Aug 31, 2026, 8:52 PM ET

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Monday that it is possible that outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) returns for the team's next homestand, but the skipper is not putting a date on it, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. The Yankees return home for their next homestand next Tuesday, Sept. 8, for a series against the Colorado Rockies in the Bronx. The 34-year-old three-time MVP and eight-time All-Star was recently cleared to begin a hitting progression, but he will likely need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he is reinstated, considering he has not played in the majors since May 31 due to a stress fracture in his rib. Judge has league-winning power upside when he is healthy, but he will only have a few weeks to do damage to close out the 2026 regular season. Before his rib injury, he was hitting .248 (53-for-214) with 17 home runs, 38 RBI, 43 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 59 games played. Judge hit 50-plus home runs in the previous two seasons with well over 100 RBI as well, but 2026 has been derailed by his rib injury.--Keith Hernandez
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips

Aug 31, 2026, 8:32 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs promoted corner-infield prospect BJ Murray from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, per Milb Central. Murray, the Cubs' 19th-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, will get his first taste of the Show after hitting .294/.395/.500 with an .895 OPS, 16 home runs, 68 RBI, 74 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 118 games across 516 plate appearances at Iowa this year. The 26-year-old switch-hitter stands at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds and was selected by Chicago in the 15th round in 2021 out of Florida Atlantic University. Murray is old for a prospect, but with his age comes an impressive combination of power upside and plate discipline from both sides of the plate. He has the potential to hit 20 homers at the next level over a full season, but he will most likely serve in a bench role down the stretch for the Cubbies with rosters expanding on Tuesday. In addition to his emerging power, Murray also has speed to boot and could eventually become a 20-20 player down the road in the majors if he can earn a starting spot at either third base or first base on the North Side.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Milb Central

Aug 31, 2026, 8:23 PM ET

The Miami Marlins promoted middle-infield prospect Jared Serna from Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday, according to Milb Central. Serna will take the roster spot of infielder Xavier Edwards (thumb), who landed on the 10-day injured list. Javier Sanoja made the start at the keystone for Miami in Monday's series finale against the division-rival Washington Nationals, but Serna could get some run at second base as well until Edwards is ready to return. The 24-year-old Mexican native gets the call to the big leagues after slashing .221/.303/.378 with a .681 OPS, 12 home runs, 48 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 40 runs scored across 91 games and 336 plate appearances with the Jumbo Shrimp. Serna is not considered a top-30 prospect for the Fish at MLB Pipeline, and although his power/speed numbers have been impressive at Triple-A in 2026, his struggles making contact could really be exposed at the major-league level if he sees enough playing time. Only fantasy managers in deep NL-only leagues should be looking at Serna as a potential waiver-wire pickup for short-term middle-infield depth.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Milb Central

Aug 31, 2026, 6:17 PM ET

Washington Nationals middle infielder CJ Abrams (back) has been scratched from the starting lineup on Monday against the division-rival Miami Marlins due to back tightness, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. Nasim Nunez is starting at shortstop and is batting eighth, while Jorbit Vivas will make the start at second and hit sixth versus Marlins right-hander Ryan Gusto. The Baltimore Banner's Kyle W. reports that manager Blake Butera said on Monday that Abrams is going to be closer to a 50/50 split between shortstop and second base for the rest of the season. Butera said that Abrams has played a "lights-out shortstop" over the past couple of weeks. Fantasy managers should consider the 25-year-old to be day-to-day for now and check back on his status before Game 2 of the series against Miami on Tuesday. The former first-rounder and two-time All-Star has been one of the most valuable shortstops in fantasy in 2026, and he will soon be gaining second base eligibility. Abrams came into Monday's series opener with a .267/.343/.506 slash line, an .849 OPS, a career-high 29 home runs, 92 RBI, 26 stolen bases, and 81 runs scored across 131 games. His first 30-30 campaign is well within reach as long as his back injury is not serious.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Spencer Nusbaum

Aug 31, 2026, 6:07 PM ET

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (head) is starting at first base and is batting second for Monday's series opener on the road at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies and right-hander Tanner Gordon, per MLB.com. Alonso had an injury scare in Sunday's series finale against the Athletics when he was hit on the bill of his helmet by a pitch and forced to leave early. The right-handed slugger was just fine, though, and he is right back in action to begin the new week in the thin air in Denver. Fantasy managers will want to make sure to keep the 31-year-old five-time All-Star in their starting lineups in a hitter-friendly environment. In his first season with the O's, Alonso is slashing .270/.360/.503 with an .863 OPS, 32 home runs, 91 RBI, 84 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 515 at-bats. He continues to be an elite source of power and run production and is looking to finish August on a high note after hitting .343 (35-for-102) with nine homers, three doubles, 22 RBI, and 16 runs scored in the first 27 games during the month.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Aug 31, 2026, 5:07 PM ET

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (quadriceps) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting second for the Reds in Monday's series opener against the visiting San Diego Padres and right-hander Michael King at Great American Ball Park, according to MLB.com. Matt McLain will start at shortstop and bat seventh. Fantasy managers had a scare in Sunday's series finale at Wrigley Field against the division-rival Chicago Cubs when De La Cruz was pulled early with tightness in his left quad, but he will be back a day later as the DH. Even if the 24-year-old Dominican switch-hitter is not as aggressive on the base paths on Monday, he needs to be in all starting fantasy lineups in traditional leagues. The two-time All-Star is a five-category contributor and is currently slashing .271/.350/.479 with an .828 OPS, 21 homers, 60 RBI, 24 stolen bases, and 81 runs scored across 468 at-bats this year. De La Cruz will be looking to finish off August on a strong note. He has gone hitless in just five career at-bats against King.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Aug 31, 2026, 4:24 PM ET

The Miami Marlins announced on Monday that they have placed infielder Xavier Edwards (thumb) on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left thumb and recalled infield prospect Jared Serna from Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move. Edwards will go on the IL for the first time this season after injuring his thumb on a tag attempt in Sunday's game against the division-rival Washington Nationals. Until he can return, the Fish could use a combination of Serna, Javier Sanoja, and Leo Jimenez at the keystone in Miami. In the series finale against the Nats on Monday, Sanoja will start at second and bat cleanup against left-hander Will Dion. The 27-year-old Edwards, a switch-hitter, needs to remain stashed in most fantasy baseball leagues for his speed on the basepaths and his high average (.282). Edwards currently has a .282/.361/.376 slash line, .737 OPS, six home runs, 51 RBI, 59 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases across his 500 at-bats in 2026. Edwards continues to be a zero in the power department, and he has not homered since May.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Miami Marlins

Aug 31, 2026, 3:14 PM ET

The Boston Red Sox announced on Monday that they placed first baseman Willson Contreras (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring and recalled catcher/first baseman Mickey Gasper from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. Gasper will start at first base and bat second for the BoSox in their series opener on Monday at Fenway Park against the Seattle Mariners and right-hander George Kirby. Contreras was pulled from Sunday's series finale against the New York Yankees with tightness in his hamstring, and he will now miss at least the next 10 days. The 34-year-old Venezuelan reportedly had been playing through the issue for around a month, which helps explain why he went 3-for-27 (.111) with two walks and eight strikeouts in his last seven games. Overall, Contreras has been one of Boston's most consistent offensive producers in 2026 in his first year with the team, though, slashing .274/.384/.516 with a .900 OPS, 26 homers, 79 RBI, 66 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 434 at-bats. Fantasy managers must keep the four-time All-Star stashed in all formats.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Boston Red Sox

Aug 31, 2026, 3:05 PM ET

The New York Mets are calling up outfield prospect Nick Morabito from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, per MLB Pipeline. Morabito, who is considered the team's No. 13 prospect at MLB Pipeline, is getting another call to the big- league roster after hitting .254/.355/.388 with a .743 OPS, 13 home runs, 47 RBI, 42 stolen bases, and 73 runs scored across 114 games and 507 plate appearances in the International League. The 23-year-old right-handed hitter and former second-rounder in 2022 appeared in five games for the Mets earlier this year and went hitless in 12 plate appearances with no walks and nine strikeouts. It remains to be seen how long Morabito will stick around in Queens this time, but with Luis Robert Jr. now in Baltimore, he could be an option for outfield starts when the Mets face a left-handed pitcher. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues who are still looking for speed could look to add Morabito, but they should not expect much in the way of power. Morabito is not rostered yet in any Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB Pipeline

Aug 31, 2026, 2:10 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin (finger) will start his next minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Sept. 1, according to Dominic Campbell of Sports Illustrated. Griffin is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list on Sept. 4, but it is unclear if the Pirates will be ready to bring him back by then. The young shortstop is ready to move to Indy after playing with Double-A Altoona over the weekend. He is attempting to return from a torn sagittal band on his left ring finger that has kept him sidelined since July 6. The 20-year-old former ninth overall pick in 2024 has the chance to be a perennial All-Star at the 6 for years to come, and he hit .276/.332/.404 with a .736 OPS, five home runs, 25 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 35 runs scored in his first 59 major-league games across 247 plate appearances before injuring his finger. When Griffin returns, he will play regularly at shortstop to close out the 2026 campaign. Fantasy managers looking for power/speed upside at the 6 need to stash Griffin ASAP. He is currently rostered in 68% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Sports Illustrated - Dominic Campbell

Aug 31, 2026, 1:54 PM ET

The Baltimore Orioles are claiming outfielder Luis Robert Jr. off waivers from the New York Mets on Monday, multiple people familiar with the situation told Chelsea Janes of SNY. The Mets gave up quickly on Robert after bringing him in to be their center fielder last offseason. He has played in only 58 games in 2026 due to a lumbar spine disc herniation in his back, and he has unsurprisingly struggled to a .223/.303/.399 slash line with a .702 OPS, 10 home runs, 23 RBI, 24 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 218 plate appearances. The Orioles will pay the remaining $5 million in salary that Robert is owed this year, and they will have a $20 million team option for 2027 that comes with a $2 million buyout. The buyout is more likely for the 29-year-old Cuban slugger unless he turns things around drastically in the final month of the regular season in Baltimore. Robert had 38 home runs, 80 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in 2023 with the Chicago White Sox, but that is the only season since debuting in 2020 in which he has capitalized on his power/speed potential. He is currently rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: SNY - Chelsea Janes

Aug 31, 2026, 1:36 PM ET

The Boston Red Sox are pushing right-hander Sonny Gray's next start to Saturday in Baltimore against the division-rival Orioles to give him nine days of rest, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. It takes away a potential two-start week for his fantasy managers. Gray is not dealing with anything physically, but the BoSox want to give their ace a little extra breather with the final month of the regular season coming. The 36-year-old veteran has been excellent in 2026 in his first year in Beantown, going 16-4 with a 2.82 ERA (3.54 FIP) and 1.18 WHIP with 128 strikeouts and 37 walks in 143 2/3 innings pitched across 25 starts. His 16 wins lead the league. Gray stumbled to end the month of July, allowing nine earned runs in his last two starts of the month against the Toronto Blue Jays and Athletics, but he turned it around in August, going 3-2 with a 2.40 ERA (3.28 FIP) with seven walks and 30 strikeouts in 30 innings over five starts. Saturday will be Gray's first outing against the O's, a team that is middle of the pack in OPS but with the fourth-most strikeouts in the league. Gray should be in all starting fantasy lineups this weekend.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey

Aug 31, 2026, 1:29 PM ET

St. Louis Cardinals rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (wrist), who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday with right-wrist discomfort, will meet with a specialist to have his wrist examined in Arizona early this week, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The 23-year-old left-handed-hitting infielder has been bothered by wrist issues for the last month, which helps explain why he hit .200 (19-for-95) with a .595 OPS, one homer, four doubles, seven RBI, 19 runs scored, two stolen bases, 15 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 25 games in August. Since the All-Star break, Wetherholt has hit just .201 (31-for-154) with a .618 OPS, four home runs, four doubles, 12 RBI, 30 runs scored, five steals, 23 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 40 games. The former first-rounder from West Virginia University hit .259/.356/.399 with a .755 OPS, 13 homers, 36 RBI, 58 runs, and nine stolen bases in 90 games in the first half of his first MLB season. Fantasy managers now have to be concerned that Wetherholt might not make it back for the final month of the regular season in September.--Keith Hernandez
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold

Aug 31, 2026, 1:19 PM ET

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (knee) will be activated from the 10-day injured list before Monday's series opener at home against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Francys Romero. Marte is expected to serve as the designated hitter against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola, and he will address his teammates before the game. He failed to show up at Fenway Park on Aug. 17 against the Boston Red Sox, with his teammates and the D-backs' coaching staff left in the dark as to why he did not show up. Arizona placed Marte on the restricted list before he and his agent sat down with general manager Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo to explain that he left the team to have an MRI exam on his left knee. "We're playing good baseball right now," Lovullo said. "We need to keep playing good baseball. I think an apology would galvanize this group. He doesn't know how powerful that would be if he did something like that." The 32-year-old switch-hitting Dominican will return to a .249/.314/.446 slash line with 21 homers, 67 RBI, 65 runs scored, and four steals in 469 at-bats in 2026. Marte is typically a must-start in fantasy, but he has hit just .224 (22-for-98) with a .712 OPS, four homers, four doubles, 13 RBI, 14 runs scored, 12 walks, and 20 strikeouts in 26 games since the All-Star break.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Francys Romero