RADIO
Adley Rutschman Out for Second Straight Day on Wednesday
Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (elbow) will sit out for a second straight game on Wednesday versus the Miami Marlins, per MLB.com. Connor Wong will do the catching for right-hander Sonny Gray and will hit ninth for the BoSox against Marlins right-hander Ryan Gusto. Rutschman's elbow injury is not considered serious after he hyperextended his arm on a swing in the series opener in Miami on Monday. Boston has a scheduled day off on Thursday, so Rutschman could be back in the starting nine for Friday's big series opener against the division-rival New York Yankees. The 28-year-old switch-hitting backstop, who was the first overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 out of Oregon State, has been unable to get into a groove in 2026 and has been set back by injuries along the way. He enters Wednesday's action with a .236/.320/.406 slash line with only nine home runs, 51 RBI, and 33 runs scored in 79 games and 331 plate appearances. Since joining the Red Sox at the trade deadline on Aug. 3, Rutschman has gone 6-for-41 (.146) with a homer, a double, four RBI, three runs scored, six walks, and 12 strikeouts. Boston is banking on the three-time All-Star eventually turning things around at the plate.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Juan Soto Facing Live Pitching on Wednesday
New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (calf) is facing a live pitcher at Citi Field on Wednesday, according to Chelsea Janes of SNY. Janes has heard that Sept. 1 could be a loose target for Soto's return from the 10-day injured list. If Soto is facing live pitching, his return might not be far off after missing the last month with a Grade 2 strain of his left calf, the second time he has gone on the IL this year with a calf issue (his other calf strain was to his right leg). The way things are trending, the All-Star left-handed slugger could come off the IL and rejoin the Mets' starting lineup without going on a minor-league injured list, much like how it went down in the first half of the season. The 27-year-old Dominican remains a must-start in all fantasy baseball leagues when he is healthy, as he has slashed .283/.408/.539 with a .947 OPS, 21 home runs, 52 RBI, 46 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 84 games across 359 plate appearances in 2026 in his second year in Queens. Soto last played for the Mets back on July 24 and was hitting just .218 (12-for-55) with an .842 OPS, four home runs, 13 RBI, eight runs, a stolen base, 18 walks, and 13 strikeouts in 17 games in July.
Source: SNY - Chelsea Janes
Source: SNY - Chelsea Janes
Chase DeLauter Continues to Sit With Hamstring Injury
Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter (hamstring) will miss a third straight game on Wednesday on the road against the Los Angeles Angels, according to MLB.com. Jo Adell is starting in right field and will bat cleanup for the Guards against his old team and right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. DeLauter is not believed to be dealing with an injury serious enough to send him to the 10-day injured list, and with a scheduled day off for the team coming on Thursday, he could be back in the starting nine for Friday's series opener at home against the division-rival Kansas City Royals. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is rostered in just under 70% of Yahoo leagues as we near the end of August after hitting .287/.362/.449 with an .811 OPS, 13 home runs, 59 RBI, 52 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in his first 414 big-league at-bats. DeLauter has hit a cool .313 (36-for-115) with two homers, 13 RBI, and six steals in the second half and an impressive .349 (46-for-132) with two of his 13 dingers against left-handed pitchers. Check back on Friday to see if he has been cleared to rejoin Cleveland's starting lineup.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Nick Pivetta Goes Three Innings at Single-A in Latest Rehab Outing
San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta (forearm) restarted his minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday at Single-A Lake Elsinore and allowed three earned runs on four hits (two homers) while walking one and striking out four in three innings of work. It was Pivetta's second rehab start after suffering a setback in his first outing with Lake Elsinore three weeks ago. His results in his return were not exactly great, but the good news is he avoided another setback with a right-forearm injury that has limited him to only four starts in 2026. The Padres are still holding out hope that the 33-year-old Canadian veteran can join their starting rotation at the big-league level for the stretch run in September, but he's running out of time to make a significant fantasy impact, and he will likely need at least a couple of more rehab starts before he's activated from the 60-day injured list. The 10-year MLB veteran went 13-5 in 2025 in his first year in SD with a career-best 2.87 ERA (3.49 FIP) and 0.98 WHIP with a career-high 190 strikeouts and 50 walks in his 31 starts. Pivetta is still being held in 65% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Elmer Rodriguez to Make the Start for Yankees on Wednesday
The New York Yankees officially announced that right-handed pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez will start on Wednesday against the Houston Astros, according to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network. The 23-year-old Puerto Rican will be making his fifth major-league start after going 8-3 this season with a 2.59 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 99:46 K:BB in 97 1/3 innings pitched across 19 starts at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Rodriguez hasn't been as good in his four starts for the Yankees earlier this year in the majors, though, allowing nine earned runs on 19 hits (one homer) while walking 11 and striking out 10 in 17 innings pitched in starts against the Texas Rangers (twice), New York Mets, and Cincinnati Reds. The 6-foot-4, 177-pounder primarily features a fastball/slider combination while also featuring a curveball and changeup. Because he is long and lanky, Rodriguez has had issues with his control and command in the past in the minors, and it has resurfaced in a small sample size at the big-league level. The team's No. 3 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline, might be given another start beyond Wednesday, but he will be a very risky starter for fantasy purposes.
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Michael Forret Best Left on Waiver Wires Late in Season
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Michael Forret has found the going tough with Triple-A Norfolk since he was traded to Baltimore from the Tampa Bay Rays. Forret has three appearances and two starts for Norfolk with an 0-1 record, 7.36 ERA, and 1.91 WHIP. He was tried most recently in a non-start in which he still went five innings, allowing two earned runs. He really struggled mightily with eight earned runs in his previous five-inning start for Norfolk. Forret was solid for Triple-A Durham prior to the trade with a 1-2 record and 4.89 ERA in nine starts. He was excellent at Double-A Montgomery this season with a 6-0 record and 2.15 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings. Baltimore was hoping to see that form but hasn't quite yet. He's the No. 10 prospect for Baltimore and may need some more seasoning before his MLB debut.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Jonathon Long Could Be Sneaky Late-Season Stash Candidate
Miami Marlins first base/outfield prospect Jonathon Long has played 16 games with Triple-A Jacksonville after being traded over from the Chicago Cubs. Long has managed one homer and seven RBI while hitting .260 to go with 16 runs for his new club. With Triple-A Iowa before his trade, Long was hitting .283 with 12 homers and 62 RBI to go with 67 runs in 99 games. Long slots in as the No. 19 prospect with Miami but could see some time with the Marlins when rosters expand. The path to the majors has gotten clearer for Long since the trade deadline, and he could get a September shot with the Marlins, which would have been unlikely with the Cubs. Long has a 50-grade hit tool and 50-grade power. He could be a sneaky late-season addition to fantasy rosters.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Cam Cannarella Not Proving He's Major-League-Ready Yet
In 27 games with Triple-A Jacksonville, Miami Marlins outfield prospect Cam Cannarella has one homer and five RBI in 99 at bats with a .273 batting average. The numbers in his most recent promotion to Triple-A are decent but nothing special meaning the Marlins will likely need to see more before promoting Cannarella to Miami. Cannarella has split time between three minor league teams this season, combining to hit 13 homers with 50 RBI with a .332 batting average. The No. 6 prospect in the Marlins' system, Cannarella would appear to be a ways away from a major-league promotion. He just arrived at Triple-A as a 22-year-old and will likely need to prove more at the plate than he already has. He is a risky addition in redraft leagues and is looking more like a dynasty league play at this point.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Red-Hot Ralphy Velazquez Has League-Winning Upside
For fantasy managers looking to close out their season on a high note, there may not be a better September option than Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez. At Triple-A Columbus, Velazquez is coming off a three-homer game on Saturday and has been scorching hot at the plate in August, making a September call-up very likely when rosters expand. Cleveland's No. 2 overall prospect has 14 homers and 27 RBI in 70 August at-bats with a .371 batting average. Given a 60-grade for power, the left-handed swinging first base prospect could be a big boost to the Cleveland lineup as well as fantasy managers who take a shot and add him ahead of the promotion news. Velazquez has hit all season long between Double-A Akron and Columbus with 27 homers and 81 RBI while hitting a combined .293. He is looking like a potential league-winning waiver-wire addition.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Cooper Ingle Can Be Left On the Waiver Wire Amid Triple-A Struggles
Cleveland Guardians catcher prospect Cooper Ingle has slowed down his hitting in the month of August at Triple-A Columbus and is therefore not a high-priority stash candidate. Ingle has hit two homers in 61 August at bats with nine RBI and a .230 batting average. The catcher and outfielder already received a shot at playing in Cleveland this season. In 21 major-league at-bats, Ingle had two hits and two RBI and struck out 12 times. In all with Columbus this season, Ingle is hitting .303 with 18 homers and 61 RBI. The Guardians are currently using a catching tandem of Austin Hedges and Patrick Bailey at the big league level so it will be difficult for Ingle to make it back to the majors. Ingle can be left on the waiver wire in redraft leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Bo Davidson Has Skills To Back Up a Big-League Promotion
San Francisco Giants outfield prospect Bo Davidson is having a nice month of August at Triple-A Sacramento. In 79 at-bats, he has six homers and 23 RBI while hitting .342. All in all, Davidson has been called up for 34 games with Sacramento and is hitting .296 with six homers and 27 RBI. In 73 games at Double-A Richmond, Davidson hit 19 homers with 53 RBI while hitting .277. He has shown the ability to hit for power since his promotion to Triple-A and is hoping for one more promotion to the big leagues. The left-handed hitter is the No. 8 prospect in the Giants' system. At 24 years old, Davidson has 55-grade power and 55-grade speed with a 50-grade hit tool. At 24, Davidson seems ready for a major-league shot and has the skills to back up a promotion to the big leagues. Fantasy managers will want to pay close attention.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Lawrence Butler an Intriguing Waiver-Wire Target
Across 414 plate appearances in 2026, Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler is hitting .227/.320/.365 with 11 home runs, 40 RBI, 51 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. While the 26-year-old's season-long numbers don't jump off the page, Butler's current hot streak should have him back on the radar of fantasy managers. Across 95 plate appearances in August, Butler is hitting .294 with five home runs, 12 RBI, 13 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Butler has shown an ability to be an above-average power/speed threat in the past, logging 43 home runs and 40 stolen bases across his first two full big-league seasons in 2024 and 2025. He's also made some slight improvements in his plate approach in 2026, upping his walk rate to a career-best 11.8% and lowering his strikeout rate to a more manageable 25.6%. Between his second-half resurgence and his hitter-friendly home environment in Sacramento, Butler profiles as a potential difference-maker to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Griffin Conine Emerging as a High-End Power Source
Miami Marlins outfielder/first baseman Griffin Conine's 2026 season got off to a rough start, as he suffered a hamstring injury in early April that required surgery and sidelined him for over two months. However, the 29-year-old has quietly put together a very strong season since returning to the Marlins lineup in late June. Across 217 plate appearances on the year, Conine is slashing .259/.355/.513 with 14 home runs, 31 RBI, 30 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The lefty masher has struck out in 30.3% of his plate appearances and has hit just .190 with zero home runs against left-handed pitching, both of which limit his upside. However, his 15.3% barrel rate and 53.3% hard-hit rate both support his high-end power production. For fantasy managers searching for power on the waiver wire, Conine profiles as an under-the-radar target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zac Thornton Remains a High-End Starting Pitcher Streamer
New York Mets starting pitcher Zac Thornton put together another solid outing in his team's 3-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, allowing one earned run while striking out four across six innings of work. The 24-year-old is in the midst of an impressive rookie season, as he's recorded a 3-4 record with a 2.88 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts across 56 1/3 innings (10 starts). Thornton is averaging just 91.9 miles per hour on his fastball and has posted just a 17.9% strikeout rate, limiting his high-end fantasy upside. Still, the crafty lefty limits free passes (6.3% walk rate), and his ability to pitch to contact has allowed him to work deep into games. He's allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine out of his 10 appearances and has already logged six quality starts. As a matchup-dependent streamer, Thornton offers clear appeal on the waiver wire for deep-league fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Henry Bolte a High-End Speed Source to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 341 plate appearances since making his MLB debut in mid-May, Athletics outfielder Henry Bolte is hitting .276/.351/.379 with six home runs, 26 RBI, 37 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. The 23-year-old has established himself as the A's everyday center fielder and has now batted in the leadoff spot in his team's lineup in 10 out of his last 11 games. Bolte's elevated 27.6% strikeout rate is a potential red flag in his profile. However, he's logged a stellar 47.4% hard-hit rate and has logged a 63.3% ground ball rate. His tendency to hit the ball on the ground limits his power upside, but when combined with his speed, it should allow him to continue producing an elite batting average on balls in play. Bolte's BABIP across 488 minor league plate appearances in 2025 was .407, and he's logged a .379 BABIP in the big leagues in 2026. For fantasy managers in need of speed, runs scored, and some batting average, Bolte offers clear waiver wire appeal.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
