August 4, 2025
Baltimore Orioles outfielder
Tyler O'Neill (illness) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting fifth for Monday's series opener in Philadelphia against the Phillies and left-hander
Jesus Luzardo.
Jeremiah Jackson will make his fourth straight start and will be in right field and in the six-hole. A minor illness kept O'Neill out on Saturday and Sunday against the Chicago Cubs, but he'll return for the first game of a new series in Philly. The Canadian power/speed threat has struggled with injuries in his first year in Baltimore and has played in just 41 games, going 29-for-138 (.210) with only seven home runs and 21 RBI in 159 plate appearances. He's been a big disappointment for fantasy managers after he reached the 30-homer mark for the second time in his career with Boston in 2024. O'Neill has only faced Luzardo twice in his career but has a hit and an RBI.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
August 4, 2025
Minnesota Twins second base prospect
Luke Keaschall (forearm) reportedly has a locker in the Twins' clubhouse, which potentially indicates that he'll be activated from the 60-day IL on Tuesday. The Twins' third-ranked prospect has been rehabbing at Triple-A over the last couple of weeks, hitting .265 (13-for-49) with a double, a triple, an 8:6 BB:K, and seven steals in 14 games. The 22-year-old displayed the same type of stolen base prowess and hitting ability during his limited time with Minnesota earlier this season, hitting .368 (7-for-19) with three doubles, a 5:2 BB:K, and five steals in seven games for the Twins. Eligible at 1B, 2B, and OF in Yahoo! leagues, Keaschall would be worthy of a roster spot in most 12-team leagues.
--Jarod RuppSource: Bobby Nightengale
August 4, 2025
Colorado Rockies third base/outfield prospect
Charlie Condon broke out of his recent slump with a 3-for-5 day at the plate on Sunday, which included a triple, three RBI, and a run scored. The Rockies' top-ranked prospect came into the contest hitting .108 (4-for-37) over his previous 10 games at Double-A Hartford. For the season, the 2024 first-rounder is slashing .281/.388/.406 with five home runs in 57 games between High-A and Double-A. He missed the first couple of months of the campaign due to a wrist injury suffered in the spring, and with so much time missed, he'll need to start swinging a hot bat in order to make it to the big leagues by season's end. Otherwise, look for the 6-foot-6 power hitter to have fantasy relevance next season.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
August 4, 2025
New York Mets pitching prospect
Dom Hamel will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse for what will be his major league debut whenever he enters a game. The Mets' 27th-ranked prospect has an underwhelming 4.73 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 22 appearances (eight starts) at Syracuse this year, however, the righty does own a solid 25.8 percent strikeout rate with a below-average 6.6 percent walk rate. Even so, he'll likely slot in as a middle reliever, and without save chances in his future, the 6-foot-2 hurler can be left to fantasy waiver wires for now. RHP
Austin Warren was optioned to Syracuse in a corresponding move.
--Jarod RuppSource: New York Mets
August 4, 2025
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Anthony Nunez is getting promoted to Triple-A Norfolk. Baltimore's 24th-ranked prospect was acquired in the
Cedric Mullins trade with the Mets. The 24-year-old was originally drafted out of high school as a shortstop back in 2019, but has converted himself into a pitcher, and it appears to have been the right move. In 33 games between High-A and Double-A this season, the right-hander has posted a 1.52 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and has struck out a whopping 40.0 percent of the batters he's faced. That's good for 62 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched. There is a small issue with an elevated walk rate of 11.0 percent, but if he's striking that many out, it may not matter. Without a dedicated closer in Baltimore, Nunez is a name to keep an eye on down the stretch in case he gets the call.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB Central
August 4, 2025
Washington Nationals pitching prospect
Clayton Beeter will be called up to the big league club. The 26-year-old came over in the
Amed Rosario trade and slots in as the team's 24th-ranked prospect. He made his major league debut in July for the Yankees, but allowed six earned runs on five hits (two home runs) and four walks while striking out just one in 3 2/3 innings of relief. So far in the Nationals' organization, he's tossed four innings in relief, giving up three earned runs on two hits and four walks while striking out seven batters. With a high-90s fastball, the 6-foot-2 hurler has some solid strikeout stuff, but the inability to throw strikes consistently has led to high walk rates in the past. Without a high-leverage role out of the Washington bullpen, there's little fantasy value here.
--Jarod RuppSource: Spencer Nusbaum
August 4, 2025
Chicago Cubs right-hander
Jameson Taillon (calf) struggled in his minor-league rehab start on Sunday for Triple-A Iowa against Triple-A Indianapolis, surrendering seven earned runs on seven hits (two homers) while walking none and striking out only one in three innings of work. Taillon was certainly rusty in his first start since June 29 due to a calf injury. The good news is that the 33-year-old veteran threw 64 pitches in the outing and came away healthy. It remains to be seen when Taillon will be activated from the injured list to return to the Cubs, but he might require one more rehab outing to see if he can bounce back from his ugly showing on Sunday. Taillon should have a rotation spot waiting for him in the big leagues, even after the addition of
Michael Soroka at the trade deadline, but he's a low-upside fantasy piece in deeper leagues with diminished velocity and strikeout stuff.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
August 4, 2025
The New York Yankees are discussing a potential deal with free-agent right-hander
Kenta Maeda, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Maeda was released by the Detroit Tigers this year after allowing eight runs (seven earned) while walking six and striking out eight in eight innings over seven relief appearances before he signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs back in May. The 37-year-old never made a big-league appearance with the Cubs, though, although he could latch on with the Yankees next as either an experienced starter or reliever. Maeda would be unlikely to have any fantasy appeal the rest of the 2025 season in pinstripes. In his last full season in 2024 with Detroit, Maeda had a career-worst 6.09 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with a career-low 7.7 K/9 in 112 1/3 innings over 29 appearances (17 starts).
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
August 4, 2025
Minnesota Twins right-hander
Simeon Woods Richardson (illness) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday with an illness, according to Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Woods Richardson is battling a stomach issue, according to manager Rocco Baldelli, and was pushed back from his scheduled start on Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians. In a corresponding move,
Darren McCaughan was called up from Triple-A St. Paul. Woods Richardson was pushed back to Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers, but he won't make that start either. It's terrible timing, as the 24-year-old has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last eight outings to improve his season ERA to 4.24 and his season WHIP to 1.40. It's unclear when Woods Richardson will be able to return or who will take his rotation spot in the meantime.
--Keith HernandezSource: Minneapolis Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
August 4, 2025
Boston Red Sox right-hander
Tanner Houck (elbow) is at peace with his decision to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery with Dr. Keith Meister at some point this week. Houck and Meister have yet to discuss whether it might be possible for him to return late in the 2026 season, but Houck is hopeful, according to Christopher Smith of Mass Live. The 29-year-old went on the injured list back on May 14 with a flexor pronator strain. He tried to pitch through it and go on a rehab assignment, but a subsequent MRI exam after five minor-league outings showed that his flexor tendon "was torn a good bit." Before he landed on the IL in May, Houck was awful for the BoSox, posting an 8.09 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 32:17 K:BB in 43 2/3 innings. There's no guarantee he'll pitch at all in 2026, and if he does, it will likely be in a relief role late in the season.
--Keith HernandezSource: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
August 4, 2025
San Diego Padres right-hander
Michael King (shoulder) didn't have the best minor-league rehab start on Sunday with Triple-A El Paso, as he surrendered six earned runs on four hits (two homers) while walking one and striking out five in 3 1/3 innings against Triple-A Round Rock. It wasn't a great outing for King, but it was also his first rehab start since he injured his shoulder way back on May 18. King's velocity was also down a bit while throwing 61 pitches in the outing. The 30-year-old will hope for better results his next time out on the farm, and after that (barring a setback), it's possible he'll be activated from the 60-day injured list to rejoin the big-league starting rotation. King was SD's best pitcher in the second half last year and should be picked up immediately if he's available on your league's waiver wire. In 10 starts before his injury, he had a 2.59 ERA and 64 K's in 55 2/3 innings.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
August 4, 2025
Cincinnati Reds right-hander
Hunter Greene (groin) looked good on Sunday with Triple-A Louisville in his third minor-league rehab start, allowing two unearned runs on three hits while walking one and striking out seven in 3 1/3 innings pitched against Triple-A Omaha. It was a nice bounce-back outing after Greene allowed four earned runs and five hits in just 2 1/3 innings in his last rehab start while also leaving with a sore leg. The hard-throwing 25-year-old didn't appear to have any issues this time out and could be activated from the injured list to make his next start in the big leagues. Greene will have more risk surrounding him in fantasy in his first start back with the Reds, but he should absolutely be rostered in all fantasy leagues due to his ace potential when healthy. The former second overall pick had a 2.72 ERA with 73 K's in 59 2/3 innings earlier this year before his injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
August 4, 2025
The Atlanta Braves announced on Monday that they placed infielder
Austin Riley (abdomen) back on the 10-day injured list with a strained lower abdominal muscle and recalled infielder
Nacho Alvarez Jr. from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move. Additionally, the club recalled infielder
Jonathan Ornelas after optioning outfielder
Jarred Kelenic to Gwinnett after Sunday's game. Riley was on the IL with an abdominal strain in July and will head back there after aggravating the injury in Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. We would be surprised if the 28-year-old is back when he's eligible to come off the IL on Aug. 14 with the Braves out of playoff contention. In the meantime, fantasy managers should expect Alvarez to handle the majority of playing time at the hot corner in Atlanta. Riley needs to be stashed in all fantasy formats while he recovers.
--Keith HernandezSource: Atlanta Braves
August 4, 2025
Boston Red Sox outfield prospect
Jhostynxon Garcia went 2-for-3 with one home run and a walk during their contest on Sunday against Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Garcia has enjoyed an incredible power surge over the past week and is making a strong case to make his MLB debut before the end of the campaign. Over his last six games, Garcia has launched four long balls while holding a .417/.462/1.083 slash line. Since joining Triple-A Worcester, the No. 3-ranked prospect in Boston has held an impressive .305/.375/587 line with a .962 OPS across 54 games. He opened the season with Double-A Portland, where he was slightly less productive, holding a .748 OPS with just three home runs across a 33-game stint. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on Garcia as he could emerge as a stash candidate in the coming weeks.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
August 4, 2025
Baltimore Orioles catching prospect
Samuel Basallo continued his impressive campaign at Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday. Facing Memphis, the top-ranked backstop prospect in the minor leagues went 2-for-5 with his 21st round-tripper of the campaign. This outing snapped a brief five-game skid for the 20-year-old. During this slump, Basallo went just 3-for-22 at the plate with only one extra-base hit. Overall, through 69 games with the Norfolk Tides this season, Basallo has posted a strong .271/.382/.592 slash line with a .974 OPS and a 67:41 K:BB. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Basallo's production as he appears to be knocking on the MLB door. With the Orioles now firmly out of the playoff race, they could opt to give their top prospect a solid look in the majors over the final month of the season. He remains a top-hitting prospect to stash in all redraft leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
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