Los Angeles Angels designated hitter/outfielder Mike Trout (undisclosed) plans to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals, Erica Weston of FanDuel Sports Network West reports. A skin infection has kept Trout out of back-to-back games, but he's feeling better and is optimistic he won't miss any more time. This has been a difficult season for Trout, as the 34-year-old future Hall of Famer hasn't played in the outfield since April 30 as a result of a bone bruise in his left knee. Worsening matters, Trout's offensive production has plummeted in comparison to his extraordinary career output. On the heels of a rough August (.669 OPS in 24 games), Trout has hit .231/.361/.425 with 20 homers, 54 RBI, 58 runs scored, and two stolen bases over 466 plate appearances in 2025.

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Kansas City Royals left-hander Noah Cameron will start against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, manager Matt Quatraro announced. The Royals had planned to start righty Seth Lugo (back), but he's dealing with tightness in his lower back and will need at least a couple of days to recover. With Lugo unavailable, the Royals will turn to Cameron, who has been one of the majors' best rookie pitchers this season. The 26-year-old has gone 7-6 with a 2.92 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 83:31 K:BB over 19 starts and 108 innings. Cameron appears to have a favorable matchup against the Angels' offense, which ranks 21st in the league in runs and has sputtered over the past few weeks.

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Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (back) is day-to-day with tightness in his lower back and will not make his scheduled start on Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels, manager Matt Quatraro told reporters. Left-hander Noah Cameron will get the ball instead. Lugo may not miss much time, though, as Quatraro said the Royals haven't ruled out starting the 35-year-old on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins. While Lugo owned a 3.03 ERA at the end of July, his season took a terrible turn in August. Over six starts and 26 2/3 innings, the 2024 AL Cy Young runner-up recorded a shocking 9.11 ERA, allowed 36 hits (including eight homers), and posted 21 strikeouts against 18 walks. In 26 starts this season, Lugo has gone 8-7 with a 4.15 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and 125:55 K:BB across 145 1/3 frames.

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Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (hand) left a 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday after taking a foul tip off the right hand. Smith was diagnosed with a bruise, and manager Dave Roberts said after the game that X-rays came back negative. The three-time All-Star is dealing with soreness, but Roberts is "hopeful" that he won't require a stint on the 10-day injured list, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports. While Smith had his worst month of the year in August, when he hit .159/.326/.304 in 22 games, he has still been one of the Dodgers' most productive players this season. The 30-year-old has batted .297/.406/.499 with 17 homers, 61 RBI, and 63 runs scored in 431 plate appearances. Meanwhile, rookie backup Dalton Rushing has hit just .190/.256/.293 with three homers, 21 RBI, and 12 runs in 129 trips to the plate. He'll be in line to start if Smith misses any time.

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The Houston Astros announced that they have placed right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (elbow) on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation, retroactive to Aug. 31. In corresponding moves, the team selected the contract of righty Jayden Murray and transferred lefty John Rooney (elbow) to the 60-day IL. This is the second IL stint of the year for Arrighetti, who suffered a broken thumb in early April and didn't return until Aug. 6. The 25-year-old has made seven starts this season and gone 1-5 with a 5.35 ERA, a 1.42 WHIP, and 31:20 K:BB in 35 1/3 innings. While those numbers aren't pretty, Arrighetti did combine for 12 innings of three-run ball in his two most recent starts. The Astros will now have to go without him until at least mid-September.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander (shoulder) could begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet reports. Santander will play at least five rehab games before potentially making a long-awaited return to the Blue Jays in mid-September. The team signed the ex-Baltimore Oriole to a five-year, $92.5 million guarantee in free agency last winter, but a dislocated left shoulder has shelved him for most of the season. Santander has been on the injured list since May 30, and he got off to a brutal start in 50 games before going on the IL. The 30-year-old switch-hitter has batted .179/.273/.304 with six homers, 18 RBI, and 14 runs scored in 209 plate appearances.

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San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman received a one-game suspension for his role in a benches-clearing incident against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday. Specifically, the league punished Chapman for "pushing" Rockies starter Kyle Freeland after the left-hander got into a heated exchange with Giants slugger Rafael Devers in the first inning. Chapman and Freeland were among those ejected from the game, but only the former received a suspension. He's appealing the one-game ban and was in the starting lineup against the Rockies on Wednesday. Chapman blasted a 450-foot home run, his 19th of the season, in the top of the second inning. Major League Baseball will announce a decision on his appeal soon.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that catcher Will Smith (hand) exited early on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a contusion in his right hand. The Dodgers replaced Smith with rookie Dalton Rushing in the top of the third inning after the veteran took a foul tip off the hand in the bottom of the second. It appears Smith avoided a serious injury, which is a relief to the Dodgers and fantasy managers. The 30-year-old has put together the third All-Star campaign of his career in 2025 and slashed .297/.406/.499 with 17 homers, 61 RBI, and 63 runs scored in 431 plate appearances. Rushing, the 24-year-old understudy, has slumped to a .190/.256/.293 line with three HRs, 21 RBI, and 12 runs in 129 trips to the plate this season.

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Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter/outfielder Christian Yelich (back) was scratched with lower-back soreness on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Brewers initially planned for outfielder Jackson Chourio (hamstring) to rest because of hamstring cramps, but with Yelich unable to play, Chourio ended up as the DH. There's no word on the severity of Yelich's issue, but it's concerning after back problems cost him the final two-plus months of last season. He didn't play past July 24 and wound up requiring surgery. The former NL MVP, 33, has come back strong this season to slash .268/.350/.464 with 27 homers, 92 RBI, 82 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases over 132 games and 565 plate appearances.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio (hamstring) is dealing with right-hamstring cramps and was not in their initial lineup against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. However, with designated hitter/outfielder Christian Yelich (back) unable to play because of soreness in his lower back, the Brewers reversed course on Chourio and started him at DH. It's encouraging that Chourio ended up in the lineup on Wednesday, though his hamstring issue may be worth monitoring. The 21-year-old just returned last Sunday after missing a month with a strained right hamstring. He went a red-hot 6-for-12 with a homer, two RBI, and four runs scored in his first three games back.

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Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes (hamstring) was able to field grounders and do some running in the outfield ahead of Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees. It's worth noting that Paredes did have a follow-up MRI on Tuesday. The results of the testing weren't revealed, but the fact Paredes is back on the field suggests it was positive. The plan is for Paredes to travel to Florida to continue rehabbing this week. He's not 100 percent healthy, but is doing much better. He has been sidelined with a hamstring issue since the middle of July. The Astros are hopeful that Paredes can return before the end of the season. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Paredes on their IR with hopes that he'll be able to help them again this season.

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Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Shelby Miller (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday. MIller suffered a right UCL sprain during Monday's outing against the Philadelphia Phillies. At the moment, it's unclear if Miller will require surgery or only need to rest and recover. Regardless, Miller won't take the mound again in 2025. Joel Payamps figures to take over his role in the bullpen. He'll finish the season with a 2.74 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 54/15 K/BB ratio across 48 games between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Brewers. The 34-year-old is set to become a free agent after the season, but his value will be dependent on whether or not he'll require surgery on his elbow.

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New York Mets starting pitcher Jonah Tong is scheduled to take the mound this weekend versus the Cincinnati Reds. The Mets are trying to figure everything out in their rotation, but at least have the next few days lined up. The plan is for Clay Holmes to pitch on Wednesday. After that, the Mets are off on Thursday before David Peterson takes the ball on Friday. Tong is currently penciled in the pitch against the Reds on Saturday. Tong's first start came on August 29 against the Miami Marlins. He tossed five innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out six batters. Tong will at least make one more start and should be rostered in most 12-team formats.

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Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan (groin) was unable to enter Wednesday's contest after suffering an injury while warming up. Finnegan was preparing to come into the game in the seventh inning, but suffered a groin injury while warming up in the bullpen. The expectation is that Finnegan will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the issue. Finnegan has been great for the Tigers since joining the team at the end of July. He has thrown 14.1 scoreless innings with two holds and four saves. The assumption is that Tommy Kahnle or Tyler Holton would move into the setup role if Finnegan is forced to miss time.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio (hamstring) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Chourio reportedly was feeling some hamstring discomfort following Monday's contest. The Brewers were off on Tuesday, but Chourio is still not 100 percent on Wednesday. The team will take the cautious approach and hold Chourio out of Wednesday's contest. It doesn't sound like he'll require a stint on the injured list. For now, fantasy managers should consider Chourio as day-to-day. Isaac Collins, Blake Perkins, and Sal Frelick will cover the outfield on Wednesday.

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Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (illness) has been scratched from his scheduled start versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. Ohtani is feeling under the weather, according to Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts. The organization is hopeful that Ohtani will feel good enough to take the mound this weekend. Despite not pitching, Ohtani will still function as the designated hitter and bat leadoff during Wednesday's contest. It sounds like the Dodgers are going to take this day-by-day. That being said, fantasy managers will need to check back later in the week to see when Ohtani will take the mound again. Emmet Sheehan will take the mound versus the Pirates on Wednesday. The right-hander will offer low-end streaming appeal for this one.

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After being pulled early on Tuesday night with left-calf tightness, Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker (calf) is out of Wednesday's lineup versus the visiting Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field. Seiya Suzuki will man right field and will bat third against Braves right-hander Bryce Elder, with veteran Carlos Santana manning the designated hitter spot and batting fifth. The good news is that Tucker's calf injury doesn't sound too serious, and the Cubs are hoping that he'll be ready to go for Friday's series opener against the Washington Nationals after Thursday's day off. Fantasy managers will want to check back then to see if the 28-year-old is back in the lineup. Tucker is a must-start in fantasy when he's active. He was in the midst of a slump in August but has been back to his All-Star self after taking some mental days off.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (head) is back in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals and right-hander Ryan Berget, serving as the designated hitter and batting third in the order. Ward collided with the outfield wall on Sunday against the Houston Astros and suffered a laceration above his right eye that required 20 stitches. However, he was able to avoid the concussion protocol and is now feeling good enough to get back on the field after taking a few days off. He'll be in the DH spot with Mike Trout missing a second straight day due to a skin infection. Ward already has a career-high 30 home runs on the season in his eighth year in the big leagues and should be returned to all starting lineups. The right-handed slugger hit just .211 (19-for-90) with five home runs, five doubles and 16 RBI in 27 games in August.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (undisclosed) remains out of the lineup on Wednesday against the hosting Kansas City Royals due to a skin infection. Taylor Ward (head) will serve as the designated hitter in his return and will bat third against Royals right-hander Ryan Berget. Trout is being considered as day-to-day for now, but we have no idea when the 34-year-old three-time MVP might get back onto the field for the Halos. The 11-time All-Star has still shown decent power as he declines -- he has 20 long balls in 381 at-bats -- but he's hitting only .231 (88-for-381) and has stolen only two bases. The future Hall of Famer is limping to the finish line and hit just .214 (18-for-84) with one home run, seven RBI and a 38:19 K:BB in 24 games in the month of August. Check back on Thursday to see if Trout is available for the series finale in KC.

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The Boston Red Sox announced on Wednesday that they officially placed outfielder Roman Anthony (oblique) on the 10-day injured list with a left-oblique strain and recalled infielder/outfielder Nick Sogard from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. Anthony injured himself on a swing during Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians and could end up missing the rest of the regular season, with manager Alex Cora saying he could be out for four to six weeks. It's a tough blow for a Red Sox team in firm playoff contention, as the 21-year-old outfield prospect has hit the ground running after making his MLB debut earlier this year. The Red Sox will piece things together in the month of September with Rob Refsnyder and Masataka Yoshida likely working in a platoon, at least until Wilyer Abreu (calf) returns from his own IL stint.

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