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Maikel Garcia Maikel Garcia Likely bound for IL
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 4:42 PM
Manager Matt Quatraro said that Garcia is likely to be placed on the injured list after suffering a left hamstring strain during Thursday's game against the Athletics, Joel Goldberg of Royals.tv reports.
Analysis: Garcia suffered the injury while rounding third base in the first inning and came out of the game immediately afterward. The 26-year-old had been playing in just his fourth game since returning from a nearly two-month stay on the IL caused by a hand injury but is now set to go back on the shelf for at least the remainder of August. Nick Loftin will likely resume serving as Kansas City's primary third baseman. |
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Jhostynxon Garcia Jhostynxon Garcia Lands on 7-day IL
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 4:37 PM
Garcia was placed on the 7-day injured list Thursday with an undisclosed injury, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: The Pirates demoted Garcia to Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 14 after he had been up with the big club since July 29. The 23-year-old got three hits with a RBI and no walks across 11 plate appearances in the three games he appeared in after being optioned. |
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Robert Hassell III Robert Hassell III Hits 7-day IL
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 4:31 PM
Hassell was placed on the 7-day injured list Thursday with an undisclosed injury, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Hassell was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis from Double-A Altoona on Aug. 18, but did not make an appearance prior to the injury designation. He had been with Double-A Altoona since August. 8, where he got four hits with two RBI and six walks across 24 plate appearances in a five game stretch. |
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Raisel Iglesias Raisel Iglesias Secures 26th save
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 4:05 PM
Iglesias earned the save in Thursday's 2-0 win over the White Sox, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Analysis: Iglesias was summoned to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning and did so on 12 pitches. The 36-year-old has posted a 7.04 ERA through eight appearances in what has been a shaky August, but he's still converted three of four save chances. On the year, he's 26-for-29 in save opportunities to go along with a 3.09 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 51:14 K:BB across 46.2 innings. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Remaining out Thursday
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 4:03 PM
Pena (hand) isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Pena made an early exit from Wednesday's contest after taking a pitch off his hand, and he'll need at least one day off to recover before returning to the starting nine. Nick Allen will start at shortstop as a result and bat eighth. |
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Anthony Kay Anthony Kay Posts quality start in loss
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 4:02 PM
Kay (9-6) took the loss against Atlanta on Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk with six strikeouts over six innings.
Analysis: Kay departed after allowing a leadoff double in the seventh inning, throwing 62 of 94 pitches for strikes to earn his sixth quality start of the season. It continued a consistent second half for the southpaw, who's yielded three earned runs or fewer in each of his seven outings since the All-Star break. He'll take a 3.96 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 104:45 K:BB across 127.1 innings this year into a home matchup with the Rangers next week. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Resting up Thursday
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:59 PM
Walker isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Walker will get a chance to regroup Thursday after going 0-for-15 with eight strikeouts across his last four games. LaMonte Wade will start at first base and bat leadoff while Walker sits. |
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Grant Holmes Grant Holmes Rebounds in win
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:57 PM
Holmes (8-5) earned the win against the White Sox on Thursday, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out three over six scoreless innings.
Analysis: Holmes carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, throwing 55 of 94 pitches for strikes with a whopping 16 whiffs. The 30-year-old got hammered for six runs Saturday, but he's posted three scoreless quality starts in his other August outings. He'll carry a 3.64 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 100:54 K:BB across 123.2 innings this season into a home matchup with the Dodgers next week. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Sitting down Thursday
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:57 PM
Diaz isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Diaz will sit out a second consecutive game after posting a .443 OPS in 37 plate appearances since the beginning of August. Christian Vazquez will start behind the plate and bat ninth Thursday. |
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Denzer Guzman Denzer Guzman Riding pine Thursday
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:51 PM
Guzman isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Astros, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Analysis: Guzman will retreat to the bench after going 2-for-8 with two RBI and four strikeouts across the first two games of the series. His absence will cause Vaughn Grissom to move to third base, opening up the keystone for Adam Frazier. |
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Austin Wynns Austin Wynns Enters open market
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:47 PM
Wynns cleared waivers Thursday and elected free agency.
Analysis: Wynns was pushed off the 40-man roster Tuesday when Danny Jansen returned from the injured list, and the former will now pursue his next opportunity through free agency rather than accepting an assignment to Triple-A Round Rock. Wynns has managed just a .378 OPS in 89 big-league plate appearances this season, so he almost certainly will need to settle for another minor-league deal. |
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Cade Smith Cade Smith Holds on for 32nd save
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:45 PM
Smith worked around two walks to earn the save in a scoreless ninth inning Thursday against the Giants. He struck out one.
Analysis: San Francisco brought the potential tying run to the plate, but Smith was able to hang on and close it out for the Guardians. The star closer hasn't let in an earned run since July 12 in Miami, a streak of 12 straight outings. Through 57 innings, Smith boasts a 2.21 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 80:20 K:BB with 32 saves in 37 chances. |
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CJ Abrams CJ Abrams Exiting starting nine
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:45 PM
Abrams is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Rangers.
Analysis: It's the first day off since July 1 for Abrams, who is slashing only .167/.268/.306 across his last nine games. The Nationals will deploy Nasim Nunez and Jose Tena in the middle infield for Thursday's series finale. |
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Sammy Peralta Sammy Peralta Back in majors
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:38 PM
The Angels recalled Peralta from Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.
Analysis: Peralta has given up five earned runs over 5.2 major-league innings this season, but he'll be welcomed back into the Angels' bullpen in order to make up for the loss of Samy Natera (back). Peralta isn't likely to see much work outside of low-leverage situations. |
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Samy Natera Jr. Samy Natera Jr. Lands on injured list
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:35 PM
The Angels placed Natera on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to Monday, with lower-back spasms.
Analysis: Natera hasn't appeared in game since Aug. 11, though his back didn't begin to bother him until Saturday. He'll now be forced to remain on the sidelines through the end of the month, which will allow Ben Joyce to continue working as the Angels' premier high-leverage reliever. Sammy Peralta was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake in a corresponding move. |
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Andres Gimenez Andres Gimenez Feels better, no MRI scheduled
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:35 PM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Gimenez had "good strength, good mobility" during testing of his right hamstring after Thursday's game versus the Rays, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Gimenez was removed from Thursday's game when he tweaked his hamstring while attempting to beat out an infield single. The Blue Jays will wait to see how Gimenez feels Friday, but for now he is not scheduled to undergo an MRI. If Gimenez does ultimately have to miss time, Josh Smith and/or Charles McAdoo would be in line for more playing time. |
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Riley O'Brien Riley O'Brien Narrowly escapes with 33rd save
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:34 PM
O'Brien secured the save Thursday against the Reds, allowing no runs on one hit and two walks in one-third of an inning.
Analysis: O'Brien needed just one out to finish it off for the Cardinals but made things very interesting, allowing two inherited runners to come across before getting Matt McLain to line out sharply to right field. The All-Star right-hander gave up his first hit since Aug. 2 in Toronto, so his grip on the Cardinals' closer role remains strong. Through 52 innings, O'Brien sports a 2.94 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 53:22 K:BB with a league-leading 33 saves in 38 attempts. |
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Landen Roupp Landen Roupp Losing ways continue
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:09 PM
Roupp (7-13) took the loss against the Guardians on Thursday, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out two.
Analysis: Roupp coughed up three runs in the first inning but settled in, as Cleveland didn't score again until the sixth inning. Control remains a major issue for the right-hander, who has now walked at least three batters in five consecutive starts while posting a troubling 17:19 K:BB during that span (24.2 innings). Roupp, who has now taken a loss in five straight outings, will bring a 4.34 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 130:64 K:BB over 134.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance against the Reds. |
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Gavin Williams Gavin Williams Continues racking up strikeouts
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:06 PM
Williams (12-7) notched the win against the Giants on Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out 11.
Analysis: Willaims dominated at times, touching 100 mph with his fastball three times while generating 18 whiffs, but San Francisco did manage to get to him for a pair of runs in the fourth inning. The right-hander continues to be a strikeout artist, fanning double-digit hitters in six of his last eight outings. Williams, who is tied with Dylan Cease for the league lead in punchouts, will take a 3.72 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 201:48 K:BB over 154.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance against the Angels in Anaheim. |
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Shane Bieber Shane Bieber Dazzles in fifth win
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:04 PM
Bieber (5-2) notched the win against Tampa Bay on Thursday, allowing one run on four hits and no walks in seven innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: Bieber authored arguably his finest performance of the season so far, spinning seven innings of one-run ball versus the first-place Rays. The right-hander matched a season high in innings and registered a season-best seven punchouts, throwing at least 5.2 innings in his fourth straight start as well. Bieber will try to further improve on a 4.53 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 44:24 K:BB over 55.2 innings in his next scheduled appearance, which is projected to be a favorable home draw versus the Royals. |
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