Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (wrist) will start a minor-league rehab assignment on Saturday, according to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. Rutschman has been on the 10-day injured list since July 20 due to inflammation in his wrist, but now that he's on the verge of a rehab assignment, the 28-year-old switch-hitting backstop could be in line to make his debut with Boston at some point next week, barring a setback. Once he's back in the big leagues, the former first overall pick from Oregon State University will be the Red Sox's starting catcher as they look to stay hot and earn a berth in the playoffs. Boston gave up quite the prospect haul to acquire Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, so they are banking on him returning to the form he had in Baltimore in his first couple of years in the majors. Rutschman has been an injury disappointment the last two seasons, and he has hit .251/.331/.433 with a .764 OPS, eight home runs, 47 RBI, and 30 runs scored in 67 games and 284 plate appearances in 2026. He's rostered in 70% of Yahoo leagues after fading since the start of the 2025 season.

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Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle was absolutely dominant in Friday night's 13-1 beatdown of the Athletics at Fenway Park and flirted with a perfect game early on. Tolle allowed just one earned run on two hits (one homer) while walking none and fanning a career-high 14 batters in six innings of work to pick up his seventh win of the season and lower his ERA to 3.20. Tolle's perfect-game bid was ended in the fifth inning when he allowed a solo home run to Tyler Soderstrom, but that was all the 23-year-old southpaw would allow. He had his swing-and-miss stuff going, as he generated 24 swings and misses on just 84 pitches. It was Tolle's second straight quality start. Tolle will face the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays for the third time this year in his next scheduled outing. It will be a challenge for him to earn a third straight quality start, as he's allowed seven runs (five earned) with a walk and seven strikeouts in 11 innings against the Rays in his previous two starts against them in 2025. After Friday's strong start, Tolle has a nice 3.20 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP in his 107 innings pitched over 19 starts in his first full year in the majors.

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Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews (foot) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's outing against the Milwaukee Brewers. Matthews came out to warm up for the sixth inning, but was taken out shortly after that. It has been announced that Matthews was pulled from this game due to a blister on his right foot. Before leaving, Matthews allowed three earned runs on seven hits while striking out four batters across five innings of work. For now, Matthews is lined up to start against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should monitor his status over the next few days. He could be a deep league streaming option if he's available to pitch versus the O's.

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New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge (wrist) was removed early during Friday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Benge appeared to have suffered a wrist injury while making a sliding catch in the third inning. The Mets pulled him after that, and he exited the game with left wrist soreness. Before leaving the game, Benge was 2-for-2 at the plate with two singles, two RBI, and one stolen base. The assumption is that he'll head for imaging to determine the severity of the injury. Fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked to see Benge absent from Saturday's lineup. For now, he should be considered day-to-day until more information is revealed.

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Miami Marlins starting pitcher Max Meyer (neck) appears to be making progress after being sidelined since late July. According to Christina De Nicola, Meyer will have his neck re-evaluated next week. The right-hander has been out for weeks due to a neck strain. Once he's cleared to throw, it's going to take time for Meyer to ramp up again. This season, Meyer owns a 2.68 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 121/41 K/BB ratio across 20 starts. He earned the first All-Star selection of his career with his outstanding pitching in the first half of the season. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Meyer and be hopeful for his return in the coming weeks.

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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Luis Perales could be nearing his big league debut, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. The 23-year-old came over in a trade with the Boston Red Sox this past offseason. He struggled to begin the season in Triple-A Rochester, but has pitched much better lately. Over his last eight starts, Perales owns a 2.79 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 41/25 K/BB ratio across nearly 40 innings of work. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Nats give some of their younger arms a chance if they fade from playoff contention down the stretch of the season. Perales is someone deep league managers should keep an eye on right now.

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San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (hernia) is flying to Philadelphia to see a specialist on Sunday and expects to have season-ending surgery next Tuesday, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports. Chapman is dealing with a hernia that he had been playing through for most of the season. The 33-year-old veteran can now be dropped in all redraft fantasy leagues, if he wasn't already. The injury helps explain Chapman's disappointing third season in the Bay Area, as he'll finish the 2026 campaign (his 10th in the big leagues) with a .235/.324/.368 slash line, a career-low .692 OPS, a career-low seven home runs, 42 RBI, and 35 runs scored in 84 games across 352 plate appearances. With Casey Schmitt also done for the year due to a knee injury, Christian Koss now has a runway for the rest of the season to serve as the Giants' starting third baseman. Chapman could bounce back in 2027 with better health, but at this point in his career, he won't necessarily be a lock to return to the 20-homer mark, especially at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.

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Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (elbow) will come off the 60-day injured list to start on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals, manager Dave Roberts told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. It will be Snell's second start for the Dodgers this year after opening the year with shoulder trouble and then needing surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. The 33-year-old southpaw has looked good in four minor-league rehab games, posting a 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 19:5 K:BB in 11 2/3 innings, although he only made it through 3 2/3 innings in his final start in the minors. The two-time Cy Young winner will get a plus matchup against the Royals in his return to the big-league mound next week, but with a likely short leash as the Dodgers ease him back into their rotation, Snell will carry extra risk for fantasy managers with a limited ceiling. Snell still has high-end strikeout upside for fantasy purposes, but he's made just 12 regular-season starts in his two years in L.A. due to shoulder and elbow injuries. He's currently rostered in 85% of Yahoo leagues. If he's available in your leagues, snatch him up immediately, as he could be a difference-maker for strikeouts to close out the season.

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Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (wrist) is back at first base and is hitting third for the Dodgers in Friday's series opener on the road in Arizona against the division-rival Diamondbacks and right-hander Merrill Kelly, according to MLB.com. Freeman was pulled from Wednesday's series finale against the Chicago Cubs after injuring his hand/wrist at Wrigley Field, but thankfully, X-rays came back negative, and he will return on Friday without missing a game following L.A.'s scheduled day off on Thursday. Fantasy managers in all traditional formats will want to get Freeman back into their starting lineups for Friday's tilt in the desert, especially since Freeman has hit .333 with a 1.112 OPS, two home runs, and three RBI in 30 career at-bats against Kelly. The 36-year-old is hitting over .300 on the season with 15 home runs and is in the midst of a 15-game hitting streak in which he has gone 27-for-58 (.466) with four doubles, three RBI, five runs scored, and two stolen bases in 60 plate appearances.

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Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt is giving fantasy managers two things that can be tough to find together on the wire: batting average and steals. The 21-year-old is hitting .289 with two home runs, 17 RBI, 20 runs, and 10 steals through 128 at-bats after scoring and driving in a run Thursday. Milwaukee has kept him in the lineup at shortstop, and there is enough speed here to matter without chasing empty at-bats. The power is a different story. Pratt hit six homers in 58 Triple-A games before his promotion, and that part of his game is still developing. This is not a five-category breakout call. It is a useful middle infielder who can run and has held his own against big-league pitching. RotoBaller now has Pratt in the 12-team add tier, while he remains rostered in only 19% of Yahoo leagues.

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The Minnesota Twins announced on Friday that they placed right-hander Joe Ryan (glute) on the 15-day injured list with a left-glute strain and recalled right-hander Zebby Matthews, who will start on Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers, from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move. The Twins initially were saying that Ryan was dealing with right-arm fatigue, but an MRI exam on Thursday showed his glute strain, which was making it difficult for him to repeat his delivery on the mound. It helps explain why he has struggled mightily in his three starts since the All-Star break, allowing 17 runs (16 earned) on 25 hits (seven home runs) while walking two and striking out 10 in 15 1/3 innings of work. Overall, the 30-year-old veteran is 6-8 in 2026 with a 3.65 ERA (3.42 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP with 138 strikeouts and 27 walks in 125 2/3 frames across 23 starts. It's unknown if Ryan might be ready to return from the IL when he's eligible in two weeks, but fantasy managers in all league formats need to keep him stashed for the stretch run.

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Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (abdomen) is starting at first base and batting third in the order for Friday's series opener against the visiting Minnesota Twins and right-hander Zebby Matthews, according to MLB.com. Bauers will return to the starting nine on Friday evening after missing the last three games with abdominal soreness. Fantasy managers in traditional formats will want to get the left-handed slugger back in their starting lineups for the weekend, especially against a right-handed pitcher. The 30-year-old will return to a .270/.375/.503 slash line on the season with an .878 OPS, 20 home runs, 64 RBI, 68 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across his 344 at-bats in what has been a career year in 2026. Bauers has never faced Matthews in his career, but he has hit .277 (72-for-260) with 17 of his 20 long balls on the year against right-handed pitching. He's also carrying a current nine-game hitting streak in which he's gone 13-for-31 (.419) with two homers, a double, a triple, five RBI, 11 runs, and two stolen bases. Bauers is red-hot.

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Cleveland Guardians infielder Angel Genao has made an immediate impression, going 5-for-9 through his first two major-league games. The 22-year-old became the first player in franchise history to collect four hits in his MLB debut Wednesday, then added another hit Thursday. He earned the promotion after batting .300 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI, and 11 stolen bases across 96 games between Double-A and Triple-A. There is more here than a two-game hot streak. MLB Pipeline ranks Genao 40th overall and gives him a 60-grade hit tool and 55-grade speed, while his ability to play shortstop, second base, and third gives Cleveland options for keeping him involved. Gabriel Arias was also designated for assignment when Genao arrived. Genao is rostered in only 16% of Yahoo leagues, making him one of the more intriguing high-upside bats still sitting on waiver wires.

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Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (illness) is missing a second straight game on Friday in the series opener against the Athletics at Fenway Park due to an illness, per MLB.com. Nick Sogard will make another start at first base for the BoSox while batting leadoff on Friday against A's right-hander Jack Perkins. Contreras was pulled from Wednesday's contest early due to an illness and hasn't played since, but he should be back at some point for the series this weekend against the A's. When the 34-year-old Venezuelan returns, he'll need to be reinserted into all fantasy lineups in traditional formats as one of Boston's best all-around hitters in 2026 in his first year with the team. Contreras is currently batting a steady .288/.395/.540 with a .936 OPS, 23 home runs, 70 RBI, 57 runs scored, and three stolen bases in his 361 at-bats in 2026. Since the beginning of July, Contreras has hit .319 (23-for-72) with a 1.056 OPS, five homers, four doubles, 17 RBI, 16 runs, and a stolen base in 23 games.

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San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (right elbow) will have his rehab progression paused for a few days after experiencing tightness during Tuesday's start with Single-A Lake Elsinore. Pivetta threw just 14 pitches before leaving the mound, although he was able to throw another 20-30 pitches in the bullpen afterward. He did not throw his scheduled bullpen Thursday and will not make his next rehab start on time while the Padres determine whether anything needs to change. The 33-year-old has been out since April with a flexor strain after going 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 16 innings. Pivetta posted a 2.87 ERA and finished sixth in NL Cy Young voting last season. There is no timetable for his next rehab appearance, so fantasy managers will have to keep waiting.

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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene (right elbow) will undergo surgery after seeking a second opinion, according to Pat Brennan. Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said the procedure will involve the area around the ligament, though doctors will not know exactly what needs to be repaired until the operation begins. Greene already underwent surgery in March to remove bone chips and loose bodies from the same elbow before returning July 4. He made only five starts, going 2-2 with a 6.83 ERA, nine walks, and 33 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings before returning to the injured list Aug. 5. Fantasy managers can move on in redraft leagues. His outlook for 2027 will depend heavily on what surgeons find and the type of procedure ultimately performed.

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Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (right hip) is progressing slower than expected as he works back from another flare-up of his hip impingement, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. Buxton is eligible to return from the 10-day injured list this weekend in Milwaukee, but he has yet to resume baseball activities after receiving an unspecified injection last week. The 32-year-old has increased his loading, isometric, and weight-training work and hopes to carry that progress onto the field over the next few days. This is Buxton's second IL stint because of the same hip issue. He is batting .263 with 25 home runs, 45 RBI, 57 runs, and seven steals in 82 games. Fantasy managers should keep him stashed, as there is still no firm timetable for his return.

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Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (left hand) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, according to Alex Stumpf. Cruz has been out since early June with non-displaced fractures of the fourth and fifth metacarpals in his left hand and was transferred to the 60-day injured list July 18. This will be his first game action in roughly two months. The 27-year-old was hitting .264/.350/.472 with 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 45 runs, and 21 stolen bases in 64 games before getting hurt. Pittsburgh has not announced how many rehab games Cruz will need before being activated. Still, getting him back into competitive games is a significant step, and fantasy managers should continue holding him as he works toward a return.

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) remains out of the starting lineup Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies, marking his third straight absence. Guerrero last played Tuesday against the Houston Astros, going 0-for-3 with a walk before sitting Wednesday and Thursday. Manager John Schneider said earlier this week that Guerrero had been dealing with hamstring tightness but did not expect the issue to require a trip to the injured list. The 27-year-old is batting .259 with six home runs and 44 RBI this season. Kazuma Okamoto will start at first base Friday.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker (right knee) is back in the starting lineup Friday against the Colorado Rockies. Walker was scratched shortly before Tuesday's game against the New York Yankees because of right knee inflammation and remained out Wednesday before the Cardinals had Thursday off. The 24-year-old was batting .285 with 22 home runs and 81 RBI when the issue surfaced. He had also collected two hits, including a triple, in Monday's series opener at Yankee Stadium. Walker's return after missing only two games is good news for fantasy managers, who can get him back into their lineups Friday.

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