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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Saturday’s lineup advice | 10-day hitting forecaster
August 2: What you need to know for Saturday
Todd Zola: There are 11 afternoon affairs on Saturday’s docket, beginning at 1:10 p.m. ET with the Los Angeles Dodgers visiting the Tampa Bay Rays. The game features the return of former Rays starter Blake Snell who has not toed a major league rubber since early April. The veteran lefty has been sidelined with left shoulder inflammation. Snell tossed 76 pitches over 4 2/3 shutout innings in his final rehab appearance, but he’s still likely to be somewhat limited, at least in his first couple of starts coming off the 60-day IL.
The first of the four evening contests is the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Over 85,000 spectators are expected to be in attendance to watch the Cincinnati Reds host the Atlanta Braves. The dimensions of the venue almost match the Great American Ballpark, but there is less foul territory and placement of the playing area in the infield of the racing oval may skew depth perception and the batter’s eye, so the park may not play as hitter friendly as the Reds’ home digs.
Last night, Jeremy Pena returned from 10-day IL after missing over a month with a fractured rib, but he had to leave last night’s contest in the 10th inning with hamstring cramps. If Pena is forced to miss more time, Ramon Urias is the likely replacement, though it’s unclear whether the Houston Astros would slide newly acquired Carlos Correa to shortstop, or leave him at third and use Urias at shortstop.
The Toronto Blue Jays placed George Springer on the 7-day injured list as he’s experiencing concussion symptoms after being hit in the head by a pitch last Monday. Springer’s roster spot was filled with the club activating Daulton Varsho from the 10-day IL Varsho missed the last two months with a hamstring injury. He started in center field and was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his return.
The lockers of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were both cleared out yesterday, seemingly indicating that the Cleveland Guardians will be without both pitchers for the duration of the season. Each is on non-disciplinary paid leave through August 31 while undergoing MLB’s sports-betting investigation.
It didn’t take long to get a feel for how San Diego Padres manager will nurse a late-inning lead as he summoned newly acquired Mason Miller in the eighth inning with the club leading the St. Louis Cardinals by three runs. Miller yielded two hits but recorded the hold while Robert Suarez saved his league-leading 31st game. This isn’t necessarily a permanent arrangement, but it assuaged the assumption that Miller would take over as the Padres primary closer.
Needing a starter with Landen Roupp on the 10-day IL with elbow inflammation, the San Francisco Giants selected Kai-Wei Teng from Triple-A Sacramento and will give him the ball for today’s road date with the New York Mets. Teng began the season in the bullpen but was stretched out to start in July. He posted a 3.67 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, but that was mostly as a reliever and he’s 26-years-old, so he was mostly facing batters two or three years his junior.
August 1: What you need to know for Friday
Todd Zola: Early game alert: The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves have a quick turnaround after their extra-inning affair last night as they’ll reconvene at Great American Ballpark at 12:40 p.m. ET. The matinee allows the clubs to head to Bristol, Tennessee, in order to get ready for Saturday’s MLB Speedway Classic. The Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles will get together at 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field for the traditional Friday afternoon contest that takes place when the Cubs are home for the weekend. The remaining 13 games are evening tilts, starting with a pair at 6:45 p.m. ET.
Be sure to check out all the reaction to the many MLB trade deadline deals as Eric Karabell and Tristan H. Cockcroft share their fantasy spin on the most relevant moves of the past few days.
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired OF Brandon Lockridge from the San Diego Padres yesterday, ostensibly to replace Jackson Chourio, who is probably headed for the 10-day IL due to a sore hamstring. Lockridge is a “glove first” player, so don’t expect him to help make up for Chourio’s .310/.357/.521 production over his past 59 games. It will be interesting to learn whether the club plays Christian Yelich in the outfield, clearing the DH spot for Danny Jansen. Yelich has needed his glove just 12 times this season, compared to his 90 games spent as the Brewers’ DH.
The Tampa Bay Rays reinforced their pitching at the deadline but lost one of their key hitters yesterday afternoon when Jonathan Aranda injured his wrist applying a tag to Giancarlo Stanton at first base. Initial X-rays were negative, though Aranda is scheduled for more tests, with the expectation he’ll miss multiple weeks. Yandy Diaz, a candidate to replace Aranda at first base, also left yesterday’s game early after he was hit by a pitch in the forearm. The incident occurred in his first at-bat, but Diaz stayed in the game until the fourth inning. His status for today is unclear.
Josh Jung missed last night’s game due to a sore calf. The Texas Rangers don’t consider the injury to be serious, though they may keep Jung on the bench for another game or two. Josh Smith will likely slide across the diamond to handle the hot corner while Rowdy Tellez takes over at first base.
Garrett Crochet was initially ticketed to start tonight’s series opener with the Houston Astros visiting Fenway Park, but the Boston Red Sox are giving their ace some extended rest. The lefty will return to action early next week. Cooper Criswell is a candidate for a spot start.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are also scrambling after Merrill Kelly was shipped to the Rangers. Kelly was slated to take the hill tonight in Sacramento against the Athletics. The Diamondbacks could deploy a parade of relievers while they shuffle their rotation.
July 31: What you need to know for Thursday
Todd Zola: Welcome to trade deadline day! There has already been a flurry of activity with the expectation of more moves coming, right up to the 6 p.m. ET cutoff. If this is like past seasons, reports of late deals will trickle in for a few extra minutes. Eric Karabell and Tristan H. Cockcroft have you covered with fantasy reactions to key MLB trade deadline deals, which will be updated all day as trades are reported.
On the field, there are only three games, beginning with an AL East showdown between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays in the Bronx at 1:05 p.m. ET. Following the deadline, the Cincinnati Reds host the Atlanta Braves and the Seattle Mariners entertain the Texas Rangers under the lights.
Yankees closer Devin Williams has appeared three times over the past four days, including the past two. The heavier-than-usual workload may have contributed to his failing to convert a save for only the second time this season, although the club picked him up with an extra-innings win over the Rays. Williams is almost assuredly going to be unavailable Thursday. Luke Weaver and Tim Hill have also pitched a lot of late, but neither is coming off consecutive outings.
Brandon Lowe returned to the Rays lineup Wednesday night, collecting a pair of hits and an RBI in the 5-4, 11-inning loss to the Yankees. Lowe should be in his customary 2-hole for Thursday’s matchup against Marcus Stroman.
With the Reds having acquired Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Noelvi Marte will work into the outfield rotation, at a minimum starting against left-handed pitching. He’s batting .257/.312/.471 since being recalled in early July. Marte’s defense at third base is well below average. Meanwhile, Hayes is one of the best defenders at the hot corner.
Ronald Acuna Jr.’s injury was initially deemed to be right Achilles inflammation, but imaging revealed a Grade 1 lower calf strain. The Braves hope to have him back by mid-to-late August.
Though not yet finalized as of this writing, a deal appears to be imminent for Eugenio Suarez to join the Mariners. It’s unclear if he’ll arrive in time to be in the Seattle lineup Thursday night, but if he does, he’ll be immediately inserted at third base, pushing Ben Williamson to a utility role. Suarez manned the position for the Mariners in 2022 and 2023. He’ll be throwing across the diamond to a familiar face in 1B Josh Naylor (who was also acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this month).
