RADIO
Clayton Beeter Remains a Viable Deep-League Saves Source Despite Recent Struggles
Across 33 innings (30 games) in 2026, Washington Nationals right-hander Clayton Beeter has recorded a 4.09 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 34 strikeouts, and 11 saves. The 27-year-old has run into some struggles of late, allowing six earned runs across his last 5 2/3 innings (six appearances). However, Beeter has also logged four saves in that span and appears to be the clear preferred option in the ninth inning for Washington. Beeter's underlying metrics hint at some warning signs, as he's posted a 14.8% walk rate and has allowed 1.64 HR/9. Still, he remains a worthy deep-league waiver wire target for fantasy managers in desperate need of saves.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Casey Mize Making Padres Debut on Wednesday
Newly acquired San Diego Padres starting pitcher Casey Mize is making his debut with the team on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Padres acquired Mize from the Detroit Tigers on Monday in exchange for pitching prospects Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf. Mize has had a strong season so far in 2026, recording a 4-6 record with a 2.70 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts across 86 2/3 innings (14 starts). The 29-year-old has also needed multiple stints on the injured list due to groin strains, but he's healthy now and will be relied upon as a key piece in the Padres rotation down the stretch. Mize has posted the best K-BB rate (19.4%) of his career this year, and he's limited hard contact with a 0.52 HR/9. When healthy, he profiles as a must-start fantasy pitcher in most league formats.
Source: San Diego Padres
Source: San Diego Padres
Willson Contreras Exits Early on Wednesday Due to Illness
Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (illness) was removed early from his team's game against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday due to an illness, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive. Contreras was one-for-one with an RBI and a walk before exiting the game. The 34-year-old has put together an excellent season so far in 2026, hitting .288/.395/.540 with 23 home runs, 70 RBI, 57 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 430 plate appearances. In his 11th MLB season, he's posted his best barrel rate (14.5%). It's not totally clear what the illness that Contreras is battling is, but it seems unlikely that he is looking at significant missed time. Red Sox infielder Anthony Seigler replaced Contreras on Wednesday, and both he and utility man Nick Sogard are candidates to see more playing time if Contreras needs to miss a day or two.
Source: MassLive - Chris Cotillo
Source: MassLive - Chris Cotillo
Kade Anderson Will Work as a Starter Once Called Up
Seattle Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto said that top pitching prospect Kade Anderson will be part of the team's starting rotation once he's called up to the big leagues, per Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. Jude reports that Anderson is expected to be promoted from Double-A Arkansas "in the coming weeks." Anderson is widely considered to be one of the top prospects in all of baseball and has put together a dominant season in the minor leagues. Across 82 2/3 innings (16 starts), the young left-hander has recorded a 9-1 record with a 1.20 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, and 119 strikeouts. He's posted an absurd 40.5% strikeout rate with just a 4.1% walk rate. Once Anderson gets called up, he offers serious upside for fantasy managers.
Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
Source: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
Pete Crow-Armstrong Continues MVP-Caliber Season With Two-Homer Performance
Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong went toe-to-toe with four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Wednesday's 7-6 win at Wrigley Field. Both Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani hit two home runs apiece, with Crow-Armstrong going 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot with four RBI and a strikeout. After a slow start to the 2026 campaign, the 24-year-old left-handed slugger has been heating up since June. The two-time All-Star came into Wednesday's action with a .284/.384/.535 slash line with a .919 OPS, 24 home runs, 65 RBI, 28 stolen bases, and 76 runs scored across 426 at-bats. Crow-Armstrong has now gone 7-for-17 with two home runs, a double, a triple, six RBI, and seven runs scored in his first five games in August as he continues to stay locked in at the dish. He's now up to three multi-homer games in 2026 and nine for his career. While PCA's numbers look great, his .257 xBA and .364 xwOBA predict regression to close out the campaign.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Shohei Ohtani has First Two-Homer Game in Loss to the Cubs
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani had his first multi-home run game of the season in Wednesday's 7-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, going 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and two strikeouts to boost his season average to .297 and his OPS to .953. Ohtani's first home run came to lead off the game against lefty starter Shota Imanaga, and his second blast came in the eighth inning off new Cubs reliever Ryan Zeferjahn, but the Dodgers ultimately fell one run short. It's a bit hard to believe that the four-time MVP and six-time All-Star didn't have a multi-homer game this year until Aug. 5. Ohtani continues to serve as the Dodgers' regular DH despite having not pitched since July 3 due to a nagging knee and biceps issue. His knee issue hasn't really affected Ohtani as a hitter at all, as he's now gone 15-for-31 in his last eight games, and he's up to 26 home runs with a .953 OPS in 2026 in his ninth year in the big leagues. It doesn't look like the Japanese superstar is going to reach the 50-homer mark for a third straight year, and he's barely running (six steals), but he remains a must-start in all traditional fantasy formats as a hitter.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Joe Ryan's Next Start in Doubt Due to Back, Glute Injuries
The Athletic's Dan Hayes reports that Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan's (back, glute) next start is "in doubt" due to back and glute injuries. Manager Derek Shelton said that Ryan has already left the team to be evaluated by team physician Christopher Camp in Minneapolis. "He's frustrated and not able to replicate his delivery. The ability to repeat his delivery, I'm not going to say it's not physical. But we owe it to him and to us to find out what he's feeling and how he's going about it," Shelton said. Ryan allowed four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings in Tuesday's loss to the division-rival Kansas City Royals, and when asked if he's physically capable of doing what he wants with his delivery, Ryan said, "No, definitely not." It helps explain why he has a 9.39 ERA with 25 hits allowed in 15 1/3 frames in his last three outings. He also gave up a major-league record six home runs on July 20 against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians. Ryan was dominant for fantasy managers in the first half, posting a 2.85 ERA with 128 strikeouts in 110 1/3 innings, but he has fallen apart in the second half and just isn't healthy right now. It sounds like an injured-list stint is coming.
Source: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
Source: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
Gabriel Moreno Back From Paternity List, Starting on Wednesday
The Arizona Diamondbacks have activated catcher Gabriel Moreno from the paternity list on Wednesday, and he will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup against the San Diego Padres and right-hander Casey Mize, who will be making his debut with the Friars. James McCann will do the catching and bat seventh for the Snakes. Moreno will end up missing just one game on Tuesday to catch the birth of his second child this week. The 26-year-old Venezuelan backstop is having a fine season at the plate in 85 games (350 plate appearances), slashing .298/.380/.438 with a career-high .818 OPS, eight home runs, 47 RBI, 46 runs scored, and four stolen bases in his fifth year in the majors (fourth in Arizona). Moreno is coming off a great month of July, too, in which he hit .362 (34-for-94) with two home runs, six doubles, 19 RBI, and 18 runs scored in 25 games played.
Source: Jody Jackson
Source: Jody Jackson
Jake Bauers Missing Second Straight Game With Abdominal Issue
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (abdomen) is out of the team's starting lineup for the second straight day on Wednesday against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates due to an abdominal injury, per MLB.com. Andrew Vaughn will make another start at first base and will hit sixth for the Brewers against Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes. Bauers should be considered day-to-day for now after taking part in some on-field workouts before Wednesday's game at American Family Field. He could be back for fantasy managers as soon as Thursday's series finale against the Pirates. The 30-year-old left-handed slugger is in the midst of a career breakout in 2026 in his seventh year in the big leagues (third with Milwaukee), slashing .270/.375/.503 with an .878 OPS, 20 home runs, 64 RBI, 68 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across 102 games and 403 plate appearances. Most of Bauers' damage this year has come against right-handed pitchers, which is not a major surprise. He has hit just three of his 20 round-trippers on the year against lefties.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Hunter Greene Goes on Injured List With Elbow Soreness
The Cincinnati Reds announced on Wednesday that they placed right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 2) with soreness in his right elbow and recalled right-hander Luis Mey from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. Per C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, Greene will visit with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Thursday after feeling discomfort in his elbow during a side session on Tuesday. The hard-throwing right-hander underwent an MRI exam on Wednesday morning. The 26-year-old former second overall pick in 2017 has only made five starts for the Reds in 2026 after already recovering from a procedure on his right elbow. Greene has been up and down in his 27 2/3 innings so far this year, recording a 6.83 ERA (3.57 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP with 33 strikeouts and only nine walks. A visit to ElAttrache is not what fantasy managers want to hear, as it could result in another surgery for Greene. For now, he should remain stashed in leagues where he's rostered.
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Aaron Judge "Cleared" to Start "Light" Activities
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) has been "cleared" to start "light" activities, including running and upper-body "resistance" work in the weight room, according to Erik Boland of Newsday. It represents significant progress from where Judge had been while rehabbing a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side since June 5. Judge is currently on the 60-day injured list without a timetable for a return, but fantasy managers have to be a little excited with this update on his progress, even though he still has plenty of boxes to check before returning to the big-league lineup. The Yankees are optimistic that the three-time MVP will return before the season is over, but fantasy managers probably won't be getting him back until the final month of the regular season in September in a best-case scenario. In an attempt to bolster the Yankees' offense with Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton on the IL, the team traded for infielder Luis Garcia Jr. and outfielder Heliot Ramos at the deadline this summer.
Source: Newsday - Erik Boland
Source: Newsday - Erik Boland
Freddie Freeman Leaves With Apparent Wrist Injury on Wednesday
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (wrist) left Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field early due to an apparent wrist injury after a check swing in the top of the fifth inning, according to Dodgers writer Adrian Medina. Freeman went 1-for-3 at the plate before being replaced at first base by Enrique Hernandez. It's unclear how serious Freeman's injury is, but the Dodgers will not take any chances with their star players with a huge cushion in the National League West right now. The 36-year-old former MVP, 10-time All-Star, and World Series MVP is the heartbeat of the Dodgers, other than two-way Superstar Shohei Ohtani, so losing him for an extended period of time would be a major blow to L.A.'s core. Freeman came into Wednesday's contest with a strong .310/.385/.486 slash line, .871 OPS, 15 home runs, 54 RBI, 57 runs scored, and five steals in his 420 at-bats. If Freeman were to miss additional time, both Hernandez and Max Muncy would be options to take over at first base for the Blue. Hopefully, Freeman will be ready to return for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks after a scheduled off day on Thursday. UPDATE: The California Post's Jack Harris reports that X-rays came back negative on Freeman's hand.
Source: Adrian Medina
Source: Adrian Medina
Jose Ramirez Not Ready to Return on Wednesday
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (hand) will miss a second straight game due to a sore hand on Wednesday in the team's matchup against the visiting New York Mets, according to MLB.com. Rookie infielder Angel Genao will make the start at the hot corner for Cleveland and will hit in the nine-hole against Mets right-hander Christian Scott. Ramirez was out of action on Tuesday due to soreness in his surgically-repaired left hand. The 33-year-old Dominican veteran and seven-time All-Star missed extended time already this year following surgery to fix a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, so it's bad news that he's still dealing with discomfort. J-Ram hasn't looked comfortable at the plate since his return on July 22, going 8-for-41 (.195) with a .478 OPS, zero homers, two RBI, three steals, six runs scored, five walks, and two strikeouts in just 10 games played. Don't be surprised if Ramirez lands back on the IL, which would be another tough break in what has been a bust of a season for the perennial MVP candidate. He's hitting just .233/.331/.388 with a .720 OPS, 10 homers, 35 RBI, 27 steals, and 48 runs scored in his 82 games played in his 14th year in the majors.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
George Lombard Jr. Hits First MLB Home Run
In his major-league debut on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees infield prospect George Lombard Jr. went 1-for-2 at the plate with a solo home run and a walk in the 2-0 victory. The 21-year-old hit eighth in his first MLB game as he takes over at the 6 in the Bronx for Anthony Volpe, who was demoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees' top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, also made a difference with his glove in his MLB debut, and he is expected to help give the team a boost down the stretch. Lombard's power/speed upside makes him immediately attractive in most fantasy baseball leagues, and he's already rostered in 38% of Yahoo setups. The former 26th overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft hit .284/.411/.498 with a .909 OPS, 12 home runs, 33 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 65 runs scored in 78 games (358 plate appearances) in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and at Double-A Somerset and Triple-A. Don't expect a ton of power from Lombard, with his above-average speed and on-base skills likely to benefit fantasy managers first.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Altercation With Teammate Allegedly Led to Marcelo Mayer Trade?
A viral Reddit post claims to reveal the alleged story behind the fallout between Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony and infielder Marcelo Mayer that ultimately led to Mayer being traded to the San Francisco Giants at the deadline on Monday, according to What's the Word? Anthony reportedly suffered the finger/wrist injury that has kept him out for most of the season during an altercation with Mayer over a conflict of interest with a woman. Both Anthony and Mayer, who came up through the farm system as two of Boston's top prospects, have failed to deliver early in their big-league careers, but injuries certainly haven't helped their cause. Anthony is the much better upside stash in fantasy baseball leagues for his power/speed upside, while the 23-year-old Mayer could find himself in a platoon role in his new home in San Fran whenever he gets healthy. Mayer has been out since June 26 with a stress reaction in his left forearm, and he remains without a timetable for a return. Anthony, 22, has been out since early May, and although he has begun to take batting practice, there's still no clear timetable for his return to Boston.
Source: What's the Word?
Source: What's the Word?
