RADIO
X-Rays Negative on Jeremy Pena's Hand After Hit-by-Pitch
Post-game X-rays on Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena's left hand were negative, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Pena was hit on the knuckle of both his pinkie and ring finger with a 96 mph fastball from New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole in the top of the third inning on Friday night in the team's 5-1 win in the Bronx. Pena actually stayed in the game and went 1-for-4 at the plate with his 16th home run of the season, two RBI, and two strikeouts out of the leadoff spot for Houston. Fantasy managers should consider Pena day-to-day. Check back on Friday to see if the Astros give him a day off in the series opener in Queens against the New York Mets. The 28-year-old Dominican has been beat up by various injuries in 2026, but when active, he's been a solid fantasy shortstop, as he entered Thursday's tilt with a .283/.335/.471 slash line, .806 OPS, 15 homers, 43 RBI, 63 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across his 392 at-bats in his fifth year in the majors. Pena has now gone deep in two of his last three games.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Pete Alonso Remains on Fire at the Plate
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso has been on another level at the plate recently. Over the last week, Alonso is slashing .429/.448/.893 with four home runs and 10 RBI. It's not just a one-week wonder as Alonso owns a 1.343 OPS over the last 14 days. The 31-year-old is making a statement during his first season with the Orioles. Across 133 games, Alonso is slashing .276/.365/.516 with 32 home runs, a league-leading 91 RBI, and five steals. He has been unbelievable during their current series against the St. Louis Cardinals with two homers and six RBI during the first two games. Fantasy managers need to ride with Alonso and hope he keeps up this pace during the fantasy playoffs.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Julio Rodriguez Continues Sluggish Play
Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez has not been able to put it together at the plate this season. Fantasy managers have stayed hopeful that Rodriguez would figure it out, but it hasn't happened yet. Over the last two weeks, Rodriguez is 10-for-57 with one home run, four RBI, and two stolen bases. The three-time All-Star still has 20 homers and 17 steals, which is good, but fantasy managers expect more out of Rodriguez. The 25-year-old still has a month left in the regular season to turn it around and help his team make the postseason. At this point, fantasy managers can't really do anything but stick with Rodriguez and hope things turn around.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Bobby Witt Jr. is Scorching-Hot at the Plate
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been nearly impossible to get out at the plate lately. Over the last two weeks, Witt is slashing .327/.450/.551 with three home runs and six RBI. His hot play stretches longer than that as Witt owns a .930 OPS over the last 30 days. It is well known that Witt is one of the best players in baseball, but now he's really showing it. Witt has been limited to 115 games due to injury, but he has been incredible when healthy. This season, Witt is slashing .288/.366/.458 with 16 home runs, 48 RBI, and 35 steals during his fifth season in Kansas City. Witt is obviously a must-start in all fantasy formats.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Justin Wrobleski to Begin Rehab Assignment This Weekend
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski (forearm) is gearing up to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. According to David Vassegh, Wrobleski will head to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin a rehab assignment this weekend. Wrobleski had a throwing session on Wednesday and appears ready to get back on the mound now. It seems possible that Wrobleski rejoins the Dodgers roster after one rehab outing. He has been on the Injured List since August 16 due to left forearm inflammation. He could be back on the Dodgers roster by early September, but his fantasy value will be limited if he goes to the bullpen.
Source: David Vassegh
Source: David Vassegh
Nolan Arenado is Scratched with Thumb Injury
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (thumb) was scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Arenado was removed ahead of this game due to right thumb inflammation, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. The veteran slugger was dealing with a left side issue last week, but this absence is unrelated. Jose Fernandez will draw the start at third base during Thursday's game. Fantasy managers should consider Arenado as day-to-day. There should be another update on his status ahead of Saturday's contest. Arenado has been struggling at the plate lately, but is still worth rostering in deep leagues.
Source: Nick Piecoro
Source: Nick Piecoro
Willy Adames Expected to Miss 3-4 Weeks With Elbow Injury
San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames (elbow) received a second opinion on his injured left elbow, and the plan is to rest, rehab, and receive a platelet-rich plasma injection, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports. Adames is expected to miss three to four weeks, which essentially means he will miss the rest of the 2026 season. The Giants placed the veteran shortstop on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a sprained left elbow, and fantasy managers can now essentially drop him in single-year leagues with the Giants not close to playoff contention. Christian Koss should see most of the playing time at the 6 in San Fran the rest of the way. Adames failed to reach the 30-homer mark for a third straight season in his second year in the Bay Area, ultimately coming up well short of expectations with a .230/.289/.424 slash line with a career-low .713 OPS, 21 home runs, 51 RBI, 62 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 121 games played and 505 plate appearances. Barring a setback with his elbow in the offseason, Adames should be recovered well ahead of spring training in 2027.
Source: NBC Sports - Alex Pavlovic
Source: NBC Sports - Alex Pavlovic
Walker Jenkins Getting the Call to the Big Leagues
MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports that he has been told that top Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins will join the big-league roster in time to be in Friday's lineup for the series opener against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. He will most likely be replacing All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton (hip), who aggravated a hip injury that has already landed him on the injured list twice in the second half of the season. Jenkins, the team's top overall prospect and the No. 15 overall prospect in all of baseball, should play regularly in Minnesota and could have an immediate impact in all fantasy baseball leagues down the stretch in 2026. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter stands at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds and is a plus hitter with raw power. The former fifth overall pick in 2023 will get his first call to the big leagues after hitting .308/.407/.532 with a .940 OPS, 12 home runs, 28 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and 51 runs scored in 69 games and 307 plate appearances this year at Triple-A St. Paul. Jenkins' power/speed upside makes him a priority waiver-wire addition immediately.
Source: MLB.com - Jonathan Mayo
Source: MLB.com - Jonathan Mayo
MLB Players Association Not Happy With League's Free Agency Proposals
The Major League Baseball Players Association is not happy with the league's proposal on Thursday to overhaul the offseason calendar and shrink most of free agency to a short window in December, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. "The league, through their propaganda arm, is promoting their latest set of roster and transaction proposals as player-friendly," MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer said. "MLB expressly conditioned these proposals on the players' agreement to a salary cap system, which would drastically reduce overall player compensation, eliminate fully guaranteed contracts through escrow, and turn back the clock on fundamental player rights. Their latest proposals regarding free agency would eliminate player rights by establishing an artificial free agency window, subject to a salary cap, which would reduce player leverage and create a game of musical chairs pitting player vs. player. The suggestion that the only way to limit roster churn, or incentivize earlier free-agent signings, is with a salary cap is entirely unserious. Players have proposed changes that would address these priorities, but the league is not interested in any changes that don't directly reduce the rights of all players and shift leverage to the owners." We already knew that the potential for a lockout in 2027 was high, and the back and forth between MLB and the Players Association on Thursday over a new free agency system reinforces that notion. Things are about to get really messy in negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement this winter.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Jake Bauers Missing Another Game With Shin Splints
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (shin) will miss another game on Thursday in Queens against the New York Mets in the series finale, according to MLB.com. Catcher William Contreras will serve as the designated hitter and bat third, while Gary Sanchez will do the catching for right-hander Jacob Misiorowski and hit fifth against Mets left-hander Sean Manaea. Bauers, who is in the midst of a career year in 2026, has not played for Milwaukee since fouling a ball off his foot in the Williamsport game on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. He is now being diagnosed with shin splints, but the left-handed slugger could be back as early as Friday's series opener versus the Texas Rangers at American Family Field in Milwaukee. Fantasy managers will be hoping that the 30-year-old's shin splints will not interrupt what has been a great season. Bauers enters Thursday's contest with a .272/.382/.501 slash line, an .884 OPS, 23 homers, 75 RBI, 76 runs, and nine stolen bases in his 401 at-bats. He is also hitting .284 (19-for-67) with four homers, three doubles, 12 RBI, 11 runs, and a stolen base in 20 games in August.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bo Bichette Out on Thursday With Foot Injury
New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette (foot) is not in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers, per MLB.com. Bichette is starting on the bench for this contest after he was pulled early on Wednesday after fouling a ball off his left foot. X-rays on his foot came back negative, so he will have a chance to be back as soon as Friday's series opener at home against the Houston Astros. Brett Baty will make the start at the hot corner on Thursday and will hit seventh for New York against Brewers flamethrowing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski. In his first year in Queens, Bichette got off to an ice-cold start at the plate before eventually rebounding. The two-time All-Star enters Thursday's action with a .264/.312/.393 slash line, a .704 OPS, 14 home runs, 66 RBI, 64 runs scored, and one stolen base in 132 games played across 568 plate appearances. Overall, it has still been a disappointment for the big free-agent signing, but Bichette has been much better in the second half, hitting .289 (41-for-142) with a .779 OPS, four homers, seven doubles, a triple, 15 RBI, and 16 runs in 36 games since the All-Star break. He's also hitting over .300 so far in 22 games in August.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
MLB Proposes Drastic Changes to Offseason Calendar
Major League Baseball proposed drastic changes to its offseason calendar on Thursday, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan, including shortening free agency to a two- to three-week window every offseason. Additionally, a free-agent dead period until the first day of the winter meetings was proposed for early December, during which players and teams can negotiate, but no deals can be signed. Trades would be allowed during this period. Free agency would open the Monday that the winter meetings begin and would close on Dec. 21. From Dec. 21 through the first Monday in February, no free-agent signings or trades would be allowed. Free agents could sign, and trades would be allowed again from the first Monday in February onward. The biggest offseason issue this coming winter will obviously be the back and forth between owners and the Players Association as they try to agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Regarding potential free agency changes, the new proposals would effectively spur more action at an earlier point in the offseason.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Anthony Eyanson Continues to Impress With New Club
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson has pitched well for his new organization after coming over in the trade that sent catcher Adley Rutschman to Boston, now with a 2.60 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and an elite 28.4 percent K-BB% through three starts (17 1/3 innings pitched). It has been a continuation of the success he saw earlier in the year, and now for the season, the right-hander owns a pristine 1.58 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a 26.9 percent K-BB% in 19 appearances between High-A and Double-A. The Orioles' top pitching prospect should get a chance to test his mettle against Triple-A competition in 2027, with a chance to debut in the majors later in the year. As one of the top pitching prospects in baseball (No. 7 RHP per MLB.com), there's a lot to like, and the strikeout potential is real, so managers in redraft leagues will want to keep tabs on his progress in 2027.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Devin Fitz-Gerald Settling in at Double-A
Washington Nationals infield prospect Devin Fitz-Gerald scuffled in his first taste of Double-A pitching, slashing .179/.248/.225 with one home run, a 27.3 percent strikeout rate, and a 5.5 percent walk rate over his first 38 games with Harrisburg. However, since then, the Nats' fifth-ranked prospect has slashed .364/.442/.591 with three home runs in his last 12 games, and lowered the strikeout rate to a more palatable 23.1 percent with a 9.6 percent walk rate. The 21-year-old still has time to develop and remains on track to see some time at Triple-A next year. If he can stay on course, a late-season debut in 2027 is possible; otherwise, look for the switch-hitter to have an impact in the big leagues in 2028. For now, he's simply a name to monitor in redraft leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Caleb Bonemer Showing Off Power Stroke in 2026
Chicago White Sox infield prospect Caleb Bonemer is not only fitting in at Double-A Birmingham, he's excelling, too. Chicago's second-ranked prospect is hitting .268, which is 30 points higher than his average was at High-A, while reducing his strikeout rate by more than four percent and drawing a few more walks. It has resulted in a .962 OPS with 16 home runs in 55 games for the Barons, and combined with his 18 home runs from High-A, the former second-rounder has now blasted 34 home runs on the season, including four in his last six games. While he isn't known for his speed, the 6-foot-1 slugger has also tallied 16 steals between both levels, providing strong all-around production. The right-handed hitter should see time at Triple-A in 2027 and could be in the mix for a second-half call-up to the majors, so redraft managers should be familiar with the name.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
