Astros' SP Hunter Brown recorded 10 strikeouts in 6.2 innings with the win in a 3-1 win over the Mets on Friday, Aug. 28.

Royals' SP Michael Wacha recorded 10 strikeouts in 8 innings getting the win in a 3-0 win over Cleveland on Friday, Aug. 28.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene (hamstring) is hopeful to begin a minor league rehab assignment as early as this weekend, according to Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said on Friday that Greene is doing really well, and he should be ready for game action this weekend. Greene has been out since August 12 due to a left hamstring strain. The hope is that Greene won't require a lengthy rehab stint. The expectation is that he'll be back in the Tigers lineup by early September. Fantasy managers should check back for another update after the weekend.

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According to Daniel Kramer, Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller is temporarily being moved to the bullpen. Mariners manager Dan Wilson confirmed the news on Friday that the struggling right-hander will shift to the pen for now. Over his last eight starts, Miller is 0-6 with a horrendous 7.19 ERA. It doesn't sound like Miller is fully healthy right now, so they might move him to the Injured List if he continues to struggle. The Mariners will go with a traditional five-man rotation with Miller getting the boot. Miller will likely pitch in low-leverage spots, which won't result in much fantasy value.

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According to Mark Bowman, Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Waldrep had surgery in February to remove loose bodies from his elbow. He made three appearances for the Braves before heading to Triple-A Gwinnett. Waldrep suffered a setback with his elbow during his first outing back in the minors. It has been determined he'll require Tommy John surgery, which will likely knock him out until 2028. This is tough news for the 24-year-old, but hopefully he'll get healthy and back on the mound soon.

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According to Mark Bowman, Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a fracture in his right elbow. Schwellenbach hasn't pitched all season after he underwent a procedure to remove bone spurs earlier this spring. It sounds like the issue didn't go away, so he'll need elbow surgery to fully repair the problem. Schwellenbach hasn't pitched in 14 months, and his status for the beginning of the 2027 season is now in doubt. Schwellenbach can safely be dropped in all redraft formats now. Hopefully, the Braves will be able to get something out of Schwellenbach next season.

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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (elbow) is unlikely to get back on the mound this season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Strider has been sidelined since the middle of June due to right elbow inflammation. He has resumed throwing, but it doesn't sound like he has made enough progress to make it back to the mound this season. It's worth noting that the Braves haven't officially ruled out Strider yet, but it seems unlikely that he'll pitch again in 2026. If his season is done, Strider will finish the year with a 5.31 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 46/20 K/BB ratio across eight starts. Fantasy managers in redraft formats are probably safe to move on.

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Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (shoulder) is scheduled to undergo season-ending left-shoulder surgery on Sept. 16, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Wilson was placed on the Injured List last Friday due to shoulder soreness. It was revealed that the soreness was related to a shoulder separation he suffered earlier in the season. Wilson has elected to undergo surgery and get healthy for the 2027 season. It's a lost season for the A's anyway, so they might as well get Wilson back to full health. Across 80 games, Wilson slashed .266/.298/.388 with seven home runs, 37 RBI, and four steals. Alika Williams will likely see a majority of the playing time at shortstop down the stretch of the regular season.

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Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) threw a short bullpen session on Friday, according to The Associated Press. "I think it was like 20 pitches," manager Dave Roberts said. "I really don't know what to make of it. I didn't put eyes on it." It is unclear right now, but if the Dodgers liked what they saw, Ohtani could return to the starting rotation on Sunday for the series finale in Detroit against the Tigers. The four-time MVP has not pitched since July 3 against the division-rival San Diego Padres due to a left-knee injury. The injury has not prevented Ohtani from serving as the Dodgers' primary designated hitter, but they have been extra cautious with him as a pitcher in the second half of the season as they try to get him to 100% for the postseason. Before his knee issues cropped up, Ohtani was in the National League Cy Young conversation, going 8-2 with a 1.79 WHIP and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings pitched. Even if Ohtani is not cleared to return as a pitcher this weekend, he needs to be stashed for high-end strikeout upside in the final month of the regular season as the fantasy playoffs quickly approach.

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Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood (oblique) took a full round of batting practice on the field on Friday for the first time since landing on the 10-day injured list with a strained left oblique 3 1/2 weeks ago, according to Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com. It appears that his return to the active roster "may not be that far off." Manager Blake Butera said that Wood may not need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he is activated, suggesting that the All-Star slugger could be back in the team's lineup within the week. "We'll probably just have him get right back with us," Butera said. Wood has been ramping up his baseball activities this week and appears to be on the verge of a return, barring a setback this weekend. Getting the 23-year-old former second-rounder back in fantasy lineups for the final month of the regular season in September could be the difference-maker, as he already has 30 homers, 73 RBI, an even 100 runs scored, 17 stolen bases, and a .265/.393/.535 slash line in 437 at-bats this year. Wood will be a must-start immediately in all leagues upon his return to the Nats' roster.

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Minnesota Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll said on Friday that outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) is "still truly day-to-day" and will attempt to avoid the injured list for now, according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. Zoll also said that Buxton eventually undergoing offseason hip surgery "is definitely a potential option as we sort through everything." Buxton is not in the starting lineup for the series opener on Friday against the division-rival Chicago White Sox after aggravating his hip injury on Tuesday against the Athletics. The 32-year-old veteran had 25 home runs, 45 RBI, 57 runs scored, and seven stolen bases while slashing .271/.328/.575 with a .904 OPS in 75 games in the first half, but he has been on the injured list twice with his hip injury and has gone just 11-for-64 (.172) with zero homers, one RBI, seven walks, and 17 strikeouts in 18 games since the All-Star break. Minnesota is currently four games back of the final American League wild-card spot with four teams between them, so if they fall behind any further in the playoff race, Buxton is a prime candidate to be shut down early as he limps to the finish line of the 2026 season.

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New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried (elbow) is set to come off the 15-day injured list to start one of the doubleheader games against the division-rival Boston Red Sox, manager Aaron Boone told Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Fried will end up missing the minimum 15 days on the injured list after suffering a setback of an elbow bone bruise that kept him out for much longer earlier this season. The veteran southpaw will rejoin New York's starting rotation after throwing a four-inning live batting practice session on Monday, so he could be operating with a workload restriction on Saturday in his first game back. In his first meeting with the Red Sox back on April 22, Fried picked up his third win of the year, tossing eight shutout innings with two walks and a season-high nine strikeouts. That kind of line might be expecting a lot in his second meeting with Boston, but the 32-year-old has been solid again in 2026 when healthy, going 4-4 with a 2.81 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 79 strikeouts, and 27 walks in 86 1/3 innings across 15 starts. The three-time All-Star won a league-high 19 games last year in his first season in the Bronx and had a nice 2.86 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 189:51 K:BB in 32 regular-season starts.

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Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (shin) is starting at first base and batting third in Friday's series opener against the visiting Texas Rangers and left-hander Cody Bradford, per MLB.com. Bauers is returning to the starting lineup this weekend after missing the last three games due to shin splints. It will be a lefty-lefty matchup for Bauers, which is not ideal, but he has also hit .280 (30-for-107) with six of his 23 home runs on the year against left-handed pitchers in 2026. It has been a career year for the left-handed slugger, as he has posted a .272/.382/.501 slash line with an .884 OPS, 23 long balls, 75 RBI, 76 runs scored, and nine stolen bases across 119 games and 476 plate appearances. Bauers is a lineup regular for the first-place Brewers and should be returned to starting lineups in fantasy leagues despite facing a lefty on the mound on Friday. Bauers has never faced Bradford in his career. In 20 games in August, Bauers has gone 19-for-67 (.284) with four homers, three doubles, 12 RBI, 11 runs, and a stolen base.

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Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (hand) is starting at the 6 and batting leadoff for Friday's series opener on the road against the New York Mets and right-hander Christian Scott at Citi Field, per MLB.com. Pena was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the series finale on Thursday against the New York Yankees, but he stayed in the game and even hit a home run. After X-rays came back negative, he is back in the starting nine to kick off a series in Queens against the Mets. Fantasy managers will want to keep the 28-year-old Dominican infielder in their starting lineups. He has played in only 84 games (363 plate appearances) in 2026 due to various injuries, but Pena is slashing a strong .282/.336/.477 with an .814 OPS, 16 home runs, 44 RBI, 65 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. Although Pena has two homers in his last three games, he's batting .184 (16-for-87) with four homers, four doubles, a triple, 10 RBI, 14 runs, four walks, and 31 strikeouts in 21 games in August. He has never faced Scott in his MLB career.

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Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) is not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener at home against the division-rival Chicago White Sox, according to MLB.com. Top outfield prospect Walker Jenkins has been recalled from Triple-A St. Paul and will make his major-league debut for the Twins at Target Field, starting in center field and batting ninth against White Sox veteran right-hander Luis Castillo. Buxton was pulled from the last contest with more pain in his right hip, an injury that has already sent him to the injured list twice in the second half. For now, we will consider the veteran outfielder as day-to-day, but if he cannot rejoin the starting lineup this weekend against the White Sox, another trip to the IL could be in store. The 32-year-old three-time All-Star had a fantastic first half in 2026 with 25 homers, 45 RBI, seven steals, and a .271/.328/.575 slash line, but he has played in only 18 games in the second half due to hip issues and has hit .172 (11-for-64) with zero homers, one RBI, seven walks, and 17 strikeouts. If Buxton lands on the IL a third time with his recurring hip problem, it might be the last we see of him this season.

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New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (calf) does not anticipate needing to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning from the 10-day injured list, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Soto said he is just about ready to rejoin the major-league roster, but he will know more after Friday. DiComo thinks that Soto's return from the IL "could happen in a matter of days." The left-handed slugger will not be back for Friday's series opener at home against the Houston Astros, but he could rejoin the starting lineup at some point this weekend. That is great news for managers with the fantasy playoffs coming soon. The 27-year-old Dominican All-Star has been on the IL two separate times in 2026 due to calf injuries in both legs, but he still has time to be a difference-maker in the final month of the regular season. Soto will be returning to a .283/.408/.539 slash line with a .947 OPS, 21 home runs, 52 RBI, 46 runs scored, and seven steals in 293 at-bats and will immediately be a must-start in all traditional fantasy leagues.

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Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (elbow) will get his first taste of the division rivalry against the New York Yankees in Friday's series opener as he returns from a hyperextended elbow earlier this week. Rutschman will do the catching for left-hander Patrick Sandoval and will hit fifth against Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler. Fantasy managers should not be itching to get the 28-year-old backstop back into their starting lineups on Friday, especially going up against Schlittler, who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2026. It has been a frustrating season for Rutschman, who has been banged up and has hit just .236 (68-for-288) with nine home runs, 51 RBI, and 33 runs scored in 79 games and 331 plate appearances. Since coming to Beantown in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 3, Rutschman has gone just 6-for-41 (.146) at the plate with a homer, a double, four RBI, three runs scored, six walks, and 12 strikeouts. He has faced Schlittler only three times in his big-league career and has one hit against him.

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New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette (foot) is starting at third base and will hit third for the Mets in the series opener on Friday against the visiting Houston Astros and right-hander Hunter Brown at Citi Field, according to MLB.com. Bichette did not play in Thursday's series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers after injuring his foot on Wednesday, but he is back for the weekend series against Houston and should be returned to fantasy lineups this weekend. Overall, it has been a disappointing first year in Queens for the 28-year-old, who signed a one-year, $42 million contract with the Mets in January that included player options for 2027 and 2028. The two-time All-Star got off to an icy start and is currently slashing .264/.312/.393 with a .704 OPS, 14 home runs, 66 RBI, 64 runs scored, and one stolen base in 132 games and 568 plate appearances. Bichette has been much better in the second half, though, and he comes into Friday's game hitting .306 (26-for-85) with an .895 OPS, four home runs, five doubles, a triple, 13 RBI, and 11 runs scored in 22 games in August. He has hit .125 with a .347 OPS in eight career at-bats versus Brown.

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Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter (hamstring) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting second in his return to the starting lineup for Friday's series opener at home against the division-rival Kansas City Royals and veteran right-hander Michael Wacha, per MLB.com. DeLauter is returning to Cleveland's starting nine after missing the last three games with a tight hamstring, although he did enter the last game against the Los Angeles Angels for a clutch single in the ninth inning. Fantasy managers will want to get the 24-year-old former first-rounder back into their starting lineups to begin the weekend against a right-handed pitcher. In his first year in the big leagues, DeLauter has looked like he belongs, slashing .289/.363/.451 with an .814 OPS, 13 home runs, 59 RBI, 52 runs scored, and nine stolen bases for the Guards. He has especially looked great at the plate in August, going 24-for-68 (.353) with a .972 OPS, two homers, two doubles, two triples, eight RBI, 14 runs, and three stolen bases in 19 games. DeLauter is hitless in just two career at-bats against Wacha.

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Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Lazaro Montes is still hitting with power in the minor leagues, with nine homers and 19 RBI in August with Triple-A Tacoma. This season, between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma, Montes has combined to hit .248 with 37 homers and 93 RBI with 96 runs scored. The power-hitting skills are elite for Montes, the No. 5 overall prospect for the Mariners. He is blessed with 65-grade power but just a 45-grade hit tool. So he will need to improve his overall batting skills before he is able to earn a promotion to the big leagues. But the Mariners could use the power that he provides, making him a tempting call-up at the end of this season. Fantasy managers will want to monitor closely how the Mariners use Montes as this season winds down.

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