August 31, 2025
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Owen Caissie was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday. In a somewhat odd move, the Cubs have decided to send down Caissie after barely using him. The top prospect slashed .208/.240/.375 with one home run and four RBI in 11 games with the Cubs. In a corresponding move, outfielder
Kevin Alcantara has been recalled to take his spot on the active roster. This season, Alcantara is slashing .266/.349/.470 with 17 home runs, 69 RBI, and 10 steals in 102 games with Triple-A Iowa. The expectation is that Alcantara will take over Caissie's role as a fourth outfielder in Chicago. There's unlikely to be fantasy value here with the Cubs outfield currently healthy.
--Andy WebbSource: Jesse Rogers
August 31, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Luis Garcia (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list on Monday. Garcia is set to make his season debut during the series finale against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. This will be the first time that Garcia has taken an MLB mound since May of 2023. The right-hander has been sidelined since then while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He posted a 3.30 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 38/7 K/BB ratio across 30 innings in the minors this season. Garcia allowed one run over six innings during his final rehab start on Tuesday. He threw 75 pitches during that outing, so he figures to have a normal workload. It has been a long time since Garcia has pitched on an MLB mound. That being said, fantasy managers can't quite be sure what they're going to get from Garcia. He figures to be worth rostering in deep leagues at the minimum.
--Andy WebbSource: Brian McTaggart
August 31, 2025
Washington Nationals starting pitcher
Jarlin Susana (triceps) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's start with Double-A Harrisburg. Susana was pulled after 1.2 innings due to right triceps soreness. Before exiting, Susana allowed three earned runs on three hits, while walking three batters, and recording three strikeouts. The 21-year-old prospect owns a 3.51 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and a 95/34 K/BB ratio across 14 starts between Double-A and Single-A this season. It's unclear at the moment if Susana will be forced to go on the injured list. He's unlikely to be a September call-up this season, but could make an impact in Washington in 2026.
--Andy WebbSource: Mark Zuckerman
August 31, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Max Scherzer (back) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's outing against the Milwaukee Brewers. Scherzer was pulled after four innings due to upper back tightness, according to manager John Schneider. Before exiting, Scherzer tossed four innings, allowing four earned runs on nine hits while striking out one batter. This is now back-to-back starts that Scherzer has allowed four runs. Before that, Scherzer was pitching extremely well over his previous four outings. Possibly, Scherzer has been trying to pitch through the back issue. It's unclear at the moment if Scherzer will require a trip to the injured list. For now, Scherzer is day-to-day and expected to make his next start against the New York Yankees.
--Andy WebbSource: Hazel Mae
August 31, 2025
The Philadelphia Phillies have signed right-hander
Walker Buehler on Sunday. Well, it didn't take Buehler long to find a new home after being released by the Boston Red Sox on Friday. Buehler has struggled this season with a 5.45 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and a 84/55 K/BB ratio across 23 games (22 starts) with the Red Sox. This seems like a low-risk move for the Phillies to get another arm for the postseason. The 31-year-old had solid postseason success during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Phillies rotation is currently full, so Buehler figures to operate out of the bullpen. A good depth move for the Phillies, but the change of scenery probably won't help Buehler's fantasy value.
--Andy WebbSource: Jeff Passan
August 31, 2025
Los Angeles Angels outfielder
Taylor Ward (head) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the Houston Astros. Ward was removed after colliding into the outfield wall. He went face first into the metal on the scoreboard and busted open his head. Ward exited with the training staff and figures to undergo further testing. Before exiting, Ward went 0-for-1 at the plate with three walks. For now, fantasy managers should consider Ward as day-to-day.
Luis Rengifo moved from second base into left field for Ward. He could see more time out there if Ward misses time.
--Andy WebbSource: Jeff Fletcher
August 31, 2025
The Cincinnati Reds are set to promote prized infield prospect
Sal Stewart from Triple-A Louisville, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. Stewart joined the Reds as the 32nd pick in the 2022 draft and has developed into a premier prospect since then. MLB Pipeline ranks him the game's No. 31 farmhand and the top player in the Reds' system. The team bumped Stewart from Double-A to Triple-A earlier this season, and he tore the cover off the ball in Louisville en route to a promotion to the bigs. Stewart played in 38 Triple-A games this season and slashed an otherworldly .315/.394/.629 with 10 homers, 36 RBI, and four stolen bases in 165 plate appearances. The 21-year-old has combined for 20 HRs and 17 steals in the minors in 2025 while spending most of his time at third base and some at second. The Reds haven't gotten good production at either spot, which could allow Stewart to establish himself over the next few weeks.
--Connor ByrneSource: Jon Morosi
August 31, 2025
The San Francisco Giants have recalled right-hander
Kai-Wei Teng from Triple-A Sacramento to start on Monday against the Colorado Rockies, according to Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle. He'll get the ball instead of lefty
Carson Whisenhunt (back), whom the team placed on the 15-day injured list with a back strain. The 26-year-old Teng has recorded an above-average 3.63 ERA over 26 appearances (four starts) and 57 innings in Triple-A this season, but his results in the majors have been disastrous. Across four appearances and three starts, Teng has registered an 8.78 ERA with a 1.73 WHIP and 12:9 K:BB in 13 1/3 frames. Even though the Rockies have one of the majors' weakest offenses, Teng should probably be avoided, especially at hitter-friendly Coors Field.
--Connor ByrneSource: Shayna Rubin - The San Francisco Chronicle
August 31, 2025
The San Francisco Giants have placed left-hander
Carson Whisenhunt (back) on the 15-day injured list with a back strain, retroactive to Aug. 28. To take his place, the Giants recalled righty
Kai-Wei Teng from Triple-A Sacramento. Manager Bob Melvin said that Whisenhunt woke up with tightness in his back earlier this week, and the issue has bothered him when he has tried to throw off a mound. The 24-year-old former second-round pick (2022) earned a promotion to the majors in late July and has made five starts since then. Whisenhunt has struggled to a 5.01 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP, 16 strikeouts, and 12 walks in his first 23 1/3 innings in the bigs. Teng will start in his place on Monday against the Colorado Rockies.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 31, 2025
The Chicago Cubs have claimed right-hander
Aaron Civale off waivers from the crosstown-rival Chicago White Sox. Civale spent two and a half months with the White Sox after they acquired him from the Milwaukee Brewers for first baseman
Andrew Vaughn in mid-June. While Vaughn has been a pleasant surprise for the Brewers, the Civale pickup did not pay dividends for the White Sox. He made 13 starts for them and went 2-7 with a 5.37 ERA in 67 innings, and the team was unable to flip him to a contender at the July 31 trade deadline. Between the Brewers and White Sox, the 30-year-old has gone 3-9 with a 5.26 ERA (4.25 xERA), a 1.37 WHIP, and 74:33 K:BB over 89 frames this season. It's unclear if Civale will join the Cubs' rotation, which is without the injured
Jameson Taillon (groin) and
Michael Soroka (shoulder), or work out of their bullpen.
--Connor ByrneSource: Bob Nightengale - USA Today
August 31, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman
Max Muncy (oblique, illness) will not come off the 10-day injured list next weekend against the Baltimore Orioles. While the Dodgers had targeted that series for Muncy's return, the team is delaying his comeback because he has been dealing with an illness. The earliest Muncy could rejoin the Dodgers is Sept. 8 against the Colorado Rockies, but he'll have to embark on a minor-league rehab assignment first. The two-time All-Star is working back from a strained right oblique that forced him to the shelf on Aug. 15. With Muncy out,
Alex Freeland and
Enrique Hernandez have been splitting time at the hot corner.
--Connor ByrneSource: Sonja Chen - MLB.com
August
31,
2025
Los
Angeles
Dodgers
outfielder
Teoscar
Hernandez
is
not
in
the
lineup
on
Sunday
against
Arizona
Diamondbacks
right-hander
Brandon
Pfaadt.
Alex
Call
will
take
Hernandez's
place
in
read more...
August 31, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect
Quinn Mathews tossed 5 1/3 shutout innings on Saturday, allowing two hits while walking four batters and striking out seven. Although his control has been poor at Triple-A (including 2024), the Cards' fifth-ranked prospect has pitched better in the second half of the season, owning a 2.28 ERA over his last nine starts with a 30.2 percent strikeout rate (11.84 K/9). The Cardinals, winners of three straight, are still in the mix for a Wild Card berth, sitting 5 1/2 games out from the final spot. With the command issues persisting from Mathews, St. Louis may not give him a shot in the majors unless one of the regular rotation arms goes down with an injury. Look for the 24-year-old to make a push for a rotation spot next spring, and while he could be a solid starter in the majors, his fantasy stock has taken a hit.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
August 31, 2025
Miami Marlins pitching prospect
Thomas White threw five no-hit, shutout innings on Saturday for Double-A Pensacola. The Marlins' top prospect (MLB No. 21) did walk four batters for the second game in a row, but he offset that by striking out 10. The 6-foot-5 southpaw posted a 2.83 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 24.8 percent K-BB% in nine starts at High-A earlier this season, which earned him a promotion to Double-A. Through 10 starts for the Blue Wahoos, the 20-year-old has looked even better, recording a 1.59 ERA (2.21 FIP), 1.19 WHIP, and a 26.7 percent K-BB%. Across both levels, the lefty has tallied 128 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings pitched (14.34 K/9), making a strong case to begin at Triple-A next year and potentially making a major league debut. He's a top pitching stash in dynasty formats.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
August 31, 2025
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher
Tyler Anderson (oblique) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday. Anderson tossed five scoreless innings during his most recent start, but appears to have suffered an injury during that outing. There's a decent chance that Anderson doesn't return again this season. He'll miss at least the next two weeks and the Angels aren't playing for anything at this point in the season. The team might opt to use their younger pitchers down the stretch of the season. Anderson holds a 4.56 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and a 104/57 K/BB ratio across 136.1 innings this season. In a corresponding move, right-hander
Jose Urena will head to the big league roster.
--Andy WebbSource: Angels PR
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