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Ethan Pecko Expected to Make MLB Debut on Wednesday
Houston Astros pitching prospect Ethan Pecko is expected to make his MLB debut on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. A sixth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Pecko has recorded a 4-6 record with a 4.94 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts across 74 2/3 innings at Triple-A this season. While Pecko's minor league numbers don't leap off the page, he's considered one of the top arms in the Astros farm system. The young right-hander is known for having a good fastball and plus command, and he showed off more strikeout upside after making the initial leap to Triple-A in 2025, posting a 31.8% strikeout rate across 35 innings. Fantasy managers in deeper league formats may want to consider targeting Pecko on the waiver wire ahead of his favorable matchup against the Angels on Wednesday.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Jerry Jones Willing to Add More Pieces to Cowboys Roster
Even after the Dallas Cowboys signed veteran pass-rusher Von Miller to a one-year deal on Sunday, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on Monday that he's willing to make a "substantive move to further improve the roster if one should arise," per Todd Archer of ESPN. "I think it's fair to say that if we could improve it, which is almost a cliche, we would," Jones said. "Because again, I'm even more excited today than I was when we started camp that our team is going to be one that if we can have some things go right for us, avoid some injury, we could really be something that we all want to be. And that's a team that's competing for the big games. So bottom line is the answer is, yes, if we saw something that would help us any place, we'd do it." When asked if he had talked to any owners or GMs lately, Jones said he had talked to "a few" and would see "a bunch of them" at an owners' meeting next week, but that he didn't think being with other owners would lead to a potential trade. The Cowboys are excited about the addition of Miller, a former Super Bowl MVP, and what he can add to a defense that already includes pass-rushers Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Source: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
Source: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
Kyle Stowers Begins Running Progression
Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers (hamstring) has begun a running progression, per Stephen Strom of Marlins Radio Network. Stowers has not played since August 9 due to a hamstring strain. However, the fact that Stowers has already begun running could be an indication that he will not miss significant time due to the injury. Across 399 plate appearances on the year, the 28-year-old is hitting .242/.327/.462 with 16 home runs, 52 RBI, 44 runs scored, and one stolen base. The lefty-swinging Stowers has struck out in 31.3% of his plate appearances and owns a .530 OPS against same-handed pitching, both of which limit his fantasy value. Still, Stowers has logged an elite 55.0% hard-hit rate, which helps mitigate his swing-and-miss issues and hints at his high-end power upside. Once healthy, Stowers profiles as a useful power bat for fantasy managers.
Source: Marlins Radio Network - Stephen Strom
Source: Marlins Radio Network - Stephen Strom
Konnor Griffin Set to Ramp Up Baseball Activities
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (finger) is set to "swing a bat/catch a ball" at the end of this week, per Alex Stumpf of DK Pittsburgh Sports. Griffin is working his way back from an injury to his left ring finger that has kept him out since early July. The 20-year-old has had an injury-marred first year in the big leagues, as he also missed time earlier in the year due to a flexor strain. Still, Griffin has been productive when healthy, hitting .276/.332/.404 with five home runs, 25 RBI, 36 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases across 247 plate appearances. While Griffin appears to be making progress towards a return, he could still be a week or two away from beginning a rehab assignment. The Pirates also have little incentive to rush the young phenom back to the big leagues, as they are actively fading from the National League playoff picture. Griffin profiles as a high-upside waiver wire target if he makes it back to the big leagues, but his redraft value for the remainder of 2026 is an open question.
Source: DK Pittsburgh Sports - Alex Stumpf
Source: DK Pittsburgh Sports - Alex Stumpf
Will Smith Could Begin a Rehab Assignment Next Week
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said catcher Will Smith (neck) could begin a rehab assignment next week, per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports. Smith has not played since early June due to a neck injury, but he appears to be making steady progress towards a return. Across 201 plate appearances before the injury, the 31-year-old is hitting .248/.338/.382 with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored. While Smith's overall production at the plate was below his career norms, he posted a stellar 13.4% barrel rate while striking out in just 16.9% of his trips to the plate. The Dodgers are also currently without emerging young catcher Dalton Rushing (elbow) due to an elbow injury, so Smith should see as much playing time as he can handle once healthy. Upon his return, Smith profiles as a must-start fantasy catcher.
Source: AM 570 LA Sports - David Vassegh
Source: AM 570 LA Sports - David Vassegh
Is Colston Loveland the Top Bears Pass-Catcher?
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland is a Year 2 breakout candidate, and he has the potential to operate as quarterback Caleb Williams' favorite target in 2026. As a rookie last year, Loveland caught 58 passes for 713 yards and six touchdowns, despite operating behind Cole Kmet for a sizable portion of the season. Now that Loveland has staked his claim as the clear-cut No. 1 tight end in Chicago, he is trending up in fantasy football and has a chance to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards. There's suddenly an interesting conversation to be had regarding which Bears pass-catcher offers the most fantasy value between Loveland, Luther Burden III (groin), and Rome Odunze. At the moment, Loveland has an ADP of 44.6, which is just one spot higher than Burden and nearly eight spots higher than Odunze. RotoBaller's "Who Should I Draft?" tool agrees with the general population, suggesting Loveland as the ideal pick over Burden and Odunze.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is CeeDee Lamb Worth the First-Round Price Tag?
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb currently has an ADP of 11.0, which makes him a first-round pick in fantasy drafts and the fifth receiver off the board. When Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott are both healthy, the pass catcher has elite upside in fantasy football. Fortunately, there have been plenty of reports from training camp indicating that the receiver and quarterback have looked great together recently. However, there's also some risk associated with drafting Lamb, who finished as the WR22 in PPR leagues after missing three games last year. He has missed five games over the last two seasons and also faces some competition for targets from George Pickens, who had a breakout campaign in Dallas last year. Ideally, fantasy managers could get Lamb at the first-round and second-round turn, allowing them to pair him with a top-tier running back.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Trevor Story Could Make His Big-League Return on Friday
Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (abdomen) said he could be active "as early as Friday," per Chris Cotillo of MassLive. Cotillo reports that the team's plan for Story is to have him rehab at Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday and Wednesday before being re-evaluated. Story has been on the injured list since mid-May after undergoing sports hernia surgery, but he appears to be on the doorstep of a return to Boston. The 33-year-old got off to a terrible start to the 2026 season before getting injured, hitting .206 with three home runs and a 32.4% strikeout rate across his first 176 plate appearances of the year. Still, Story hit 25 home runs and stole 31 bases across 654 plate appearances in 2025 and remains a very valuable fantasy player when healthy and going well. Once Story returns, he should be rostered across most fantasy formats.
Source: MassLive - Chris Cotillo
Source: MassLive - Chris Cotillo
Edward Cabrera Headed Back to Injured List Due to Blister
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Edward Cabrera (finger) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday due to a blister on his right middle finger, per Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network. Cabrera just made it back from the injured list on Sunday after missing nearly two months due to a hamstring injury. However, he allowed seven earned runs across 3 2/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in his first start back and is now set to miss additional time. Cabrera has had a rough first year in Chicago, recording a 5-5 record with a 5.68 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and 67 strikeouts across 76 innings (15 starts). While the 28-year-old should make it back from the injured list shortly after he is first eligible, Cabrera needs to put together a stretch of healthy and productive starts before fantasy managers can rely on him.
Source: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
Source: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
Haywood Highsmith Signs One-Year Deal with Suns
According to Shams Charania, the Phoenix Suns are signing free-agent forward Haywood Highsmith to a one-year deal. Highsmith was reported to be possibly heading back to the Miami Heat, but instead, he opted to re-sign with the Suns. This past season, Highsmith averaged 5.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists across seven games in Phoenix. He figures to once again serve as a depth piece for the Suns during this upcoming season. Unless there are a few injuries, Highsmith is unlikely to make much of an impact in the rotation. Fantasy managers can go ahead and avoid Highsmith in fantasy drafts.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Sean Pedulla Signs Two-Way Deal with Rockets
The Houston Rockets announced that they've signed guard Sean Pedulla to a two-way deal on Monday. Pedulla was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this month. He made seven appearances with the Clippers last season, but spent most of his time in the G-League. Pedulla is the reigning G-League Rookie of the Year, averaging 23.6 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds. The 23-year-old is expected to spend most of his time in the G-League with the Rockets. He's unlikely to see much time on the NBA court unless there's a handful of injuries. Pedulla is avoidable in fantasy formats, but maybe they can develop him into a decent player.
Source: Houston Rockets
Source: Houston Rockets
Cedric Tillman Does Not Practice on Monday
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (undisclosed) did not practice on Monday, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. We don't have many specifics on his injury, but we do know that it has sidelined him for two days in a row. Tillman is an under-the-radar candidate to be released this offseason, so it's fair to say he's fighting for his job this summer. Missing two days of practice isn't ideal, but if the injury is minor, he should get back on the field for at least one of the Browns' final two preseason games. Tillman played in 13 games last season, ranking as the WR98 in PPR leagues with 21 catches, 270 yards, and two touchdowns. Not only is he undraftable in redraft leagues, but he has also become droppable in most dynasty formats.
Source: Zac Jackson
Source: Zac Jackson
Heat Desperately Want to Sign Klay Thompson
According to Marc Stein, the Miami Heat desperately want to sign shooting guard Klay Thompson. The problem with that is Thompson is still under contract with the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs have been attempting to trade Thompson and his $17 million salary for the upcoming season. It doesn't sound like any teams are taking the bait and are waiting for the Mavs to eventually buy Thompson out of his contract. If that happens, the Heat sound like the frontrunners to sign Thompson if he becomes available in free agency. The 36-year-old is not the same player he used to be, but he can still be a solid 3-and-D player for a contending organization.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Mitchell Trubisky Evaluated for Bicep Injury
Tennessee Titans quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (bicep) left practice early on Monday and is undergoing further evaluation for a bicep injury, head coach Robert Saleh told Jim Wyatt of the team's official website. "I think we're good, but I'm the eternal optimist," Saleh said. It sounds like the injury isn't a major cause for concern, but we'd expect the Titans to still exercise caution with his workload over the next few days. Barring a surprise, he will open the regular season as Tennessee's No. 2 quarterback behind Cam Ward. Trubisky hasn't seen meaningful starter reps since the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Steelers, when he totaled 287 pass attempts, eight passing touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Trubisky can be left on waivers in all fantasy leagues as long as he remains in a backup role.
Source: Jim Wyatt
Source: Jim Wyatt
Ketel Marte Does Not Show Up to Ballpark
Updating a previous report, The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro was told that Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (personal) is doing OK physically, but he just "didn't show up to the ballpark tonight" for the series opener on Monday at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. The D-backs placed Marte on the restricted list before the game, and it is unclear how long he will be out of action. In the meantime, Ildemaro Vargas got the start at second base and was hitting leadoff in Boston. We hope everything is all right with the 32-year-old Marte, who is hitting .249/.314/.446 on the year with a .760 OPS, 21 home runs, 67 RBI, 65 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 469 at-bats in his 12th year in the big leagues. When we have more information on this situation, we will pass it along. For now, fantasy managers will need to keep Marte stashed on their bench in all leagues. Vargas should see most of the playing time at second until Marte returns. He got off to a red-hot start in April/March by hitting an absurd .378 with six homers and 20 RBI before cooling off in May and June. He got hot again in July, hitting .344, but with zero homers in 22 games. UPDATE: Francys Romero reports that Marte is dealing with a personal matter. There is no estimated return date, and he's currently considered day-to-day.
Source: The Arizona Republic - Nick Piecoro
Source: The Arizona Republic - Nick Piecoro
