or pitch in relief. Soroka has some experience as a reliever, having come out of the bullpen in 17 of 86 career appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 26, 2025
Los Angeles Angels reliever
Ben Joyce (shoulder) told reporters on Monday that he expects to start throwing within a month as he recovers from May surgery on his right shoulder. Joyce won't make it back this season, and it's unclear if he'll be ready for spring training, but he said that his rehab is "going great." The hard-throwing Joyce burst on the scene in 2024 with a 2.08 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and 33:14 K:BB over 34 2/3 innings. He was unable to follow up on that this season, though, as he landed on the injured list on April 11 after just five appearances and 4 1/3 innings of three-run ball.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 26, 2025
Los Angeles Angels outfielder
Jorge Soler (back) is with the team in Texas and has begun limited baseball activities. Along with running and throwing, Soler is taking on-field batting practice for the first time since he landed on the 10-day injured list with lower-back inflammation on July 24. The 33-year-old has gone on the IL twice this season with back issues and struggled to a .215/.293/.387 line with 12 homers, 34 RBI, and 31 runs scored over 82 games and 315 plate appearances. While there's no timetable for Soler's return, he should have a chance to come back in 2025 if he continues to progress.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 26, 2025
Texas Rangers starting pitcher
Jon Gray (shoulder) appeared in only six games for the team this season after recovering from a broken wrist. He struggled to a 7.71 ERA and 7.33 FIP in 14 innings before landing on the injured list on August 17 with right shoulder nerve irritation. The team was concerned that his symptoms were consistent with thoracic outlet syndrome, which could require surgery. However, President of baseball operations
Chris Young gave a good report and said, "Our hope is that whatever it is, it's minor and, after 15 days, he'll be ready. But we still have some diagnostics to get through before we have a clear idea on the prognosis." Gray is still uncertain and not a fantasy option at this point in any format. However, the last chapter of his 2025 season isn't closed just yet.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Evan Grant
August 26, 2025
Texas Rangers starting pitcher
Tyler Mahle (shoulder) has been out since mid-June with shoulder fatigue, but he recently was able to resume throwing off a mound. He still has been limited to just fastballs, but he could advance to throwing live batting practice in the near future and possibly still work his way back to the majors by the end of the year. In his 77 innings over 14 starts before the injury, Mahle went 6-3 with a 2.34 ERA and 3.39 FIP. If the 30-year-old can return at anywhere close to that level, he could be a valuable spot start or DFS play in the right matchups down the stretch and also give the Rangers' injury-depleted rotation a nice boost. He still has a ways to go, but he's worth monitoring over the next few weeks.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Evan Grant
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