The Tampa Bay Rays top prospect Theo Gillen is having a very good age 20 season between two levels of the minors in 2026. Now with Double-A Montgomery, Gillen has hit .320 combined between two teams with 20 homers and 74 RBI to go with 78 runs and 39 stolen bases. The left-handed hitting outfielder is producing in all five-categories and offers a very balanced statistical profile for future fantasy leagues. But right now, Gillen may need more nurturing in the minors and could be looking at a few years down the road for a major-league debut. He's a name to remember, however, because of his 60-grade hit tool and 60-grade speed. He could be a very appealing power-speed combination in years to come. Dynasty managers will want to snatch him up for future teams as he looks like a potential stud.

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Pittsburgh Pirates first base/outfield prospect Edward Florentino has put up good numbers this season between two minor-league levels this season at age 19. Currently at High-A Greensboro, Florentino has 16 homers and 50 RBI in 73 games for the Grasshoppers while hitting .216 with 58 runs scored. The outfield/first base prospect is likely to make his way up the minor league ladder in the next few years, but is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Pirates' system. He has 60-grade power with a 50-grade hit tool and 55-grade speed. The left-handed hitter out of the Dominican Republic has the future tools to be a star, but at the age of 19 will need a few years to get some reps under his belt. A dynasty league stud, Florentino can be left on the waiver wire for the rest of this season in redraft leagues.

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Seattle Mariners outfielder Taylor Ward (quadriceps) is out of the starting lineup on Thursday against the hosting New York Yankees due to quad tightness, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. The good news is that Ward's injury is not considered serious, and he could be available off the bench. Catcher Cal Raleigh is serving as the designated hitter and batting cleanup, while Jhonny Pereda will do the catching and hit eighth against Yankees left-hander Max Fried in the Bronx. After hitting a career-high 36 home runs and driving in 103 in 157 games in 2025 with the Los Angeles Angels, Ward has been one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy this year, entering action on Thursday with a .240/.370/.337 slash line with a .707 OPS, only seven home runs, 30 RBI, 65 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 119 games and 538 plate appearances. In eight games since being acquired from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline, Ward has gone 5-for-32 (.156) with the M's with zero homers, no walks, and six strikeouts. It sounds like he will have a chance to return to Seattle's starting nine for Friday's series opener in Houston against the division-rival Astros.

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Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Ryan Sloan is just 20 years old and has spent all of 2026 in Double-A with the Arkansas Travelers. The right-hander is 2-3 overall with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP with 91 strikeouts in 76 innings pitched. In 17 games started this season, it has been a good sample size for Sloan, the Mariners' second round pick in 2024. The No. 2 overall prospect in the Mariners system behind his Arkansas teammate Kade Anderson, Sloan has a 60-grade fastball and changeup with a 55-grade slider. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Sloan has an elite frame and is a presence on the mound. He will likely need a bit more work in the minors to polish his overall arsenal. Thus he can likely be left on waiver wires in redraft leagues as he works his way towards a major league debut likely in the next few years.

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The Washington Nationals drafted Eli Willits as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and the Nationals shortstop prospect has done nothing to disappoint in his professional career. At age 18 at the High-A affiliate of Wilmington, Willits has split time between two minor league levels this season and has produced with a combined 13 homers and 61 RBI in 340 at bats to go with 91 runs scored and 52 stolen bases while hitting .274. The speed of Willits jumps off the page and he has a 60-grade run tool to go with a 60-grade hit tool and 50 grade power. At age 18, Willits is worth monitoring but more so in a dynasty league as it's likely he will need more minor league seasoning in redraft leagues. The young switch hitter looks like a future star but it might be a few more years before he reaches the major leagues.

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Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday and is expected to miss the rest of 2026 and the entire 2027 season, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Greene missed the start of the 2026 season after undergoing elbow surgery to remove bone chips and loose bodies in March. It was announced last week that the 27-year-old would require a second elbow surgery, which it now appears was indeed the second Tommy John procedure of his career. It's a devastating blow for the Reds, as Greene has shown elite upside when healthy. Across 107 2/3 innings (19 starts) in 2025, Greene recorded a 2.76 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts. Given his extremely uncertain health outlook going forward, Greene's future fantasy value is difficult to project until he gets back onto a mound.

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Across 456 plate appearances in 2026, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is hitting .240/.386/.447 with 20 home runs, 44 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. The oft-injured slugger has spent time on the injury list once again this year, but he's stayed healthy outside of a hamstring strain that caused him to miss about three weeks right before the All-Star break. Trout may have still been feeling the effects of the hamstring injury immediately after his return, as he hit just one home run in the month of July. However, the 35-year-old has begun to turn it on of late, logging two home runs, five RBI, and two stolen bases across his last 26 plate appearances. Trout's barrel rate is down from his peak but remains elite at 16.7%, and his 18.0% walk rate keeps his production floor extremely high. As long as he can stay on the field the rest of the way, Trout profiles as a high-upside power source for fantasy managers.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Christian Yelich has had a down year in 2026, hitting .231/.313/.375 with eight home runs, 40 RBI, 49 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across 362 plate appearances. The oft-injured veteran has also battled injury issues once again this season, missing a month with a groin strain. Since the All-Star break, Yelich's already subpar campaign has taken a turn for the worse. Across his last 86 plate appearances, the 34-year-old is hitting just .195 with two home runs. Yelich's 27.3% strikeout rate is the worst full-season mark of his career, and his hard-hit rate is down to a career-low 41.5%. Given the Brewers' position-player depth and Yelich's health issues, the team seems likely to continue resting him against left-handed starting pitchers. Yelich still carries some deep-league upside because of his balanced production profile, but his fantasy value for 2026 is fading.

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Since making his MLB debut on May 17, Seattle Mariners infielder Colt Emerson is hitting .190/.246/.335 with eight home runs, 23 RBI, 24 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 241 plate appearances. The 21-year-old got off to a respectable start, hitting .218 with seven home runs and 19 RBI across his first 132 plate appearances. However, Emerson has struggled since the start of July, hitting just .157 with one home run over his last 109 trips to the plate. Emerson is widely viewed as one of the top young prospects in baseball, but his underlying metrics suggest he may not quite be ready for the big leagues. He's struck out in 34.4% of his plate appearances while also logging well below-average barrel (5.0%) and hard-hit (31.2%) rates. Emerson's future outlook remains bright, but redraft managers should feel comfortable dropping him amidst his current struggles.

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Across 529 plate appearances in 2026, Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson is hitting .264/.340/.549 with 35 home runs, 74 RBI, 86 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The lefty slugger has been a consistent source of high-end power in Atlanta all season long, but he's been especially productive of late. Across his first 46 plate appearances of August, Olson has already hit six home runs. After hitting 54 homers in 2023, Olson logged back-to-back seasons with 29 dingers. He looks to have gotten back to his 2023 form in 2026, as his 15.6% barrel rate is his highest since that breakout year. Olson's hard-hit rate also remains over 50%, which helps keep his batting average in a respectable place despite his slightly elevated 25.3% strikeout rate. With his ability to hit for power and his place in the stellar Braves lineup, Olson profiles as a high-end fantasy first baseman who should continue to provide elite four-category production.

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Los Angeles Angels right-hander Ben Joyce notched his first save of 2026 on Wednesday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout in his team's 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers. Joyce has barely pitched in the last two seasons due to shoulder issues. However, the 25-year-old has been steady since making his 2026 season debut on August 5, allowing just one hit and zero earned runs across four innings. If Joyce can stay healthy, he may be the highest-upside reliever in the Angels bullpen. He's averaging 101.3 miles per hour on his fastball and features a power sinker that should make him very difficult to take deep. While Joyce does not have an established track record as the Angels closer, he could still be the team's preferred option at this point in the season. Fantasy managers in need of saves should target Joyce on the waiver wire.

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The Kansas City Royals announced on Wednesday evening that catcher/first baseman Salvador Perez (elbow) left the contest early against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to right-elbow irritation. It's unclear exactly how serious Perez's injury is right now, so we'll consider him day-to-day until more information is available. The good news is that KC has a scheduled day off on Thursday, giving the veteran catcher an extra day to recover before potentially returning for Friday's series opener in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels. The 36-year-old has primarily been working as the Royals' designated hitter to keep him off his feet as much as possible. Perez went 1-for-2 with an RBI in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Dodgers before leaving early. The nine-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger winner hit 30 homers in 2025, but he's been in full offensive decline in 2026 with a .216/.262/.369 slash line, a career-low .631 OPS, 16 homers, 52 RBI, and 41 runs scored in his 15th year in the big leagues. Check back on Friday to see if he's included in the Royals' starting nine.

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Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (soreness) said he's just sore after falling into the dugout while trying to catch a pop-up in Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals, and he's hoping to play on Thursday in the series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, according to David Vassegh of 570 AM LA Sports. Dodgers trainer Thomas Albert said that Freeman is dealing with a sore hand, knee, foot, and shoulder. Freeman apparently wants to play against Milwaukee on Thursday, but manager Dave Roberts might have other plans to give him a day off. The 36-year-old veteran, former MVP, and 10-time All-Star went 1-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout in Wednesday's 4-2 win over KC, and he's now slashing a cool .306/.380/.472 with an .852 OPS, 15 home runs, 57 RBI, 58 runs scored, and five steals in 118 games in 2026 in his 17th year in the majors. Despite his age, Freeman is a must-start in all fantasy baseball leagues when he's in the Dodgers' lineup. Check back to see if he's active on Thursday night against Brewers lefty Shane Drohan.

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Cubs' 3B Alex Bregman had seven RBIs going 3-for-3 with three home runs in a 12-6 win over Washington on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Chicago White Sox's SP Luis Castillo recorded 10 strikeouts in 7 innings collecting the win in a 5-0 win over the Reds on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Chicago Cubs veteran third baseman Alex Bregman came to play on Wednesday on the road against the Washington Nationals, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with three home runs, a career-high seven RBI, and two walks to boost his season average to .256 and his OPS to .759. It was the first three-homer game of Bregman's career and his second multi-homer performance of the 2026 season. The 32-year-old three-time All-Star has mostly been mediocre offensively for the Cubbies this year in his first season with the team, as he entered Wednesday's contest with a .251/.341/.388 slash line, a career-low .729 OPS, 13 home runs, 54 RBI, 66 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 117 games across 537 plate appearances. Bregman is heating up since the start of August, though, as he's now sporting a 1.123 OPS with five home runs and 14 RBI in just 11 games played. His underlying batted-ball metrics don't exactly point to a massive turnaround before the season's end, but fantasy managers should definitely be riding his current hot streak at the dish.

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Pittsburgh Pirates infield prospect Termarr Johnson (knee) is expected to be placed on the 7-day Injured List, according to Danny Demilio. Johnson will head to the shelf after suffering a left knee injury on August 8. He stumbled over first base and landed awkwardly, which resulted in Johnson being carted off the field. It doesn't sound like the young slugger is going to be back anytime soon. In 96 games at Triple-A Indianapolis, Johnson is slashing .199/.336/.319 with eight home runs, 37 RBI, and 24 stolen bases. He was a first-round pick of the Pirates from the 2022 draft. Given the timing of this injury, Johnson is unlikely to play in Pittsburgh this season. There should be more information on his injury in the coming days.

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Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax (elbow) received an injection in his right elbow after a visit with Dr. Keith Meister, according to Ryan Bass. Jax appears to be in a good place after landing on the 15-day Injured List on Sunday due to right elbow discomfort. Rays' manager Kevin Cash said they plan to give Jax a few days off to rest and then get him back to throwing. This is looking like a best-case scenario where Jax avoids surgery and could return when first eligible on August 21. Fantasy managers who panic dropped Jax might want to consider adding him again. The right-hander could be back in the rotation in a few weeks, assuming everything goes well. He's worth a stash in fantasy formats where he was dropped.

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Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (hand) is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday. This is encouraging news on Garcia, who has been sidelined since June 22 due to a strained muscle in his left hand. He was nearing a return before experiencing renewed soreness in his left in late July and needed to be pulled off his rehab assignment. It's unclear how long Garcia will need before rejoining the Royals, but he should be back in the mix within the next week or so. In the meantime, Nick Loftin should continue getting everyday reps at third base until Garcia is ready. Fantasy managers looking for help for a playoff push should consider stashing Garcia.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow (back) is scheduled to make another rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday, according to Katie Woo. The organization is hopeful to stretch Glasnow to around 60 pitches during Friday's outing. The expectation is he'll likely need one more rehab start after that before rejoining the Dodgers rotation. Glasnow has been out since early May due to lower back spasms. Barring any setbacks, Glasnow should be back in the Dodgers rotation by the end of August. If he's available, fantasy managers should scoop him up with his return on the horizon.

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