August 15, 2025
San Francisco Giants third baseman
Matt Chapman (hand) is not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays at Oracle Park.
Casey Schmitt will draw another start at third base for the Gigantes and will hit fifth versus Rays right-hander
Joe Boyle.
Christian Koss will play second and hit seventh. It will be the second straight missed game for Chapman, who was forced to the injured list earlier this year with a hand injury. However, the 32-year-old veteran could be available off the bench on Friday night, which means he could very well return to the diamond for Game 2 of the series in the Bay Area on Saturday. Chapman remains excellent on defense, but he's been a bit of a disappointment offensively in his second year with SF, slashing .229/.337/.423 with 16 home runs, 44 RBI, 53 runs and seven stolen bases in 96 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August
15,
2025
Los
Angeles
Dodgers
third
baseman
Max
Muncy
(side)
remains
absent
from
the
team's
starting
lineup
for
the
start
of
a
critical
divisional
series
in
L.A.
against
the
visiting
San
Diego
Padres
on
Friday.
Muncy
was
scratched
read more...
August 15, 2025
Washington Nationals outfielder
Dylan Crews wasted little time to make an impact in his first game back in nearly three months. On Thursday, the former first overall pick went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a 1:1 K:BB during their contest against the Philadelphia Phillies. Crews has been held out of action since May due to an oblique strain. Before the injury, the LSU product was off to a slow start at the plate, as he posted an underwhelming .196/.266/.354 line with two doubles, one triple, and a 48:11 K:BB. Despite his low batting average, Crews hit seven home runs and swiped an eye-catching 11 bags in just 45 games. During his MLB debut in 2024, Crews stole 12 bases in a 31-game stint. Given his ability to steal bases at a high level and potential to hit for power, Crews remains a solid No. 5 outfielder with upside in all category leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
August 15, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals infielder
Brendan Donovan (foot) has been scratched from the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting New York Yankees at Busch Stadium because of lingering foot pain, according to MLB.com's John Denton. Denton writes that it's an injury that caused Donovan's recent groin soreness. Manager Oliver Marmol thinks it could be a multi-day injury for Donovan but doesn't think it will require him to go on the injured list. Although the 28-year-old is day-to-day for now, this seems like something that could eventually require an IL stint if he can't play by the end of the weekend. The German native was an All-Star for the first time this year, but he's struggled in August, going 7-for-34 (.206) with a double, three RBI and five strikeouts in nine games. Since the All-Star break, he's hit .203 (16-for-79).
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - John Denton
August 15, 2025
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that shortstop
Jeremy Pena (illness) is "under the weather" and getting some tests done, which is why he's out of the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Baltimore Orioles at Daikin Park.
Mauricio Dubon will man the 6 and will hit eighth against Orioles right-hander
Brandon Young. Pena will most likely return to the field for Game 2 of the series on Saturday, but fantay managers will want to check back then. The 27-year-old Dominican is having one of his finest seasons in the big leagues with a .318/.373/.492 slash line, .865 OPS, 13 homers, 45 RBI, 52 runs and 17 steals in 362 at-bats. Pena is also hitting .289 (13-for-45) with two homers, two doubles, a triple, five RBI and two steals in 11 games in August. Dubon is a light-hitting utility man that has never faced Young in his career. Avoid him for DFS.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
August 15, 2025
Athletics outfield prospect
Colby Thomas will get another start in center field on Friday evening when the Athletics face the Los Angeles Angels. Thomas has begun to heat up at the plate, and the team is rewarding their former third-round pick with more opportunities. Over his last five games, Thomas has been swinging a hot bat, going 5-for-13 with a double, a home run, and five RBI. During this stretch, Thomas has started in three of his last four games and appears to be carving out a role in center field. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his playing time. Earlier this season, Thomas flashed upside power upside at Triple-A Las Vegas, launching 18 home runs with a .903 OPS through 81 contests. This evening, he will face Los Angeles southpaw
Yusei Kikuchi and will bat in the cleanup spot.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
August 15, 2025
Washington Nationals third base prospect
Brady House will hit the bench on Friday evening when the Nationals face the Philadelphia Phillies. Since the start of August, the top-100 prospect has been a bit of a slump at the plate. Since August 1, House has held a .200/.216/.229 line with only one extra-base hit and a hefty 32.4% K rate. However, House was very productive in July, so fantasy managers should not be overly concerned with his production. In July, House posted a strong .270/.276/.392 line with three doubles and two home runs. While he has struggled to draw walks at the MLB level, holding a 45:5 K:BB through his first 43 games in D.C., he is worth keeping on your bench in deeper formats. Earlier in the season, House was one of the most productive hitters at Triple-A, carrying a .304/.353/.519 line. This evening,
Paul DeJong will get the nod at the hot corner.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
August 15, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks first base prospect
Tyler Locklear has begun to find his footing in the major leagues. The Mariners shipped Locklear as the headline piece in the deal to acquire third baseman
Eugenio Suarez at the trade deadline. Locklear has covered first base since moving to the desert as the Diamondbacks also shipped
Josh Naylor to the Mariners in an earlier trade. During his first eight games serving as a full-time player, Locklear held a low .148/.303/.259 line with just four total hits. However, over his last five games, Lockear has tallied five total hits. Prior to his recent two-game skid, Locklear carried a three-game hitting streak. Earlier in the season at Triple-A, he held a .316 AVG with a strong .943 OPS. He could become a viable corner infielder in standard leauges if he continues to turn the corner.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
August 15, 2025
The Colorado Rockies have activated shortstop prospect
Ryan Ritter (finger) from the 10-day injured list before their contest on Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ritter has been sidelined since July 19. In a corresponding move, the Rockies sent fellow young infielder
Adael Amador to Triple-A. Through his first 31 games in Colorado before his injury, Ritter held a solid .238/.291/.347 line with a home run and a stolen base. At Triple-A this season, Ritter flashed immense upside. Through 55 games with the Albuquerque Isotopes, Ritter posted a stellar .303/.405/.610 slash line with 13 doubles, 16 home runs, and three stolen bases. Fantasy managers should expect Ritter to continue to see most of his time at the keystone with occasional starts at shortstop.
--Andy SmithSource: Colorado Rockies
August 15, 2025
Seattle Mariners first baseman
Josh Naylor (illness) is under the weather and will not play in Friday's series opener at Citi Field against the New York Mets. With Naylor out,
Donovan Solano will start at first base and bat seventh against Mets left-hander
Sean Manaea. Catcher
Mitch Garver is the designatd hitter and is batting sixth. There's a good chance that Naylor will be back in the lineup for Game 2 of the series on Saturday, so fantasy managers will want to check back then. The 28-year-old Naylor has continued to hit well after being traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks last month, as he's gone 19-for-65 (.292) with four home runs, 10 RBI, 11 runs scored and 11 stolen bases in his first 18 games with the M's. Solano could be a worthwhile DFS sleeper on Friday with a career .300 average in 10 at-bats versus Manaea.
--Keith HernandezSource: Seattle Times - Tim Booth
August 15, 2025
The Milwaukee Brewers are promoting third base prospect
Tyler Black to the major leagues. In a corresponding move, the Brewers are placing outfielder
Isaac Collins on the paternity list and outfielder
Blake Perkins on the bereavement list. Black had a brief stint in the majors earlier this season and posted a .333 AVG across six PAs. He made his MLB debut during the 2024 campaign, where he appeared in 18 games. During this stint, Black held a modest .204/.316/.245 line with two doubles, three stolen bases, and a 17:7 K:BB. Black has gotten off to a slow start at Triple-A Nashville this season, posting a low .187 AVG with a .592 OPS. Given his underwhelming production this season and lack of MLB experience, he is best left for deeper NL-only formats.
--Andy SmithSource: Milwaukee Brewers
August 15, 2025
Chicago White Sox outfielder
Mike Tauchman (shoulder) is starting in right field and will bat seventh for Friday's series opener in Kansas City against the division-rival Royals and left-hander
Noah Cameron. Tauchman did not play in Wednesday's series finale due to soreness in his right shoulder, but he's back in there to begin the weekend after a day off on Thursday. Although the 34-year-old veteran has hit a decent .277 (66-for-238) on the season, those setting DFS lineups will probably want to avoid him against a left-handed hurler. Tauchman has never faced Cameron in his career and is batting .268 (11-for-41) with three of his eight home runs on the year against left-handers. He's really struggled to this point in August, going 8-for-38 (.205) with a homer, two RBI, three runs and a 10:9 BB:K in 11 games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
August 15, 2025
The Chicago White Sox announced on Friday that they reinstated rookie infielder
Chase Meidroth (thumb) from the 10-day injured list and designated infielder
Jacob Amaya for assignment in a corresponding move. Meidroth will immediately return to the starting lineup for Friday's series opener on the road against the division-rival Kansas City Royals and left-hander
Noah Cameron, as he's playing second base and batting in the eight-hole. The 24-year-old missed only 10 days due to a bruised thumb and should return to primary duties at the keystone for the Pale Hose. Outside of some modest speed (11 stolen bases), Meidroth hasn't done much for fantasy managers in his first 84 big-league games, slashing .252/.330/.319 with three home runs, 15 RBI and 36 runs scored in 349 plate appearances. He has never faced Cameron in his career.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chicago White Sox
August 15, 2025
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that right-handed pitching prospect
Chase Burns (elbow) could only spend a couple of weeks on the 15-day injured list in a "best-case" scenario. Burns could start throwing again later this week. The 22-year-old hard-throwing hurler was scheduled to come on in relief on Wednesday, but that plan was scrapped before the game when he reported significant shoulder stiffness. However, after an MRI exam, Reds doctors think that the rookie avoided a serious injury. Burns was officially diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right elbow. There's no denying the strikeout upside -- he has 57 punchouts in his first 34 1/3 big-league innings -- but he's also gone 0-3 with a 5.24 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 13 walks in his first eight starts with the Reds. It's great news that Burns avoided a major injury, but his workload will still be restricted to close out the 2025 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC 5 Cincinnati - Charlie Clifford
August 15, 2025
Houston Astros closer
Josh Hader (shoulder) has a "left shoulder capsule strain," according to the team, and won't throw for "approximately three weeks." After that, Hader's next steps will be determined. The Astros placed the 31-year-old veteran southpaw on the 15-day injured list this week, but he won't be back when he's eligible to return and won't return to the big-league roster until September. In the meantime, right-hander
Bryan Abreu will serve as the club's primary ninth-inning option after picking up his first save of the season on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox. Losing Hader for an extended period is a tough blow for the Astros' bullpen as they try to hold off the Seattle Mariners for the lead in the American League West division. Hader has been strong once again in 2025 with a 2.05 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 28 saves and 76 K's in 52 2/3 innings pitched.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
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