Basallo's big Baltimore payday; Red Sox promote 'Password'

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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August 21: What you need to know for Thursday

Todd Zola: Six matinees and three evening affairs comprise today's abbreviated nine-game slate. Action gets underway at Target Field with a 1:10 p.m. ET contest between the Minnesota Twins and the Athletics.

• Salvador Perez returned to the Kansas City Royals lineup yesterday, going 1-for-3 with a walk in a 6-3 loss to the Texas Rangers. Perez had missed the prior two games due to an illness. So far this season, the durable backstop has appeared in 119 of the Royals' 127 games.

• The Chicago Cubs revealed that Kyle Tucker has been playing with a hairline fracture in his right hand, but it's now healed. The outfielder gave way to rookie Owen Caissie for the first three games of a home series with the Milwaukee Brewers. After losing the first game of the five-game set, the Cubs have won the next three to draw within six games of the first-place Brewers. It's unclear if Tucker will return for today's finale. Tucker's injury reportedly occurred on June 1. Since, he has hit .236/.352/.368, with a preponderance of weakly hit grounders, likely due to adjusting his mechanics to deal with the hand issue.

• Shohei Ohtani will sit out today's matinee with the Colorado Rockies. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated that today was a scheduled day off, but it also makes sense given that Ohtani was hit by a comebacker in the fourth inning last night. Ohtani completed the frame but then left after yielding a total of five earned runs on nine hits. He was removed for a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning. The Dodgers fell 8-3, dropping their NL West lead to one game over the San Diego Padres.

• Brandon Nimmo is questionable for this afternoon's rubber game between the New York Mets and Washington Nationals. He left last night's tilt in the third inning as a result of a stiff neck. Nimmo reportedly hurt it while sleeping but had attempted to play through the soreness.

• Ha-Seong Kim was a late scratch from the Tampa Bay Rays lineup last night as he's been experiencing lower back tightness. Tristan Gray handled shortstop in the club's 10-inning loss to the New York Yankees. Kim has been saddled with injuries all season, having missed time due to a previous back issue along with shoulder, calf and hamstring woes.

August 20: What you need to know for Wednesday

Todd Zola: Today's 14-game docket begins at 12:35 p.m ET in the Steel City with the Pittsburgh Pirates entertaining the Toronto Blue Jays. Three more matinees follow, leaving 10 evening affairs. The Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox enjoy a rare Wednesday day off.

• Joey Ortiz left the nightcap of yesterday's doubleheader early after fouling a ball off his knee. X-rays came back negative, but Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy indicated Ortiz would miss the next game of the five-game set with the Chicago Cubs. The Brewers will try to rebound after being swept in yesterday's twin bill at Wrigley Field.

• As discussed yesterday, the Cubs indeed held Kyle Tucker out of both games of Tuesday's double-dip, with Owen Caissie starting both tilts in right field. The rookie went a combined 3-for-6 for the day, scoring twice and adding four RBIs. Caissie also slugged his first career home run. There's no indication when Tucker will return to the lineup.

• The Cleveland Guardians will reportedly call up Parker Messick from Triple-A Columbus to start today's afternoon affair in the desert against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Messick earned his first MLB start by posting a 3.47 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP for the Clippers. He fanned 119 over 98 2/3 innings.

• Jacob deGrom was scratched from tonight's road matchup with the Kansas City Royals. The Texas Rangers did not immediately announce the replacement after last night's game. However, we expect Kumar Rocker to be recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. Right shoulder fatigue is the reason that deGrom will have his turn through the rotation bypassed. The club hopes he can return on Monday.

• Kenley Jansen was charged with the loss last night when the Los Angeles Angels fell 6-4 to the Cincinnati Reds. Jansen was brought in for the ninth inning of a 4-4 tie and yielded two runs. After the game, he reported he's dealing with an injury but declined to provide details. If the closer must miss time, Reid Detmers is the probable replacement. After beginning the season with a 15.75 ERA and a 2.50 WHIP over his first eight innings, Detmers has since recorded a 2.38 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP with 58 punchouts spanning 41 2/3 stanzas.