RADIO
Elly De La Cruz Diagnosed With Left-Quad Tightness
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (quadriceps) was diagnosed with left-quad tightness after he exited in the seventh inning of Sunday's game against the Chicago Cubs. De La Cruz was replaced in the lineup by Ivan Johnson, but not before he went 2-for-4 with a single, a double, a run, and two strikeouts. The 24-year-old owns a .269/.349/.476 slash line with 21 home runs, 60 RBI, 24 steals, a 10.7% walk rate, a 27.0% strikeout rate, and a career-high 125 wRC+ this season. De La Cruz avoided injury throughout the 2024 and 2025 seasons, but he missed three weeks earlier this year due to a right hamstring strain, and now it appears that he's banged up once again. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for additional injury updates from the Reds after Sunday night's game goes final. UPDATE: FOX 19's Charlie Goldsmith reports that De La Cruz has a chance to play in Monday's series opener against the San Diego Padres.
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Pete Alonso is Okay After Leaving Game Early
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (head) is expected to be fine despite leaving Sunday's game early after being hit by a pitch in the helmet. Manager Craig Albernaz told Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun that he was already planning to pinch-run for Alonso before he got hit in the helmet. He also noted that Alonso remained in the dugout after exiting and was behaving like his usual self, so there's no cause for concern. Based on Albernaz's comments, we wouldn't be surprised to see Alonso back in the lineup for the Orioles' next game against the Colorado Rockies tomorrow night. The veteran first baseman is slashing .269/.358/.503 with 32 home runs, 91 RBI, an 11.0% walk rate, a 24.4% strikeout rate, and 141 wRC+. He currently ranks as the #5 first baseman in RotoBaller's rest-of-season fantasy baseball rankings.
Source: Matt Weyrich
Source: Matt Weyrich
Cardinals to Promote No. 7 Prospect Leo Bernal to Majors
The St. Louis Cardinals are promoting catching prospect Leo Bernal to the majors, according to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR. The 22-year-old originally signed with the Cardinals as an international free agent out of Panama in 2021. Up until this point, he had spent the entire season in Triple-A, slashing .279/.364/.469 with 16 home runs, 77 RBI, nine steals, an 11.8% walk rate, a 20.0% strikeout rate, and 116 wRC+ across 100 games. Bernal is a switch-hitter and has made impressive strides from a platoon standpoint this year. Specifically, he improved upon his ability to hit right-handed pitching, bringing his OPS against righties up from .668 to .846 this year. He's also been solid on defense, throwing out 27.4% of base stealers. Bernal should have a chance to carve out significant playing time right away, as both of the Cardinals' active catchers have a sub-.600 OPS.
Source: Francys Romero
Source: Francys Romero
Willson Contreras Experiencing Hamstring Tightness
Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (hamstring), who exited during the seventh inning of Sunday's loss against the New York Yankees, was dealing with hamstring tightness, interim manager Chad Tracy told Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. "The hamstring was a little tight," Tracy said. "Just felt like at that point of the game, I don't want to push it. So we got him out of there." It's worth noting that the Red Sox were trailing 6-0 at the time of Contreras' exit, and it's unclear whether he would have been able to keep playing if the score were closer. We wouldn't be surprised to see him get the day off Monday against the Seattle Mariners, and we also can't rule out an IL stint if the injury persists or worsens in the next day. Nick Sogard would be the most likely candidate to play first base in Contreras' absence, but the team could also recall Mickey Gasper from Triple-A.
Source: Christopher Smith
Source: Christopher Smith
Mariners to Promote Top Prospect Lazaro Montes
Seattle Mariners top outfield prospect Lazaro Montes is being called up to the majors, according to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR. The talented outfielder signed with the Mariners as an international free agent out of Cuba in 2022 and has quickly developed within the organization's farm system. Up until this point, Montes had split his 2026 season between Double-A and Triple-A. Through 43 games at the Triple-A level, he was slashing .267/.359/.564 with 13 home runs, an 11.6% walk rate, a 31.3% strikeout rate, and 125 wRC+. Strikeouts are evidently a concern with the 21-year-old, but he makes up for it with incredible power, slugging 38 total homers in the minors this year. There's a strong chance that he could be in the lineup for his MLB debut tomorrow against the Boston Red Sox. Regardless of whether he plays on Monday, he should earn consistent playing time in the thick of the playoff race, as the Mariners are five games back in the AL West.
Source: Francys Romero
Source: Francys Romero
Will Smith Expected to Return on Tuesday
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck) is expected to rejoin the team on Tuesday, according to Sonja Chen of MLB.com. Smith has been out since early June due to a neck injury. He began a rehab assignment on August 25 and appears to be on the verge of returning to the big league roster. His return is a welcoming sight for the Dodgers, who have struggled to find consistent production from the catcher spot lately. This season, Smith is slashing .249/.338/.382 with six home runs and 23 RBI across 52 games. It hasn't been a great year for Smith offensively, but he could be worth scooping up off the waiver wire for fantasy managers seeking help at the catcher spot.
Source: Sonja Chen
Source: Sonja Chen
George Klassen Goes to the 15-Day Injured List With Back Injury
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher George Klassen (back) was placed on the 15-day Injured List on Sunday, according to Jeff Fletcher. This is a tough break for the Halos, with Klassen actually pitching pretty well over his first few outings. He owns a 3.67 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and a 24/21 K/BB ratio across 27 innings of work. The walks have been a problem for Klassen, but he's still worth a stash in deep league formats. The Angels haven't given a timetable for his return to the mound, but this isn't expected to be a long stint on the Injured List. The team hasn't announced who is going to take his spot in the rotation yet.
Source: Jeff Fletcher
Source: Jeff Fletcher
Samuel Basallo is Held Out on Sunday
Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo (hand) is being held out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. The O's have decided to keep Basallo on the bench for this one due to a hand issue, according to Matt Weyrich. Basallo was removed early from Saturday's game due to a right-hand injury that he suffered while attempting to block a wild pitch. He's considered day-to-day, so fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried at the moment. Pete Alonso will serve as the designated hitter while Carlos Narvaez does the catching during Sunday's contest. Fantasy managers should check back on Monday for another update on his status.
Source: Matt Weyrich
Source: Matt Weyrich
Xavier Edwards Exits Early on Sunday
Miami Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards (thumb, elbow) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals. Edwards was pulled from this game with a hand or elbow injury, according to Mark Zuckerman. He got tangled up while attempting to make a tag on Jorbit Vivas at second base. The expectation is that Edwards will undergo further testing to determine the severity of this injury. He finished Sunday's game 0-for-1 with a walk in the win over Washington. Fantasy managers should consider Edwards as day-to-day for now. There should be more information on his status in the next day or two.
Source: Mark Zuckerman
Source: Mark Zuckerman
Jared Jones has Start Pushed Back
According to Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones will have his scheduled start pushed back. Jones was scheduled to start on Thursday, but he will instead take the ball against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. It's unclear at the moment who is going to get the ball during Thursday's game. Both Carmen Mlodzinski and Lake Bachar are options for that one. Jones has allowed three runs or more in four of his last six starts. He's also coming off elbow surgery, so the Pirates want to limit his innings as much as possible. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly with Jones moving back a day.
Source: Colin Beazley
Source: Colin Beazley
Byron Buxton Gets Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) was placed on the 10-day Injured List on Sunday. Buxton will head to the shelf due to a right hip impingement that he has been dealing with for most of the season. The team decided to make a move after Buxton missed his fourth straight game on Sunday. The Twins haven't given a timetable on Buxton, but the veteran outfielder may require surgery to fix the issue. That'll be a last resort as the Twins will likely wait and see how Buxton progresses over the next few weeks. Top prospect Walker Jenkins figures to gain the most fantasy value from the loss of Buxton. He'll likely operate as the full-time center fielder, so fantasy managers should scoop him up if they need a bat.
Source: Minnesota Twins
Source: Minnesota Twins
River Ryan Could Be Late-Season Addition When Fully Healthy
Detroit Tigers pitching prospect River Ryan (hamstring) is currently on the injured list and rehabbing at Triple-A Toledo following his trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Tarik Skubal deal. Ryan has not pitched yet for the Tigers organization and is on the mend from a hamstring strain. The right-hander pitched eight games for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season and went 3-1 with a 4.46 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings pitched. Ryan is the No. 4 prospect in the Tigers' system at age 28 with a 65-grade fastball, a 60-grade slider, a 55-grade curveball, and changeups. With the Tigers quickly falling out of contention this season, it is becoming more likely for them to look toward Ryan for a late-year call-up. Ryan has the stuff to warrant a look in fantasy leagues should they turn to him when he comes back from his injury.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Jonathon Long Looks More Like Dynasty League Addition
Miami Marlins corner infield prospect Jonathon Long has played 18 games for Triple-A Jacksonville since he was traded to the Marlins from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline. In those 18 games, Long has one homer and nine RBI to go with 16 runs scored and a .246 batting average. Before the trade, in 99 games with Triple-A Iowa, Long hit .283 with 12 homers and 62 RBI. Long is the No. 19 prospect in the Marlins' organization and has a 50-grade hit tool with 50-grade power. Miami has good depth around the board so it might be tough for Long to break through with the big-league club this season. But the 24-year-old right-handed hitter has good potential in dynasty league formats and looks more likely to make it to the big leagues following the trade deadline deal.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
James Tibbs III Looking Like He is Worth a Late-Season Stash
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III continues to hit at Triple-A Oklahoma City with six homers and 21 RBI in the month of August while hitting .326 with 30 runs scored. That brings the Triple-A totals this season to 27 homers and 96 RBI this season for Tibbs III with a .295 batting average. With the injury to Andy Pages, that could potentially open the door to the big leagues for Tibbs III and if so, the 23-year-old left-handed hitter is a strong potential addition to fantasy rosters. Tibbs III is the No. 7 overall prospect in the Dodgers' organization and has a 50-grade hit tool with 55-grade power. His statistical output this season is hard to ignore and the Dodgers should look to him as a potential September call-up. Fantasy managers should pay attention because Tibbs III has a high ceiling right off the bat in the big leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Ethan Salas Showing Off Hitting Prowess At Triple-A
San Diego Padres catcher prospect Ethan Salas is on fire at Triple-A El Paso with three homers and 23 RBI in 86 at bats while hitting .326. The star left-handed hitter was called up to Triple-A on July 29 after hitting seven homers with 37 RBI at Double-A San Antonio in 259 at bats. Look for the 20-year-old to be a fantasy factor if he is to debut this season in San Diego. He is well worth stashing and waiting for a potential call-up to San Diego this season. Salas is the Padres' top overall prospect and has a 50-grade hit tool with 50-grade power and has the hitting tools to be successful right away in fantasy leagues at the catcher position. Right now the Padres have the catching duo of Luis Campusano and Freddy Fermin but if Salas is to break through and get a look this year, he should be an instant fantasy success.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
