RADIO
Cam Smith Seeing it Well in August, Homers Twice Against Padres
Houston Astros outfielder Cam Smith kept his strong start to the month of August going in Friday's 6-3 win over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, three runs scored, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .222 and his OPS to .686. Both of Smith's home runs on the night were of the solo variety, with his first one coming in the second inning off lefty starter Robbie Ray, and his second coming in the sixth frame off lefty reliever Yuki Matsui. It was Smith's second multi-homer performance of the 2026 season. The 23-year-old former 14th overall pick in 2024 from Florida State University has lowered his strikeout rate to 24.1% in his second MLB season, but the results haven't really followed. On the bright side, Smith is now up to 15 home runs on the year, and he is now 10-for-20 with two home runs, a double, four RBI, and five runs scored in a small sample size of six games to begin August. Fantasy managers desperate for some power in deeper leagues might want to look Smith's way if he stays hot this month. He's rostered in just 9% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Michael Soroka Expected to Return on Monday
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Michael Soroka (glute) threw four innings and 57 pitches for Triple-A Reno in a minor-league rehab game on Aug. 4, and he's expected to come off the 10-day injured list to start on Monday, Aug. 10, against the division-rival Colorado Rockies at home, according to MLB.com. Soroka has been sidelined since June 20 with a left-glute strain, but now that he's on the verge of a return, fantasy managers looking for rotation help should look his way. If the 29-year-old Canadian can return to his pre-injury form from this year, he'll be a real asset down the stretch for fantasy managers. In his 15 starts (82 innings pitched) in his first year in the desert, Soroka went 8-3 with a 3.07 ERA (2.92 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with 79 strikeouts and 17 walks for the Snakes. In back-to-back starts against the Rockies (one at home, one on the road) on May 17 and May 22, Soroka allowed only three earned runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out 10 in 11 2/3 innings with one win. He'll be very tempting in starting fantasy lineups in his return to start next week in Arizona against Colorado.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Angel Martinez Drives in Six, Heating Up in August
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez nearly accounted for all of the team's runs in their 8-2 victory on the road on Friday night against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. Martinez went 2-for-5 at the plate with a grand slam, a career-high six RBI, and a strikeout. The 24-year-old had a two-run single in the first inning and then hit a grand slam in the fifth inning. Martinez struggled upon his return from the injured list in July, going hitless in 19 plate appearances with no walks and four strikeouts in six games played. The 24-year-old Dominican switch-hitter has flipped a switch so far in August, though, going 7-for-20 (.350) with a homer, two doubles, nine RBI, and three runs scored in six games played. Martinez is now batting .231/.266/.424 on the season with a career-best .690 OPS, 12 home runs, 42 RBI, 31 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 78 games and 284 plate appearances in his third year in the majors with Cleveland. He has a modest strikeout rate of 22.5%, but he has walked a career-low 2.8% of the time in 2026. If Martinez stays hot, he's worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues, and he's rostered in under 10% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Pitching Prospect Tanner McDougal Getting the Call From the White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Tanner McDougal from Triple-A Charlotte, according to The Athletic's James Fegan. McDougal earned his first big-league call-up after going 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 44:21 K:BB in 36 2/3 innings pitched across 17 appearances (six starts) with High-A Winston-Salem and Charlotte. The 23-year-old began his pro career as a starter, but he has since been moved to a relief role after suffering a forearm injury last month. Like left-handed prospect Hagen Smith, who is also being called up from Charlotte, McDougal will most likely work in a relief role in his first taste of the big leagues, limiting his fantasy baseball value to deep dynasty/keeper leagues as a stash. McDougal, a former fifth-rounder in 2021, posted a 2.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with Charlotte, but he has surrendered six runs in 8 2/3 frames down on the farm since returning from his forearm injury. Smith is the much better prospect stash with more starting-pitching upside in the long-term.
Source: The Athletic - James Fegan
Source: The Athletic - James Fegan
White Sox Calling Up Top Pitching Prospect Hagen Smith to the Majors
The Chicago White Sox are calling up left-handed pitching prospect Hagen Smith from Triple-A Charlotte, according to James Fegan of The Athletic. Smith, who is considered the team's No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline, will get the call for the first time after going 1-6 with a 4.32 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 87:40 K:BB in 58 1/3 innings pitched across 20 appearances (14 starts) at Triple-A Charlotte in 2026. The White Sox moved Smith to the bullpen last month, and since then, he's been much more effective, giving up just one run while striking out 10 in 6 1/3 innings pitched. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound southpaw, who was a former fifth overall pick in 2024 from the University of Arkansas, has a bright future, but for the rest of the year in the majors, he's expected to pitch in a relief role for the Pale Hose. That means that fantasy managers in redraft leagues can most likely ignore Smith off the waiver wire. He's currently rostered in only 2% of Yahoo leagues. Smith has mostly relied on a fastball/slider combination, and he may need to develop a strong third pitch to have long-term upside as a starter in the big leagues.
Source: The Athletic - James Fegan
Source: The Athletic - James Fegan
Adley Rutschman to Begin a Rehab Assignment on Saturday
Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (wrist) will start a minor-league rehab assignment on Saturday, according to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. Rutschman has been on the 10-day injured list since July 20 due to inflammation in his wrist, but now that he's on the verge of a rehab assignment, the 28-year-old switch-hitting backstop could be in line to make his debut with Boston at some point next week, barring a setback. Once he's back in the big leagues, the former first overall pick from Oregon State University will be the Red Sox's starting catcher as they look to stay hot and earn a berth in the playoffs. Boston gave up quite the prospect haul to acquire Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, so they are banking on him returning to the form he had in Baltimore in his first couple of years in the majors. Rutschman has been an injury disappointment the last two seasons, and he has hit .251/.331/.433 with a .764 OPS, eight home runs, 47 RBI, and 30 runs scored in 67 games and 284 plate appearances in 2026. He's rostered in 70% of Yahoo leagues after fading since the start of the 2025 season.
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Payton Tolle Dominant Against A's, Strikes Out 14 Batters
Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle was absolutely dominant in Friday night's 13-1 beatdown of the Athletics at Fenway Park and flirted with a perfect game early on. Tolle allowed just one earned run on two hits (one homer) while walking none and fanning a career-high 14 batters in six innings of work to pick up his seventh win of the season and lower his ERA to 3.20. Tolle's perfect-game bid was ended in the fifth inning when he allowed a solo home run to Tyler Soderstrom, but that was all the 23-year-old southpaw would allow. He had his swing-and-miss stuff going, as he generated 24 swings and misses on just 84 pitches. It was Tolle's second straight quality start. Tolle will face the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays for the third time this year in his next scheduled outing. It will be a challenge for him to earn a third straight quality start, as he's allowed seven runs (five earned) with a walk and seven strikeouts in 11 innings against the Rays in his previous two starts against them in 2025. After Friday's strong start, Tolle has a nice 3.20 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP in his 107 innings pitched over 19 starts in his first full year in the majors.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Zebby Matthews Exits with Foot Issue
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews (foot) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's outing against the Milwaukee Brewers. Matthews came out to warm up for the sixth inning, but was taken out shortly after that. It has been announced that Matthews was pulled from this game due to a blister on his right foot. Before leaving, Matthews allowed three earned runs on seven hits while striking out four batters across five innings of work. For now, Matthews is lined up to start against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should monitor his status over the next few days. He could be a deep league streaming option if he's available to pitch versus the O's.
Source: Dan Hayes
Source: Dan Hayes
Carson Benge Removed with Wrist Injury
New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge (wrist) was removed early during Friday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Benge appeared to have suffered a wrist injury while making a sliding catch in the third inning. The Mets pulled him after that, and he exited the game with left wrist soreness. Before leaving the game, Benge was 2-for-2 at the plate with two singles, two RBI, and one stolen base. The assumption is that he'll head for imaging to determine the severity of the injury. Fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked to see Benge absent from Saturday's lineup. For now, he should be considered day-to-day until more information is revealed. UPDATE: The New York Daily News' Abbey Mastracco reports that X-rays on Benge's left wrist came back negative.
Source: Abbey Mastracco
Source: Abbey Mastracco
Athletics Fire General Manager David Forst
The Athletics have fired general manager David Forst on Friday, according to Ken Rosenthal. They've decided to mutually part ways with Forst, who had an expiring contract that ended after 2026. The A's have named Dan Feinstein as the interim general manager while the team begins a search for a new GM. Forst was hired by the A's as a scout in 2000 and worked alongside Billy Beane as the assistant GM in 2004. Forst put together an exciting young ballclub that surprised people last season. Unfortunately, the A's weren't able to capture the same magic in 2026. Many of the young stars are struggling, and only the Colorado Rockies have a worse ERA in the league. It's unclear if the poor performance this season led to Forst's exit or if they planned to move on anyway as they creep closer to their eventual home in Las Vegas.
Source: Ken Rosenthal
Source: Ken Rosenthal
Luis Perales Could Make Big-League Debut Soon
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Luis Perales could be nearing his big league debut, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. The 23-year-old came over in a trade with the Boston Red Sox this past offseason. He struggled to begin the season in Triple-A Rochester, but has pitched much better lately. Over his last eight starts, Perales owns a 2.79 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 41/25 K/BB ratio across nearly 40 innings of work. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Nats give some of their younger arms a chance if they fade from playoff contention down the stretch of the season. Perales is someone deep league managers should keep an eye on right now.
Source: The Athletic
Source: The Athletic
Max Meyer to be Evaluated Next Week
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Max Meyer (neck) appears to be making progress after being sidelined since late July. According to Christina De Nicola, Meyer will have his neck re-evaluated next week. The right-hander has been out for weeks due to a neck strain. Once he's cleared to throw, it's going to take time for Meyer to ramp up again. This season, Meyer owns a 2.68 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 121/41 K/BB ratio across 20 starts. He earned the first All-Star selection of his career with his outstanding pitching in the first half of the season. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Meyer and be hopeful for his return in the coming weeks.
Source: Christian De Nicola
Source: Christian De Nicola
Blake Snell to Return From Injured List on Tuesday
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (elbow) will come off the 60-day injured list to start on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals, manager Dave Roberts told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. It will be Snell's second start for the Dodgers this year after opening the year with shoulder trouble and then needing surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. The 33-year-old southpaw has looked good in four minor-league rehab games, posting a 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 19:5 K:BB in 11 2/3 innings, although he only made it through 3 2/3 innings in his final start in the minors. The two-time Cy Young winner will get a plus matchup against the Royals in his return to the big-league mound next week, but with a likely short leash as the Dodgers ease him back into their rotation, Snell will carry extra risk for fantasy managers with a limited ceiling. Snell still has high-end strikeout upside for fantasy purposes, but he's made just 12 regular-season starts in his two years in L.A. due to shoulder and elbow injuries. He's currently rostered in 85% of Yahoo leagues. If he's available in your leagues, snatch him up immediately, as he could be a difference-maker for strikeouts to close out the season.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Matt Chapman Expected to Have Season-Ending Surgery Next Week
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (hernia) is flying to Philadelphia to see a specialist on Sunday and expects to have season-ending surgery next Tuesday, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports. Chapman is dealing with a hernia that he had been playing through for most of the season. The 33-year-old veteran can now be dropped in all redraft fantasy leagues, if he wasn't already. The injury helps explain Chapman's disappointing third season in the Bay Area, as he'll finish the 2026 campaign (his 10th in the big leagues) with a .235/.324/.368 slash line, a career-low .692 OPS, a career-low seven home runs, 42 RBI, and 35 runs scored in 84 games across 352 plate appearances. With Casey Schmitt also done for the year due to a knee injury, Christian Koss now has a runway for the rest of the season to serve as the Giants' starting third baseman. Chapman could bounce back in 2027 with better health, but at this point in his career, he won't necessarily be a lock to return to the 20-homer mark, especially at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Freddie Freeman Returns From Wrist Injury on Friday
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (wrist) is back at first base and is hitting third for the Dodgers in Friday's series opener on the road in Arizona against the division-rival Diamondbacks and right-hander Merrill Kelly, according to MLB.com. Freeman was pulled from Wednesday's series finale against the Chicago Cubs after injuring his hand/wrist at Wrigley Field, but thankfully, X-rays came back negative, and he will return on Friday without missing a game following L.A.'s scheduled day off on Thursday. Fantasy managers in all traditional formats will want to get Freeman back into their starting lineups for Friday's tilt in the desert, especially since Freeman has hit .333 with a 1.112 OPS, two home runs, and three RBI in 30 career at-bats against Kelly. The 36-year-old is hitting over .300 on the season with 15 home runs and is in the midst of a 15-game hitting streak in which he has gone 27-for-58 (.466) with four doubles, three RBI, five runs scored, and two stolen bases in 60 plate appearances.
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
