Everything that happens in and around MLB has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy baseball perspective. From lineup changes to minor league call-ups to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy baseball.
Our fantasy baseball buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around MLB.
Key links: RP depth chart | Player Rater | Scoring leaders
Tuesday’s lineup advice | 10-day hitting forecaster
September 2: What you need to know for Tuesday
Todd Zola: Today’s slate is an all-evening affair, commencing with a trio of games at 6:40 p.m. ET. The early forecasts indicate a quiet evening weatherwise, except at Target Field where the Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins contest could be interrupted by rain.
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Note that the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies have a rare Tuesday off. Both teams have fantasy stalwarts in their lineups, so be sure to find replacements for tonight.
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Fernando Tatis Jr. was scratched from last night’s lineup due to lower body soreness. Ramon Laureano moved over to right field with Bryce Johnson covering center field in the San Diego Padres‘ 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Tatis is considered to be day-to-day.
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The Padres will certainly be without key reliever Jason Adam for an extended period of time. He suffered a leg injury after throwing a pitch in the seventh inning. He was carted off the field and later diagnosed with a left quadriceps tendon rupture.
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Warming Bernabel missed his second straight game last night as he’s nursing a bruised knee and quad. The contest was the opener of a six-game homestand for the Colorado Rockies. Bernabel is currently “day-to-day.”
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The Athletics were without Nick Kurtz for the third straight game yesterday as he’s still experiencing oblique soreness. Imaging revealed no damage, so Kurtz should be able to return soon, perhaps as early as tonight for Game 2 of the series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
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Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was carted off the field yesterday after hurting his knee when he needed to swerve quickly to avoid a collision with center fielder Blaze Alexander. The Arizona Diamondbacks will likely be without their left fielder for most, if not all of the remainder of the season. Gurriel is slated for imaging later today.
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The Los Angeles Angels called up southpaw Mitch Farris during yesterday’s roster expansion and he’s ticketed to make his debut tonight on the road against the Kansas City Royals. Farris compiled a 4.27 ERA and an 1.47 WHIP over 116 innings with Double-A Rocket City. The 24-year-old fanned 142 batters but struggled with control, walking 55 hitters. However, Farris improved in August, posting a 2.73 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP with 39 strikeouts and only eight walks over his 29 2/3 innings for the month.
September 1: What you need to know for Monday
Todd Zola: The holiday slate gets underway at 1:05 p.m. ET with the Washington Nationals hosting the Miami Marlins. Twelve more games follow, with all but one afternoon affairs in the local time zone.
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The Nationals are slated to call up Andrew Alvarez to start against the Marlins. He’s taking the place of MacKenzie Gore, who was placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Alvarez isn’t considered a top prospect, posting a 3.95 ERA and 1.35 WHIP as a 25-year-old with Triple-A Rochester.
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The San Francisco Giants also need to replace an injured starter today with Carson Whisenhunt visiting the 15-day IL with a sore back. They recalled Kai-Wei Teng yesterday and will send him to the hill in Coors Field to face the Colorado Rockies. Teng has fared well in the minors, but he struggled in an earlier stint with the Giants, and the Rockies have been more productive lately.
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Taylor Ward was carted off the field yesterday after his head struck the left field scoreboard under the Crawford Boxes while chasing a fly ball. The Los Angeles Angels reported that Ward was cut above the right eye, requiring stitches, but is otherwise fine. His availability for the wraparound finale with the Houston Astros is unclear.
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The Astros will activate Luis Garcia in advance of the contest to make his first MLB start since May 1, 2023. The righty incurred multiple setbacks while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Garcia tossed 75 pitches in his final rehab outing, so he should not be limited today. Something to keep in mind is that Garcia was notoriously slow between pitches and does not have much experience working with the pitch clock.
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Leading AL Rookie of the Year candidate Nick Kurtz missed his second straight game yesterday as he’s nursing a sore oblique. He underwent an MRI on Saturday which did not show any damage, so the Athletics hope he’ll be back soon. Kurtz is considered day-to-day, with Tyler Soderstrom filling in at first base and Carlos Cortes back-filling left field.