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.
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August 11: What you need to know for Monday
Todd Zola: Action gets underway at 6:10 p.m. ET with the Philadelphia Phillies visiting the Cincinnati Reds. Ten more games follow, with storms in the Midwest possibly affecting the Detroit Tigers hosting the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals entertaining the Washington Nationals.
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The White Sox will open their contest with RHP Elvis Peguero, before passing the baton to LHP Tyler Alexander. Alexander has been serving in a swingman capacity, so he isn’t fully stretched out enough to handle a starter’s workload. How the Tigers handle their lineup will be intriguing since Kerry Carpenter and Colt Keith typically play against righties while Jahmai Jones and Andy Ibanez face southpaws. Chances are Carpenter and Keith will both get a first-inning at-bat with the platoon edge, with a chance they might be replaced once the lefty takes the hill.
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Cristian Javier is slated to make his 2025 debut tonight when the Houston Astros host the Boston Red Sox in the opener of an important series for both clubs. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2024. He completed his rehab assignment with a 3⅔ inning effort for Triple-A Sugar Land. Over five rehab outings, Javier fanned 15 over 14 frames, but he also walked 15 hitters. The Red Sox aren’t especially patient, but they can be one of the most productive offenses in the game. Javier will probably be limited to around 85 pitches, which is sufficient to complete five frames if he doesn’t issue too many walks.
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The Red Sox expect to have Carlos Narvaez back behind the plate tonight when they visit the Astros. One of the biggest surprises this season didn’t start for the fourth straight game yesterday, but he was able to catch the seventh and eighth innings of Sunday’s 6-2 loss to the San Diego Padres. Down on the farm, Kristian Campbell has hit .353/.457/.559 over Triple-A Worcester’s past 19 games. He could be called up soon and become the team’s regular first baseman.
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The Minnesota Twins should garner a boost early this week with Byron Buxton‘s expected return — perhaps as early as this evening when they take on the New York Yankees in the Bronx. Buxton has missed time due to a rib issue but passed a variety of tests over the weekend.
August 10: What you need to know for Sunday
Todd Zola: The first of 14 matinees gets started at 1:05 p.m. ET with the Minnesota Twins hosting the Kansas City Royals. The ESPN Sunday night affair is the rubber game of the weekend set between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals defended their home turf on Friday, then the Cubs captured yesterday’s tilt.
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Luis Severino was scratched from today’s start and was placed on the 15-day IL with a left oblique strain. Hogan Harris was called up to fill the roster spot, though Luis Morales will pick up the start, but he’ll likely be more of a multiple-inning opener before turning the game over to the bullpen. Morales worked as a reliever for the last month. Osvaldo Bido is slated to log multiple frames as well.
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Wenceel Perez was forced out of Saturday’s game after he fouled a ball off his foot. The early diagnosis is just a bruise, but the area is still swollen so he’ll likely undergo further tests today. Perez is considered day-to-day. He has been wielding a hot bat, posting a .387/.441/.710 line over his prior nine games. He clearly won’t keep up that pace, but the streak cemented full time status for the 25-year-old switch-hitting outfielder.
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Carlos Narvaez sat out for the fourth time in five games last night as he’s nursing a sore knee. The Boston Red Sox regular backstop has a respectable .726 OPS while playing solid defense. The disappointing Connor Wong has filled in for Narvaez this week, though the club did claim Ali Sanchez off waivers, but he hasn’t garnered any action yet. Manager Alex Cora anticipates that Narvaez will miss today’s game, though Cora indicated that Narvaez could catch in an emergency.
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Matt Wallner will be away from the Twins for up to three days after being placed on paternity leave yesterday. Carson McCusker was summoned from Triple-A St. Paul to fill the roster spot.
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With Devin Williams yielding multiple runs for the third time in his past five appearances on Friday night, New York Yankees manager turned to David Bednar for last night’s save against the Houston Astros. He was brought in with one out and the bases loaded in the eighth inning with the Yankees nursing a 4-3 lead. Bednar walked in the tying run, then fanned the next two batters. Trent Grisham put the Yankees back in the lead with a home run in the bottom of the frame, then Bednar notched a clean ninth inning to capture the win (after being credited with a blown save). With Bednar throwing 23 pitches, he’s probably unavailable today. Camilo Doval also tossed 25 pitches yesterday, with Luke Weaver needing 11 to handle the seventh inning. With everyone but Williams probably unavailable, it will be interesting to see how Boone navigates the late innings if it is a close affair. Max Fried gets the start and has logged at least seven innings eight times this season, but the last instance was June 25.