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Brody Hopkins Has Pitch Mix Necessary For BIg League Success
Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Brody Hopkins has had a solid season at Triple-A Durham and could be looking at a late season promotion. Hopkins, a right-hander, is 4-8 this season with a 4.93 ERA and 1.67 WHIP to go with 105 strikeouts in 84 innings. The 24-year-old has made 18 starts in 21 appearances this season and he has struggled a bit with his overall record, but his strikeout rate is encouraging. He is the No. 5 prospect in the Rays' system and possesses a 60-grade fastball and 60-grade curveball with two other 55-grade secondary pitches in his cutter and slider. Hopkins seems to have major league stuff and is just awaiting a promotion to Tampa Bay. The Rays have a deep rotation especially after trading for Freddy Peralta. But with Shane McClanahan on the IL, Hopkins could provide depth at the major league level and would be worth a waiver wire addition in that case.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Jose Ramirez Back in Thursday's Lineup Against Mets
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (hand) is starting at third base and batting third in the series finale on Thursday against the visiting New York Mets and right-hander Nolan McLean, according to MLB.com. Ramirez is returning to action after missing the last two games due to soreness in his surgically-repaired left hand. It's great to see the 33-year-old Dominican switch-hitter back in the starting nine, but fantasy managers still have to be a bit concerned that he has gone 8-for-41 (.195) with zero home runs, two RBI, six runs scored, three stolen bases, five walks, and two strikeouts in 11 games since returning from his fractured left hamate bone. The seven-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner has not been himself in 2026, and his hand injury did not help. J-Ram returns to Thursday's tilt hitting just .233/.331/.388 with a .720 OPS, 10 homers, 35 RBI, 27 stolen bases, and 48 runs scored in 83 games and 360 plate appearances. He's still a must-start in most fantasy leagues, but it would be nice for him to show some signs of life at the plate. Ramirez has never faced McLean.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Tanner Bibee Allows Three Homers but Fans 10 on Wednesday
Cleveland Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee was a mixed bag in the team's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the visiting New York Mets at Progressive Field on Wednesday, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits (three homers) while walking none and striking out a season-high 10 batters in 5 2/3 innings for a no-decision. Bibee allowed back-to-back home runs to Brett Baty and Jorge Polanco in the third inning, and rookie Carson Benge added a solo shot off of him in the sixth frame. Bibee's outing against the Mets broke a string of four straight quality starts, but at least he recorded double-digit strikeouts for the first time this year. The former fifth-rounder in 2021 from California State Fullerton is 4-11 on the year with a 3.85 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 110:38 K:BB in his 138 innings across 24 starts. He'll be looking forward to a third meeting against the division-rival Detroit Tigers in his next outing, as Bibee has a nice 1.80 ERA with three walks and 13 strikeouts in 15 innings in his two starts against them so far in 2026. Bibee will look to put up another quality start in that one, where he should be started in fantasy lineups.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Kyle Harrison Exits Early on Wednesday Due to Calf Cramps
Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Kyle Harrison (calf) exited early from his start on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to cramping in both calves, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Harrison dominated before being pulled from the game, pitching five scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts while allowing just one hit and one walk. The 24-year-old was making his first start since early July, as he missed nearly a month due to elbow and forearm discomfort. Fantasy managers can now breathe a sigh of relief, as it appears Harrison's arm was not the reason why he was forced to leave his first start back. Harrison has been excellent when healthy in 2026, recording an 8-2 record with a 2.84 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 111 strikeouts across 88 2/3 innings (18 starts). It appears he will avoid additional missed time, but fantasy managers should check back for more updates on his status in the next few days.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Heliot Ramos Carries Power Upside on the Waiver Wire Following Trade to New York
Newly acquired New York Yankees outfielder Heliot Ramos appears likely to be heavily relied upon in his new home, as he's started in left field and batted cleanup in each of his first two games with the team. With Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge (ribs), Cody Bellinger (hamstring), and Giancarlo Stanton (calf) all on the injured list, Ramos has a clear path to an everyday role. Across 310 plate appearances on the year (mostly with the San Francisco Giants), Ramos is hitting .260/.300/.418 with nine home runs, 34 RBI, 36 runs scored, and three stolen bases. The 26-year-old has below-average plate skills, as he's walked in just 5.2% of his plate appearances while logging a 26.8% strikeout rate. However, Ramos' underlying contact metrics suggest high-end power, as he's posted a 13.3% barrel rate and a 48.1% hard-hit rate. Now that he's playing his home games in Yankee Stadium instead of San Francisco's pitcher-friendly Oracle Park, Ramos could be poised for a late-season power surge. He's a priority waiver-wire target in leagues where he's not already rostered.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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
