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River Ryan Could Be Late-Season Addition When Fully Healthy
Detroit Tigers pitching prospect River Ryan (hamstring) is currently on the injured list and rehabbing at Triple-A Toledo following his trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Tarik Skubal deal. Ryan has not pitched yet for the Tigers organization and is on the mend from a hamstring strain. The right-hander pitched eight games for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season and went 3-1 with a 4.46 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings pitched. Ryan is the No. 4 prospect in the Tigers' system at age 28 with a 65-grade fastball, a 60-grade slider, a 55-grade curveball, and changeups. With the Tigers quickly falling out of contention this season, it is becoming more likely for them to look toward Ryan for a late-year call-up. Ryan has the stuff to warrant a look in fantasy leagues should they turn to him when he comes back from his injury.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
River Ryan Still Without Clear Return Timeline
Detroit Tigers pitching prospect River Ryan (hamstring) has yet to progress beyond bullpen sessions as he works his way back from a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since mid-June. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch acknowledged the bullpen sessions over a week ago, but there hasn't been any update on his status since then. Hinch mentioned that Ryan's velocity looked "great" and the 28-year-old is recovering well, but he's yet to face live hitters. Once he does, a clearer picture should emerge as to when the right-hander will return, but whether that is this season or next remains a mystery. If the 6-foot-2 hurler can take the next step in the progression soon, there is still time for him to make it back this season, though it may be too late to help fantasy managers hoping to get to the playoffs. The Tigers' top-ranked pitching prospect boasted a 22.2 percent K-BB% at Triple-A in his eight starts before the injury and has the stuff to be successful at the major league level, but at this point, he's a speculative stash (preferably in an NA spot) in hopes he returns this season.
Source: Cody Stavenhagen
Source: Cody Stavenhagen
River Ryan Worth A Look As He Works His Way Back From Injury
Detroit Tigers pitching prospect River Ryan (hamstring) is currently rehabbing with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens and hasn't pitched in a game since coming over to the Tigers from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Tarik Skubal trade at the deadline. Ryan hasn't pitched in a game since June 17 with Triple-A Oklahoma City. This season, Ryan is 3-1 with a 4.46 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in eight starts with Oklahoma City. He has 43 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings pitched. The Tigers could look to Ryan to pitch in Detroit when he does come back healthy from his strained hamstring. Ryan is the No. 4 prospect in the Tigers system and boasts a 65-grade fastball with a 60-grade slider. At age 28, Ryan has pitched in the majors previously with the Dodgers in 2024, but hasn't returned since. Fantasy managers who monitor his health could take a chance on him returning for a Tigers debut this season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Hunter Dobbins Exits Early with Forearm Tightness
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins (forearm) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's start against the Philadelphia Phillies. According to Derrick Goold, Dobbins left this game early due to right forearm tightness. Dobbins was pulled after throwing one pitch in the fifth inning. His day finishes with three earned runs on five hits while striking out three batters across four innings of work. The Cardinals haven't said whether or not Dobbins will require a trip to the Injured List. Brycen Mautz could get a shot in the rotation if Dobbins does miss time. Fantasy managers will need to check back over the weekend for another update on his status.
Source: Derrick Goold
Source: Derrick Goold
Jackson Jobe Remains a High-Upside Waiver-Wire Target Following Injury Return
After undergoing hybrid Tommy John/internal brace surgery in June 2025, Detroit Tigers right-hander Jackson Jobe missed the remainder of the 2025 season and the first four-plus months of 2026. However, the 24-year-old returned to the big league mound on August 8 and has now made three starts, recording a 1-1 record with a 4.50 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts across 14 innings. Jobe's stuff looks to be back to where it was before the injury, as he's averaged 98.0 miles per hour on his fastball. He also dominated in his minor league rehab outings before returning to the Tigers, recording a 1.76 ERA with 17 strikeouts across 15 1/3 innings. Jobe hasn't yet figured out how to generate consistent whiffs at the MLB level, logging just a 17.6% strikeout rate across 67 career big-league innings. Still, the young right-hander was considered one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball before getting injured and remains a high-upside waiver wire target in leagues where he's not already rostered.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
River Ryan Nearing Injury Return and Could Be a Candidate for MLB Roster
Detroit Tigers pitching prospect River Ryan is recovering from a right hamstring strain that he suffered before he was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Tigers in the Tarik Skubal trade. He has been on the IL and rehabbing with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. Ryan could make a return and potentially pitch for the Tigers. Or the Tigers could leave him at Toledo and give him more work in the minors. It is a little bit of a risky dilemma for fantasy managers. Should they take a chance on Ryan who already made his major league debut with the Dodgers? With Oklahoma City, in the Pacific Coast League, Ryan was 3-1 this year with a 4.46 ERA and 1.29 WHIP to go with 43 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings pitched. Ryan is 28 years old and has brief MLB experience back in 2024. The Tigers could give him another look at the end of this year. Fantasy managers will want to pay attention.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
River Ryan Not on Stash Radar Without Clear Return Timeline
Detroit Tigers pitching prospect River Ryan (hamstring) was injured during his time in the Dodgers' organization and was placed on the injured list back on June 26 with an ailing hamstring. Since then, there has been little update on his progress other than that he was throwing off a mound before being traded away in the Tarik Skubal deal. Assuming the Tigers' newly anointed top pitching prospect will need to face some live hitters and make a rehab start or two before being assigned to Triple-A Toledo (or perhaps Detroit), it makes a September return the most optimistic of scenarios. The 6-foot-2 hurler was showing well outside of one blowup start before going down with injury, and had an impressive debut with the Dodgers back in 2024, so there is a lot to like in his profile, but without a clear timeline for return, there is little reason to stash the 27-year-old in most redraft leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Kash Mayfield Lands on Minor-League Injured List With Hamstring Injury
Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Kash Mayfield (hamstring) was placed on the seven-day minor-league injured list on Tuesday, according to Emily Walden. Mayfield hasn't taken the mound since July 24 due to a lingering hamstring injury. The team has decided to place him on the shelf and give him time to rest and fully recover. Mayfield was acquired by the Tigers in the deal that sent Casey Mize to the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline. The left-hander was a first-round pick of the Padres in the 2024 draft. This season, Mayfield owns a 3.54 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 62/22 K/BB ratio across 15 starts in High-A Fort Wayne this season. The 21-year-old still needs to develop some more before making an impact in Detroit.
Source: Emily Waldon
Source: Emily Waldon
River Ryan Remains Shelved with Hamstring Injury
Detroit Tigers pitching prospect River Ryan (hamstring) has yet to pitch for his new team after being dealt from the Dodgers in the Tarik Skubal trade as he recovers from a hamstring injury. The right-hander was placed on the injured list on June 26 and hasn't pitched since June 17. The former 11th-rounder was seemingly headed toward a recall to the majors (he debuted in 2024), sporting a 2.81 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 24.6 percent K-BB% in seven starts before he melted down for eight earned runs on 10 hits, a walk, and a hit batter in his final start before the injury. Without a clear timeline for return, a late-season return to the majors seems like the best-case scenario, but 2027 might be more realistic at this point. Either way, there is little reason to stash him in redraft leagues at this point.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Tigers Acquire Top Pitching Prospect Kash Mayfield From Padres
The Detroit Tigers made a major move at the trade deadline, acquiring left-handed pitching prospect Kash Mayfield from the San Diego Padres in exchange for veteran pitcher Casey Mize. Mayfield is at least a year or two away from being able to contribute in the big leagues, as he's just 21 years old and has not yet pitched above High-A. However, the young lefty was considered the number two prospect in the Padres system. He has also posted strong results so far this year at High-A Fort Wayne, recording a 3-1 record with a 3.54 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts across 53 1/3 innings (15 starts). Mayfield needs to improve his command, as he's logged a 10.3% walk rate in 2026. Still, he's posted an impressive 29.0% strikeout rate after posting a 34.1% strikeout rate across 19 Single-A starts in 2025. In dynasty formats, Mayfield remains an appealing pitching asset even after the trade.
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Padres Acquire Casey Mize at Trade Deadline
The San Diego Padres made a move to bolster their rotation at the trade deadline, acquiring starting pitcher Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers. Across 86 2/3 innings (14 starts) this season, Mize has recorded a 4-6 record with a 2.70 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts. The 29-year-old has also logged two separate stints on the injured list due to groin strains, so health is a red flag in his profile. However, when healthy, Mize profiles as a steady innings-eater. He's posted a 19.4% K-BB rate and has limited the long ball, allowing just 0.52 HR/9. To get Mize, San Diego sent out left-handed pitching prospects Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf. With the Padres, Mize profiles as one of San Diego's top arms alongside right-hander Michael King and fellow trade deadline acquisition Robbie Ray.
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Pitching Prospect Brady Smith to Join Tigers in Major Trade
Right-handed pitching prospect Brady Smith is set to join the Detroit Tigers, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN, in the deal that sent Tarik Skubal to the two-time reigning World Series Champions. Smith was viewed as the No. 29 prospect in the Dodgers system prior to the deal. While Zyhir Hope and River Ryan are viewed as the headliners in this deal, Smith has shown high-end strikeout upside in the lower levels and could be worth close monitoring in deeper dynasty leagues. He began the 2026 season at the Low-A level, where he racked up an impressive 104 strikeouts over only 65 innings of work with a 3.88 ERA. However, since moving up to High-A (9 1/3 innings), Smith has allowed eight runs and totaled just nine punchouts. While the right-hander will need some time as he progresses through the minor leagues, his strikeout potential makes him worth following for the remainder of the second half.
Source: Jeff Passan
Source: Jeff Passan
Dodgers Send Top Pitching Prospect River Ryan to Detroit
The Los Angeles Dodgers are trading right-handed pitching prospect River Ryan, alongside fellow right-hander Brady Smith and outfielder Zyhir Hope, to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. While Hope is the headliner of this deal, Ryan holds high upside on his own. Ryan made his MLB debut in 2024 but logged only 20 1/3 innings with a sharp 1.33 ERA. However, the right-hander then underwent Tommy John surgery, which kept him off the field for all of 2025. Through 2026, Ryan has also been limited due to injuries but has been effective when on the Triple-A bump. With Detroit likely selling off other veteran pieces, Ryan should be in a great position to contend for his second MLB stint once he returns from his current hamstring injury. He is worth closely monitoring as he could emerge as a top stash candidate in the coming weeks.
Source: Jeff Passan
Source: Jeff Passan
Tarik Skubal Trade Talks Expected to Heat Up This Weekend
Trade talks surrounding Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal are expected to heat up this weekend, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Skubal is easily the biggest name on this year's trade market, and the Tigers might also have the second-best starting pitcher available in right-hander Casey Mize, who was scratched from his start on Friday with the deadline approaching. ESPN's Jeff Passan said earlier this week that Skubal will be traded, so now it's just a matter of when and how big a haul the Tigers can get for him. The tricky part of the whole situation is that Skubal is set for free agency after the 2026 campaign, so it will be interesting to see if a contending team that is serious about acquiring Skubal will also double down and sign him to a long-term contract extension. The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to be viewed as the favorites for Skubal, with the Milwaukee Brewers potentially jumping into the mix as well. In 16 starts this year, the 29-year-old two-time Cy Young winner has gone 7-5 with a 2.79 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 116 strikeouts, and 14 walks in 96 2/3 innings pitched. Skubal bounced back quickly after having surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow in the first half of the season.
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
Tigers Scratching Casey Mize From Friday's Start
The Detroit Tigers are scratching right-hander Casey Mize from his start on Friday against the Athletics, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Mize is not injured, and no trade is in place, but the Tigers are being cautious with the Aug. 3 trade deadline looming. Detroit will go with a bullpen game on Friday. For the time being, Mize is scheduled to make his next start after the deadline on Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners. The Tigers are viewed as sellers going into Monday's deadline, with lefty ace Tarik Skubal being the real prize from Detroit for contenders, but Mize could also be dealt during the best year of his MLB career. Going into Friday's action, the 29-year-old has gone 4-6 with a career-best 2.70 ERA (2.58 FIP) and 0.99 WHIP with 85 strikeouts and 19 walks in 86 2/3 innings across 16 starts in his sixth year in the majors. Mize hasn't been without injuries, but when healthy, he has posted a career-best 24.9% strikeout rate with an excellent 5.6% walk rate.
Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
