RADIO
White Sox Calling Up Top Pitching Prospect Hagen Smith to the Majors
The Chicago White Sox are calling up left-handed pitching prospect Hagen Smith from Triple-A Charlotte, according to James Fegan of The Athletic. Smith, who is considered the team's No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline, will get the call for the first time after going 1-6 with a 4.32 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 87:40 K:BB in 58 1/3 innings pitched across 20 appearances (14 starts) at Triple-A Charlotte in 2026. The White Sox moved Smith to the bullpen last month, and since then, he's been much more effective, giving up just one run while striking out 10 in 6 1/3 innings pitched. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound southpaw, who was a former fifth overall pick in 2024 from the University of Arkansas, has a bright future, but for the rest of the year in the majors, he's expected to pitch in a relief role for the Pale Hose. That means that fantasy managers in redraft leagues can most likely ignore Smith off the waiver wire. He's currently rostered in only 2% of Yahoo leagues. Smith has mostly relied on a fastball/slider combination, and he may need to develop a strong third pitch to have long-term upside as a starter in the big leagues.
Source: The Athletic - James Fegan
Source: The Athletic - James Fegan
Adley Rutschman to Begin a Rehab Assignment on Saturday
Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (wrist) will start a minor-league rehab assignment on Saturday, according to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. Rutschman has been on the 10-day injured list since July 20 due to inflammation in his wrist, but now that he's on the verge of a rehab assignment, the 28-year-old switch-hitting backstop could be in line to make his debut with Boston at some point next week, barring a setback. Once he's back in the big leagues, the former first overall pick from Oregon State University will be the Red Sox's starting catcher as they look to stay hot and earn a berth in the playoffs. Boston gave up quite the prospect haul to acquire Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, so they are banking on him returning to the form he had in Baltimore in his first couple of years in the majors. Rutschman has been an injury disappointment the last two seasons, and he has hit .251/.331/.433 with a .764 OPS, eight home runs, 47 RBI, and 30 runs scored in 67 games and 284 plate appearances in 2026. He's rostered in 70% of Yahoo leagues after fading since the start of the 2025 season.
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Payton Tolle Dominant Against A's, Strikes Out 14 Batters
Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle was absolutely dominant in Friday night's 13-1 beatdown of the Athletics at Fenway Park and flirted with a perfect game early on. Tolle allowed just one earned run on two hits (one homer) while walking none and fanning a career-high 14 batters in six innings of work to pick up his seventh win of the season and lower his ERA to 3.20. Tolle's perfect-game bid was ended in the fifth inning when he allowed a solo home run to Tyler Soderstrom, but that was all the 23-year-old southpaw would allow. He had his swing-and-miss stuff going, as he generated 24 swings and misses on just 84 pitches. It was Tolle's second straight quality start. Tolle will face the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays for the third time this year in his next scheduled outing. It will be a challenge for him to earn a third straight quality start, as he's allowed seven runs (five earned) with a walk and seven strikeouts in 11 innings against the Rays in his previous two starts against them in 2025. After Friday's strong start, Tolle has a nice 3.20 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP in his 107 innings pitched over 19 starts in his first full year in the majors.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Zebby Matthews Exits with Foot Issue
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews (foot) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's outing against the Milwaukee Brewers. Matthews came out to warm up for the sixth inning, but was taken out shortly after that. It has been announced that Matthews was pulled from this game due to a blister on his right foot. Before leaving, Matthews allowed three earned runs on seven hits while striking out four batters across five innings of work. For now, Matthews is lined up to start against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should monitor his status over the next few days. He could be a deep league streaming option if he's available to pitch versus the O's.
Source: Dan Hayes
Source: Dan Hayes
Carson Benge Removed with Wrist Injury
New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge (wrist) was removed early during Friday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Benge appeared to have suffered a wrist injury while making a sliding catch in the third inning. The Mets pulled him after that, and he exited the game with left wrist soreness. Before leaving the game, Benge was 2-for-2 at the plate with two singles, two RBI, and one stolen base. The assumption is that he'll head for imaging to determine the severity of the injury. Fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked to see Benge absent from Saturday's lineup. For now, he should be considered day-to-day until more information is revealed. UPDATE: The New York Daily News' Abbey Mastracco reports that X-rays on Benge's left wrist came back negative.
Source: Abbey Mastracco
Source: Abbey Mastracco
Athletics Fire General Manager David Forst
The Athletics have fired general manager David Forst on Friday, according to Ken Rosenthal. They've decided to mutually part ways with Forst, who had an expiring contract that ended after 2026. The A's have named Dan Feinstein as the interim general manager while the team begins a search for a new GM. Forst was hired by the A's as a scout in 2000 and worked alongside Billy Beane as the assistant GM in 2004. Forst put together an exciting young ballclub that surprised people last season. Unfortunately, the A's weren't able to capture the same magic in 2026. Many of the young stars are struggling, and only the Colorado Rockies have a worse ERA in the league. It's unclear if the poor performance this season led to Forst's exit or if they planned to move on anyway as they creep closer to their eventual home in Las Vegas.
Source: Ken Rosenthal
Source: Ken Rosenthal
Luis Perales Could Make Big-League Debut Soon
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Luis Perales could be nearing his big league debut, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. The 23-year-old came over in a trade with the Boston Red Sox this past offseason. He struggled to begin the season in Triple-A Rochester, but has pitched much better lately. Over his last eight starts, Perales owns a 2.79 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 41/25 K/BB ratio across nearly 40 innings of work. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Nats give some of their younger arms a chance if they fade from playoff contention down the stretch of the season. Perales is someone deep league managers should keep an eye on right now.
Source: The Athletic
Source: The Athletic
Max Meyer to be Evaluated Next Week
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Max Meyer (neck) appears to be making progress after being sidelined since late July. According to Christina De Nicola, Meyer will have his neck re-evaluated next week. The right-hander has been out for weeks due to a neck strain. Once he's cleared to throw, it's going to take time for Meyer to ramp up again. This season, Meyer owns a 2.68 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 121/41 K/BB ratio across 20 starts. He earned the first All-Star selection of his career with his outstanding pitching in the first half of the season. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Meyer and be hopeful for his return in the coming weeks.
Source: Christian De Nicola
Source: Christian De Nicola
Blake Snell to Return From Injured List on Tuesday
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (elbow) will come off the 60-day injured list to start on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals, manager Dave Roberts told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. It will be Snell's second start for the Dodgers this year after opening the year with shoulder trouble and then needing surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. The 33-year-old southpaw has looked good in four minor-league rehab games, posting a 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 19:5 K:BB in 11 2/3 innings, although he only made it through 3 2/3 innings in his final start in the minors. The two-time Cy Young winner will get a plus matchup against the Royals in his return to the big-league mound next week, but with a likely short leash as the Dodgers ease him back into their rotation, Snell will carry extra risk for fantasy managers with a limited ceiling. Snell still has high-end strikeout upside for fantasy purposes, but he's made just 12 regular-season starts in his two years in L.A. due to shoulder and elbow injuries. He's currently rostered in 85% of Yahoo leagues. If he's available in your leagues, snatch him up immediately, as he could be a difference-maker for strikeouts to close out the season.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Matt Chapman Expected to Have Season-Ending Surgery Next Week
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (hernia) is flying to Philadelphia to see a specialist on Sunday and expects to have season-ending surgery next Tuesday, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports. Chapman is dealing with a hernia that he had been playing through for most of the season. The 33-year-old veteran can now be dropped in all redraft fantasy leagues, if he wasn't already. The injury helps explain Chapman's disappointing third season in the Bay Area, as he'll finish the 2026 campaign (his 10th in the big leagues) with a .235/.324/.368 slash line, a career-low .692 OPS, a career-low seven home runs, 42 RBI, and 35 runs scored in 84 games across 352 plate appearances. With Casey Schmitt also done for the year due to a knee injury, Christian Koss now has a runway for the rest of the season to serve as the Giants' starting third baseman. Chapman could bounce back in 2027 with better health, but at this point in his career, he won't necessarily be a lock to return to the 20-homer mark, especially at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Freddie Freeman Returns From Wrist Injury on Friday
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (wrist) is back at first base and is hitting third for the Dodgers in Friday's series opener on the road in Arizona against the division-rival Diamondbacks and right-hander Merrill Kelly, according to MLB.com. Freeman was pulled from Wednesday's series finale against the Chicago Cubs after injuring his hand/wrist at Wrigley Field, but thankfully, X-rays came back negative, and he will return on Friday without missing a game following L.A.'s scheduled day off on Thursday. Fantasy managers in all traditional formats will want to get Freeman back into their starting lineups for Friday's tilt in the desert, especially since Freeman has hit .333 with a 1.112 OPS, two home runs, and three RBI in 30 career at-bats against Kelly. The 36-year-old is hitting over .300 on the season with 15 home runs and is in the midst of a 15-game hitting streak in which he has gone 27-for-58 (.466) with four doubles, three RBI, five runs scored, and two stolen bases in 60 plate appearances.
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
Cooper Pratt Has Become a 12-Team Speed Target
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt is giving fantasy managers two things that can be tough to find together on the wire: batting average and steals. The 21-year-old is hitting .289 with two home runs, 17 RBI, 20 runs, and 10 steals through 128 at-bats after scoring and driving in a run Thursday. Milwaukee has kept him in the lineup at shortstop, and there is enough speed here to matter without chasing empty at-bats. The power is a different story. Pratt hit six homers in 58 Triple-A games before his promotion, and that part of his game is still developing. This is not a five-category breakout call. It is a useful middle infielder who can run and has held his own against big-league pitching. RotoBaller now has Pratt in the 12-team add tier, while he remains rostered in only 19% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Grant Taylor Is a Strong Add for Saves and Strikeouts
Chicago White Sox reliever Grant Taylor has been one of the better strikeout arms on the wire all year, and the deadline made his saves path more interesting. He owns a 2.31 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 78 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings, with a 33.2% strikeout rate that sits in the 97th percentile. Seranthony Dominguez is gone, traded to Seattle, but Taylor still isn't being used like a one-inning closer. He worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings on August 2 and two more on August 6, a reminder that Chicago will deploy him when the game needs him, not just in the ninth. That caps the save total, which sits at five, but it also makes the ratios and strikeouts useful even between chances. Taylor is rostered in 27% of Yahoo leagues, and RotoBaller still has him as a 12-team add. Managers chasing saves with strikeout help should be interested.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Twins Officially Place Joe Ryan on Injured List With Glute Strain
The Minnesota Twins announced on Friday that they placed right-hander Joe Ryan (glute) on the 15-day injured list with a left-glute strain and recalled right-hander Zebby Matthews, who will start on Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers, from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move. The Twins initially were saying that Ryan was dealing with right-arm fatigue, but an MRI exam on Thursday showed his glute strain, which was making it difficult for him to repeat his delivery on the mound. It helps explain why he has struggled mightily in his three starts since the All-Star break, allowing 17 runs (16 earned) on 25 hits (seven home runs) while walking two and striking out 10 in 15 1/3 innings of work. Overall, the 30-year-old veteran is 6-8 in 2026 with a 3.65 ERA (3.42 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP with 138 strikeouts and 27 walks in 125 2/3 frames across 23 starts. It's unknown if Ryan might be ready to return from the IL when he's eligible in two weeks, but fantasy managers in all league formats need to keep him stashed for the stretch run.
Source: Minnesota Twins
Source: Minnesota Twins
Angel Genao Is a High-Upside Waiver-Wire Target
Cleveland Guardians infielder Angel Genao has made an immediate impression, going 5-for-9 through his first two major-league games. The 22-year-old became the first player in franchise history to collect four hits in his MLB debut Wednesday, then added another hit Thursday. He earned the promotion after batting .300 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI, and 11 stolen bases across 96 games between Double-A and Triple-A. There is more here than a two-game hot streak. MLB Pipeline ranks Genao 40th overall and gives him a 60-grade hit tool and 55-grade speed, while his ability to play shortstop, second base, and third gives Cleveland options for keeping him involved. Gabriel Arias was also designated for assignment when Genao arrived. Genao is rostered in only 16% of Yahoo leagues, making him one of the more intriguing high-upside bats still sitting on waiver wires.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
