Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been one of the best and most consistent pitchers in baseball again in 2026, even after a heavy postseason workload last fall to help the Dodgers win their second straight World Series title over the Toronto Blue Jays. Yamamoto took a tough-luck loss on Thursday night against the Atlanta Braves, allowing just a solo home run and four hits while walking one and striking out eight in 6 1/3 innings for his eighth loss of the year. The only run the 28-year-old Japanese hurler allowed was a solo home run to catcher Drake Baldwin on the first pitch of the game. The reigning World Series MVP was otherwise dominant, generating 20 swings and misses for his third straight quality start. Yamamoto is now 12-8 with a 2.56 ERA (3.26 FIP) and 0.89 WHIP with 153 strikeouts and 36 walks in 158 innings across 24 starts in his third MLB season. Since the All-Star break, he has not allowed more than two earned runs in an outing for a 1.90 ERA with 11 walks and 47 strikeouts in 47 1/3 frames across his seven starts. It will be interesting to see how Yamamoto holds up as we get closer to the postseason, but right now, his heavy workload from last year doesn't appear to be affecting him at all.

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MLB.com's Anthony DiComo writes that New York Mets right-handed pitching prospect Jonah Tong, who is ranked as the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, could supplant Robert Stock in the major-league rotation if he pitches well this weekend at Triple-A Syracuse. "I think we'll continue to keep an eye on him, continue to watch, continue to see how he performs," interim manager Andy Green said. "Definitely somebody that we think highly of and will be excited when the time comes." The 36-year-old Stock does not factor into the Mets' future plans in a meaningful way. Mets officials want to make sure that when Tong returns to the majors for the third time, he is well-prepared to stick around. When Tong was called up earlier in 2026, he had a 5.68 ERA at Syracuse. He had a 3.60 ERA in three appearances with the Mets in May and early June, but he was shaky on the mound. The 23-year-old Canadian has expanded his arsenal this year and has added a cutter to the mix. In his last six minor-league starts, Tong has a 2.48 ERA while holding opponents to a .198 average. If he returns to the majors, Tong will be a risky fantasy option because of his inconsistent control -- he has issued 15 free passes in a 29-inning stretch in his last six starts at Syracuse.

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Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (finger) is unlikely to return from the 60-day injured list before the team's series opener on Friday against the division-rival New York Yankees, according to Tommy Cassell. Anthony is still at Triple-A Worcester on Friday and could continue his minor-league rehab assignment through the weekend. If Anthony remains with the WooSox through the weekend, he could come off the IL for Monday's series opener at Fenway Park against the Seattle Mariners. Fantasy managers have been patient all year long, as the former top outfield prospect has been out since early May due to a partially torn tendon in his right ring finger. The good news is that the left-handed power/speed threat is on the verge of a return to the big leagues, and he has gone 7-for-23 at the plate with two home runs in seven rehab games on the farm. Although the 22-year-old was hitting just .229 (25-for-109) with a homer, five RBI, and 12 runs scored in 109 at-bats this year before his injury, he should be picked up off the waiver wire everywhere that he is available. Anthony is currently rostered in just under 80% of Yahoo leagues.

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Athletics starting pitcher Jacob Lopez has been extremely sharp on the mound over the last month or so. Since July 10, Lopez has a 2.23 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 48:13 K:BB ratio across eight starts. During that span, Lopez has allowed two earned runs or fewer in every start. Lopez was strong during his last outing with nine strikeouts against the Houston Astros on August 22. He'll take the mound versus the Baltimore Orioles in hitter-friendly Sacramento on Friday. It's not an ideal matchup for Lopez, but he has been pitching too well on the mound to be ignored right now.

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New York Yankees infielder George Lombard Jr. came into the league swinging a hot bat, but has cooled down recently. Over the last week, Lombard is slashing .179/.207/.250 with zero home runs and one RBI. Despite a bit of a slump, Lombard's overall numbers remain fairly solid right now. The rookie infielder is slashing .264/.316/.389 with two homers and six RBI. His little slump has caused him to lose some traction in fantasy leagues. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried right now and should continue to hold Lombard through this slump. His overall upside is too good to warrant dropping him over a week slump.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Edward Cabrera (finger) will resume his throwing program on Saturday, according to Bruce Levine. Cabrera has been sidelined since the middle of August due to a finger blister. When healthy, Cabrera has struggled this season with a 5.68 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and a 67/32 K/BB ratio across 15 starts with the Cubs. Given his durability issues and lack of success as a starter, the Cubs plan to bring Cabrera back as a reliever for the rest of the season. He shouldn't need a long rehab assignment if he's coming back as a relief pitcher. His fantasy value will be limited unless he's going to pitch in a high-leverage role, which is unlikely.

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Chicago Cubs infielder/outfielder Matt Shaw (hand) was activated off the 10-day Injured List ahead of Friday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Shaw has been out of action since late June due to a sprained left hand. He was hitting the ball well during his rehab assignment and appears ready to make an impact in Chicago again. It's unclear how Shaw is going to fit into the puzzle down the stretch of the season. Pedro Ramirez is playing very well, so it'll be tough for Shaw to cut into his playing time. Through 56 games, Shaw is slashing .246/.322/.415 with four home runs, 20 RBI, and four steals. Given he probably won't have a full-time role, Shaw is only worth considering in deep leagues. In a corresponding move, outfielder Kevin Alcantara was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.

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Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez has been posting unbelievable numbers at the plate this season. Through 132 games, Alvarez is slashing .319/.434/.609 with a league-leading 36 home runs and 91 RBI. His overall power numbers have declined lately, with only one long ball over the last month. Fantasy managers are hopeful that his power comes back soon, with the fantasy playoffs quickly approaching. Despite a lack of homers in August, Alvarez is still the MVP favorite in the American League and remains a great source of production in basically every other category right now.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez turned heads with a record-setting major-league debut on Aug. 15 against the division-rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, going 3-for-4 at the plate with three home runs and five RBI. But since that day, he has gone 4-for-41 (.098) with a homer, a double, four RBI, three runs scored, two stolen bases, three walks, and 20 strikeouts in 12 games for the Red Birds. St. Louis' No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, should still be on the waiver-wire radar in fantasy baseball leagues, though, for his power/speed upside to close out the 2026 season. The 23-year-old former second-rounder hit .256/.328/.573 with a .901 OPS, 34 home runs, 90 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 79 runs scored in his 103 games at Triple-A Memphis this year before his call-up. Baez can struggle to make contact at times, but his power/speed upside should not be ignored for fantasy managers looking for power production in the outfield to close things out. It has been far from perfect early on, but Baez is still the Cardinals' right fielder of the future.

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The Seattle Mariners called up their top pitching prospect last weekend in left-hander Kade Anderson, and he nearly recorded a quality start in his major-league debut against the Chicago Cubs, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits (two homers) while walking two and striking out five in 5 2/3 innings pitched last Saturday. The 22-year-old southpaw, who is ranked as Seattle's top overall prospect at MLB Pipeline, threw four shutout innings last Saturday before allowing two solo home runs in the sixth frame. MLB Pipeline also has Anderson ranked as the top left-handed pitching prospect in all of baseball after the former third overall pick from LSU went 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, and 135:13 K:BB in 93 1/3 innings across 18 starts at Double-A Arkansas this year before getting the call to the Show. Anderson, who is already rostered in nearly 60% of Yahoo leagues, can absolutely be a difference-maker for fantasy pitching staffs in the final month of the regular season in December, and he will have a plus second matchup as a member of the M's this weekend in Toronto against the Blue Jays. Scoop him up now if you need starting pitching help.

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Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters is somehow rostered in only 31% of Yahoo leagues, despite homering in each of his last five games. During his five-game homer span, Peters has gone 10-for-18 (.556) with five home runs, two doubles, nine RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base. The Canadian outfielder is now slashing .282/.346/.475 on the season with an .821 OPS, 12 home runs, 52 RBI, 53 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in his 358 at-bats in his first year with the Pale Hose and his first full season in the majors. He debuted in 2025 with the Tampa Bay Rays but played in just four games. Even if Peters regresses in the final month of the season (he is sporting a .255 expected batting average and .315 xwOBA), the left-handed slugger should no longer be ignored while he's white-hot at the plate for Chicago. Peters has hit .349 (22-for-63) with a 1.169 OPS, six homers, six doubles, 14 RBI, 13 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 23 games in August, but he's hitting .159 (7-for-44) with only one of his 12 homers on the year against southpaws.

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Braves' SP Chris Sale recorded 11 strikeouts in 9 innings collecting the win in a 1-0 win over the Dodgers on Thursday, Aug. 27.

Kansas City's RF Jac Caglianone had six RBIs going 5-for-6 with a home run in a 13-2 win over Toronto on Thursday, Aug. 27.

Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone recently missed a few games with ankle soreness, but he is back now and just had a monster performance offensively in Thursday night's 13-2 blowout win on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays. Caglianone carried the Royals' offense, going 5-for-6 at the plate with a home run, a double, a career-high six RBI, three runs scored, and a strikeout to raise his season batting average to .282 and his OPS to .832 in his first full year in the majors. The five hits by Cags were also a career high to boost his overall season line to .282/.332/.500 with 23 home runs, 66 RBI, and six stolen bases in 479 plate appearances. The former first-rounder and two-way player from the University of Florida has come into his own in 2026 after a slow start at the plate, and he should now be rostered in all fantasy baseball leagues. Caglianone has been one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball in August, coming into Thursday's big game with a .382/.405/.658 slash line and a 1.063 OPS, five home runs, six doubles, 20 RBI, 12 runs scored, and three steals in 20 games played. Scoop him up immediately if he is available in your league.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio had one of his best games of the season in Thursday night's 8-2 win over the hosting New York Mets at Citi Field, going 4-for-5 at the plate with two two-run home runs and four runs scored to boost his season average to .283 and his OPS to .822. He added a stolen base for good measure. The 22-year-old Venezuelan outfielder has missed some time due to injury in 2026, but otherwise he has been as advertised for fantasy managers, slashing .283/.345/.477 with 19 home runs, 54 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases across his 447 plate appearances. Chourio is having one of his better months in August, as he came into Thursday's big game with a .287/.380/.460 slash line with an .840 OPS, four home runs, three doubles, eight RBI, 12 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 23 games played in the month. It was his first round-tripper since Aug. 9 against the Minnesota Twins. Chourio remains a must-start in all fantasy baseball leagues and will be looking to stay hot going into the start of a weekend series on Friday at home against the Texas Rangers.

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Post-game X-rays on Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena's left hand were negative, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Pena was hit on the knuckle of both his pinkie and ring finger with a 96 mph fastball from New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole in the top of the third inning on Friday night in the team's 5-1 win in the Bronx. Pena actually stayed in the game and went 1-for-4 at the plate with his 16th home run of the season, two RBI, and two strikeouts out of the leadoff spot for Houston. Fantasy managers should consider Pena day-to-day. Check back on Friday to see if the Astros give him a day off in the series opener in Queens against the New York Mets. The 28-year-old Dominican has been beat up by various injuries in 2026, but when active, he's been a solid fantasy shortstop, as he entered Thursday's tilt with a .283/.335/.471 slash line, .806 OPS, 15 homers, 43 RBI, 63 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across his 392 at-bats in his fifth year in the majors. Pena has now gone deep in two of his last three games.

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Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso has been on another level at the plate recently. Over the last week, Alonso is slashing .429/.448/.893 with four home runs and 10 RBI. It's not just a one-week wonder as Alonso owns a 1.343 OPS over the last 14 days. The 31-year-old is making a statement during his first season with the Orioles. Across 133 games, Alonso is slashing .276/.365/.516 with 32 home runs, a league-leading 91 RBI, and five steals. He has been unbelievable during their current series against the St. Louis Cardinals with two homers and six RBI during the first two games. Fantasy managers need to ride with Alonso and hope he keeps up this pace during the fantasy playoffs.

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Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez has not been able to put it together at the plate this season. Fantasy managers have stayed hopeful that Rodriguez would figure it out, but it hasn't happened yet. Over the last two weeks, Rodriguez is 10-for-57 with one home run, four RBI, and two stolen bases. The three-time All-Star still has 20 homers and 17 steals, which is good, but fantasy managers expect more out of Rodriguez. The 25-year-old still has a month left in the regular season to turn it around and help his team make the postseason. At this point, fantasy managers can't really do anything but stick with Rodriguez and hope things turn around.

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Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been nearly impossible to get out at the plate lately. Over the last two weeks, Witt is slashing .327/.450/.551 with three home runs and six RBI. His hot play stretches longer than that as Witt owns a .930 OPS over the last 30 days. It is well known that Witt is one of the best players in baseball, but now he's really showing it. Witt has been limited to 115 games due to injury, but he has been incredible when healthy. This season, Witt is slashing .288/.366/458 with 16 home runs, 48 RBI, and 35 steals during his fifth season in Kansas City. Witt is obviously a must-start in all fantasy formats.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski (forearm) is gearing up to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. According to David Vassegh, Wrobleski will head to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin a rehab assignment this weekend. Wrobleski had a throwing session on Wednesday and appears ready to get back on the mound now. It seems possible that Wrobleski rejoins the Dodgers roster after one rehab outing. He has been on the Injured List since August 16 due to left forearm inflammation. He could be back on the Dodgers roster by early September, but his fantasy value will be limited if he goes to the bullpen.

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