Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that right-hander Shane Baz (illness), who was scratched from his start on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels due to the flu, was feeling better and threw on Wednesday. The plan is for Baz to throw a bullpen session on Thursday and be slotted back into the starting rotation on Saturday at Tropicana Field against the San Diego Padres. It won't be a great matchup for the former first-rounder in his return from an illness. The 25-year-old has only made eight starts in 2024 after returning from Tommy John surgery, but he's been serviceable in those eight starts, going 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 36 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched for the Rays. His last outing was his best, going 7 2/3 shutout innings with three walks and four strikeouts on Aug. 20 against the Oakland Athletics.

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder), who won't pitch in the majors this year after undergoing shoulder surgery last October, will be a notable addition to the team's traveling party this weekend in Cincinnati and will throw another bullpen after throwing his first bullpen session of 15 pitches this Tuesday at American Family Field before the series opener against the San Francisco Giants. His next session is scheduled for Friday or Saturday at Great American Ball Park, depending on the weather. These are early days in Woodruff's recovery as he makes a bid to return to the form that produced a 3.10 ERA over his first seven seasons in Milwaukee. The 31-year-old is signed for 2025 and has a mutual option for 2026. If healthy next year, he'll be rostered in all fantasy formats.

The Los Angeles Angels are calling up left-handed pitching prospect Samuel Aldegheri from Double-A Rocket City, according to sources. The 22-year-old southpaw will be the first pitcher born and raised in Italy to play in the major leagues, and he is expected to make his big-league debut on Friday against the division-rival Seattle Mariners. The Angels acquired Aldegheri from the Philadelphia Phillies at the trade deadline at the end of July in the deal that sent reliever Carlos Estevez to the Phils. Aldegheri is the team's No. 8 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder has made only six starts at the Double-A levels of the Angels and Phillies, but he has fanned 134 hitters while walking 41 in 95 1/3 innings over 19 total starts in the minors in 2024. He's primarily a fastball-slider pitcher that could stick in the Angels' rotation beyond his start on Friday. Aldegheri will be a pretty risky streamer in his debut.

Oakland Athletics rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson and catcher Shea Langeliers are sitting out of Thursday's contest against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Nick Allen will get the nod at shortstop for the A's and will hit in the nine-hole, while Kyle McCann will do the catching for rookie right-hander J.T. Ginn in his first big-league start against Reds right-hander Julian Aguiar. Wilson will get a day off after recently returning from the injured list due to a hamstring strain. The 22-year-old has gone 1-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored in his second and third big-league games this week. The team's top prospect will get the rest of the season as the club's starting shortstop and is worth rostering in most fantasy leagues. Langeliers needs one homer to set a new career-high in that category with 23 in his second full MLB season.

The Houston Astros officially signed free-agent outfielder Jason Heyward to a one-year deal on Thursday and designated pitcher Janson Junk for assignment in a corresponding move to open up a spot on the 40-man roster. The Astros continue to look for platoon help in right field with Kyle Tucker (shin) still out, especially after they optioned Chas McCormick to the minors on Thursday. Tucker is expected back at some point in September, but until then, the 35-year-old Heyward could see ample playing time in right field against right-handed pitchers in Houston. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues can leave Heyward to the waiver wire, but he could be an interesting short-term flier in AL-only leagues. The Los Angeles Dodgers cut Heyward recently after he hit just .208/.289/.393 with a .682 OPS, six homers and 28 RBI in 173 at-bats this year.