Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani once again put his remarkable two-way talents on display in a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. After Ohtani left his previous start early with cramping in his hip, the Dodgers were hoping to get four innings out of him against the Cardinals. That's exactly what happened. Ohtani completed four frames for the first time this year and allowed one run on two hits with eight strikeouts against no walks. The 31-year-old threw a season-high 54 pitches (37 strikes) as he continues building up his stamina and distancing himself from 2023 Tommy John surgery. He'll carry a stingy 2.37 ERA with 25:5 K:BB over 19 frames into his next scheduled start against his former team, the Los Angeles Angels, next Wednesday. Not to be forgotten, Ohtani also starred as a hitter on Wednesday. The three-time MVP slugged a two-run homer for his 1,000th career hit and drew a walk in a 1-for-3 day. After breaking a nine-game homer drought, he's slashing .276/.381/.606 with 39 HRs, 75 RBI, 106 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases in 521 plate appearances.

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St. Louis Cardinals reliever Riley O'Brien closed out the Los Angeles Dodgers to nab his first career save in a 5-3 victory on Wednesday. The right-hander took over for lefty JoJo Romero with two outs and a man on first in the bottom of the eighth, and he induced a Teoscar Hernandez groundout to end the inning. O'Brien stayed in for the ninth and tossed a scoreless frame with one walk to secure the save. With the team having traded closer Ryan Helsley at last week's trade deadline, O'Brien, Romero, and Kyle Leahy are among the candidates for saves in St. Louis. Romero has tallied two saves since the deadline, but the Cardinals brought him into the game to face lefty-swinging slugger Shohei Ohtani in the seventh with two outs, a runner on, and the Dodgers leading 3-2. Romero struck out Ohtani and ended up getting the win after the Cardinals took the lead for good in the top of the eighth. Without another southpaw in their bullpen, the Cardinals will continue using Romero before the ninth if he's available to face a tough lefty hitter like Ohtani. That figures to limit his save opportunities to some degree.

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Miami Marlins reliever Lake Bachar closed the door on a 6-4 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday to earn his second save of the season. Calvin Faucher and Ronny Henriquez have been the Marlins' top choices for saves this year, but they were unavailable for the ninth after pitching earlier in the game. Henriquez threw a scoreless seventh with one hit allowed and three strikeouts on 20 pitches to collect his 16th hold. Faucher gave up two hits and a walk in a 25-pitch eighth, but he struck out one and managed to keep any runs from scoring en route to hold No. 6. That left the ninth to Bachar, who yielded a two-out single to Jose Altuve but retired the other three hitters he faced and struck out Christian Walker to end it. While it was a positive outcome for the Marlins and Bachar, the team's lack of a go-to closer is hardly ideal for fantasy managers.

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New York Yankees reliever David Bednar earned his first save with the team in a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. Bednar, acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates last week, had to throw a whopping 42 pitches (25 strikes) to get the job done. He entered in the bottom of the eighth with one out and worked around a walk to escape the inning with a pair of strikeouts. Bednar stayed in for the ninth and ran into trouble with two outs when he allowed another walk and a single, but he fanned Adolis Garcia to end the game. The right-hander recorded all five of his outs via strikeout and has now converted 18 of 19 save opportunities this year with a 2.55 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and 59:12 K:BB in 42 1/3 innings. Bednar is sure to get Thursday off after taking on such a heavy workload Wednesday. After that, the two-time All-Star may go forward as the Yankees' top choice at closer with Devin Williams losing his grip on the job. Camilo Doval and Luke Weaver are also in the mix, though, so it's a situation that fantasy managers will have to continue to monitor.

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The Houston Astros moved third baseman Isaac Paredes (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday. The move means Paredes won't be eligible to return until mid-September, and it's up in the air whether he'll play again this year. Paredes went on the IL on July 20 with a significant right-hamstring strain, which could go down as a season-ending injury. The 26-year-old earned his second straight All-Star invitation in the first half after slashing .259/.359/.470 with 19 homers, 50 RBI, and 51 runs scored over 409 plate appearances. Paredes recently underwent a PRP injection and is putting off surgery in hopes of coming back this year. If he's unable to do that, the Astros are prepared to go without him after acquiring Carlos Correa and Ramon Urias at last week's trade deadline.

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Baltimore Orioles catcher prospect Samuel Basallo went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI against Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday. The 20-year-old phenom showed off his impressive power to all areas of the field, crushing a 1-1 changeup to left-center field. He's now homered for the third consecutive game and has multiple RBIs in three of his last four. This monster stretch during August has nudged his season-long OPS over 1.000 as he's compiled 23 homers in 71 games. His .335 isolated slugging is the best among all Triple-A hitters. Basallo has some of the best raw power of any prospect with a smooth, adaptable lefty swing that allows him to hit for damage on a variety of pitch locations. The quality of contact is absurd, and he makes plenty of contact to not be overly concerned with the swing and miss. He should be viewed as the best prospect in baseball and stashed away in fantasy leagues for his eventual arrival.

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Texas Rangers reliever Robert Garcia (1-7) suffered his seventh loss of the season in a 3-2 decision against the New York Yankees on Wednesday. Although the left-hander has been the Rangers' primary choice for saves this season, they brought him in early to pitch the top of the seventh in a 2-2 game. Garcia wasn't up to the task. He surrendered a one-out solo home run to Paul Goldschmidt and later gave up a two-out infield single to Ben Rice before manager Bruce Bochy replaced him with righty Shawn Armstrong. Garcia did collect two strikeouts, but the 29-year-old has now allowed at least one earned run in three straight appearances with two losses and two blown saves over that 1 1/3-inning span. The timing for Garcia is awful with the Rangers having acquired fellow high-leverage reliever Phil Maton at last week's trade deadline. Maton has tallied three straight scoreless appearances as a Ranger, even earning a save in Tuesday's win over the Yankees. He could emerge as Bochy's go-to guy (if he hasn't already) should Garcia's woes continue.

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San Francisco Giants left-handed reliever Erik Miller (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday. Miller has been out for just over a month with a sprained left elbow, though he could come back sometime in August if he doesn't suffer any setbacks. The 27-year-old has recorded a minuscule 1.50 ERA with 10 holds across 36 appearances and 30 innings this season. However, his success in preventing runs has come despite a lackluster 22:20 K:BB. With a 4.38 xERA, a 3.95 FIP, and a 5.10 xFIP, Miler is likely to face negative regression when he comes back this season.

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Houston Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti came off the injured list to make his first start since April 5 on Wednesday. It didn't go well. Facing the Miami Marlins, Arrighetti fell to 1-2 after coughing up five earned runs on a whopping 11 hits over 3 2/3 innings in a 6-4 loss. He threw 88 pitches (56 for strikes) and posted five strikeouts against one walk in his return from a thumb injury that shelved him for four months. The 25-year-old has made three starts this season and notched a 7.42 ERA (4.69 FIP) with a 1.58 WHIP, 13 strikeouts, and six walks in 13 1/3 frames. Arrighetti is scheduled to get the ball again on Tuesday, but he's in for a challenge with the Boston Red Sox coming to town.

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Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (hand) threw out to 90 feet and caught right-hander Zac Gallen's bullpen session on Tuesday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports. Moreno also hit off a tee for the second straight day as he continues working back from a hairline fracture in his right index finger. The 25-year-old hasn't played since June 14, but a CT scan came back clean Monday, paving the way for a potential mid-August return. Moreno hit .270/.324/.414 with five homers, 20 RBI, and 29 runs scored over 188 plate appearances before he went on the IL. James McCann and Jose Herrera have split catching duties for Arizona in Moreno's absence.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks announced that they have transferred right-handed reliever Kevin Ginkel (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL. The team selected the contract of righty Casey Kelly from Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move. This concludes a disastrous season for Ginkel, who went on the IL on Monday with a shoulder sprain and is now ineligible to return in 2025. Ginkel was effective out of the Diamondbacks' bullpen from 2022-24, a 164 2/3-inning span in which he notched a 2.95 ERA. This season was a different story, though. The 31-year-old battled shoulder troubles throughout the campaign and spiraled to a 7.36 ERA with a 1.64 WHIP, 29:13 K:BB, six holds, and three saves over 25 1/3 innings.

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Cincinnati Reds left-hander Wade Miley (forearm) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and will face live hitters Friday, manager Terry Francona announced. Miley hit the 15-day injured list with a flexor strain on June 20. The Reds have shifted Miley to the 60-day IL since then, meaning he'll be eligible to return on Aug. 19. The 38-year-old journeyman made three appearances (two starts) in June and struggled to a 6.75 ERA with 15 hits allowed, seven strikeouts, and six walks in 12 innings. Miley will continue to stay off the fantasy radar if he makes it back this season.

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Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed reliever Tanner Scott (elbow) threw a bullpen session Tuesday for the first time since he went on the 15-day injured list on July 22, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Scott, who's working back from elbow inflammation, got through the session without any issues. He'll throw one or two more bullpens before progressing to face live hitters, according to the team. The 31-year-old has served as the Dodgers' primary closer this season and logged a mediocre 4.14 ERA (up from 1.75 in 2024) with a 1.16 WHIP and 50:11 K:BB in 45 2/3 innings. With Scott having totaled a league-worst seven blown saves in 26 chances, there was some expectation that the Dodgers would land an established closer to replace him at last week's trade deadline. That didn't happen, though, so it seems likely Scott will reclaim the role if he makes it through his rehab without any setbacks.

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Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (shoulder) remains on track in his pitching progression and is playing catch up to 120 feet, according to MLB.com. Ragans is recovering from a left rotator-cuff strain that initially landed him on the 15-day injured list on June 11. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 8 and is expected to return in late August, barring a setback. Ragans is making slow progress and could return for the final month of the regular season, but he's running out of time, especially to help out fantasy managers. The 27-year-old southpaw will probably be on a short leash when he returns, too, and there's even the possibility he returns in a relief role. After being a first-time All-Star in 2024, it's been a very disappointing season for Ragans. He ran into bad luck in his 10 starts with a 5.18 ERA (2.43 FIP) while striking out 76 and walking 16.

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Kansas City Royals rookie outfielder Jac Caglianone (hamstring) has been able to hit and throw but hasn't introduced running into his rehab program yet after landing on the 10-day injured list on July 27 with a strained left hamstring, according to MLB.com. The 22-year-old left-handed slugger took live at-bats against rehabbing right-hander Michael Lorenzen last Thursday and is getting close to potentially going on a minor-league rehab assignment. The former two-way star and sixth overall pick in 2024 out of Florida has struggled in his first taste of the big leagues in 2025, but the elite power is there. Through his first 41 games with KC, he's gone 22-for-150 (.147) with five home runs, 10 RBI and a 34:8 K:BB. When Cags does return from the IL, he could be the team's primary designated hitter to close out the year after the Royals added Randal Grichuk and Mike Yastrzemski at the trade deadline.

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Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jonny DeLuca (hamstring) was removed from Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth inning due to left-hamstring tightness, according to Ryan Bass of Bally Sports. Before departing, DeLuca 1-for-3 with a triple before being replaced in center field by Jake Mangum. The 27-year-old should be considered day-to-day for now, but he could require a trip to the injured list if testing shows it's something serious. DeLuca was playing in just his 20th game of the season for the Rays on Wednesday but had seen more playing time over the last week with rookie Chandler Simpson dealing with a finger injury. If DeLuca requires time away, Mangum figures to benefit the most in Tampa's outfield. The Rays have a day off on Thursday before starting a series on Friday against the Mariners in Seattle.

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Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Lorenzen (oblique) made his first minor-league rehab start on Tuesday with Double-A Northwest Arkansas and allowed four runs on four hits (two homers) while walking three and striking out five in three innings of work. Lorenzen threw 66 pitches in the outing, per MLB.com. The 33-year-old veteran wasn't great in his first rehab start, but the primary takeaway is that he didn't have a setback with his left-oblique strain that landed him on the 15-day injured list on July 14. There isn't a guarantee that Lorenzen will return to KC's starting rotation when he's fully healthy. He has gone 5-8 in his first full season with the Royals with a 4.61 ERA (4.56 FIP) and 1.30 WHIP with 85 strikeouts and 29 walks in 99 2/3 frames over 18 starts. With a weak 7.7 K/9 and an up-in-the-air role to close out the season, Lorenzen doesn't carry much fantasy upside.

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Chicago White Sox rookie middle infielder Chase Meidroth (thumb) remains out of action for Wednesday's contest in Seattle against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Lenyn Sosa will get the nod at the keystone and will hit in the two-hole versus Mariners right-hander George Kirby. Meidroth is missing his fifth straight game, so if he's unable to return soon, he may be looking at a stint on the 10-day injured list after he was hit by a pitch on his right thumb last Wednesday. Sosa won't be a bad sleeper in DFS on Wednesday out of the two-hole while hitting .281 (96-for-342) on the year with 12 home runs, 44 RBI and 36 runs scored for the Pale Hose in 96 games played. He's gone hitless in only two career at-bats against Kirby. The 24-year-old Meidroth has been a modest speed contributor with 11 stolen bases for those in AL-only leagues in his first year in the Show.

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Miami Marlins starting pitcher Ryan Weathers (lat) was able to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday. This is a positive step forward for Weathers who is working his way back from a lat strain he suffered in early June. This session was the first time that Weathers has thrown off a mound since his injury. The southpaw still needs to build up his pitch count and stamina before returning to the big league mound. The expectation is that Weathers is going to need a rehab assignment before returning to the Marlins. Possibly, Weathers is able to pitch for the big league club before the end of August.

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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) is set to throw a live batting practice session on Thursday. Sale continues to progress from a fractured left ribcage he suffered in mid-June. The expectation is that Sale will likely go on a minor league rehab assignment after Thursday's session. It's unclear how many starts he'll need before rejoining the Braves rotation. Sale is eligible to be activated from the injured list on August 19. The assumption is that he'll rejoin the Braves rotation around then. There should be more information on his status following his batting practice session.

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