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Brice Turang Missing Second Straight Game With Knee Injury
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (knee) will miss a second straight game against the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday due to pain in his left knee, according to MLB.com. David Hamilton is making another start at the keystone and will hit eighth against Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Turang's knee issue could eventually turn into an injured-list situation, but for now, the Brewers are considering him day-to-day. Fantasy managers should check back to see if he's in the starting nine for Game 3 of the series in L.A. on Saturday night. The 26-year-old has been one of the most consistent offensive producers at the second base position in fantasy for the second straight season in 2026, slashing .268/.360/.450 with an .810 OPS, 16 long balls, 16 stolen bases, 76 RBI, and 74 runs scored in his 451 at-bats for the first-place Brewers. Turang's knee injury could be plaguing him in 12 August games, though, as he's hit .245 (12-for-49) with no homers, three doubles, eight RBI, three runs, and a steal.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Willy Adames Out With Back Injury Against Rockies
San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames (back) is not in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Colorado Rockies due to a back injury, per MLB.com. Christian Koss will start at the 6 and will bat ninth against Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland. Adames has been bothered by a back injury for a bit now, with an MRI exam showing a lower-back strain. For now, the 30-year-old veteran will avoid a trip to the injured list, but if Adames cannot return during the weekend series against Colorado, the Gigantes might be forced to deactivate him. The Dominican shortstop is in danger of breaking his two-year streak of 30-plus-homer seasons in his second year in the Bay Area. Adames is currently slashing just .224/.285/.413 with a career-worst .697 OPS, 19 home runs, 48 RBI, 59 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 116 games across 485 plate appearances. He continues to struggle to hit for average and has gone 8-for-38 (.211) with just one homer, a double, three RBI, three runs scored, one steal, seven walks, and 10 strikeouts in 11 games so far in August. Check back on Saturday to see if he's back on the field for San Fran.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Salvador Perez Not Ready to Return on Friday
Kansas City Royals catcher/first baseman Salvador Perez (elbow) remains out of action for Friday's series opener on the road against the Los Angeles Angels, according to MLB.com. Carter Jensen is doing the catching for right-hander Seth Lugo and is batting leadoff against Angels right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. Perez was pulled early from Wednesday's contest, and he's not ready to return just yet despite having a scheduled day off on Thursday. The 36-year-old Venezuelan veteran still has some power with 16 home runs on the year, but he comes into Friday's action hitting just .216 (94-for-436) with a 3.8% walk rate in his 473 plate appearances. The 15-year veteran and nine-time All-Star should be considered day-to-day, but fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if his elbow injury turns into a stint on the injured list. Perez has gone 8-for-35 (.229) with a single homer, two doubles, seven RBI, two runs scored, one walk, and two strikeouts in 10 games so far in August. His offensive decline has become very real after hitting 30 homers and driving in 100 runs just last year.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Taylor Ward Out Again With Quad Injury on Friday
Seattle Mariners outfielder Taylor Ward (quadriceps) will miss a second straight game due to quad tightness on Friday on the road against the division-rival Houston Astros, per MLB.com. Dominic Canzone is starting in right field and batting third, Victor Robles is in center and hitting eighth, and Julio Rodriguez will be the designated hitter and bat cleanup against Astros right-hander Peter Lambert. Ward's fantasy stock is falling fast. The 32-year-old veteran has been a massive disappointment in 2026 after hitting a career-high 36 home runs and driving in 103 runs in 157 games with the Los Angeles Angels a year ago. In 111 games with the Baltimore Orioles before being dealt to the M's at the trade deadline earlier this month, Ward hit just .246 (101-for-410) with seven home runs and 30 RBI in 506 plate appearances. He's gone 5-for-32 (.156) with zero homers, no walks, and six strikeouts in his first eight games with Seattle and is now nursing an injury. There's little hope for a turnaround for Ward to close out the year at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
CJ Abrams to Make the Transition to Second Base
The Washington Nationals announced on Friday that shortstop CJ Abrams is going to start making the transition to second base for the rest of the 2026 season, with Nasim Nunez becoming the team's primary shortstop, according to Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com. The Nationals broached the subject with Abrams around a week ago, and he was on board with it. Abrams is at the 6 and is hitting leadoff for Friday's contest against the division-rival New York Mets, but the Nats will slowly begin to transition him over to the keystone. The 25-year-old has not played second base since he was with the San Diego Padres back in 2022. While the move will improve Washington's middle-infield defense, it will also make him more attractive in fantasy with both second base and shortstop eligibility for the 2027 season. The former sixth overall pick in 2019 is having his best year in the big leagues in his fourth full season in D.C., as he enters Friday's action with a .284/.357/.541 slash line, .898 OPS, a career-high 29 home runs, a league-leading 91 RBI, 23 stolen bases, and 76 runs scored in 119 games across 512 plate appearances.
Source: NatsJournal.com - Mark Zuckerman
Source: NatsJournal.com - Mark Zuckerman
Jose Altuve Returns From Foot Injury on Friday
Houston Astros second baseman/outfielder Jose Altuve (foot) is starting at second base and batting fifth on Friday for the series opener at Daikin Park against the division-rival Seattle Mariners and right-hander George Kirby, per MLB.com. Altuve fouled a ball off his left foot on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants and was held out of the series finale on Wednesday as a result. Tests came back negative, though, and Altuve is back in action on Friday after a scheduled day off on Thursday. The 36-year-old Venezuelan veteran and nine-time All-Star will return to face a pitcher that he is pretty familiar with. Altuve has faced Kirby 24 times in his career and is hitting .208 against him with a .488 OPS and just one RBI. Fantasy managers are hoping he can continue his strong month of August in which he has gone 11-for-34 (.324) with an .841 OPS, a homer, a double, five RBI, and five runs scored in only 10 games played. Overall, the former MVP has shown his age in 2026, slashing a mediocre .240/.304/.391 with 13 homers, 35 RBI, 54 runs, and only two steals in 96 total games played in his 16th year in the majors.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cardinals Promote Top Outfield Prospect Joshua Baez to Major Leagues
According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the St. Louis Cardinals are promoting top outfield prospect Joshua Baez to the major leagues. Baez has enjoyed a dominant showing at the Triple-A level and is finally being rewarded with a promotion to The Show. Baez has spent the entire 2026 season at the Triple-A level, where he has flashed elite power and speed upside. Across 103 games with the Memphis Redbirds, the No. 44-ranked prospect in the sport (per MLB.com) has held a .256/.328/.573 line with 22 doubles, 34 home runs, and 21 stolen bases. Last summer, Baez hit just 20 home runs but swiped 54 bags over 117 games shared between High-A and Double-A. While his hefty 29.6% K% could translate to some going pains in the majors, his five-category profile makes him a top waiver wire target across all formats ahead of his debut.
Source: Jim Bowden
Source: Jim Bowden
Edward Cabrera to Rejoin Cubs' Rotation on Sunday Against Cardinals
Chicago Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera (hamstring) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start on Sunday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field, manager Craig Counsell told Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. Cabrera will return to Chicago's rotation for the first time since suffering a strained hamstring in late June. Although he struck out 15 and walked just one batter in his nine innings over three minor-league rehab starts, fantasy managers have every right to be hesitant to trust the 28-year-old Dominican hurler now that he's on the verge of returning to the big leagues. Cabrera has been inconsistent in 2026 in his first year with the Cubbies, going 5-4 with a 5.10 ERA (5.04 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP with 65 strikeouts and 29 walks in 72 1/3 frames over his 14 starts. He only threw 65 pitches in his last rehab outing, too, so we'd recommend avoiding him in his first start back this Sunday versus St. Louis. With Cabrera returning, left-hander David Peterson is now a candidate to shift back to the bullpen.
Source: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
Source: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
Oneil Cruz Won't Rejoin the Pirates on Friday Night
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (hand) is expected to continue his minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona on Friday night, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Cruz will not be joining the Pirates for their series opener against the Boston Red Sox. It's unclear if the Pirates will consider activating Cruz from the 60-day injured list for the remainder of the weekend series against the BoSox. Through four rehab games so far at Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, the left-handed slugger has gone 2-for-13 at the plate with six strikeouts and three walks. He probably won't return to the big-league roster until he plays in back-to-back games in center field, so fantasy managers should probably not expect him back in Pittsburgh until at least early next week. The five-category contributor has been sidelined since the middle of June with a fractured hand, but he should remain stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues with the potential to be a difference-maker in the final month of the regular season. The 27-year-old Dominican was hitting .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 homers, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 45 runs in 250 at-bats before his hand injury in 2026.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Joshua Baez Continues to Slug His Way to Major-League Call-Up
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez has done nothing but hit for power all year long at Triple-A Memphis and he is hoping it leads soon to an MLB debut. At Memphis, Baez has 34 homers and 90 RBI with 79 runs scored and 21 steals while hitting .256. Not many players in the minors can boast 30-plus homers and 20-plus stolen bases. The power-speed combination is elite and the Cardinals seem to have an opening in the outfield outside regulars Jordan Walker and Nathan Church. Baez is the No. 3 prospect for the Cardinals and has 60-grade power with a 50-grade hit tool and 50-grade speed. At 23 years old, Baez is primed to make his MLB debut this season and it would be wise for fantasy managers to stock up on Baez shares in redraft leagues as he could be a game-changer late in the season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Josue Briceno Hoping There is One More Promotion For Him Coming Soon
Detroit Tigers catcher/first base prospect Josue Briceno was promoted to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on August 11 and is hoping he can play his way to a promotion to the Tigers big league club. Briceno is coming back from a right wrist injury that sidelined him for much of this season and has played for four different levels of the minors this season, combining to hit nine homers and 25 RBI in 104 at bats with 18 runs scored while hitting .279. In just three games with the Mud Hens, Briceno already has three RBI and is hitting 3-for-11. The left-handed hitter is the No. 5 prospect for the Tigers and is blessed with 60-grade power. At the big-league level, the Tigers are well stocked at the catcher position with Dillon Dingler and Eduardo Valencia with Spencer Torkelson manning first base. It's looking like 2027 might be a more likely timeline for Briceno to join the Tigers.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Jonah Tong Hopes Improved Results Lead to Spot in Mets' Rotation
New York Mets pitching prospect Jonah Tong tossed four innings of one-run ball in his last start for Triple-A Syracuse but got a no-decision after walking four batters and giving up four hits and striking out six. Other than a start before his most recent one when he gave up five earned runs, Tong has actually been quite good for Syracuse and could be looked at to make another appearance for the big-league club before the season ends. For the Mets this season, Tong pitched three relief appearances and recorded a 1-1 record after allowing four earned runs in 10 innings pitched. Tong is the No. 5 prospect for the Mets and boasts a 60-grade fastball-changeup combination. The right-hander has pitched in a starting role at Syracuse this year and is trying to get back into the Mets' rotation before the end of the season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Bo Davidson Has Power-Speed Potential For Future Fantasy Teams
San Francisco Giants outfield prospect Bo Davidson has had a nice age-24 season between Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento. Between the two minor league levels, Davidson has 21 homers and 67 RBI while hitting .267 with 61 runs scored and 18 stolen bases. Davidson is the No. 8 prospect for San Francisco and has 55-grade power and speed with a 50-grade hit tool. He has shown five-category ability in the minors and looks to be a future balanced contributor for fantasy purposes. However, will the Giants promote Davidson at the end of this year or have him start next season with the big-league club? With only 24 games played at the Triple-A level, the Giants could take a cautious approach and wait until next year to unveil Davidson and his power-speed combination.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Charlie Condon Still Waiting for MLB Call-Up
Colorado Rockies first base/outfield prospect Charlie Condon will have to wait longer for his MLB debut after the Rockies chose to promote his Triple-A Albuquerque teammate Zac Veen. But Condon is no less worthy of a promotion after a dominant season at Albuquerque with 22 homers and 73 RBI with 85 runs scored while hitting .276. Condon is ranked No. 3 overall in the Rockies system and is graded out with a 55-grade hit tool and 55-grade power. The 23-year-old is a former No. 3 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Georgia and looks very much ready to take on major-league pitching. Condon could soon join Veen on the Rockies' big-league roster. He is still a must-stash and could be a difference-maker down the stretch for fantasy managers in redraft leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Kade Anderson Has Clearer Path to Majors Amid Big-League Struggles
Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Kade Anderson has a lights-out resume this season at Double-A Arkansas, and it turns out that with Bryce Miller struggling in Seattle, he now has a clearer path to a spot in the big-league rotation. Anderson is 10-1 at Arkansas with a 1.13 ERA and 0.65 WHIP with 128 strikeouts in 87 2/3 innings pitched. The video-game-like numbers are impressive, and at age 22, Anderson has done everything in his power to prove he is major-league ready. The only question mark is the fact that he has yet to pitch at Triple-A and prove himself at the last stop before the MLB. However, the Mariners' top prospect looks more and more ready each time he pitches, and in his last outing he gave up three hits and no walks in 5 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts on the way to a win. Now is the time to stash Anderson in redraft leagues, as his time looks like it's coming soon.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
