The Chicago Cubs are promoting outfield prospect Owen Caissie from Triple-A Iowa, Jesse Rogers of ESPN reports. The 23-year-old Canadian will join the Cubs in Toronto on Thursday and could make his debut against the Blue Jays. Chicago acquired Caissie from the San Diego Padres as part of the return for right-hander Yu Darvish in December 2020, and he now ranks as the Cubs' top prospect and the game's 45th-best farmhand at MLB Pipeline. The left-handed hitter earned his way to the majors this year by slashing an excellent .292/.393/.573 with 22 home runs and 52 RBI in 400 plate appearances with Iowa. The Cubs will have to figure out how to distribute outfield/DH playing time with Caissie joining Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Ian Happ, but the team has been in a funk lately and could use a jolt. Caissie may be able to provide it.

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Houston Astros reliever Bryan Abreu closed out the Boston Red Sox to log his first save of the year in a 4-1 win on Wednesday. With closer Josh Hader now on the 15-day injured list with a strained left shoulder, the Astros called on Abreu to pitch the ninth. While Abreu did allow back-to-back singles to start the inning, he retired three in a row and punched out the last two hitters he faced in a scoreless frame. Manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that he won't name a full-time closer in Hader's absence (which may be lengthy), but Abreu has excelled this season and should continue to receive save opportunities. The 28-year-old right-hander has pitched to a 1.64 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP, 81:25 K:BB, and 25 holds in 55 innings.

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Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya (ankle) sprained his left ankle on Wednesday and will head to the 10-day injured list, manager Craig Counsell told reporters. Amaya suffered the injury when he stepped on first base awkwardly on an infield single in the eighth inning of the Cubs' 4-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. He had to be carted off the field with what looked like a catastrophic injury, but X-rays came back negative. It's unclear how long the Cubs will go without Amaya, who just returned on Wednesday after missing over two months with a strained left oblique. The 26-year-old has appeared in just 28 games this season and hit .281/.314/.500 with four homers, 25 RBI, and 14 runs scored in 103 plate appearances. Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire will handle the catching duties in Amaya's absence.

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Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) was able to use his full repertoire during an 18-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday, according to the team. Means is slowly building back up as he rehabs from the elbow surgery he underwent in June 2024 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. The owner of a lifetime 3.68 ERA over 401 innings and 78 appearances (73 starts), Means hit free agency last winter and joined the Guardians on a one-year, $1 million guarantee. The deal also includes a $6 million club option for 2026, so the Guardians will want to see Means in game action before deciding whether to pick it up. The Guardians expect the 32-year-old to debut in September if he avoids setbacks.

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Cleveland Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas (foot) is "feeling a lot better" and "progressing really well" as he works back from plantar fasciitis in his right foot, manager Stephen Vogt said. Thomas has been running and participating in some baseball activities as he moves toward a potential September return. The 29-year-old has gone through a slow recovery process since he landed on the 10-day IL on July 5, continuing a frustrating season for him. Thomas has been on the IL three times (twice for foot issues, once for a wrist injury) and has seen his production crater when he has taken the field. After combining for a .250/.309/.428 line with 60 homers and 60 stolen bases from 2022-24, Thomas has hit a meek .160/.246/.272 line with four HRs, 11 RBI, 10 runs scored, and four steals across 142 plate appearances in 2025.

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Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene turned in an ace-like performance on Wednesday in an 8-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Making his return after missing two-plus months with a groin injury, Greene fired six shutout innings and allowed three hits with no walks and six strikeouts on 85 pitches (58 strikes). He generated 16 whiffs and gave up just one extra-base hit - a double to Kyle Schwarber. Greene has been on the IL twice this year with groin issues, but the 26-year-old has delivered elite results when healthy. Over 12 starts and 65 2/3 innings, Greene has gone 5-3 with a 2.47 ERA, a .93 WHIP, and 79 strikeouts against 14 walks. He's scheduled to make his next start against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.

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Chicago Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon (calf) was sharp in his third and final rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday. Taillon tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings of two-hit ball with four strikeouts and two walks on 84 pitches (51 strikes). Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated beforehand that it would be the last start in the minors for Taillon, who has been on the 15-day injured list with a strained right calf since July 1. He'll slide back into the Cubs' rotation with a 4.44 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and 74:20 K:BB over 95 1/3 innings. Taillon is expected to start during the Cubs' five-game series against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers next week.

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Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya (leg) had to be carted off the field on Wednesday after suffering an apparent leg injury against the Toronto Blue Jays. Amaya went down with the injury when he stepped on first base awkwardly on an infield single in the top of the eighth inning. The Cubs replaced him with Reese McGuire. It's an awful development for Amaya, who came back from the injured list on Wednesday after missing around two and a half months with a strained left oblique. Amaya had been out since May 25 and looks likely to end up right back on the IL. The 26-year-old went 1-for-3 on Wednesday and has hit a solid .280/.314/.500 with four homers, 25 RBI, and 14 runs scored in 103 plate appearances this season.

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New York Mets right-hander Tylor Megill (elbow) began a rehab assignment for Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday. Megill struck out four batters over 1 2/3 scoreless innings while getting his pitch count up to 41 pitches. He did give up three hits and a walk. Megill is rehabbing back from a right elbow sprain and should need a few more rehab starts before being activated from the IL. Megill had a solid season when he went down mid-June with his injury. Over 14 starts, he racked up 89 strikeouts over 68 innings with a respectable 3.95 ERA and 1.36 WHIP.

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Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Brock Stewart (shoulder) does not have any structural damage in his injured right shoulder, manager Dave Roberts told reporters. Rather, Stewart is dealing with "wear and tear," Roberts said. The Dodgers placed the 33-year-old on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with inflammation. Stewart has since received an injection and won't throw for at least a week. Los Angeles acquired Stewart from the Minnesota Twins at the July 31 trade deadline to help bolster its bullpen, but it hasn't worked out so far. Stewart has made four appearances since the trade and given up two earned runs on six hits with 3:2 K:BB in 3 2/3 innings. Overall, though, Stewart has pitched to a stingy 2.63 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP, 44:13 K:BB, and 16 holds across 37 2/3 frames.

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New York Mets right-hander Christian Scott (elbow) threw a bullpen session last week and is "doing well." Scott is recovering from a hybrid Tommy John and internal brace procedure on his pitching elbow last September. The 26-year-old is not expected to pitch this year and is on the 60-day injured list. If all goes well, Scott may end up having a relatively "normal" off-season and could be ready for spring training of 2026. Scott made nine starts in the majors in 2024 with 39 strikeouts, 4.56 ERA, and a 1.20 WHIP across 41 innings.

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Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz is getting the night off on Wednesday against Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen. Tyler Soderstrom will replace Kurtz at first base and bat cleanup, while Carlos Cortes will play left field and occupy the leadoff spot. Kurtz is off after starting 14 games in a row for the A's dating back to July 28. The AL Rookie of the Year favorite has gone 15 straight contests without a home run since his incredible six-hit, four-HR, eight-RBI outburst against the Houston Astros on July 25. While he's a modest 15-for-54 (.278) with three RBI, 11 runs scored, and 20:11 K:BB since then, this has undoubtedly been a spectacular first season for Kurtz. The 22-year-old has slashed .300/.381/.618 with 23 homers, 62 RBI, and 56 runs over 337 plate appearances.

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Miami Marlins infielder Connor Norby (wrist) continues to rehab following wrist surgery in July. He participated in batting practice on Wednesday, although he is not expected back until the end of August at the earliest. Norby had surgery to repair a broken left hamate bone, and this type of surgery tends to zap the hitter's power when they first return. Norby hit six home runs and swiped seven bases over 72 games this year before his injury. The next step in his recovery program would be to get some live reps, followed by a rehab assignment.

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Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale (ribs) pitched two innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday. He gave up three hits, one run, with a pair of strikeouts, getting up to 40 pitches. Sale averaged 93.9 mph with his fastball, which was down from his 95 mph season average. The southpaw is likely to make two more rehab starts before joining Atlanta's rotation. Sale was following up his monster 2025 season this year until he went down with a fractured left rib in June. He was (5-4) with a K/9 of 11.49, which was his highest since 2019. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Sale as he's expected to be reinstated from the IL soon.

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With Chicago White Sox infielder Miguel Vargas (oblique) returning from the 15-day injured list and playing first base on Tuesday, infielder Curtis Mead made the start at third base. The 24-year-old former top prospect was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline at the end of July, and he finished Tuesday's game 2-for-5 with an RBI single and two runs scored. With the team in a rebuilding phase, Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that the White Sox can afford to let Mead play through growing pains. The Aussie infielder entered play on Wednesday slashing .232/.321/.324 with three home runs, 13 RBI, 16 runs and five steals in 142 at-bats. In his first eight games for the Pale Hose, Mead has gone 7-for-27 with five RBI. The boost in playing time makes him rosterable as infield depth in AL-only leagues.

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Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins (thumb) has been on the injured list with a Grade 2 left thumb sprain since July 7. He has progressed to on-field hitting and defensive work as well. Hoskins is still on track to begin a rehab assignment in late August and could return to the Brewers' active roster in September. Andrew Vaughn has been filling in at first for the Brewers, posting a 1.055 OPS through his first 27 games, and has helped Milwaukee rack up a 12-game winning streak. When Hoskins returns, he could still slot in as the team's designated hitter after posting a .242 batting average with 12 home runs and 42 RBI before landing on the injured list.

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Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Zach Eflin (back) will be undergoing back surgery on August 18 and is expected to be out four to eight months. Eflin will undergo a microdiscectomy for his lumbar spine after he revealed that he has had a nagging back issue for the past five to six years. Eflin said he hopes to return to the Orioles in free agency. The 31-year-old also added that this surgery is also just as much about improving his quality of life and "being a good dad." Based on this medical timeframe, he could return sometime around spring training 2026. Eflin had a rough go of it this year with multiple IL stints, posting a (6-5) record with a career high 5.93 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 71 1/3 innings.

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Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Michael Kopech (knee) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, according to manager Dave Roberts. Kopech will follow right-hander Roki Sasaki (shoulder). The Dodgers probably are in no rush to bring Kopech back to the active roster since he's been sidelined with a torn meniscus in his right knee since early July. When the hard-throwing 29-year-old is able to return, he'll settle into a late-inning, high-leverage setup role for the defending World Series champions. Kopech had a 1.13 ERA and went 4-0 with six saves in the second half of last season after the Dodgers acquired him from the White Sox, and he tossed seven scoreless relief innings with four walks and eight strikeouts in eight appearances earlier this year. It's possible Kopech could enter the committee picture for saves in L.A. down the stretch.

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Houston Astros left-handed closer Josh Hader (shoulder) landed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a left-shoulder strain and is expected to miss more than two weeks. Manager Joe Espada did not anoint a fill-in closer on Tuesday and hasn't established specific roles for the back end of the bullpen with Hader out. "I'm not naming (anyone) for the ninth, naming (anyone) for the eighth," Espada said. Bennett Sousa got the save over the Boston Red Sox on Monday when Hader was unavailable, but the favorite for the majority of the save opportunities in Houston with Hader out will be Bryan Abreu. However, Espada indicated the team could mix and match in the late innings without Hader, who has converted 28 of his 29 save chances in 2025. Abreu has pitched very well in a setup role this year, and his nine career saves are the most among the rest of the group. If Abreu is still available on your league's waiver wire, pick him up immediately.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gustavo Campero (ankle) was diagnosed with a high left-ankle sprain and will miss significant time, according to MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. However, Campero has not been ruled out for the rest of the season yet. The 27-year-old Colombian sprained his ankle on Tuesday night while trying to rob Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy of a home run down the right-field line. While nothing is official, it's more likely than not that we won't see Campero again for the Angels this year since they are becoming more of a long shot to make the postseason. With Mike Trout still not cleared to play defense and with Jorge Soler (back) still on the injured list, Bryce Teodosio should continue to start in the outfield in Anaheim. Campero has only played in 28 games in 2025 and has gone 10-for-58 (.172) with three homers, eight RBI and four stolen bases.

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