August 21, 2025
New York Mets infielder/outfielder
Jeff McNeil (shoulder) is dealing with right-shoulder soreness, which bothers him mostly when he's throwing, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. It's the reason why McNeil is not in Thursday's starting lineup against the division-rival Washington Nationals.
Brett Baty is starting at second base and will bat sixth against Nationals left-hander
MacKenzie Gore. It sounds like the 33-year-old McNeil shouldn't need a trip to the injured list with an injury that has been bothering him since last week, but it's possible that he'll be eased back in as the designated hitter, possibly for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Atlanta Braves on the road. McNeil hasn't looked like a former batting champion in 2025, but he's looked his best in August, going 20-for-67 (.299) with a homer, six doubles, eight RBI and nine runs scored in 17 games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
August 21, 2025
San Francisco Giants pitching prospect
Joel Peguero has been called up to the majors from Triple-A Sacramento for what will be his big league debut whenever he enters a game. The 28-year-old's numbers at Triple-A weren't pretty, recording a 5.10 ERA (4.78 FIP), 1.61 WHIP, and a 12.0 percent K-BB% in 42 1/3 innings of relief, but he can hit triple-digits with his fastball and had pitched better as of late. The 5-foot-11 Dominican posted a 2.33 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 21.3 percent K-BB% over his last 12 appearances (19 1/3 IP). The right-hander will likely fill a middle relief role for the Giants, though, and unless he's thrust into a high-leverage role, he doesn't warrant grabbing off the waiver wire.
--Jarod RuppSource: Susan Slusser
August 21, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays placed shortstop
Ha-Seong Kim (back) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with back stiffness and are calling up top infield prospect
Carson Williams from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Kim was scratched from Wednesday night's game against the New York Yankees and will now miss the next week and a half as well with yet another injury. The 29-year-old didn't make his debut with the Rays this year until July 4 after recovering from offseason surgery, and he's been banged up with other injuries as well ever since his return. Kim has played in only 29 games in his first year in Tampa and is sporting a weak .214/.290/.321 slash line with two homers, five RBI and six stolen bases. The Rays haven't released their lineup for Thursday's game against St. Louis, but expect Williams to be at the 6.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
August 21, 2025
San Diego Padres outfielder
Jackson Merrill (ankle) will sit out of Thursday's series finale against the division-rival San Francisco Giants at Petco Park.
Ramon Laureano will get another start in center field and will bat seventh against Giants right-hander
Justin Verlander. Merrill will end up missing the entire four-game series against the Gigantes due to a bone bruise in his left ankle that he suffered in last weekend's series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The hope is that the 22-year-old will be available this weekend for another crucial series against L.A., but if he isn't, a stint on the injured list could be coming. An extended absence for Merrill would mean more playing time for
Gavin Sheets, who homered twice in Wednesday night's victory. Laureano has been money since joining the Friars at the trade deadline, hitting .324 (22-for-68) with four homers, 12 RBI and 12 runs in 18 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 21, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect
Carson Williams is getting called up for his major-league debut. The Rays' top-ranked prospect (MLB No. 47) is an elite defender, but also brings both power and speed on the offensive side. The former first-round draft pick belted 23 home runs in 111 games at Triple-A Durham this season, including five in his last 10 contests, and he stole 22 bases, but struggled to put the bat on the ball consistently this year. He was batting a paltry .213 with a high 34.1 percent strikeout rate and a 17.2 percent swinging-strike rate. It's hard to imagine those things getting better in the majors, but for fantasy managers looking for a potential power boost, the 22-year-old is worth a flier in deep leagues.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jeff Passan
August 21, 2025
New York Mets outfielder
Brandon Nimmo (neck) will take a seat for Thursday's divisional clash against the Washington Nationals in D.C.
Tyrone Taylor will get the nod in left field and will hit seventh in the batting order against Nationals left-hander
MacKenzie Gore. Nimmo will be left out of the starting lineup after leaving Tuesday's contest early with neck stiffness. It's something to keep an eye on for the 32-year-old, as neck issues have cropped up for him in the past. While Nimmo is day-to-day for now, this has a higher probability of turning into a trip to the injured list. Check back to see if he's available to play in Friday's series opener against the division-rival Atlanta Braves. For what it's worth, the Mets are hopeful Nimmo will be able to play this weekend. Taylor hasn't had much success against Gore, hitting .182 against him in 11 at-bats, although he does have a solo homer.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 21, 2025
Colorado Rockies rookie infielder
Kyle Karros (back) is out of the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field.
Orlando Arcia is starting at the hot corner and will bat eighth against Dodgers left-hander
Clayton Kershaw. Back tightness will keep Karros out of action for the second straight day, but hopefully the 23-year-old will be able to return for Friday's series opener in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. The son of former Dodgers first baseman Eric Karros has held his own in his first 37 big-league at-bats for the last-place Rockies, recording 10 hits, a homer, five RBI and 10 runs scored. With the Rockies yet again playing out the string in the second half, Karros should continue to see regular playing time if he can get over his back injury. Arcia is a light-hitting infielder who has gone 2-for-10 in his career against Kershaw.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 21, 2025
Minnesota Twins catcher
Christian Vazquez (shoulder) has undergone surgery to remove an infection from his left shoulder, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports. The issue forced Vazquez to the 10-day injured list on Aug. 6, and though the Twins haven't ruled out a return this year, Vazquez is not close to starting baseball activities, according to Leach. While the 35-year-old typically hasn't posed much of a threat with the bat, this has likely been the worst offensive season of his career. Vazquez has hit just .174/.251/.247 with two homers, 13 RBI, and 12 runs scored in 199 plate appearances.
--Connor ByrneSource: Matthew Leach - MLB.com
August
21,
2025
The
San
Francisco
Giants
will
place
right-hander
Landen
Roupp
(knee)
on
the
15-day
injured
list
with
a
sprained
left
knee,
manager
Bob
Melvin
announced.
Roupp
suffered
the
injury
during
an
8-1
loss
to
the
San
Diego
Padres
read more...
August 21, 2025
Minnesota Twins right-hander
David Festa (shoulder) will throw two simulated innings of live batting practice with Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday. Assuming Festa gets through that session unscathed, he'll be ready to start a rehab assignment. Festa has been on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation since July 22, so he'll need time to ramp back up in the minors before making a late-season return. The 25-year-old has started in 10 of 11 appearances in 2025 and gone 3-4 with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and 53:19 K:BB in 53 1/3 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 21, 2025
Los Angeles Angels shortstop
Zach Neto (wrist) exited a 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds early on Wednesday with a sore left wrist, but it's not a serious injury. X-rays came back negative after the game, and interim manager Ray Montgomery told reporters that Neto is fine. The 24-year-old took a pitch off the hand in the third inning and remained in the game until the Angels pulled him in the sixth. The Halos and fantasy managers are breathing a sigh of relief that Neto is OK, as he's enjoying a second straight highly productive season. Across 471 plate appearances, Neto has slashed .267/.325/.479 with 21 homers, 55 RBI, 74 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases. The Angels are off Thursday, but Neto will presumably be in the lineup to start a series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
--Connor ByrneSource: Erica Weston
August 21, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani (thigh) was diagnosed with a contusion in his right thigh after leaving an 8-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies early on Wednesday. Ohtani started the game on the mound and suffered the injury when
Orlando Arcia struck him with a 93.7 mph comebacker in the fourth inning. The right-hander stayed in to complete the frame and wound up yielding five earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts against no walks on the night. Ohtani, also the Dodgers' designated hitter, went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk before the team pinch-hit
Alex Call for him in the eighth. The Dodgers had already scheduled an off day for Ohtani on Thursday before this minor injury cropped up, and manager Dave Roberts said he's "hopeful" the three-time MVP will return to the lineup Friday against the San Diego Padres.
--Connor ByrneSource: Manny Randhawa - MLB.com
August 21, 2025
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Kyle Tucker (hand) is returning to the lineup on Thursday in a meeting with the Milwaukee Brewers. Tucker will play right field and hit second against right-hander
Quinn Priester. With Tucker amid an extended slump, manager Craig Counsell held the four-time All-Star out of the lineup for three straight games. Tucker's numbers have experienced a severe drop-off since he suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand on June 1 and continued to play through it. The 28-year-old has recovered from the injury, but he has gone a brutal 8-for-54 (.148) with no extra-base hits and one RBI in 15 games this month. After a brief respite, the Cubs and fantasy managers are hoping he'll return to form during the final weeks of the season.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 21, 2025
Minnesota Twins right-hander
Jose Urena will get the start against the Athletics on Thursday. The 33-year-old has appeared in the majors with four teams this season (the Mets, Blue Jays, Dodgers, and Twins) and pitched to a 4.06 ERA (7.23 xERA) with a 1.42 WHIP, 17 strikeouts, and 11 walks over 31 innings. Urena has made three appearances with the Twins and recorded a stingy 2.13 ERA in 12 2/3 frames, but that success has come despite just seven strikeouts against six walks. He's in line for negative regression, and it could come against an A's offense that ranks fifth in the majors in wOBA and 12th in runs.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August 21, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks infield prospect
Jordan Lawlar went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a rehab game against Triple-A Salt Lake. The 23-year-old is 6-for-21 with four extra-base hits and a stolen base through five rehab games, striking out just three times while drawing two walks. He appears to be healthy as he has been hitting the ball hard and recorded a stolen base in a game during the trip. The top prospect will look to take over a long-awaited everyday role in Arizona upon his activation. He's been given brief looks in the majors on two separate occasions, but struggled mightily and ended up returning to the minors. Lawlar is still one of the most talented players in the minors, and dynasty managers should have high hopes with his blend of power, speed, and contact.
--Kyle McCarthySource: MiLB.com
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