August 23, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Oneil Cruz (head) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona on Saturday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Cruz has been on the seven-day concussion injured list since Aug. 13. The hulking slugger got off a to a rough start in August before suffering the injury, as he went 5-for-41 (.122) with one home run, seven RBI, and 15:3 K:BB in 11 games. Cruz is an elite base stealer (34 SBs) who ranks among the best in the league in average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and barrel percentage, but he has only managed a .207/.304/.398 line with 18 homers, 51 RBI, and 58 runs scored over 454 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: Noah Hiles - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
August 23, 2025
Chicago Cubs right-hander
Cade Horton (finger) will start on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels, manager Craig Counsell announced. Horton left a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday with a middle-finger blister, but it won't lead to any missed starts. The 24-year-old rookie has toed the rubber four times this month and posted a near-spotless .95 ERA with a mere nine hits allowed and 20:6 K:BB in 19 innings. Overall, Horton has gone 7-4 with a 3.08 ERA (4.18 xERA), a 1.20 WHIP, and 70:28 K:BB across 87 2/3 frames. While Horton has thrived in August, the Angels' offense ranks a below-average 19th in wOBA (.307) and 20th in runs (85) this month.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 23, 2025
Colorado Rockies left-hander
Kyle Freeland (finger) will start Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. There was some question as to whether Freeland would be able to pitch after leaving his previous start with a blister on Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's good to go in Pittsburgh, which owns the majors' second-worst wOBA against lefties (.276). The Pirates should be a favorable matchup for Freeland, but regardless of opponent, it's hard to trust the struggling 32-year-old. He has gone 3-12 with a 5.16 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, and 85:31 K:BB in 120 1/3 innings this season.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 23, 2025
Miami Marlins shortstop
Otto Lopez (illness) is not in the lineup on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Maximo Acosta will play short and hit ninth in a matchup with right-hander
Jose Berrios. Lopez has been dealing with an illness and hasn't been in Miami's lineup since Tuesday. The 26-year-old has endured a nightmarish August, having hit .183/.247/.225 with no home runs, three RBI, and 11 strikeouts against five walks in 79 trips to the plate. Lopez does boast a solid .349 xwOBA this season, but his actual results have been unappealing. He's hitting a subpar .240/.309/.361 with 11 homers, 58 RBI, 52 runs scored, and 11 steals in 456 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 23, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) remains out of the lineup on Saturday against the Miami Marlins.
Ty France will handle first base and hit sixth in a meeting with right-hander
Janson Junk. It'll be the fourth straight game off for Guerrero, who hasn't played since he left a loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday with inflammation in his left hamstring. The five-time All-Star has begun participating in baseball activities since then, though it's unclear if he'll be ready to return on Sunday. Guerrero, who's having yet another stellar offensive season, has slashed .298/.396/.498 with 21 homers, 69 RBI, 83 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 545 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 23, 2025
The Atlanta Braves will start right-hander
Cal Quantrill, who was claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins on Thursday, against the division-rival New York Mets on Saturday after they decided to skip right-hander
Spencer Strider this weekend, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. Right-hander
Erick Fedde has also been moved to the bullpen. Quantrill, a 30-year-old Canadian native, was not good in Miami before being cut, going 4-10 with a career-worst 5.50 ERA (4.59 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP with 82 strikeouts and 30 walks in 109 2/3 innings over 24 starts. It's unclear if Quantrill will receive additional starts for Atlanta down the stretch, but we would suggest avoiding him as a fantasy streamer versus New York this weekend. Quantrill is in the 20th percentile in hard-hit rate and the 16th percentile in strikeout rate this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
August 23, 2025
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that outfielder
Rob Refsnyder (oblique) could return from the 10-day injured list next week after running sprints before Friday's series opener in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. Refsnyder last played in a game for the Red Sox on Aug. 13 before suffering a left-oblique strain. It sounds as though the 34-year-old veteran will not have to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining the major-league squad. When he's back, he's going to be a right-handed-hitting outfield/designated hitter option for Boston only against left-handed pitching, making him avoidable in all but the deepest of fantasy formats. The South Korea native is slashing .272/.357/.471 with an .827 OPS, six homers, 22 RBI and 23 runs on the season. With young outfielders
Roman Anthony and
Jhostynxon Garcia around, playing time will be harder to come by for Refsnyder.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Mike Monaco
August
23,
2025
The
Minnesota
Twins
announced
on
Saturday
that
they
recalled
right-handed
pitching
prospect
Mick
Abel
from
Triple-A
St.
Paul
and
designated
right-hander
Jose
Urena
for
assignment
in
a
corresponding
move.
Abel,
the
read more...
August 23, 2025
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that outfielder
Wilyer Abreu (calf) hit on Friday and moved around in the outfield. Abreu is feeling better and could return from the 10-day injured list next week, as well as outfielder
Rob Refsnyder (oblique). Abreu suffered from right-calf tightness on Aug. 17 and was placed on the IL this week. The 26-year-old will be eligible to rejoin the big-league roster next Thursday, so he could rejoin the team for their series finale in Baltimore againt the division-rival Orioles. Since Abreu has been sidelined, rookie
Roman Anthony has shifted to right field, and the BoSox also called up prospect
Jhostynxon Garcia. Abreu will return to regular duties in right field for Boston when he returns, as he's been very productive in 2025 with a .253/.325/.486 slash line, .811 OPS, 22 home runs, 69 RBI, 52 runs and six stolen bases in 352 at-bats.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Mike Monaco
August
23,
2025
New
York
Yankees
third
baseman
Ryan
McMahon
and
outfielder
Jasson
Dominguez
will
both
start
on
the
bench
for
Game
2
of
the
series
in
the
Bronx
against
the
division-rival
Boston
Red
read more...
August 23, 2025
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that reliever
Fernando Cruz (oblique) will return from the injured list either Sunday or Monday, per Max Goodman of NJ Advance Media. Cruz has been on the 15-day injured list since late June due to a left oblique strain. The 35-year-old right-hander was having a solid season before getting injured, recording a 3.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 54 strikeouts and two saves in 33 innings. He posted an excellent 41.2% strikeout rate and 30.5% K-BB rate. Cruz should provide some much-needed support to a Yankees bullpen that has struggled in the second half of the season, even after adding
David Bednar and
Camilo Doval at the trade deadline. Still, Cruz is unlikely to unseat Bednar as the closer in New York.
--Will BradySource: NJ Advance Media - Max Goodman
August 23, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) tested his sore left hamstring on Friday for the first time since injuring it. He felt good running at 80% effort and also took batting practice in the batting cages. Afterward, despite feeling positive, Guerrero made note that he still needs to run the bases and take ground balls, emphasizing that he will take this situation day by day. It's unclear exactly when he will return to the Blue Jays lineup, but it appears unlikely that he will return this weekend. In his absence,
Ty France has been the team's starting first baseman, collecting three hits over this three-game period.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: Ben Nicholson-Smith
August 23, 2025
New York Yankees outfielder
Aaron Judge (elbow) is getting "close" on his throwing program and has been throwing to bases, according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Judge suffered a flexor strain in late July and has been limited to designated hitter duties since returning from the injured list on August 5. Judge's inability to play the field has forced the Yankees to play
Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield to get both sluggers in the lineup at the same time. Judge is hitting just .216 with three home runs in 66 plate appearances this month, so the flexor strain may be impacting his offense as well as his defense.
--Will BradySource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
August 23, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitcher
Alek Manoah (elbow) has had his minor-league rehab assignment extended by 10 days. He was set to return after his 30-day window for his rehab had expired. Still, after struggling last Wednesday, it was determined that he would need more time before officially being activated. This extension is part of the collective bargaining agreement that allows pitchers returning from Tommy John surgery to receive up to three additional 10-day extensions should they need more time. He is expected to make another start for Triple-A Buffalo early next week. When he is ready to return to the Blue Jays, it's unclear if he will be a part of the team's starting rotation, given their depth. There's still a chance he won't pitch for the Jays in 2025, too.
--Dave Funnell - RotoBallerSource: Ben Nicholson-Smith
August 23, 2025
New York Yankees first baseman/catcher
Ben Rice is not in the starting lineup against the Boston Red Sox left-hander
Garrett Crochet on Saturday. Rice started the season limited to first base/designated hitter duties, but he's earned more playing time behind the plate in recent weeks. That's allowed him to shift into an everyday role split between catcher and first base - Rice had made 15 consecutive starts before hitting the bench on Saturday. The 26-year-old is having a breakout year, slashing .243/.337/.486 with 20 home runs, 47 RBI, and 55 runs scored. He may even be underperforming his underlying numbers, as Rice holds a 16.5% barrel rate and a .579 xSLG. Now that he's catcher-eligible, Rice is a valuable player in fantasy as long as he continues to see near-everyday playing time.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
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