Rays seek offensive boost; Padres' King on IL

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 15: What you need to know for Friday

Todd Zola: The Chicago Cubs are home this weekend, which means today's action gets underway at 2:20 p.m. ET in Wrigley Field, with the Pittsburgh Pirates visiting the North Side.

• The Tampa Bay Rays made a move to give their sputtering offense a jolt by calling up Robert Seymour from Triple-A Durham. The 26-year-old first baseman is expected to be in the lineup versus right-handers. He's hit .263/.327/.553 in the minors, though his 25.7% strikeout rate is high, especially when considering "age to level." Seymour will likely make his MLB debut tonight when the Rays visit the San Francisco Giants.

• For the Giants, RHP Landon Roupp is slated to start after completing a rehab assignment for right elbow inflammation. However, he'll be on a pitch count after tossing just 50 pitches in his last outing with Triple-A Sacramento.

• Michael King was originally scheduled to start tonight when the San Diego Padres visited the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a key NL West series, but the right-hander is back on the IL. Last Saturday, King returned from a shoulder that had sidelined him since mid-May. However, he injured his knee during the two-inning stint. The Padres called up Randy Vasquez to take King's spot in the rotation. It's unclear whether Vasquez will be deployed as a traditional starter this evening, or if he'll merely handle bulk innings.

• Owen Caissie made his MLB debut last night, going 0-for-4 in the Cubs' 2-1 road loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Caissie served as the DH with Seiya Suzuki starting the game on the bench. Suzuki's OPS was .904 at the end of May, but he's posted only a .744 mark since then. Caissie can also play corner outfield, but is likely to garner most of his action at DH. He's not expected to take over full time.

• The Washington Nationals designated Nathaniel Lowe for assignment. The club needed a roster spot to activate Dylan Crews, so they cut bait with Lowe and his disappointing .216/.292/.373 production. Lowe had recorded a .274/.359/.432 line over four seasons with the Texas Rangers before they traded him to the Nationals in the off-season. Lowe will likely be claimed off waivers with the hopes he can recapture his earlier success.

August 14: What you need to know for Thursday

Todd Zola: It's another quiet Thursday with only seven games on the docket. Action gets underway at 1:05 p.m. ET at Camden Yards with the Baltimore Orioles taking on the Seattle Mariners in the rubber game of a three-game set. There's one more matinee, followed by five evening affairs.

• Luis Castillo was initially slated to start today for the Mariners, but manager Dan Wilson moved Logan Evans up a day to give Castillo extra rest. The move also sets up Bryce Miller to replace Evans in the rotation next week. Miller logged what is likely his final rehab start last night, throwing 76 pitches over 5 2/3 innings.

• The Chicago Cubs will reportedly promote Owen Caissie from Triple-A Iowa in advance of today's road date with the Toronto Blue Jays. Caissie is one of the club's top prospects. He earned the callup with a .291/.391/.567 line in 92 games on the farm. Caissie played most of his games in right field but can also handle left field as well as DH. It's unclear where the Cubs will use the 23-year-old lefty swinger with Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki blocking him.

• The Washington Nationals announced that Dylan Crews will be activated from the 60-day IL before tonight's home tilt with the Philadelphia Phillies. He has missed almost three months due to a strained oblique. Crews was batting only .196/.266/.354 when he was hurt on May 20. The 23-year-old outfielder played 12 rehab games with Triple-A Rochester, posting a .256/.326/.436 line. He'll likely take over as the regular right fielder, reducing the playing time of Daylen Lile and Robert Hassell III.

• Kyle Karros has started all six games at third base since being called up by the Colorado Rockies last Friday. He's batting .333/.417/.476 and he's yet to make his Coors Field debut (slated for tomorrow night). The club recently promoted Warming Bernabel, another third baseman, though he's settled in at first base. Bernabel's line over 16 games is an impressive .313/.323/.578. The Rockies are pacing towards 118 losses, but at least they'll get a good look at what could be their future corner infielders.