RADIO
Maikel Garcia Progressing, Not Ruling Out a Late-Season Return
Kansas City Royals infielder/outfielder Maikel Garcia (hamstring) is progressing well and is running at 80 percent while participating in baseball activity, according to MLB.com. Garcia has not ruled out a late-season return after straining his hamstring while running the bases on Aug. 20. The Royals placed him on the 10-day injured list the following day with a strained left hamstring. The 26-year-old Venezuelan has been a major disappointment for fantasy managers in 2026 after he was a first-time All-Star last year, when he hit .286/.351/.449 with an even .800 OPS, a career-high 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 23 stolen bases, and 81 runs scored across 160 games and 666 plate appearances. Garcia just has not been healthy in his fifth year in the majors, playing in only 73 games while hitting .269/.324/.385 with a .709 OPS, three homers, 32 RBI, 34 runs scored, and five steals. Garcia is particularly attractive because of his speed and multi-positional eligibility in fantasy baseball leagues, but he is quickly running out of time in 2026 to produce, and he is now rostered in only 66% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Garrett Crochet Throws Bullpen on Friday
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) threw a bullpen session of 16 pitches on Friday, marking the first time he threw off a mound in over three months, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Crochet opened the year as Boston's ace after finishing second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2025, but he has made just six starts in 2026 due to inflammation in his left shoulder. He should throw another side session on Tuesday of next week, but because of where we are on the calendar, the talented southpaw does not have time to stretch back out as a starter to close out the season. Crochet was a reliever in college at the University of Tennessee and in his first few seasons with the Chicago White Sox before becoming a starter in 2024, so a role out of the bullpen will not be unfamiliar to him. "The fact that he got on the mound today and threw is a really, really good sign," said interim manager Chad Tracy. It is good news that the 27-year-old could still help the team potentially get into the playoffs, but for fantasy purposes, Crochet does not have much value left in 2026. Before injuring his shoulder early this year, the two-time All-Star had a bloated 6.30 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB in 30 innings.
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Shohei Ohtani Not Expected to Play on Saturday
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he does not expect two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) to play on Saturday against the visiting Washington Nationals, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. It would be the first time since Ohtani signed with the Dodgers that he has missed three straight games. "I'll talk to him tonight and then see how he comes in tomorrow," Roberts said. The 32-year-old four-time MVP has not pitched since July 3 due to nagging left-knee and right-biceps injuries, and his biceps injury has been bothering him more as a hitter, so he is expected to take a third straight game off in Game 2 of the series against the Nats. For now, the Dodgers are calling the six-time All-Star day-to-day, but Robert has not ruled out putting Ohtani on the injured list if his injuries continue to linger. Ohtani still has a strong .279/.381/.525 slash line on the season with 30 home runs, 80 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases in 499 at-bats, but he has been in noticeable discomfort lately and hit an un-Ohtani-like .241/.322/.472 with a .795 OPS in 27 games in August. The primary goal right now for the Dodgers is to get him fully healthy for another postseason run in October.
Source: The Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
Source: The Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
Lazaro Montes Dealing With Hip Soreness
Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Lazaro Montes (hip) exited Friday night's game early against the division-rival Athletics with soreness in his left hip, according to the team. In just his third MLB game, Montes left hobbled after crashing into the outfield wall while attempting a catch. Until we know the severity of the 21-year-old's injury, we will consider him day-to-day. Before being replaced in right field by Taylor Ward, Montes went 0-for-2 at the plate. In his first two games for the M's, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline went 3-for-9 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. Seattle recently called up the 21-year-old Cuban outfielder in hopes that he would give the team a shot in the arm as they try to stay in the playoff race in the American League down the stretch. In 123 games (542 plate appearances) in the minors this year with Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma, Montes hit .249/.369/.558 with a .928 OPS, 38 home runs, 96 RBI, 99 runs scored, and eight stolen bases, so he can certainly do serious damage at the dish when he is on. Because he sells out for lift and power most of the time, fantasy managers will have to put up with plenty of strikeouts. But his 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame can produce high-end power. UPDATE: MLB.com's Luke Olson reports that Montes is day-to-day.
Source: Mariners PR
Source: Mariners PR
Bryan Baker Pulled Early Friday, "Nothing Physical"
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that right-handed closer Bryan Baker (illness) was pulled from his outing early on Friday against the Texas Rangers with an illness and is dealing with "nothing physical," according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Baker was brought in for the ninth in a save situation and allowed an earned run on two walks without recording an out before he was replaced by Tyler Wells, who hung on for his sixth save of the season in the 7-6 win in Texas. The 31-year-old Baker might not be available for the rest of the weekend series against the Rangers, but it is unlikely that he will need a stint on the injured list, which is great news for fantasy managers. The former 11th-round pick by the Colorado Rockies in 2016 from North Florida came out of nowhere in 2026 to be an elite source of saves. Baker, a first-time All-Star this year, came into Friday's outing with a 1.47 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, a league-leading 39 saves, 60 strikeouts, and 18 walks in 55 innings pitched. Before this season, Baker had four saves in five MLB campaigns with the Rays, Orioles, and Blue Jays. Consider him day-to-day going into Saturday.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
J.T. Ginn May Not Pitch Again This Season
Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn (soreness) has made minimal progress and will be evaluated by the team orthopedist on Saturday, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. There is a chance that Ginn will not pitch again this season. The A's reported that Ginn had been pushed back from his most recent scheduled appearance due to undisclosed soreness. It is unclear exactly what Ginn is dealing with, but with the A's playoff hopes already out the window, they have no incentive to rush him back to the starting rotation if he is not 100 percent healthy. He is not on the injured list, but it sounds like that could be coming if the A's shut him down for the year. The 27-year-old former second-rounder by the New York Mets in 2020 from Mississippi State University has gone 9-8 this year with a 3.71 ERA (4.38 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP with a career-high 121 strikeouts and 57 walks in 138 1/3 innings and 27 appearances (24 starts) in his third year in the majors. Ginn's low 22.4% strikeout rate in his three-year career gives him limited fantasy upside, and he is rostered in only 27% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
Source: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
Matt Brash Shut Down for the Season After Setback
According to Ryan Divish, Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Matt Brash (lat) will be shut down from throwing for the next eight weeks. The Mariners are doing this after a recent MRI revealed more inflammation in his lat. Brash was ramping up towards a return in late August, but unfortunately, he suffered a setback. When healthy, Brash has been a stud, but keeping him on the mound has been extremely difficult for the Mariners. He'll finish the season with a 0.54 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and a 15/6 K/BB ratio across 20 appearances. The expectation is that the 28-year-old will be ready to go for the 2027 season.
Source: Ryan Divish
Source: Ryan Divish
Willi Castro is Dealing with Foot Injury
Colorado Rockies infielder/outfielder Willi Castro (foot) was held out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Castro was left out of the lineup for a third straight game on Friday due to a plantar fasciitis issue, Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette reports. It's unclear right now if Castro will require a stint on the Injured List because of this injury. The Rockies aren't playing for anything at this point, so it wouldn't be a terrible idea for them to get a look at their younger players. Fantasy managers should have another update on Castro in the coming days.
Source: Kevin Henry
Source: Kevin Henry
Aaron Judge Won't Return Before Facing Live Pitching
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) needs to face live pitching before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list, and he will not do that before the Yankees return home for the start of a series on Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Hoch is "unofficially circling" Sept. 11 against the crosstown-rival New York Mets as a target date for Judge's return. "If I'm playing or not playing, it's going to be special," Judge said. "It's going to be a big day. That impacted not only a lot of New Yorkers, but the whole world and our whole country. I don't know about playing or not playing, but I'll definitely be there and soaking it all in." Judge is getting close to a return for the first time since late May due to a stress fracture in his rib, and he was able to take on-field batting practice at Petco Park before Friday's series opener in San Diego versus the Padres. It is clear the Yanks are not rushing the three-time MVP back, but fantasy managers should be getting excited about his imminent return. Judge could be a difference-maker in the fantasy postseason after he hit .248 (53-for-214) with 17 homers, 38 RBI, 43 runs, and five stolen bases in 59 games in the early portion of the 2026 campaign.
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Jonah Tong to Start on Monday
According to David Lennon, New York Mets starting pitcher prospect Jonah Tong will receive the call-up to face off against the Miami Marlins on Monday. There was speculation that Tong would get a promotion here soon, and now it's true. The 23-year-old has looked good lately in Triple-A, so the Mets will give him a chance down the stretch of the season. He has only made three appearances for the Mets this season and owns a 4.54 ERA during his time with Triple-A Syracuse. Tong is a former top prospect of the Mets who they believe can still be a key contributor for them. The right-hander will draw a favorable start against the Marlins lineup, but his overall stats don't give fantasy managers too much confidence.
Source: David Lennon
Source: David Lennon
Chase DeLauter Removed with Wrist Sprain
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter (wrist) was removed early during Friday's doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers. According to Tim Stebbins, DeLauter exited the second game on Friday due to a right wrist sprain. He'll finish his day 2-for-5 with two doubles, a stolen base, and a walk. This is not an ideal situation for the Guardians, who lost outfielder Angel Martinez (shoulder) during the first game of Friday's doubleheader. DeLauter has been solid when he's healthy, but keeping him on the field has been difficult. For now, fantasy managers should consider DeLauter as day-to-day. Travis Bazzana took over as the designated hitter on Friday night and could see a few more starts there over the next few days. UPDATE: Manager Stephen Vogt said that DeLauter is considered day-to-day.
Source: Tim Stebbins
Source: Tim Stebbins
Angel Martinez Exits Early with Shoulder Injury
Cleveland Guardians infielder/outfielder Angel Martinez (shoulder) was forced to make an early exit during Friday's doubleheader versus the Detroit Tigers. According to Chris McCosky, Martinez was taken out of the game after a collision with teammate Brayan Rocchio in the fourth inning. He exited the first game hitless in two plate appearances and hasn't entered the second contest on Friday. The Guardians are considering Martinez as day-to-day with a bruised left shoulder. It doesn't sound like Martinez will require a trip to the Injured List, but the Guardians could be careful with Martinez over the next few days.
Source: Chris McCosky
Source: Chris McCosky
Aidan Miller to Make Season Debut at Low-A on Saturday
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop prospect Aidan Miller (back), the team's second overall prospect at MLB Pipeline, will play five innings at shortstop on Saturday for Low-A Clearwater, according to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer. It is a notable benchmark for Miller after he had surgery on his troublesome back in early June. This will be the 22-year-old former first-rounder's first game action in the minors this year. The right-handed-hitting infielder batted .264/.392/.433 with an .825 OPS, 14 home runs, 42 RBI, 59 stolen bases, and 82 runs scored in 116 games and 526 plate appearances last year at Double-A Reading (108) games and Triple-A Lehigh Valley (eight games). With time running out in the minor-league season, it would be a surprise if Miller heads back to Lehigh Valley in September. Miller has intriguing raw power and excellent instincts on the basepaths to give him plus stolen-base upside. He is the heir apparent in Philly to Trea Turner, who has shown signs of decline in 2026. Barring another injury, Miller is expected to make his major-league debut with the Phillies in 2027.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
Aaron Judge Takes Batting Practice on the Field
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (ribs) took on-field batting practice at Petco Park on Friday before the team's series opener against the San Diego Padres, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Judge is on the verge of returning from the stress fracture in his rib that has kept him sidelined since early in the first half of the season, but he is not expected to make his return during the three-game series in San Diego. In a best-case scenario, the three-time MVP could return for the start of a new series on Tuesday back in the Bronx against the Colorado Rockies. The 34-year-old eight-time All-Star is running out of time to make an impact in fantasy baseball, but there is still time. He has only played in 59 games in 2026 in his 11th year in the majors because of his rib injury, hitting .248/.375/.533 with a .907 OPS, 17 home runs, 38 RBI, 43 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 261 plate appearances. Judge still has the opportunity to be a difference-maker for fantasy managers when it matters most in September.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Reynaldo Lopez to Return to the Rotation Next Week
Atlanta Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (knee) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to rejoin the team's starting rotation at some point next week, according to Jesus Cano of The Athletic. Lopez's first start back off the IL could line up to come next Wednesday against the first-place Tampa Bay Rays, which would not be ideal for fantasy streaming purposes. The 32-year-old veteran has been sidelined with inflammation in his left knee since the end of July, but he is ready to rejoin the big-league roster after throwing 93 pitches in five scoreless innings for Triple-A Gwinnett in a minor-league rehab start on Thursday. The Dominican hurler will be making just his 12th start this year for the Braves next week and will be returning to a 4-3 record, 3.64 ERA (4.32 FIP), and 1.34 WHIP with 66 strikeouts and 29 walks in 71 2/3 innings over his 24 appearances. Since rejoining Atlanta's rotation on June 26, Lopez posted a 3.86 ERA (3.88 FIP) with 28 hits allowed (four homers), eight walks, and 27 strikeouts in 28 innings across six starts. Lopez will be a matchup-based streamer to close things out in 2026 if he stays in the Braves' rotation through the end of September.
Source: The Athletic - Jesus Cano
Source: The Athletic - Jesus Cano
