Fantasy baseball news: Ohtani ailing, but still hitting; Yelich getting a breather

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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Sept. 4: What you need to know

Todd Zola: The first of today’s six games gets underway at 4 p.m. ET with the Philadelphia Phillies visiting the Milwaukee Brewers in a battle of first-place squads. It’s an odd schedule in that there are no games on the West Coast, with all of the other five contests starting by 7:40 p.m. ET.

• After a quiet stretch weather-wise, three games could be affected by rain. Before setting lineups, check the forecast for the Pittsburgh Pirates hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Tampa Bay Rays entertaining the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins welcoming the Chicago White Sox.

• Christian Yelich was scratched from last night’s contest due to a sore lower back. He was replaced at DH by Jackson Chourio, who is nursing a hamstring cramp and had been earmarked for a day off. Manager Pat Murphy has already indicated that Yelich will miss the final game of the Brewers’ road set in Philadelphia, with the hope he returns tomorrow when the Brewers begin a series with the Pirates.

• Shohei Ohtani was supposed to take the hill last night, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reported that the two-way star was under the weather. His start was pushed to the weekend. Ohtani was still able to handle DH duties and went 2-for-5 in the Dodgers’ loss to the Pirates.

• Taylor Ward returned to the Los Angeles Angels lineup last night after missing two games with a cut above his eye incurred by running into the scoreboard on the Crawford Boxes wall in Houston. He served as the DH in yesterday’s 4-3 road win over the Kansas City Royals. However, Mike Trout missed his second consecutive game due to a skin infection. Trout will be questionable tonight when the Angels will try to sweep the Royals.

• Seth Lugo was initially ticketed to start tonight’s affair for the Royals, but he’s been experiencing tightness in his back, so Noah Cameron will take the hill. The rookie left-hander last took the mound on August 25. The Royals skipped his last turn in order to help manage his workload. Cameron’s 140 2/3 combined innings are already a career high.

• Shane Smith was originally tabbed to start today for the White Sox, but the club will instead open with Fraser Ellard before tagging in Jonathan Cannon as the bulk reliever in their road tilt with the Twins. Smith is now slated to pitch the opener of Chicago’s weekend set in Motown against the Detroit Tigers.

September 3: What you need to know

Todd Zola: Today’s full slate features four matinees, the first beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET with the Washington Nationals hosting the Miami Marlins. The remaining 11 matchups are all evening affairs.

• The Los Angeles Angels will reportedly call up Caden Dana to handle tonight’s road start against the Kansas City Royals. As a 20-year-old in 2024, he excelled with Double-A Rocket City posting a 2.59 ERA and an 0.95 WHIP with 147 strikeouts over 135 2/3 innings. The young righty appeared to be overmatched in a short MLB stint last season, then struggled with Triple-A Salt Lake this year. He has fanned 85 in 82 frames, but his command and control have lagged — he’s walked 46 and allowed 14 homers. Still just 21, Dana warrants patience. However, trusting him today is a tall order.

• It’s also uncertain whether or not the Angels will have Mike Trout’s services for today’s game as he’s been dealing with a skin infection. The future Hall of Famer missed last night’s contest and is questionable today.

• Kyle Tucker had to leave last night’s contest due to left calf tightness. Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated that Tucker would be on the bench for tonight’s home date with the Atlanta Braves. Rookie Kevin Alcantara will probably cover right field, with Willi Castro in the mix. The club does not consider the injury to be serious and hopes Tucker can return on Friday when they open a home series with the Nationals.

• The Boston Red Sox are also dealing with an injury to a key outfielder after Roman Anthony was forced from last night’s game as a result of left oblique tightness. He appeared to hurt himself while striking out in the fourth inning then went directly to the clubhouse and was replaced in the field for the fifth. Anthony is slated for an MRI this afternoon.

• On the mound, the club will use Brennan Bernardino to open tonight’s game with the Cleveland Guardians. After that, plans are murky as potential “bulk pitcher” Kyle Harrison is nursing a sore ankle. Using Dustin May on short rest is another option as the Red Sox look for the sweep.

• Nick Kurtz finally returned to the Athletics lineup last night after having missed three games due to a sore oblique. The 22-year-old slugger has just over three weeks to cement his AL Rookie of the Year candidacy. Through 94 games, he has posted an impressive .308/.402/.632 line.