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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September 1: What you need to know for Monday

Todd Zola: The holiday slate gets underway at 1:05 p.m. ET with the Washington Nationals hosting the Miami Marlins. Twelve more games follow, with all but one afternoon affairs in the local time zone.

• The Nationals are slated to call up Andrew Alvarez to start against the Marlins. He’s taking the place of MacKenzie Gore, who was placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Alvarez isn’t considered a top prospect, posting a 3.95 ERA and 1.35 WHIP as a 25-year-old with Triple-A Rochester.

• The San Francisco Giants also need to replace an injured starter today with Carson Whisenhunt visiting the 15-day IL with a sore back. They recalled Kai-Wei Teng yesterday and will send him to the hill in Coors Field to face the Colorado Rockies. Teng has fared well in the minors, but he struggled in an earlier stint with the Giants, and the Rockies have been more productive lately.

• Taylor Ward was carted off the field yesterday after his head struck the left field scoreboard under the Crawford Boxes while chasing a fly ball. The Los Angeles Angels reported that Ward was cut above the right eye, requiring stitches, but is otherwise fine. His availability for the wraparound finale with the Houston Astros is unclear.

• The Astros will activate Luis Garcia in advance of the contest to make his first MLB start since May 1, 2023. The righty incurred multiple setbacks while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Garcia tossed 75 pitches in his final rehab outing, so he should not be limited today. Something to keep in mind is that Garcia was notoriously slow between pitches and does not have much experience working with the pitch clock.

• Leading AL Rookie of the Year candidate Nick Kurtz missed his second straight game yesterday as he’s nursing a sore oblique. He underwent an MRI on Saturday which did not show any damage, so the Athletics hope he’ll be back soon. Kurtz is considered day-to-day, with Tyler Soderstrom filling in at first base and Carlos Cortes back-filling left field.

August 31: What you need to know for Sunday

Todd Zola: The last slate of the month gets an early start with a 12:10 p.m. ET affair at Great American Ballpark with the Cincinnati Reds trying to avoid being swept by the St. Louis Cardinals. The ESPN Sunday night affair features the Philadelphia Phillies hosting the Atlanta Braves.

• The second game on the docket involves the San Diego Padres and the Minnesota Twins getting together at Target Field for the rubber game of their interleague set. Dylan Cease was originally scheduled to take the hill for the Padres, but instead they’ll give everyone in the rotation an extra day and instead use David Morgan as the opener, followed by Kyle Hart, who is expected to be activated in advance of the contest.

• Nick Kurtz missed yesterday’s Athletics game with a sore oblique. He underwent imaging which showed he did not suffer a strain, so the club is hopeful that their AL Rookie of the Year candidate can return to the lineup soon. It’s unclear if he can play today when the Athletics look to salvage the final game of a three-game series with the Texas Rangers in Sacramento, after the visitors claimed the first two games.

• It was a triumphant return to the Milwaukee Brewers lineup for Jackson Chourio as he broke a 1-1 tie with a solo shot in the top of the ninth in the Rogers Centre. The Brewers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1, with Abner Uribe collecting his fourth save. He has two this week after taking over for injured closer Trevor Megill.

• Nathaniel Lowe rejoined the Boston Red Sox yesterday after being away for a couple of days while on paternity leave. He didn’t play, despite the Pittsburgh Pirates sending righty Johan Oviedo to the Fenway Park hill. Lowe will likely be back in the lineup this afternoon when Mitch Keller and the Pirates go for the sweep. The Red Sox will turn to Lucas Giolito to be the stopper.

• MacKenzie Gore lined up to start today’s home date with the Tampa Bay Rays, but the Washington Nationals placed the left-hander on the 15-day IL with shoulder inflammation. There is no timetable for Gore’s return, but with only a month left, there is no reason to rush him back.

August 30: What you need to know for Saturday

Todd Zola: Today’s first game is at 3:07 p.m. ET with the Toronto Blue Jays hosting the Milwaukee Brewers. Three more matinees get underway about an hour later, and there are 11 evening affairs.

• The Brewers will activate Jackson Chourio from the 10-day IL in advance of this afternoon’s contest. He’s expected to resume his role as the every-day centerfielder.

• The Atlanta Braves are expected to activate Chris Sale from the 60-day IL prior to today’s road game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The lefty has been out since mid-July with a left rib fracture. Sale threw 77 pitches in his final rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett, but with the club playing out the string, there is no reason to push the veteran.

• The Minnesota Twins announced that Mick Abel will move to the bullpen, with Taj Bradley taking his spot in the rotation, beginning tonight. Bradley was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline. He has struggled in three starts for Triple-A St. Paul, posting a bloated 7.53 ERA and 1.63 WHIP, though he fanned 18 with just two walks in 14 1/3 innings. The Twins want a firsthand look at the 24-year-old right-hander, so he’s likely to stay in the rotation even when Pablo Lopez returns in early September.

• The Boston Red Sox released Walker Buehler, opting to eat around $3 million in remaining salary for this season and pay a $3 million buyout. The move was surprising in that Buehler was expected to work out of the bullpen the rest of the season. One reason that Buehler was considered expendable is the emergence of prospect Payton Tolle, who made his MLB debut Friday. Tolle held his own against Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates, yielding two runs in 5 1/3 innings, fanning eight in a no decision. The Pirates won 4-2 with Skenes notching the win to even his record at 9-9.

• Tolle wasn’t the only pitching prospect to debut Friday, as the New York Mets gave the ball to Jonah Tong for a home matchup with the Miami Marlins. The Mets responded by putting 19 runs on the board, helping the rookie cruise to his first win. Tong gave up four runs, but only one was earned, and he struck out six in five frames in the 19-9 blowout.

• The Arizona Diamondbacks recalled Jordan Lawlar from Triple-A Reno. He began the season in the minors, then was called up in mid-May but went 0-for-19 with three walks before being demoted. He was getting back on track, but then he suffered a Grade 1 hamstring injury, sidelining him until mid-August. Lawlar batted .279/.367/.465 in 10 games, earning his second stint in the majors this season. He’s ticketed to play third base, with Blaze Alexander serving a super-utility role.

• The San Diego Padres will be without Xander Bogaerts for an extended period after an examination revealed he fractured his foot after fouling a ball off it Wednesday night. A timetable is unclear, and Jose Iglesias is expected to handle shortstop.

August 29: What you need to know for Friday

Zola: Tonight’s 15-game slate gets underway at 6:40 p.m. ET with the St. Louis Cardinals visiting the Cincinnati Reds. After a week with cooperation from Mother Nature, two spots bear watching this evening. The bigger threat is in Fenway Park where the Boston Red Sox are scheduled to host the Pittsburgh Pirates. There is also some concern at Coors Field with the Colorado Rockies entertaining the Chicago Cubs.

• Weather permitting, Payton Tolle will make his MLB debut for the Red Sox. It’s been a meteoric rise for the 22-year-old lefty. He began the season with High-A Greenville, then moved to Double-A Portland before making three starts for Triple-A Worcester. At 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, Tolle is an imposing figure. He throws his fastball in the low 90s, but his perceived velocity is higher due to his frame and extension. Tolle also uses a low-80s slider. He has a chance to make a few starts with Richard Fitts sidelined and Kyle Harrison struggling in the minors.

• The New York Mets are also promoting one of their top pitching prospects, summoning Jonah Tong for a spot start. The club wants to give all of their rotation an extra day of rest, so they are calling up the 22-year-old righty for what could be a one-time visit. Tong opened the season with Double-A Binghamton, posting a 1.68 ERA and an 0.92 WHIP with 162 strikeouts over 102 innings before advancing to Triple-A Syracuse. In his two starts at the highest minor league level, he registered 11 2/3 scoreless innings with 17 punchouts. His combined 179 strikeouts lead the minor leagues.

• Corey Seager underwent an appendectomy yesterday, so he will be out until at least mid-September. However, if the Texas Rangers fall out of playoff contention, they may opt to shut down their prized shortstop. In other club news, Evan Carter will be transferred to the 60-day IL today, officially ending his season. Dylan Moore, recently released by the Seattle Mariners, will join the Rangers and take Carter’s 40-man roster spot.

• Connor Norby is slated to return to the Miami Marlins‘ lineup tonight. He’s been out since July 13 after undergoing surgery on his left hamate bone. Norby hopes to finish strong, salvaging a disappointing year where he hit only .241/.289/.364 prior to being sidelined. The 25-year-old third baseman recorded a .353/.421/.765 line in 19 plate appearances while rehabbing with Triple-A Jacksonville.