August
5,
2025
St.
Louis
Cardinals
left-handed
reliever
JoJo
Romero
will
remain
in
a
closer
committee
in
St.
Louis
after
the
team
traded
away
closer
Ryan
Helsley
to
the
New
York
Mets
at
last
read more...
August 5, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect
Cam Sanders is being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis for what will be his major league debut whenever he enters a game. The 6-foot-2 hurler was drafted in 2018, and after a long journey, he will finally get a shot in the big leagues. The 28-year-old has pitched well in relief this year, his first in the Pittsburgh organization, but has shown even better results at Triple-A, posting a 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and a strong 25.0 percent K-BB% in 18 2/3 innings pitched (15 appearances). The righty will likely fill a middle relief role for the Pirates, though, so there isn't much fantasy relevance here.
--Jarod RuppSource: Tommy Birch
August 5, 2025
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said over the weekend that injured reliever
Liam Hendriks (hip) was unlikely to return this season. It turns out that Hendriks does expect to come back, as he told reporters on Monday that Cora's statement was "a slip of the tongue." The Red Sox have gone most of 2025 without Hendriks, who didn't debut until late April after recovering from Tommy John surgery and hasn't pitched since May 27 as a result of hip inflammation. When he has been healthy enough to pitch this season, the 36-year-old has struggled to a 6.59 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP, 12 strikeouts, and seven walks in 13 2/3 innings. Hendriks, a three-time All-Star, could rejoin Boston's bullpen in September.
--Connor ByrneSource: Chris Cotillo - MassLive.com
August
5,
2025
New
York
Yankees
reliever
Mark
Leiter
Jr.
(leg)
is
expected
to
come
off
the
15-day
injured
list
Tuesday,
Erik
Boland
of
Newsday
reports.
The
Yankees
have
already
cleared
space
in
their
bullpen
by
optioning
right-hander
read more...
August 5, 2025
The New York Yankees announced that they have optioned reliever
Jake Bird to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It's not official yet, but the team is expected to activate fellow reliever
Mark Leiter Jr. (leg) from the 15-day injured list to take Bird's spot. Along with
David Bednar and
Camilo Doval, the right-handed Bird was one of three relievers the Yankees added at the July 31 trade deadline in an effort to build an elite bullpen. So far, the Bird acquisition has been a flop. The former Colorado Rockie has made three appearances for the Yankees and surrendered six earned runs on seven hits (two homers) with four strikeouts and two walks over two innings. After giving up a walk-off three-run homer to Rangers third baseman
Josh Jung on Monday, Bird owns a 5.53 ERA and a 1.54 with 66:25 K:BB across 55 1/3 frames.
--Connor ByrneSource: New York Yankees
August 5, 2025
Houston Astros second baseman
Brendan Rodgers (head) remains in concussion protocol, but he has begun light jogging and throwing. Rodgers originally went on the 10-day injured list in mid-June with an oblique strain. In his first Triple-A rehab game on July 18, he suffered more serious injuries - a concussion and a nasal fracture - after colliding with a teammate. The Astros then transferred Rodgers to the 60-day IL, meaning he won't be eligible to rejoin the club until Aug. 17. That date appears unrealistic, though, as Rodgers remains without a timetable to return. Before going on the IL, the 28-year-old hit just 191/.266/.278 with two home runs in 128 plate appearances. The Astros have used a handful of players at the keystone this season, but longtime second baseman
Jose Altuve has gotten the lion's share of time there lately after opening 2025 in the outfield.
--Connor ByrneSource: Matt Kawahara - Houston Chronicle
August 5, 2025
San Diego Padres left-hander
Nestor Cortes (elbow) will make his team debut Wednesday with a start against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It'll also be the first appearance in the majors since April 3 for Cortes, who was on the shelf with an elbow strain for four months. The Padres acquired Cortes from Milwaukee at the July 31 trade deadline in a deal that saw the Brewers land outfielder
Brandon Lockridge. San Diego has since activated Cortes from the 60-day injured list. Cortes has made two starts and allowed eight earned runs in eight innings this season, but the 30-year-old does have a solid track record in the bigs. He totaled 30 starts in 31 appearances for the New York Yankees in 2024 and put up a 3.77 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP, 162 strikeouts, and 39 walks over 174 1/3 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: MLB.com
August
5,
2025
Cincinnati
Reds
left-hander
Nick
Lodolo
(finger)
exited
his
start
against
the
Chicago
Cubs
on
Monday
after
1
2/3
scoreless
innings
because
of
a
blister
on
his
left
index
finger.
Lodolo
didn't
seem
worried
about
it
afterward,
read more...
August 5, 2025
The Washington Nationals will call up right-hander
Cade Cavalli from Triple-A Rochester to start against the Athletics on Wednesday, Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan reports. It'll be the first appearance in the bigs for Cavalli since he made one start in 2022. The former first-round pick from the 2020 draft missed all of 2023 and most of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Cavalli, 26, has come back to make 15 starts and throw 65 innings at the Triple-A level this season, but he has posted a bloated 6.09 ERA with a 1.45 WHIP and 72 strikeouts against 27 walks. While Cavalli doesn't look like a great option against an Athletics offense that ranks 12th in wOBA and 14th in runs scored, the out-of-contention Nats want to give him another look in the majors post-surgery.
--Connor ByrneSource: Grant Paulsen
August 5, 2025
Colorado Rockies relief pitchers
Victor Vodnik and
Juan Mejia will share closing opportunities while
Seth Halvorsen (elbow) is on the 15-day injured list, according to interim manager Warren Schaeffer. Both are 25-year-old righties, so there isn't an obvious split to target one over the other based on matchup. Vodnik has a 3.55 ERA and 4.05 FIP in 33 innings over his 34 appearances this season with 34 strikeouts. He had nine saves last year for the Rockies and has seven holds this year. Mejia has also appeared in 34 games this year and has a 4.05 ERA, 3.38 FIP, and 43 strikeouts in 40 innings. He does not have any saves in his major league career or even in Triple-A. However, he also has seven holds this season and had six saves in Double-A last year. Vodnik has slightly more experience, but Schaeffer could go to either option when the Rockies get a rare save situation.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Suzie Hunter
August 5, 2025
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher
Seth Halvorsen (elbow) has been diagnosed with a mild flexor strain and will not need surgery, according to interim manager Warren Schaeffer. Schaeffer called it, "a good report from an MRI" and added that Halvorsen could potentially pitch again this year. The 25-year-old righty has been the Rockies' primary closer this season and has 11 saves in his 42 games while posting a 4.99 ERA, 5.18 FIP, and 36 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings. He was placed on the 15-day injured list after leaving Saturday's game with the injury, but he still has value and is worth holding if possible at this point. While he is out,
Victor Vodnik and
Juan Mejia will share closing duties.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Patrick Saunders
August 5, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
George Springer (concussion) is slated to get in a rehab game either Tuesday or Wednesday, and he could be back in the lineup for the first-place Blue Jays relatively quickly if all goes well. Springer landed on the 7-day concussion injured list on Friday after being hit in the head by a pitch on Monday. He never lost consciousness and was able to walk off the field on his own power after being hit in the side of the head by a fastball from Orioles reliever
Kade Strowd. He sat out a few games, and then the team ultimately opted to give him extra time to recover. Head injuries are always unpredictable, but if all goes well, he could be back in the lineup at some point this weekend when the Jays stop in Los Angeles to face the Dodgers. Watch closely for further updates, especially if you have Springer on your fantasy teams.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Keegan Matheson
August 5, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Shane Bieber (elbow) will make a rehab start for Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday and should get one more rehab start before a decision is made to join the big league team, according to Blue Jays manager John Schneider. The Blue Jays acquired the former AL Cy Young award winner at the trade deadline as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery. He made his first start with the organization on Sunday and had six strikeouts in five innings while averaging 92.9 miles per hour on his fastball. The Jays are being patient with the veteran, though, and will give him two more rehab appearances before looking to add him to the rotation towards the latter half of the month. When he does arrive, Bieber looks like he'll be fantasy-relevant based on his rehab work, so he's a strong stash candidate if your league and roster allow.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Hazel Mae
August 5, 2025
Baltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle (hamstring) will not be activated until after the team's current series in Philadelphia against the Phillies. He will continue his rehab assignment in Triple-A Norfolk and could return on Friday, when the O's start their next series at home against the Athletics. Mountcastle hit just .246 in his 52 games with two homers and a .274 wOBA this season before landing on the 60-day injured list. He's been sidelined since the end of May, so the team is just giving him time to get fully back up to speed. In six games in Norfolk, Mountcastle is an impressive 9-for-23 (.391) with three doubles, two homers, and a 50% hard-hit rate. Following the
Ryan O'Hearn trade, he should have a clear path to playing time once he is activated, and it'll be fascinating to see how well he can finish the season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Jake Rill
August 5, 2025
Atlanta Braves outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. (calf) remains day-to-day while getting treatment for his calf strain, according to manager Brian Snitker. The All-Star outfielder was able to hit in a batting cage on Monday, but he remains without a timetable to return, since the team will wait until he's pain-free before activating him. Acuna has been sidelined since July 29 with this calf strain after missing the start of the season while recovering from last year's knee injury. In his 55 games, Acuna has 14 homers, four stolen bases, a .306 batting average, and a .427 wOBA, but his limited action has been a disappointment to his fantasy owners. He has such a high ceiling that he's still worth holding at this point, although the Braves have little reason to rush him back since they are out of playoff contention.
--Zach ThompsonSource: David O'Brien
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