Everything that happens in and around MLB has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy baseball perspective. From lineup changes to minor league call-ups to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy baseball.
Our fantasy baseball buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around MLB.
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August 17: What you need to know for Sunday
Todd Zola: Festivities get underway early with an 11:35 a.m. ET first pitch in Nationals Park with the Washington Nationals hosting the Philadelphia Phillies. The game features Aaron Nola’s return after missing almost three months with ankle and rib issues.
The slate concludes with the New York Mets squaring off with the Seattle Mariners in the 2025 Little League Classic. The Mets will serve as the home team for the 7:10 p.m. matchup in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
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The Phillies announced that NL Cy Young candidate Zack Wheeler was placed on the 15-day IL with blood clots in his throwing shoulder. It’s uncertain how long the right-hander will be out. Wheeler’s status will be clarified once he begins treatment. With Nola back, the club was planning on going with a six-man rotation but will revert to the standard five-man setup.
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Vinnie Pasquantino left last night’s game with an illness due to the heat in Missouri. His availability when the Kansas City Royals go for the sweep over the Chicago White Sox this afternoon is unclear.
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According to Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough, Kyle Stowers will miss multiple weeks with a Grade 1 left side strain. The outfielder has been a revelation, batting .288/.368/.544 through the first three-quarters of the season.
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Cody Bellinger missed yesterday’s game as he was under the weather. His availability for today’s weekend finale with the New York Yankees visiting the St. Louis Cardinals is unclear. The Yankees won the first two games of the interleague set despite playing shorthanded with Paul Goldschmidt out for the past three games with minor strain in his right knee. His status for today is also uncertain.
Aug. 16: What you need to know for Saturday
Chicago Cubs taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, unlike Friday, when the remaining 14 games were played under the lights, four more matinees follow, with the final 10 games being evening affairs.
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Ronald Acuna Jr. was activated from the 10-day IL before Friday night’s game. He was 0-for-3 with a walk in the Atlanta Braves’ 2-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians.
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Jhoan Duran was carted off the field last night after he was hit in the ankle by a comebacker. The Philadelphia Phillies closer hadn’t pitched since last Sunday, so he was brought in for a non-save appearance with the club holding a 6-2 lead over the Washington Nationals. Initial X-rays were negative. If Duran is forced to miss action, Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm and perhaps David Roberston will share save duties.
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Matt Chapman is back on the 10-day IL, this time with right hand inflammation. He has played only 96 games after missing time with an injury to the same hand earlier in the season. It’s not known whether the current issue is related to previous hand strain that cost Chapman 23 games from June 10 through July. Casey Schmitt is earmarked to slide to third base, with Christian Koss replacing Schmitt at second.
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Max Muncy is another return visitor to the injured list as he’s sidelined with a right oblique strain. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated that Muncy will be out for an extended period but that the club expects him to return in September. Alex Freeland is expected to move from the keystone to the hot corner, with Miguel Rojas handling second base.
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Brendan Donovan has been dealing with an injured foot, which also caused him to injure his groin while compensating for the discomfort. He missed Friday night’s game and could be held out the rest of the weekend set when the St. Louis Cardinals host the New York Yankees.
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The Toronto Blue Jays expect to have George Springer back in the lineup for today’s afternoon home tilt with the Texas Rangers. Springer cleared concussion protocol earlier in the week and has been rehabbing with Triple-A Buffalo.
Aug. 15: What you need to know for Friday
Chicago Cubs are home this weekend, which means today’s action gets underway at 2:20 p.m. ET in Wrigley Field, with the Pittsburgh Pirates visiting the North Side.
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The Tampa Bay Rays made a move to give their sputtering offense a jolt by calling up Robert Seymour from Triple-A Durham. The 26-year-old first baseman is expected to be in the lineup versus right-handers. He’s hit .263/.327/.553 in the minors, though his 25.7% strikeout rate is high, especially when considering «age to level.» Seymour will likely make his MLB debut tonight when the Rays visit the San Francisco Giants.
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For the Giants, RHP Landon Roupp is slated to start after completing a rehab assignment for right elbow inflammation. However, he’ll be on a pitch count after tossing just 50 pitches in his last outing with Triple-A Sacramento.
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Michael King was originally scheduled to start tonight when the San Diego Padres visited the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a key NL West series, but the right-hander is back on the IL. Last Saturday, King returned from a shoulder that had sidelined him since mid-May. However, he injured his knee during the two-inning stint. The Padres called up Randy Vasquez to take King’s spot in the rotation. It’s unclear whether Vasquez will be deployed as a traditional starter this evening, or if he’ll merely handle bulk innings.
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Owen Caissie made his MLB debut last night, going 0-for-4 in the Cubs’ 2-1 road loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Caissie served as the DH with Seiya Suzuki starting the game on the bench. Suzuki’s OPS was .904 at the end of May, but he’s posted only a .744 mark since then. Caissie can also play corner outfield, but is likely to garner most of his action at DH. He’s not expected to take over full time.
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The Washington Nationals designated Nathaniel Lowe for assignment. The club needed a roster spot to activate Dylan Crews, so they cut bait with Lowe and his disappointing .216/.292/.373 production. Lowe had recorded a .274/.359/.432 line over four seasons with the Texas Rangers before they traded him to the Nationals in the off-season. Lowe will likely be claimed off waivers with the hopes he can recapture his earlier success.
Aug. 14: What you need to know for Thursday
Baltimore Orioles taking on the Seattle Mariners in the rubber game of a three-game set. There’s one more matinee, followed by five evening affairs.
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Luis Castillo was initially slated to start today for the Mariners, but manager Dan Wilson moved Logan Evans up a day to give Castillo extra rest. The move also sets up Bryce Miller to replace Evans in the rotation next week. Miller logged what is likely his final rehab start last night, throwing 76 pitches over 5 2/3 innings.
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The Chicago Cubs will reportedly promote Owen Caissie from Triple-A Iowa in advance of today’s road date with the Toronto Blue Jays. Caissie is one of the club’s top prospects. He earned the callup with a .291/.391/.567 line in 92 games on the farm. Caissie played most of his games in right field but can also handle left field as well as DH. It’s unclear where the Cubs will use the 23-year-old lefty swinger with Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki blocking him.
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The Washington Nationals announced that Dylan Crews will be activated from the 60-day IL before tonight’s home tilt with the Philadelphia Phillies. He has missed almost three months due to a strained oblique. Crews was batting only .196/.266/.354 when he was hurt on May 20. The 23-year-old outfielder played 12 rehab games with Triple-A Rochester, posting a .256/.326/.436 line. He’ll likely take over as the regular right fielder, reducing the playing time of Daylen Lile and Robert Hassell III.
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Kyle Karros has started all six games at third base since being called up by the Colorado Rockies last Friday. He’s batting .333/.417/.476 and he’s yet to make his Coors Field debut (slated for tomorrow night). The club recently promoted Warming Bernabel, another third baseman, though he’s settled in at first base. Bernabel’s line over 16 games is an impressive .313/.323/.578. The Rockies are pacing towards 118 losses, but at least they’ll get a good look at what could be their future corner infielders.
