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Pitching Prospect Tanner McDougal Getting the Call From the White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Tanner McDougal from Triple-A Charlotte, according to The Athletic's James Fegan. McDougal earned his first big-league call-up after going 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 44:21 K:BB in 36 2/3 innings pitched across 17 appearances (six starts) with High-A Winston-Salem and Charlotte. The 23-year-old began his pro career as a starter, but he has since been moved to a relief role after suffering a forearm injury last month. Like left-handed prospect Hagen Smith, who is also being called up from Charlotte, McDougal will most likely work in a relief role in his first taste of the big leagues, limiting his fantasy baseball value to deep dynasty/keeper leagues as a stash. McDougal, a former fifth-rounder in 2021, posted a 2.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with Charlotte, but he has surrendered six runs in 8 2/3 frames down on the farm since returning from his forearm injury. Smith is the much better prospect stash with more starting-pitching upside in the long-term.
Source: The Athletic - James Fegan
Source: The Athletic - James Fegan
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
Jordan Mason Looking Good in Training Camp
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason has been a standout at training camp and looks poised for a big 2026 season. According to the Purple Daily Podcast, Mason looks better than Jones, and "the way [Mason] is moving around, the way that he runs. I really like Jordan Mason as a fit in the new run scheme that the Vikings have with their new wide zone concepts." Last season, Mason totaled 758 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 16 games, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, while Jones averaged 4.2 yards per carry. While Mason doesn't offer much in the passing game, any improvement there could boost his stock, especially if the team improves on their abysmal showing in 2025. Ranked RB37 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, Mason is a great value that could easily top his current price this season.
Source: Purple Daily Podcast
Source: Purple Daily Podcast
Kimani Vidal Still a Factor in Chargers Crowded Running Back Room
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal is competing for touches in a crowded backfield. Vidal had a career year in 2025, posting 779 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 171 total attempts, doing most of his work while both Omarion Hampton (ankle) and Najee Harris (Achilles) were out. Now that former first-round pick Hampton is back and Keaton Mitchell has been added, Vidal is still fighting for his role in Los Angeles. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said the group of Hampton, Mitchell, and Vidal is "as deep and complementary a group that [he's] been around." Ranked RB73 by RotoBaller, Vidal is an option if Hampton or Mitchell were to struggle or miss time during the 2026 season.
Source: Dan Graziano - ESPN
Source: Dan Graziano - ESPN
Brian Robinson Jr. Back With Second-Team Offense in Camp
After Atlanta Falcons superstar running back Bijan Robinson ended his holdout and signed a three-year, $75 million contract, Brian Robinson Jr. has returned to the second team in training camp. The former Commanders and 49ers running back has totaled 3,341 yards and 22 touchdowns in 58 NFL games. Robinson Jr. is coming off the worst statistical season of his career with San Francisco, finishing with just 425 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns despite playing all 17 games. Now in Atlanta, most speculate that he'll replace Tyler Allgeier, who was the Falcons' RB1B from 2023-2025. However, Allgeier's production has been far better than Robinson Jr.'s, and it's a whole new scheme with Kevin Stefanski in town. Fantasy managers should view Robinson Jr. as a handcuff in this offense and not expect much standalone value behind Bijan.
Source: Marc Ralmondi - ESPN
Source: Marc Ralmondi - ESPN
Ray Davis Expected to be Fine After Injury Scare
After a foot injury on Tuesday, Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis (foot) returned to practice and is fine. Davis went down during an 11-on-11 drill with a lower-right-leg injury. He went to the medical tent, returned with tape on that foot/ankle, and had no serious injury. The former fourth-round pick struggled in 2025, totaling only 361 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in 17 games. As a direct handcuff to star running back James Cook, Davis has a tough time finding standalone value, with fellow backup Ty Johnson taking most of the receiving work in the offense. If Cook is injured, Davis would be a priority pickup; otherwise, he will likely be a non-factor in fantasy this season.
Source: Ty Dunne
Source: Ty Dunne
Tyreek Hill to Sign with Contender Midseason?
Former Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) is not expected to be ready for Week 1 as he prepares for his comeback after a gruesome knee injury. After five straight 1,000-yard seasons, Hill suffered a knee dislocation in Week 4 that involved multiple torn ligaments. In a training video, Hill said he has "no power" in his left leg as he continues to deal with the repercussions of a significant knee injury. At this point, Hill is unlikely to be on a roster by the start of the season, so a midseason signing with a contender makes the most sense. The Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, or a team with a major injury in its receiving room could call for Hill. Either way, the former superstar receiver could be a good stash in 2026 in deeper leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Emmett Johnson Working with Second and Third Team in Camp
Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson has yet to emerge in training camp and has been working with the second- and third-team offenses. Johnson was drafted with the Chiefs' fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after a strong final season at Nebraska. He totaled 1,821 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025, leading the Big Ten in rushing yards. Now behind Kenneth Walker III and Brashard Smith and competing with veteran Emari Demercado, Johnson appears likely to be a non-factor early in the season. Fantasy managers who draft the rookie running back should expect a slow start and a potentially increased role if injuries occur to backs above him on the depth chart.
Source: Ryan Dodson - Athlon Sports
Source: Ryan Dodson - Athlon Sports
Devaughn Vele Expected to be WR3 in Saints Offense
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele is expected to be the team's WR3 in 2026. Vele had just 293 yards and two touchdowns in his first season with the Saints, but he picked up steam at the end of the year. He totaled 19 of 26 targets for 239 yards and one touchdown in his final four games last season. While the additions of rookies Jordyn Tyson, Bryce Lance, and Barion Brown have increased the risk to Vele's stock entering his third season, his role in head coach Kellen Moore's offense seems cemented. With the injury history surrounding Tyson and current lead receiver Chris Olave, Vele could be in line for a major role in this offense if either were to miss time this season. Currently ranked WR86 in RotoBaller's rankings, Vele is a solid handcuff option to consider in deeper leagues.
Source: Grant Chachere - Sports Illustrated
Source: Grant Chachere - Sports Illustrated
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
Brenen Thompson Turning Heads at Training Camp
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Brenen Thompson has made a strong start at training camp. Thompson has emerged as a standout story at camp, earning praise from coaches and teammates as he aims to carve out a role in a crowded receiver room. The fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft had an SEC-leading 1,054 receiving yards at Mississippi State last season and showcased his speed at the NFL Combine, running a 4.26 in the 40-yard dash. Under offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who has proven to value speed in his offense, Thompson has an opportunity to compete for targets in 2026. As a late-round option for fantasy drafts this season, the rookie receiver could be a playmaker in McDaniel's offense and contribute to fantasy seasons in 2026.
Source: Nic Jennings - Roundtable
Source: Nic Jennings - Roundtable
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
