Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher David Bednar (back) should be ready to begin a throwing program later this week or early next week. He was placed on the 15-day injured list two weeks ago due to a lower back issue. The 27-year-old will begin a throwing program soon and start a rehab assignment as early as next week. He is 17-for-21 in saves chances with a 2.70 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 63:13 K: BB across 46 2/3 innings in 2022. Wil Crowe will handle closing duties for the Pirates until Bednar is activated from the injured list. Crowe hasn't recorded a save since August 2 and is only an option for fantasy managers searching for saves in deep-league formats.

From RotoBaller

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty (shoulder) will make his next rehab start Sunday with Double-A Springfield. He pitched well in his previous rehab start, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out four across three scoreless innings. The 26-year-old has been sidelined most of the season due to a shoulder injury. Barring any setbacks on Sunday, Flaherty is on track to rejoin the Cardinals rotation in early September. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Flaherty in all league formats.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays interim manager John Schneider said left-hander Yusei Kikuchi will transition to a relief role. He has struggled this season, posting a 5.25 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a 91:49 K:BB across 82 1/3 innings in 2022. The 31-year-old is expected to pitch out of the bullpen, starting with Saturday's game against the Yankees. Mitch White will draw the start and replace Kikuchi in the starting rotation. The 27-year-old has allowed four earned runs with a 5:4 K:BB over 9 1/3 frames in two starts since being acquired by the Blue Jays. White owns a 3.72 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 52:23 K:BB across 65 1/3 innings in 2022.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Diamondbacks OF Stone Garrett had his contract selected from Class AAA Reno Wednesday, Aug. 17. The team also optioned OF Seth Beer to Class AAA Reno and designated LHP Paul Fry for assignment.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Rowan Wick tossed a perfect inning to earn the save during Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals. He entered the ninth inning to protect a one-run lead. The 29-year-old needed 14 pitches to earn his eighth save of the season. He has now recorded three saves since the Cubs traded David Robertson at the MLB trade deadline. The right-hander is the Cubs' primary closer and should be rostered in all league formats. Wick owns a 4.14 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts over 50 innings in 2022.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch Wednesday and Thursday with Triple-A Oklahoma City and could be activated from the 15-day injured list during the team's three-game series against the Miami Marlins this weekend. He has been sidelined since mid-July due to right shoulder inflammation. The 23-year-old has racked up nine holds and three saves with a 3.35 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 35:10 K: BB across 40 1/3 innings 2022. Graterol is expected to be used in high-leverage situations and as one of the Dodgers' primary setup men once he returns to action.

From RotoBaller

San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth cleared the bases with a grand slam in the first inning of Wednesday's 10-3 defeat of the Miami Marlins. He added a single and a walk later in the contest, making him 2-for-4 on the day. Cronenworth is having a competent season with the bat, slashing .239/.343/.387 with 12 HRs, but has an excellent 72 runs and 63 RBI over 117 games. However, after new additions at the trade deadline, he's been bumped down in the lineup so run production may be harder to come by. With limited batting average and power, it's hard to justify starting him if the counting stats aren't there.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Angels infielder Luis Rengifo (back) was removed from Wednesday's loss to the Seattle Mariners due to back tightness. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI double before exiting with the injury. The 25-year-old is considered day-to-day, and his next chance to return is Friday against the Detroit Tigers. He has been locked in the plate recently with a seven-game hitting streak, including three home runs and nine RBI over his last 30 at-bats. Rengifo is slashing .273/.309/.438 with nine home runs, 33 RBI, 29 runs, and five stolen bases in 84 games in 2022.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Diamondbacks OF Stone Garrett had his contract selected from Class AAA Reno Wednesday, Aug. 17. The team also optioned OF Seth Beer to Class AAA Reno and designated LHP Paul Fry for assignment.

Arizona Diamondbacks OF Stone Garrett had his contract selected from Class AAA Reno Wednesday, Aug. 17. The team also optioned OF Seth Beer to Class AAA Reno and designated LHP Paul Fry for assignment.

Milwaukee Brewers RHP Trevor Kelley was recalled from Class AAA Nashville Wednesday, Aug. 17. The team also optioned RHP Jason Alexander to Class AAA Nashville.

Milwaukee Brewers RHP Trevor Kelley was recalled from Class AAA Nashville Wednesday, Aug. 17. The team also optioned RHP Jason Alexander to Class AAA Nashville.

San Francisco Giants RHP Zack Littell (oblique) was activated from the injured list Wednesday, Aug. 17. The team also optioned OF Luis Gonzalez to Class AAA Sacramento.

San Francisco Giants RHP Zack Littell (oblique) was activated from the injured list Wednesday, Aug. 17. The team also optioned OF Luis Gonzalez to Class AAA Sacramento.

Texas Rangers RHP Joe Barlow (finger) was activated from the injured list Wednesday, Aug. 17. The team also placed LHP Matt Moore on the bereavement list and designated RHP Garrett Richards for assignment.

Texas Rangers RHP Joe Barlow (finger) was activated from the injured list Wednesday, Aug. 17. The team also placed LHP Matt Moore on the bereavement list and designated RHP Garrett Richards for assignment.

Texas Rangers RHP Joe Barlow (finger) was activated from the injured list Wednesday, Aug. 17. The team also placed LHP Matt Moore on the bereavement list and designated RHP Garrett Richards for assignment.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) had successful flexor tendon surgery on Wednesday, according to skipper A.J. Hinch. Skubal's timetable for a return is unknown, but he's already been ruled out for the rest of this year and could possibly be late to begin the 2023 season, depending on how his rehab goes in the offseason. The 25-year-old southpaw had surgery after visiting with a specialist last week. A typical recovery for this type of surgery is around nine months, so fantasy managers should be expecting him to miss the start of next year. Skubal had a career-low 3.52 ERA (2.96 FIP) with a 1.16 WHIP and a 117:32 K:BB in 117 2/3 innings over 21 starts in 2022 before suffering his elbow injury.

From RotoBaller

Right-handed reliever Dellin Betances, the former All-Star reliever for the New York Yankees, announced his retirement from professional baseball on Wednesday. Betances was with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a minor league contract before he was released on Wednesday, leading to his decision to hang up his cleats. The 34-year-old had shoulder surgery last summer and had a rough 10.26 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 19 strikeouts and 14 walks in just 16 2/3 innings in two minor league stops for the Dodgers this year. In his prime, Betances made four straight All-Star squads with the Yankees from 2014-17. Although he only had 36 career saves in 10 major league seasons, he was once one of the more feared late-inning, hard-throwing arms when he was at his best.

From RotoBaller

New York Mets INF Eduardo Escobar (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Aug. 17, because of a strained oblique. The team also recalled LHP Sam Clay from Class AAA Syracuse and designated RHP R.J. Alvarez for assignment.