Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list on Friday before the series opener against the Seattle Mariners, according to Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune. Palencia was the Cubs' primary closer earlier this year before he landed on the injured list on June 16 with a flexor strain in his right elbow, but it remains to be seen how manager Craig Counsell will manage the back end of his bullpen down the stretch with Palencia back in the fold. Jacob Webb has emerged as a trusted source of saves for the Cubbies, having converted seven straight saves while giving up zero runs in his last 23 outings out of the bullpen. At the very least, Palencia will be eased into high-leverage situations in Chicago as he returns from yet another injury. The 26-year-old Venezuelan had a career-high 22 saves in the regular season in 2025, but he has appeared in only 19 games in 2026 while saving three games in 16 2/3 innings pitched. Fantasy managers scrounging for saves should be interested in stashing Palencia, who is rostered in 57% of Yahoo leagues.

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Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan (glute) threw an encouraging bullpen session on Tuesday, his first since landing on the 15-day injured list with a mild left-glute strain, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. The All-Star hurler threw all fastballs and sinkers in a 25-pitch session that pleased his coaches. "It's a step in the right direction for sure," Ryan said. "Very encouraging," Twins manager Derek Shelton said. "He looked free and easy. He's a very important part of our team. To see him out there and be healthy -- (it's the) first step in the progression to getting him back." Ryan has been solid all year for the Twins, but he allowed seven home runs and 16 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings in three starts after the All-Star break before landing on the IL. Pitching coach Pete Maki said that Ryan has implemented some delivery fixes while throwing on flat ground, and Maki has been encouraged. Ryan is happy to have resumed throwing off a mound, but he's still a bit cautious, and he has some more boxes to check before the Twins will clear him to rejoin the big-league starting rotation.

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New York Mets interim manager Andy Green said that infielder Jorge Polanco (ankle) will have season-ending surgery on his ankle after the team placed him on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with left-ankle bursitis, according to Steve Gelbs of SNY. Polanco has been dealing with ankle bursitis basically all year and tried to play through it in his first year in Queens. The 33-year-old Dominican switch-hitter is just another one of the many disappointments for the Mets this year. In his first season with the team, Polanco ended up playing in only 37 games (145 plate appearances) while going 20-for-135 (.148) with two home runs, six RBI, seven runs scored, nine walks, and 36 strikeouts. He also dealt with Achilles issues early in the season. Polanco is under contract for one more year with the Mets in 2027 and will be owed $23 million. He can obviously be dropped in any redraft leagues where he was still being rostered.

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Athletics left-hander Hogan Harris had a rough outing on Tuesday night, allowing three runs (two earned) and blowing the save in his team's 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals. However, Harris has now appeared in the ninth inning in each of his last five appearances and looks to have established himself as the Athletics' preferred closer. Across 54 2/3 innings (58 games) for the year, Harris has recorded a 3.79 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 72 strikeouts, and 12 saves. His 13.8% walk rate is a definite red flag in his profile and has been the driver of his elevated WHIP. However, Harris has limited opposing batters to a 5.7% barrel rate and 31.9% hard-hit rate while also logging a 28.5% strikeout rate. Fantasy managers should be prepared to absorb some ratio damage, but Harris remains a deep-league waiver wire target due to his saves upside.

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New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga got off to an awful start to the 2026 season, pitching to a 9.00 ERA across 20 innings (five starts) through the end of April before being placed on the injured list with a back issue. However, the Mets transitioned Senga into a high-leverage bullpen role at the start of August, and the 33-year-old has thrived. Across his last five outings, Senga has allowed just one hit and zero earned runs while recording seven strikeouts and three saves. With Mets closer Devin Williams (shoulder) currently on the 15-day injured list with a shoulder strain, Senga has emerged as the team's preferred ninth-inning option. The veteran right-hander always could miss bats, and working in short stints should allow him to stay healthier. In fantasy leagues where he's available, Senga profiles as a priority saves target.

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder Cody Bellinger (hamstring) will play in a minor league rehab game on Thursday and could return to the big leagues as soon as Sunday, per the Talkin' Yanks podcast. Bellinger has been sidelined since late July due to a hamstring strain. Across 434 plate appearances before the injury, the 31-year-old slashed .259/.350/.420 with 11 home runs, 53 RBI, 52 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. Bellinger's power production had tailed off significantly before he went down, as he did not record a single home run across 78 plate appearances in July. The veteran outfielder has also been caught six times in 16 stolen base attempts this season and may not look to run much upon his return from a hamstring ailment. Still, Bellinger should provide balanced production for fantasy managers once healthy. His return will likely lead to reduced playing time and/or a demotion to Triple-A for Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones.

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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Leahy notched his 10th win of 2026 on Tuesday, throwing five scoreless innings with six strikeouts in his team's 3-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Across 122 1/3 innings (24 starts) this season, the 29-year-old has recorded a 10-4 record with a 3.24 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 111 strikeouts. Leahy has been particularly hot of late, as he's logged wins in each of his last three outings and has not allowed more than two earned runs in a start since June 17. The right-hander generates a lot of ground balls, which can lead to a higher batting average on balls in play and an elevated WHIP. However, he's difficult to barrel up (0.88 HR/9) and has allowed a solid 6.8% walk rate. In his last 36 innings pitched, Leahy has walked just two batters. Particularly given his pitcher-friendly home environment in St. Louis, Leahy should be viewed as a priority waiver wire candidate in any league where he remains available.

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Cleveland Guardians outfielder Jo Adell (knee) was pulled in the eighth inning of his team's 8-1 win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday after taking a foul ball off the knee. Per Tim Stebbins of MLB.com, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said that Adell felt "pretty good pain" in the knee. The 27-year-old had a monster night before exiting the game, going three-for-four with a home run and six RBI. Adell has just 10 hits in 46 at-bats since being acquired by Cleveland from the Los Angeles Angels, but three of those 10 have left the yard. Across 510 plate appearances split between the two teams in 2026, Adell is hitting .237/.290/.405 with 19 home runs, 73 RBI, 63 runs scored, and three stolen bases. As long as Adell is in the Guardians lineup, he profiles as a solid power bat for fantasy managers. Stebbins reports that Cleveland will evaluate Adell on Wednesday, leaving his status as day-to-day for the time being.

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Chicago Cubs right-hander Kevin Gausman (hand) was pulled in the fifth inning of his start against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday due to a hand cramp, per Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Gausman allowed seven hits and three earned runs while recording five strikeouts across 4 1/3 innings before exiting the game. Gausman has struggled since being traded to the Cubs by the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline, pitching to a 6.13 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 16 innings (three starts). For the season overall, the 35-year-old has recorded a 6-11 record with a 4.58 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 143 strikeouts across 143 1/3 innings (26 starts). He's pitched to a 5.52 ERA across 31 innings since the All-Star break. While Gausman appears to have avoided a serious injury, his ongoing troubles on the mound put his fantasy value in question going forward.

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Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Lazaro Montes is fitting in just fine at Triple-A Tacoma, slashing .279/.361/.581 with 10 home runs in just 33 games for the Rainiers. His 35 home runs, spread across two levels, are the second-most in the minors this season. Although there is a lot of swing-and-miss in his profile, solid walk rates (10.1 percent at Triple-A) and prodigious power make up for it, with his average exit velocity, barrel rate, and hard-hit rate all coming in at 93rd percentile or better at Triple-A. There is a decent chance the left-handed slugger makes his MLB debut in the coming weeks, and he may end up being a drain on batting average in the majors, but his home run upside could be worth the risk for managers who can absorb the hit. The 21-year-old is one of the better stash options for power on the waiver wire for the stretch run.

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Cleveland Guardians catcher/outfield prospect Cooper Ingle has gone from one extreme to the other at the plate, and after hitting .425 (34-for-80) in the 19 games since being sent back to Triple-A, he's now batting .129 (4-for-31) over his last nine contests. That hasn't stopped the Guardians' third-ranked prospect from getting on base, though, as he's drawn a whopping 14 walks (.400 OBP) in that nine-game span. For the season, the former fourth-round draft pick is slashing .307/.433/.568 with 18 home runs in 79 games for the Clippers. The 24-year-old will likely have another opportunity to get back to the majors before the season is out, and with the contact, power, and keen eye he's shown at Triple-A this year, he could become fantasy-relevant, but without a clear path to playing time, there is little reason to stash him outside of very deep 14+ team and AL-only leagues.

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Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect Ralphy Velazquez produced yet another home run on Tuesday, going deep for the 11th time in his last 16 games at Triple-A Columbus. The Guardians' top-ranked prospect is also hitting .344 during that stretch, bringing his slash line to .267/.353/.506 with 15 home runs through 64 games for the Clippers. It has certainly put him in the conversation for a September call-up, though he is not yet on the 40-man roster. If there is an injury or underperformance on the big league club, though, it could open up a pathway to the majors, either at first base or in the outfield, as the Guardians fight for a playoff spot. The club ranks third-worst in the majors in runs scored per game (3.98), so the left-handed slugger could provide a powerful spark. Consider the 21-year-old one of the top stashes for home runs in most standard-sized redraft leagues.

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Miami Marlins outfield prospect Cam Cannarella continues to hold his own at Triple-A Jacksonville, producing some solid metrics so far, including a low chase rate (18.8 percent) which has in turn manufactured a high walk rate (16.5 percent), along with a strong hard-hit rate (55.8 percent) and high average exit velocity (91.4 percent), all of which register in the 88th percentile or better among Triple-A players. It has resulted in a .284/.418/.405 slash line through 21 games for the Jumbo Shrimp, with one home run and six steals. His 24.0 percent strikeout rate might be on the high side, but that number is skewed by some early growing pains, with that number coming in at 17.8 percent in August (11 games, 7:8 BB:K). While the Clemson product possesses an intriguing toolset, it's unlikely we'll see him in the majors this season after having started the year at High-A, but he's definitely a name to know in the event of a surprise call-up, and the 22-year-old's dynasty stock has certainly increased quite a bit this year.

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Washington Nationals infield prospect Seaver King went 1-for-5 on Tuesday at Triple-A Rochester, extending his hit streak to nine games, with his lone hit being a home run, which gives the Nats' fourth-ranked prospect a round-tripper in three of his last four contests. During the nine-game hit streak, the former first-rounder is 16-for-37 (.432) with two doubles, five home runs, and a pair of stolen bases. It brings his season slash line at Triple-A to .298/.372/.513 with 10 home runs and six steals in 48 games for the Red Wings. While it has been an impressive stretch, it was reported last week that the organization does not expect to promote the youngster to the majors in 2026, even despite moving incumbent CJ Abrams to second base. As such, there is no need to stash the 23-year-old in redraft leagues, though his dynasty arrow is still pointing up.

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Cleveland's LF Jo Adell had six RBIs going 3-for-4 with a home run in a 8-1 win over the Giants on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Baltimore Orioles' SP Shane Baz recorded 10 strikeouts in 6.1 innings but took the loss in a 3-1 loss to the Yankees on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage (knee) resumed throwing from flat ground on Tuesday, per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Yesavage underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee last week. However, he appears to be making quick progress in his recovery and could have a chance to make it back to the big league mound before the end of the regular season. Across 93 2/3 innings (18 starts) in 2026, Yesavage has recorded a 5-5 record with a 3.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts. In addition to his current knee injury, the 23-year-old missed time early in the year with a shoulder impingement. With roughly six weeks left to go in the regular season, Toronto could be planning for Yesavage to work as a bulk reliever or in short stints as a starter if he can get healthy before the end of the year. Whether he makes it back or not, Yesavage's fantasy utility for the remainder of 2026 is an open question.

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Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said that the team is preparing to deploy outfielder Roman Anthony (finger) as a leadoff hitter once he returns from injury, per Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. Anthony has not played since early May due to a partially torn tendon in his finger. However, the 22-year-old began a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Tuesday and appears to be on the doorstep of a return to the big leagues. Across 130 plate appearances in 2026 before getting injured, Anthony hit .229/.354/.321 with one home run, five RBI, 12 runs scored, and two stolen bases. He owns a 13.9% walk rate and a .383 OBP across 433 career MLB plate appearances. Ahead of Anthony's impending return to the Red Sox lineup, he projects as a high-upside bat for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire in leagues where he may have been dropped.

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that starting pitcher Max Fried (elbow) could miss the minimum 15 days after being placed on the injured list on Tuesday, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Fried is dealing with a recurring bone bruise in his left elbow that kept him out for over two months in the middle of the year. The veteran left-hander has been productive when healthy in 2026, recording a 4-4 record with a 2.81 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 79 strikeouts across 86 1/3 innings (15 starts). The Yankees activated starting pitcher Carlos Rodon from the IL on Tuesday to take Fried's place in their rotation, so the team could simply be looking to manage the workload of their veterans down the stretch. If he can indeed make a quick return, Fried could still impact fantasy leagues in the final month of the season. Still, Fried's elbow injury will be a concern until he proves it is fully behind him.

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Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-hander Daniel Palencia (elbow) will be activated off the injured list "soon," per Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network. Palencia has been on the IL since mid-June due to elbow inflammation, but he's made five minor league rehab appearances since August 5 and appears to be on the doorstep of a return to the big leagues. Across 16 2/3 innings (19 games) on the year, Palencia has recorded a 2.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 19 strikeouts, and three saves. The Cubs have deployed a closer committee for most of the year and could continue to do so once Palencia returns. However, the 26-year-old recorded 22 saves in 2025 and profiles as Chicago's highest-upside relief arm. Ahead of his impending activation, Palencia should be viewed as a priority waiver wire target in any fantasy league where he remains available.

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