Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (knee) is not in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's series opener against the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers due to left-knee pain, manager Pat Murphy told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Turang underwent an MRI exam on Thursday. "We don't know how long," Murphy said. He will get a second opinion of the MRI, but as of right now, the skipper said whatever is ailing Turang doesn't appear surgical. David Hamilton will get the start at the keystone on Thursday and will bat ninth against Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki. It's a situation that could quickly turn into an injured-list stint for Turang, but right now he should be considered day-to-day. The 26-year-old former first-rounder is having another solid campaign in 2026, hitting .268/.360/.450 with an .810 OPS, 16 homers, 76 RBI, 16 steals, and 74 runs scored in 115 games played. However, he has yet to homer in 12 games in August and has gone 12-for-49 (.245) with a .621 OPS in his 55 plate appearances, so his knee could be a lingering issue that has been affecting him offensively.

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Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft had a much-needed dominant performance over the hosting Miami Marlins on Thursday, throwing a complete game with one earned run allowed on three hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out 10 for his 12th win of the season. Ashcraft lowered his ERA on the season to 3.88 in the process. The only run he allowed in the contest was a solo home run to Owen Caissie in the bottom of the ninth inning. Coming into Thursday's outing in Miami, Ashcraft had posted a 7.88 ERA in his last five starts over 24 innings, so his fantasy managers have to be pretty happy he was able to turn it around in such a dominant way against Miami. In addition to his 3.88 ERA on the year, Ashcraft now sports a 1.11 WHIP with 155 strikeouts and 33 walks in his second full season in the big leagues. He'll look to make it two strong starts in a row his next time out in a difficult matchup against the Detroit Tigers, who have the 11th-best team OPS in the majors in 2026.

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Pittsburgh Pirates rookie catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores Jr. had a game to remember in the team's 13-1 beatdown of the hosting Miami Marlins on Thursday. Flores, batting out of the nine-hole for Pittsburgh, went 2-for-5 at the plate with two three-run home runs and two strikeouts. It was just Flores' 20th game in the big leagues after debuting in 2025 in Pittsburgh by playing seven games. The 25-year-old right-handed-hitting backstop came into Thursday's contest in Miami with a .200 average (5-for-25) with a homer, two RBI, six walks, and seven strikeouts in 12 games with the Bucs in 2026. Flores came into the game with just one hit in his last 15 at-bats in his previous eight games, and although his performance on Thursday was a big one, it's unlikely to boost his playing time dramatically as the primary backup to Henry Davis with Endy Rodriguez (hip) currently on the 10-day injured list. Per MLB Pipeline, Flores is the Pirates' No. 21-ranked prospect.

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The Seattle Mariners sent struggling rookie infielder Colt Emerson to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. The top prospect and former first-rounder in 2023 made his MLB debut on May 17, but he did not live up to his high expectations this year, slashing .190/.246/.335 with a .581 OPS, eight home runs, 23 RBI, 24 runs scored, three stolen bases, a 34.4% strikeout rate, and a 6.2% walk rate in his first 68 games across 241 plate appearances. There's still time for Emerson to return to the big-league level before the end of the season at the end of September, but for now, he'll head back to the farm to work on his swing and make more contact at the plate. With J.P. Crawford (wrist) still on the injured list, Leo Rivas is the most likely candidate to see a boost in playing time at the 6 in Seattle with Emerson being sent down. Emerson is rostered in under 10% of Yahoo leagues and is not a must-hold in deep single-year fantasy leagues.

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Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (soreness) is starting at first base and will bat cleanup for the Blue in Thursday's series opener against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and left-hander Shane Drohan, per MLB.com. Freeman had a scary moment in Wednesday's win over the Kansas City Royals when he fell into the dugout at Dodger Stadium while chasing a pop-up in foul ground, and he was dealing with soreness in his hand, knee, and shoulder after the game. However, it was not enough to keep the former MVP and 10-time All-Star out of the lineup for the opener of a big series against the Brewers. Despite facing a left-hander on Thursday, Freeman should be in all starting fantasy lineups in traditional formats as he brings a .306/.380/.472 slash line into the contest with an .852 OPS, 15 home runs, 57 RBI, 58 runs scored, and five stolen bases. Freeman has hit .272 (40-for-147) with four of his 15 homers on the year against lefties, and he's gone hitless in just two career at-bats against Drohan.

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Cleveland Guardians catcher/outfield prospect Cooper Ingle got back on the multi-hit game train on Wednesday, reaching base in all five plate appearances after a 2-for-2 effort that included a single, a double, three walks, and two runs scored. The Guardians' third-ranked prospect was 1-for-16 (.063) in his previous four games, but that was preceded by a phenomenal streak of eight consecutive games where he collected at least two hits in each game. The former fourth-rounder is batting .378 in the 24 games since returning to Columbus after a brief debut with the big-league club, which includes 10 doubles and six home runs. For the season at Triple-A, the Clemson product is slashing a robust .318/.435/.591 with 18 home runs and a superb 17.4 percent walk rate in 75 games with the Clippers. He'll likely get another shot in the majors in the coming weeks, and the 24-year-old offers enough contact and power to make for an intriguing stash option in deeper 14+ team leagues.

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Detroit Tigers pitching prospect River Ryan (hamstring) was injured during his time in the Dodgers' organization and was placed on the injured list back on June 26 with an ailing hamstring. Since then, there has been little update on his progress other than that he was throwing off a mound before being traded away in the Tarik Skubal deal. Assuming the Tigers' newly anointed top pitching prospect will need to face some live hitters and make a rehab start or two before being assigned to Triple-A Toledo (or perhaps Detroit), it makes a September return the most optimistic of scenarios. The 6-foot-2 hurler was showing well outside of one blowup start before going down with injury, and had an impressive debut with the Dodgers back in 2024, so there is a lot to like in his profile, but without a clear timeline for return, there is little reason to stash the 27-year-old in most redraft leagues.

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The Athletic's Katie Woo suggests that Los Angeles Dodgers veteran outfielder Teoscar Hernandez could lose playing time going forward due to his ongoing offensive struggles, especially against right-handed pitchers. Manager Dave Roberts is known for letting his veteran players swing their way out of slumps, but it was notable when Hernandez was pinch-hit for in Sunday's loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Roberts did it again in the sixth inning on Monday against the Kansas City Royals, and Woo suggests that the skipper will likely sit Hernandez against righty starters for the near future, with utility man Tommy Edman the most logical candidate to take over the majority of the reps in left field. "Since he's come back (from the IL), versus right just hasn't been to his standard, our standard," Roberts said of Hernandez. He was hitting .276 with a .348 on-base percentage before his Grade 1 hamstring strain at the end of May, but entering play on Wednesday, Hernandez was slashing .209/.258/.357 since returning from the injured list.

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Miami Marlins pitching prospect Karson Milbrandt will get another opportunity to right the ship at Triple-A Jacksonville when he makes his next start for the Jumbo Shrimp this coming Saturday. The Marlins' fourth-ranked prospect pitched well enough at Double-A earlier this year to earn a promotion to Triple-A in early June, and after looking good for three starts, the right-hander has now allowed three earned runs or more in each of his last seven appearances, posting a gaudy 12.49 ERA, 2.51 WHIP, -4.1 percent K-BB%, and allowing opponents to hit a whopping .344 off him over that span. After looking like a lock to debut earlier this season with the big-league rotation very much in need of help, that is looking more like a long shot at this point. If the 22-year-old can string together a couple of consecutive good outings, then perhaps that outlook changes, but at this point, there isn't a need to stash him in redraft leagues.

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New York Yankees pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez struggled with command in his latest outing, walking five batters in just four innings of work, which was the fourth time this season he's walked four or more batters in an appearance. This latest step back followed two back-to-back solid showings from the Yankees' third-ranked prospect, whose ERA stands at 2.85 but with a 4.02 FIP, along with a 1.32 WHIP due in part to a high 12.5 percent walk rate. The right-hander will likely find himself back in New York in the coming weeks after having debuted with the club earlier this year, but after posting a 4.76 ERA (5.14 FIP) and not having pitched more than 4 2/3 innings in any of his four starts with the Yankees, optimism from a fantasy perspective should be tempered. The 22-year-old will make another start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, so any interested fantasy managers should monitor for any positive developments.

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Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect Ralphy Velazquez endured a 0-for-21 six-game stretch in late July, but since then, the Guardians' top-ranked prospect has been on an otherworldly power binge, blasting nine home runs in his last 12 games at Triple-A Columbus, including two home runs in Wednesday's contest, while batting .319 (15-for-47) over that time. The former first-rounder earned a promotion to Triple-A in mid-May and after scuffling a bit, he appears to be settling in just fine against the stiffer competition. The left-handed hitter is now slashing .258/.338/.485 with 13 home runs in 60 games with the Clippers, while striking out at a slightly-better-than-average rate of 21.5 percent and producing an 88th-percentile barrel rate of 12.4 percent that foretells more home runs to come. The 21-year-old could be the next Guardians prospect to debut this season, and should be considered a top stash option for power production in most 12-team leagues and deeper.

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The Minnesota Twins announced on Thursday that they reinstated outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) from the 10-day injured list. The Twins have not announced their starting lineup for Thursday's game at home against the Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Aaron Nola, but we'd think that Buxton would be back in the lineup, potentially as the designated hitter. Buxton is finally back from a right-hip impingement that kept him out since July 28. Now that the 32-year-old three-time All-Star is back in Minnesota, fantasy managers should be ready to reinsert him into their starting lineups. Buxton had a career-high 35 home runs, drove in 83 runs, and stole 24 bags in a resurgent 2025 campaign, and although he hasn't been quite that good in 2026, his power continues to be very valuable for fantasy managers. He is returning to a .263/.320/.544 slash line with an .864 OPS, 25 home runs, 45 RBI, 57 runs scored, and seven steals through 82 games played this year. Buxton hit just .207 (6-for-29) with zero home runs in nine games in July before going on the IL, so the Twins are hoping he can get going again as they seek a playoff spot down the stretch.

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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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