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Luke Weaver Could Lead Pirates in Saves To Close Out the Season
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired veteran right-handed reliever Luke Weaver from the New York Mets at this year's trade deadline earlier in the month, and although he has yet to pick up a save with his new club, he should be considered a favorite to lead the team in saves to close out the 2026 campaign. Before the trade, Weaver was 2-1 with the Mets with a sharp 1.84 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, one save, and a 45:11 K:BB in 44 innings pitched. The 32-year-old has only appeared once with the Bucs since being acquired, but he pitched a clean ninth inning with a hit allowed and a walk in a 6-4 loss to his former team, the Mets. The Pirates are expected to go with a closer-by-committee with Weaver, Gregory Soto, and Mason Montgomery, but among the trio, Weaver has been the best relief arm in 2026. The downside is that he doesn't have a whole lot of closing experience in his career, picking up just 13 saves in his 11-year MLB career. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues speculating on saves should give Weaver a look, and he's rostered in only 28% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Grant Taylor has Clearer Path to Saves the Rest of the Way
Chicago White Sox right-handed reliever Grant Taylor has a much clearer path to saves the rest of the way in Chicago after the White Sox traded Seranthony Dominguez to the Seattle Mariners at this year's deadline earlier in the month. Taylor blew a save in his last outing on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds, but he remains the best bet for save opportunities in Chicago going forward, and fantasy managers who are looking for saves in deeper leagues should take notice. Taylor actually has not given up a run since July 2, when he blew a save and took a loss against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians. Since then, he has thrown 16 2/3 scoreless innings with six walks, 16 strikeouts, four saves, and three holds in 11 appearances. On the year, the 24-year-old has produced a solid 4-2 record, 2.20 ERA (2.35 FIP), 1.03 WHIP, six saves, 80 strikeouts, and 20 walks in 61 1/3 innings pitched across 44 appearances (four starts). Taylor needs one more save for a new career high in just his second year in the big leagues with the Pale Hose. He's rostered in only 29% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Yoendrys Gomez Still the Primary Source of Saves in Minnesota
Minnesota Twins right-handed reliever Yoendrys Gomez hasn't been perfect so far in the month of August, but he remains the Twins' primary closer, despite the addition of veteran reliever Jeff Hoffman at the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Gomez has allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out five in 3 2/3 innings over five appearances so far in August, losing two games. It hasn't been perfect, but he also has picked up three saves and doesn't look to be in any danger of losing out on save opportunities to Hoffman. The 26-year-old Venezuelan hurler had a 6.23 ERA and 1.67 WHIP with one save in 17 1/3 innings pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays to begin the year before the Twins acquired him. Gomez has been a much better pitcher with the Twins in an elevated role, posting a 2.00 ERA (3.41 FIP), 1.19 WHIP, 16 saves, 37 strikeouts, and 18 walks over 36 innings. As the primary closer for Minnesota, he deserves to be rostered in more than 34% of Yahoo leagues. He has yet to blow a save chance with the Twins.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Tanner Scott a Top Stash After Dodgers Blow Another Save?
Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed reliever Tanner Scott returned to a late-inning setup role in L.A. when regular closer Edwin Diaz returned from the injured list in late July, which led to him being dropped in many fantasy leagues without a consistent path to saves. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw could be worth picking up again off the waiver wire after another blown save by Diaz in a loss to the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night. Diaz was hit with a blown save and a loss, and he's allowed seven runs with three blown saves in 3 2/3 innings so far in August. Although the 32-year-old is being paid a lot, the Dodgers could be considering demoting him from the closer's role as they look to close out the National League West late in the year. Diaz has an 11.57 ERA while converting just six of his 10 save chances in 2026, while Scott, after a rough first year in L.A. in 2025, has been solid with a 2.25 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 16 saves in 48 innings pitched. Scott is rostered in less than half of Yahoo leagues and is worth stashing in the event Diaz is demoted.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jacob deGrom Pulled Early on Thursday With Triceps Fatigue
Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (triceps) left his start early on Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels with right-triceps fatigue, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. deGrom made it through only two innings in Anaheim, allowing two earned runs on six hits while walking one and striking out three. Although the injury doesn't appear to be very serious, given deGrom's lengthy injury history, his next scheduled start next week against the Washington Nationals is very much up in the air. The 38-year-old veteran and two-time Cy Young winner came into his start on Thursday against the Angels with an 8-7 record, 3.87 ERA (3.27 FIP) and 1.13 WHIP with 144 strikeouts and 30 walks in 118 2/3 innings pitched across his 22 starts. He's been hit or miss in his last five starts, and he could be in danger of missing more time down the stretch due to injury. Although deGrom continues to be an injury risk, he came into Thursday's start with a nice 29.6% strikeout rate, which is why he's still rostered in nearly all of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Mookie Betts is Absent on Thursday
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is out of the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Fantasy managers don't need to panic as this appears to be a routine rest day for Betts. He finally appears to be turning a corner with the bat after going 6-for-11 with two home runs and three RBI during their last series versus the Kansas City Royals. Miguel Rojas will cover shortstop and bat sixth versus left-hander Shane Drohan on Thursday. Fantasy managers should expect Betts back in the lineup on Friday, and hopefully, a day off won't cool him down at the plate.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Tony Gonsolin Signs Deal with Royals
The Kansas City Royals signed starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin to a one-year deal with a club option for the 2027 season on Thursday. The right-hander hasn't pitched at all this season while he rehabs from Tommy John surgery he underwent last August. Gonsolin is nearing the final stages of his recovery process and should be back on the mound soon. He has been placed on the 15-day Injured List while he continues to get fully healthy. It's unclear when he'll make his season debut, but right-hander Eli Morgan has been designated for assignment in a corresponding move. The Royals are hopeful that Gonsolin can bounce back and be an option for them in their 2027 rotation. Gonsolin was an All-Star in 2022, but he hasn't looked the same on the mound since then. He can be ignored in fantasy formats right now.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
Oswald Peraza Takes Swings on Thursday
Los Angeles Angels infielder Oswald Peraza (hand) was expected to take swings ahead of Thursday's game against the Texas Rangers, according to Jack Janes. Peraza is being held out of Thursday's lineup after he suffered a hand contusion in Wednesday's game. Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said Peraza can play defense, but they want to make sure he's comfortable with the bat before he returns to the lineup. Fantasy managers should consider Peraza as day-to-day with a left-hand contusion. This season, Peraza is slashing .229/.276/.353 with seven home runs, 24 RBI, and 12 steals in 101 games this season. He's able to do a little bit of everything, which gives him some deep league appeal in 9-cat leagues.
Source: Jack Janes
Source: Jack Janes
Carlos Rodon Registers Seven Strikeouts in Rehab Start
New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (elbow) made his second rehab start with Double-A Somerset on Thursday. The southpaw tossed 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, while striking out seven batters. This is a much better outing after Rodon gave up three runs across 2.2 innings of work with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. He was able to work up his pitch count to 58 pitches on Thursday. He's likely to need one more rehab start to continue building up his stamina, but the team hasn't made an official announcement yet. Rodon has been out since early July due to left elbow inflammation, but he appears to be on the verge of returning.
Source: milb.com
Source: milb.com
Zach Neto Takes a Seat on Thursday
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto is out of the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Texas Rangers. There is no word of any injury, so this is assumed to be a regular rest night for Neto. The young shortstop has been struggling with a .147/.171/.294 slash line over the last week. Given the Angels aren't really playing for anything at this point in the season, they might as well let Neto have the night off. Denzer Guzman will cover shortstop and bat sixth versus right-hander Jacob deGrom on Thursday. Fantasy managers should expect Neto to be back on Friday.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Brice Turang Sitting Out on Thursday Due to Knee Pain
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (knee) is not in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's series opener against the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers due to left-knee pain, manager Pat Murphy told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Turang underwent an MRI exam on Thursday. "We don't know how long," Murphy said. He will get a second opinion of the MRI, but as of right now, the skipper said whatever is ailing Turang doesn't appear surgical. David Hamilton will get the start at the keystone on Thursday and will bat ninth against Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki. It's a situation that could quickly turn into an injured-list stint for Turang, but right now he should be considered day-to-day. The 26-year-old former first-rounder is having another solid campaign in 2026, hitting .268/.360/.450 with an .810 OPS, 16 homers, 76 RBI, 16 steals, and 74 runs scored in 115 games played. However, he has yet to homer in 12 games in August and has gone 12-for-49 (.245) with a .621 OPS in his 55 plate appearances, so his knee could be a lingering issue that has been affecting him offensively.
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
Braxton Ashcraft Dominates Miami in Complete Game on Thursday
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft had a much-needed dominant performance over the hosting Miami Marlins on Thursday, throwing a complete game with one earned run allowed on three hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out 10 for his 12th win of the season. Ashcraft lowered his ERA on the season to 3.88 in the process. The only run he allowed in the contest was a solo home run to Owen Caissie in the bottom of the ninth inning. Coming into Thursday's outing in Miami, Ashcraft had posted a 7.88 ERA in his last five starts over 24 innings, so his fantasy managers have to be pretty happy he was able to turn it around in such a dominant way against Miami. In addition to his 3.88 ERA on the year, Ashcraft now sports a 1.11 WHIP with 155 strikeouts and 33 walks in his second full season in the big leagues. He'll look to make it two strong starts in a row his next time out in a difficult matchup against the Detroit Tigers, who have the 11th-best team OPS in the majors in 2026.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Rookie Catcher Rafael Flores Jr. Breaks Out With Two Homers, Six RBI
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores Jr. had a game to remember in the team's 13-1 beatdown of the hosting Miami Marlins on Thursday. Flores, batting out of the nine-hole for Pittsburgh, went 2-for-5 at the plate with two three-run home runs and two strikeouts. It was just Flores' 20th game in the big leagues after debuting in 2025 in Pittsburgh by playing seven games. The 25-year-old right-handed-hitting backstop came into Thursday's contest in Miami with a .200 average (5-for-25) with a homer, two RBI, six walks, and seven strikeouts in 12 games with the Bucs in 2026. Flores came into the game with just one hit in his last 15 at-bats in his previous eight games, and although his performance on Thursday was a big one, it's unlikely to boost his playing time dramatically as the primary backup to Henry Davis with Endy Rodriguez (hip) currently on the 10-day injured list. Per MLB Pipeline, Flores is the Pirates' No. 21-ranked prospect.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Mariners Send Rookie Colt Emerson to Triple-A
The Seattle Mariners sent struggling rookie infielder Colt Emerson to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. The top prospect and former first-rounder in 2023 made his MLB debut on May 17, but he did not live up to his high expectations this year, slashing .190/.246/.335 with a .581 OPS, eight home runs, 23 RBI, 24 runs scored, three stolen bases, a 34.4% strikeout rate, and a 6.2% walk rate in his first 68 games across 241 plate appearances. There's still time for Emerson to return to the big-league level before the end of the season at the end of September, but for now, he'll head back to the farm to work on his swing and make more contact at the plate. With J.P. Crawford (wrist) still on the injured list, Leo Rivas is the most likely candidate to see a boost in playing time at the 6 in Seattle with Emerson being sent down. Emerson is rostered in under 10% of Yahoo leagues and is not a must-hold in deep single-year fantasy leagues.
Source: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
Source: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
Freddie Freeman Ready to Go for Series Opener Against Brewers
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (soreness) is starting at first base and will bat cleanup for the Blue in Thursday's series opener against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and left-hander Shane Drohan, per MLB.com. Freeman had a scary moment in Wednesday's win over the Kansas City Royals when he fell into the dugout at Dodger Stadium while chasing a pop-up in foul ground, and he was dealing with soreness in his hand, knee, and shoulder after the game. However, it was not enough to keep the former MVP and 10-time All-Star out of the lineup for the opener of a big series against the Brewers. Despite facing a left-hander on Thursday, Freeman should be in all starting fantasy lineups in traditional formats as he brings a .306/.380/.472 slash line into the contest with an .852 OPS, 15 home runs, 57 RBI, 58 runs scored, and five stolen bases. Freeman has hit .272 (40-for-147) with four of his 15 homers on the year against lefties, and he's gone hitless in just two career at-bats against Drohan.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
