Fantasy baseball: Bobby Witt Jr. solid in Royals return and more news for WednesdayBobby Witt Jr. had a successful return to the Royals lineup on Tuesday night. APESPN FantasyAug 5, 2026, 06:49 AM ETClose
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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Aug. 5: Wednesday’s news to know
By Todd Zola
Today’s action gets started at 2:10 p.m. ET with the Houston Astros entertaining the Toronto Blue Jays. Three more afternoon games follow before we get to the 11 contests being held under the lights.
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The Blue Jays will send newly acquired Jameson Taillon to the hill in the matinee. With Trey Yesavage leaving Tuesday’s start due to a knee injury, the club’s current plan will be to use a six-man rotation going forward. Taillon will be needed until Spencer Arrighetti is ready to come off the 15-day IL in mid-August, and perhaps longer.
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The Kansas City Royals welcomed back Bobby Witt Jr. last night. The star shortstop had missed two weeks due to tightness in his lower back. Witt didn’t miss a beat, going 3-for-5 with a pair of runs and RBIs in the club’s 8-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
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Jordan Walker was scratched from last night’s game between the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees with right knee inflammation. Nelson Velazquez filled in at right field in the 2-0 loss in the Bronx. Walker’s status for today is unclear.
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The Seattle Mariners reinstated Brendan Donovan from the 10-day IL and inserted him at third base. He has been out almost three months as a result of a strained left groin. Donovan is expected to man the hot corner, at least until J.P. Crawford returns from the IL. Colt Emerson has been handling shortstop while Crawford nurses his sore wrist.
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Dalton Rushing has been diagnosed with a slight ulnar collateral ligament tear in his right elbow. The Los Angeles Dodgers are hopeful that Rushing will not require season-ending surgery and can return in September. They’re already down a catcher with Will Smith not expected to come off the IL until late August. A pair of backstops acquired at the deadline will serve as the Dodgers’ catchers, with Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia sharing the action behind the plate.
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The Athletics will be without slugger Nick Kurtz after placing him on the 10-day IL because of a right thumb strain. He had missed both games over the weekend, then received a platelet-rich plasma injection yesterday. Kurtz’s timetable to return is unclear.
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Be sure to check out the just in fantasy lineup advice as well as the MLB betting tips for Wednesday.
Aug. 4: Tuesday’s news to know
Washington’s James Wood may miss some time for a Nationals team already looking ahead to next season. Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesBy Todd ZolaAll 30 teams are back in action tonight, with the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels kicking things off at 6:35 p.m. ET at Camden Yards. Other than some game-time showers near Truist Park, weather should not be an issue anywhere. The game between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins isn’t in jeopardy, as mentioned rain is expected to clear quickly.
Note: Check out the great work by my colleagues Tristan H. Cockcroft and Eric Karabell as they put a fantasy spin on every key trade from the past few days.
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The Braves lineup gets a key cog back with Sean Murphy returning from an extended absence. The backup catcher and DH has been out for almost three months due to a fractured left middle finger. Murphy’s return allows starting catcher Drake Baldwin to see more action at DH, which should help to keep him fresher down the stretch.
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James Wood is scheduled for an MRI today after hurting his left side while swinging the bat in the sixth inning of Monday night’s game. The Washington Nationals were sellers at the deadline, even though they lead the league in runs per game. Wood is one of the primary reasons for the offensive success, as he’s the No. 3 hitter on the ESPN Player Rater, one spot behind teammate CJ Abrams. Yordan Alvarez from the Houston Astros is top of the list.
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With newly acquired Robbie Ray and Casey Mize both set to join the San Diego Padres rotation later this week, Randy Vasquez gets the call tonight on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Vasquez was unable to sustain his early-season success and was moved to the bullpen in mid-June, then missed just over two weeks as a result of an ankle issue. Since returning, he has posted a 2.45 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP, but with just four strikeouts over 11 innings. He’ll return to a long-relief role after tonight’s start in the desert.
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The Diamondbacks will be without C Gabriel Moreno for at least tonight’s contest against the Padres as he’s set to be placed on the paternity list. By rule, Moreno can miss one to three days. James McCann caught last night and is expected to do so again tonight.
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The Pittsburgh Pirates fortified their bullpen with the additions of Kirby Yates, Luke Weaver, Lake Bachar, and Camilo Doval. Only Doval was with the club last night, and he appeared in a setup capacity with Mason Montgomery recording his third save in the Pirates’ 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. It’s unclear who, if anyone, will emerge as the closer, but Weaver might be the favorite.
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Lengthening the bullpen will help the Pirates offset the loss of Mitch Keller for the rest of the season. The right-hander was diagnosed with a right teres major muscle injury. Carmen Mlodzinski is a candidate to replace Keller in the bullpen.
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The New York Yankees didn’t stop after adding Heliot Ramos and Luis Garcia Jr. to bolster their offense as they promoted top prospect George Lombard Jr. to take over at shortstop. Anthony Volpe and Jasson Dominguez were optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Lombard was batting .268/.405/.440 in 56 games with Triple-A. The 21-year-old also stole 10 bases in 15 tries. He’ll likely see most of the action at shortstop, pushing Jose Caballero into a utility role.
