MLB Player News

This is the first real update we’ve had on Jobe’s status in a long time. The best case scenario to his recovery from Tommy John surgery last June was likely a late season return this year and Tigers’ president of baseball operations Scott Harris said the team was hoping he could be back in September at the Winter Meetings. Progressing to long-toss is the first step in that process and the electric young right-hander could find a small role during the Tigers hopeful playoff push.

Musgrove, making his way back from Tommy John, averaged 94.6 mph with his fastball, which is really encouraging. He averaged 93.0 mph in his 19 starts in 2024, and his career high for a season was 93.5 mph in 2018. He threw 53 pitches today, so he’ll probably need at least one more rehab start. However, the uptick in his stuff makes him worth stashing in mixed leagues now.

Conine’s first homer was a two-run shot that left the bat at 115 mph, the hardest-hit ball by a Marlin this season. His second came off a 40-mph eephus with the game well out of reach. He’s a platoon player with a strikeout rate hovering around 30%, but his profile has some strong batted-ball metrics. Conine has hit 2-5 in the lineup in every game against right-handers this month, increasing his fantasy value in daily lineup leagues.

Gusto struck out four and walked one in the 60-pitch outing. He’d gone over 75 pitches in each of his past two starts, but Miami limited him on Sunday afternoon. He stepped into the rotation when Max Meyer went on the IL shortly after the All-Star break, and he’ll likely stick for a while, given Braxton Garrett was traded at the deadline. Gusto doesn’t have much fantasy value, though, and his next start lines up in Cincinnati’s hitter-friendly ballpark.

Rodriguez struck out eight but couldn’t build on his best start of the season last time out. His K-BB% has improved over his past handful of starts, but he remains wildly inconsistent and pitches for one of the worst developmental organizations in pro baseball. Rodriguez now has a 7.20 ERA in 12 starts with the Angels. He remains off the fantasy radar next time out against the Royals.

Trout got off to a strong start, but March/April has been his best month by far. Things have only slipped further in August, with his strikeout rate well north of 40% in a small sample. Worse, the Angels’ lineup doesn’t surround him with much help, limiting his opportunities for counting stats. He has 19 homers this season but only 41 RBI. He stole five bases through April but has just three since. Trout is talented enough to go on a heater down the stretch, but serious environmental concerns cap his upside.

Five innings of one rehab game was apparently enough for Rutschman to prove he was ready to return from wrist inflammation. He’s expected to work out on the field prior to Monday’s game, and if that goes well, he should be activated. The Red Sox would then have to decide whether to DFA Jake Rogers or send Connor Wong to Triple-A.

Littell had a 4.97 ERA in 112 1/3 innings for Washington before being let go. The D-backs are getting Michael Soroka back this week, so Littell will probably pitch in middle relief initially, as there wouldn’t seem to be a rotation opening for him.

There might be a chance for Kimbrel to add to his career total of 440 saves in Kansas City. Thet don’t really have anyone else for the ninth right now. Kimbrel was just let go by the Rays after posting a 3.86 ERA in 18 2/3 innings for the club. He also had a 6.00 ERA in 15 innings for the Mets earlier this season.

Manaea didn’t allow any free passes while continuing his remarkable in-season turnaround. He opened the year in the bullpen and has only improved since joining the rotation in mid-June. Notably, his velocity has steadily increased the more he starts. The Pirates have scuffled lately, but they’ve scored the third-most runs in MLB this season. Manaea’s next start lines up at home against the Nationals.

Bichette had a monstrous game as the Mets erupted for 15 hits in Pittsburgh. The highlight was a bases-clearing three-run double in the fourth. Bichette hasn’t had the season he or Mets fans hoped for when he signed last offseason, and there’s been no sign of a turnaround since the All-Star break. He rode a .380 BABIP to a red-hot June but has posted a below-average wRC+ in every other month.