RADIO
Adley Rutschman Sitting Out Another Day With Elbow Injury
Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (elbow) will miss another game on Wednesday against the visiting Seattle Mariners, per MLB.com. Connor Wong will do the catching for left-hander Patrick Sandoval and will hit out of the nine spot in the batting order against Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller. It will be the third straight missed game for Rutschman, who has played in just three of the team's last nine games due to a hyperextended right elbow that he suffered on a swing early last week. It has been that kind of year for the former first overall pick from Oregon State. Rutschman only has 300 at-bats in his fifth year in the league and is slashing .237/.318/.400 with a .718 OPS, nine home runs, 51 RBI, and 35 runs scored in 82 games with the Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles. He has not been able to get on track offensively amidst his injuries in 2026, and he has gone just 9-for-53 (.170) with a homer, a double, four RBI, five runs scored, six walks, and 15 strikeouts in 15 games since joining the BoSox in a blockbuster trade in early August. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday to see if Rutschman is ready to rejoin the lineup for the series opener at Camden Yards against his former team, the Orioles.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
JJ Wetherholt Receives Cortisone Injection in his Wrist
St. Louis Cardinals rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (wrist) received a cortisone injection on Tuesday for his right-wrist tendinitis, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. After some rest, Wetherholt will attempt to resume baseball activities as he tries to make it back for the conclusion of what has been a very strong first year in the big leagues in 2026. Right now, it is unclear if he has a realistic chance of being ready to return to the major-league roster when he is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Sept. 9. In his first full season with the Cardinals, the former seventh overall pick from West Virginia in 2024 has hit .242/.343/.370 with a .713 OPS, 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 88 runs scored across 130 games and 586 plate appearances. The left-handed-hitting infielder has struggled in the second half, though, perhaps while battling his wrist injury, and has slashed just .201/.313/.305 with a .618 OPS, four home runs, 12 RBI, four doubles, 30 runs scored, five steals, 23 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 40 games played. Despite being on the IL and struggling in the second half, Wetherholt is rostered in 89% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Brandon Nimmo Heating Up Entering September
Across 564 plate appearances in 2026, Texas Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo is hitting .269/.333/.428 with 14 home runs, 58 RBI, 56 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. The 33-year-old's top-line numbers have actually lagged behind his underlying metrics, as he's posted a 10.2% barrel rate and a 50.9% hard-hit rate, leaving him with a .280 xBA and .474 xSLG. Since the All-Star break, Nimmo's numbers have started to improve. Across his last 180 plate appearances, the veteran outfielder is hitting .282/.339/.436 with five home runs and 24 RBI. With the Rangers' overall lineup getting healthier and starting to round into form, Nimmo should be in a better position to be an impact run producer for fantasy managers the rest of the way. Fantasy managers in need of outfield help may want to target Nimmo as we enter the season's final month.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Shohei Ohtani Might Not Pitch Again in 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers do not know when two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) will make another appearance as a pitcher after having ongoing issues with his knee and biceps, and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was non-committal when asked if the Dodgers could reach a point where they would shut Ohtani down entirely as a pitcher, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Ohtani has not started a game on the mound for L.A. since July 3 due to repeated setbacks. "His value offensively is hugely important," manager Dave Roberts noted. "So if throwing potentially cuts into that, that's not worth the squeeze." The skipper said the four-time MVP is not expected to start a game for at least the next week, and his chances of getting built back up to make full-length starts in the playoffs are slim. Friedman continues to hold out hope that the 32-year-old veteran can pitch in the playoffs, but fantasy managers should not be as hopeful that Ohtani can help them in the fantasy playoffs. The six-time All-Star has been great when on the mound in 2026, going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA (2.60 FIP) and 0.95 WHIP with 95 strikeouts and 26 walks in 85 2/3 innings across 14 starts.
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris
Carter Jensen Has Been a Batting-Average Drain in the Second Half
Across 516 plate appearances in 2026, Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen is hitting .224/.310/.412 with 19 home runs, 62 RBI, 61 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 23-year-old has shown off impressive power for a young backstop at times this season, posting a 10.3% barrel rate for the year. However, Jensen's batting average ceiling is limited by his 28.5% strikeout rate. He's also been working through an extended slump at the plate, as he hit just .187 across 102 plate appearances in July and .165 across 106 plate appearances in August. Jensen still hit four home runs and scored 14 runs last month, so he's not completely without value for fantasy managers. Still, managers may want to look to sell high on him ahead of the stretch run of the season, while his overall numbers still look better than his current production.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Corbin Carroll Dealing With Lower-Back Discomfort, In Wednesday's Lineup
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (back) is dealing with lower-back discomfort, manager Torey Lovullo told Jack Sommers of Sports Illustrated. Carroll was able to play all nine innings in Tuesday's contest against the Philadelphia Phillies, but he was not 100%. He went 0-for-4 at the plate with three strikeouts in the 7-1 loss. The good news is that the left-handed-hitting outfielder is back in action for Wednesday's game at Chase Field against the Phillies, starting in right field and batting in the two-hole against right-hander Andrew Painter. The 26-year-old former National League Rookie of the Year must not be dealing with serious back trouble if he is right back on the field the following day, although his back issues could be affecting him at the plate recently. In his last nine games, Carroll has gone 3-for-33 (.091) with one homer, three RBI, two stolen bases, two runs scored, four walks, and 12 strikeouts to drop his season slash line to .242/.339/.472 with an .811 OPS in 508 at-bats. Carroll is still a five-category contributor, and fantasy managers are hoping he can turn it around for the final month of the regular season in 2026.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Jack Sommers
Source: Sports Illustrated - Jack Sommers
Trent Grisham Could Start to Lose Playing Time in New York
Across 481 plate appearances this season, New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham is hitting .209/.306/.394 with 18 home runs, 58 RBI, 67 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. The 29-year-old has been a batting average liability throughout the year for fantasy managers, but he frequently leads off for the Yankees and brings a decent power/speed profile. However, Grisham has struggled mightily in the second half of the season, hitting just .166 across 178 plate appearances since the All-Star break. The Yankees' outfield mix could also get more crowded in short order, as star outfielder Aaron Judge (ribs) appears to be making progress towards a mid-September return. With Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones emerging in recent weeks, Grisham could be demoted to fourth outfielder status in New York if/when Judge returns to the field.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
James Wood Activated And Starting on Wednesday
The Washington Nationals officially activated outfielder James Wood (oblique) from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, and he is starting in right field and batting leadoff against the visiting Atlanta Braves and right-hander Grant Holmes, according to the team. Wood will make his return to Washington's roster after missing almost a month with a strained left oblique. He is back in the starting nine after going 2-for-6 with a homer in two minor-league rehab games. Although the left-handed slugger has hit just .191 (13-for-68) with a .620 OPS and just two home runs in 17 games since the All-Star break, fantasy managers will want to get him back into their lineups in all traditional leagues now that he is healthy. Wood clobbered 28 home runs, drove in 64, and stole 15 bases in the first half of the campaign and remains one of the best all-around sluggers in the game. In just six career at-bats against Holmes, Wood is hitting .167, but he does have a solo home run against him. Wood has the ability to put fantasy teams over the top in September.
Source: Nationals Communications
Source: Nationals Communications
David Bednar Remains a High-End Closer Option in New York
Across 59 1/3 innings (55 games) in 2026, New York Yankees closer David Bednar has pitched to a 2.73 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 65 strikeouts, 31 saves, and six wins. Bednar got off to a slow start, allowing 12 earned runs over 24 innings through the end of May. However, the 31-year-old has largely been lights out since the start of June. He's allowed just six earned runs over his last 35 1/3 innings pitched and has blown just three saves on the year. Bednar has struck out 27% of the batters he's faced this season while allowing just a 7.5% walk rate. The veteran right-hander is also very difficult to take deep, as he's allowed just 0.46 HR/9. As the clear ninth-inning option for the Yankees, Bednar profiles as a high-end closer option for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
MLB Players Suggest Lengthy Lockout is Possible
In a recent ESPN article in which several MLB players provided anonymous responses to questions about ongoing labor negotiations with the league, many suggested that a lengthy lockout could be possible, if not likely. With MLB's current Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire in early December, both the league and the Players Association are gearing up for what many expect to be a hotly contested labor dispute. The league has publicly agitated for drastic changes such as the introduction of a salary cap, which the Players Association has historically staunchly opposed. While the players surveyed by ESPN uniformly expressed hope that a potential lockout would not result in missed games in 2027, many state that missed games are a definite possibility. In 2022, when the current CBA was agreed to, the league pushed Opening Day back from March 31 to April 7 but still maintained a 162-game regular season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Bubba Chandler's Stock Rising Amidst Second-Half Surge
Across 131 innings (26 games) so far this season, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler has recorded a 6-9 record with a 4.26 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 117 strikeouts. While the young right-hander's top-line numbers don't necessarily stand out, he's been a much better pitcher in recent outings. Across 36 2/3 innings since the All-Star break, Chandler has pitched to a 2.95 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 32 strikeouts. The 23-year-old's 20.6% strikeout rate for the year is underwhelming, and he hasn't gotten significantly more whiffs even in his recent hot streak. However, Chandler is averaging 98.4 miles per hour on his fastball and posted a 27.4% strikeout rate across 100 innings at Triple-A in 2025. As a highly regarded young pitching prospect who is starting to get results in the big leagues, Chandler's fantasy value is on the rise.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jonathon Long Fading from Stash Radar Amid Slump
Miami Marlins infield/outfield prospect Jonathon Long looked primed to make a major league debut in 2026, but has slowed down quite a bit at Triple-A since being traded to the Marlins, especially lately. The Marlins' 19th-ranked prospect is 6-for-42 (.143) over his last 13 games at Jacksonville, though he managed a 13:15 BB:K over that stretch. While that many walks is great (23.2 percent), that many strikeouts (26.8 percent) may hinder his chances of a late-season debut unless he turns things around in a hurry. The right-handed hitter batted .305 and popped 20 home runs last season, and is up to 13 in all this season with a .275 average through 119 games, so he offers a blend of contact and power that is intriguing for fantasy. However, the strikeout rate likely wouldn't improve in the majors, and were he to get called up, it might be on the short side of a platoon role, so without a clear path to at-bats, the 24-year-old should be left on the waiver wire in most leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
James Tibbs III Remains on Stash Radar Despite Slowdown
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III is experiencing another lull in his season of ups and downs, now just 4-for-26 (.153) over his last eight games at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Despite the slowdown, the left-handed hitter has had a productive season overall, hitting .295 with a .962 OPS, which is the highest OPS among Triple-A players who have yet to make their major league debut. With 27 home runs and average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and barrel rate all coming in at 92nd percentile or better, there is plenty of fantasy-friendly pop in his bat, but the former first-rounder's time is running out on a 2026 MLB debut. With a crowded outfield in the majors and other 40-man options still in Oklahoma City (i.e., Ryan Ward, Alek Thomas), competition is tight. Even so, with the potential to be hitting in a dangerous L.A. lineup, the 23-year-old Tibbs remains a solid stash option for fantasy in hopes that his productive season is rewarded with a debut at some point in the final month.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Emmanuel Rodriguez Hits for the Cycle, Re-Enters Stash Territory
Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez has hit safely in 13 of the 16 games he's played at Triple-A since returning from the injured list and has been on base at least once in all but one due to his ability to draw walks. Most impressive of all was that the Twins' fifth-ranked prospect hit for the cycle for St. Paul on Tuesday night, going 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. The 5-foot-11 Dominican is the author of a robust .273/.425/.568 slash line this season, with 11 home runs and seven steals in 41 games for the Saints. The left-handed hitter has plenty of pop, registering in the 94th percentile or better in average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and barrel rate, while also showing an elite ability to draw walks over the course of his minor league career, including a 19.7 percent rate in 2026. His inability to stay healthy has been the limiting factor and what has kept him from debuting in the majors, having played in no more than 65 games the last three seasons. Currently healthy, though, the 23-year-old -- who is on the 40-man roster -- should be considered a high-end stash option for power, though he carries batting average risk.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Cam Cannarella Performing, but Not Quite on Stash Radar
Miami Marlins outfield prospect Cam Cannarella has had an up-and-down start to his Triple-A experience, but overall has held his own quite well, currently sporting a .277/.403/.395 slash line in 31 games for Jacksonville. The home run production has taken a dip with just one round tripper thus far, but he's tallied 11 doubles and owns a 52.6 percent hard-hit rate (95th percentile) with a 91.1 mph average exit velocity (87th percentile). The Marlins' sixth-ranked prospect is striking out more than he did at Double-A but has managed to maintain a strong walk rate of 15.8 percent and has used his elite speed to swipe 11 bags already. The left-handed hitter clearly possesses plenty of fantasy-relevant skills, but the high 25.9 percent strikeout rate suggests he probably needs a bit more seasoning at Triple-A. Redraft managers should monitor him in the event of a surprise call-up; otherwise, look for Cannarella to make an impact in 2027.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
