Spencer Strider vs Cubs: under 6.5 strikeouts. Strider's strikeouts have cooled lately, with four or fewer Ks in four of his last five starts, and Chicago's patient approach keeps the K total in check. That dynamic makes the under a sharp play on a slate where variance is limited.

Yordan Alvarez over 0.5 home runs vs Bieber: Alvarez has heated up, piling hits in a three-hit stretch and he carries power upside against Bieber in a pennant race-driven matchup. The small samples against Bieber suggest a homer chance is real, adding upside to a hot Houston offense.

Zac Gallen over 17.5 outs vs Giants: Gallen has pitched to a high floor with six straight quality starts and should reach six innings, yielding 18+ outs in a tight race context with Arizona needing every outs possible.

Boston promoted Payton Tolle and hints at Connelly Early’s imminent arrival, but Early was scratched from a AAA start to preserve workload. The Sox passed on Zac Gallen at deadline, adding Dustin May instead to stabilize the playoff push. Early’s 2.60 ERA, 10-3 record, and 132 Ks in 100 innings across AA/AAA signal upside, with a possible bullpen or spot-start role when/if he debuts. Yoshida batting leadoff continues to fuel run opportunities, while May’s arrival strengthens the rotation for fantasy late-season value.

Boston chased Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly from Arizona by offering Connelly Early as the centerpiece, but the Diamondbacks sought more value than a late first-round pick and preferred to keep the veteran arms. Boston instead added Steven Matz and Dustin May to stabilize the rotation and bullpen as it pushes toward the playoffs. Gallen’s post-deadline form—2.20 ERA across seven starts (41 IP)—underscores the market’s premium on him, while May has struggled to a 5.40 ERA in five starts. Early looms as a tantalizing lefty prospect who could reach Boston soon, as Yoshida’s leadoff role keeps the lineup dynamic in Cora’s shuffle.

Zac Gallen’s August resurgence has fantasy managers buzzing. After a rough first half, the right-hander delivered a 2.57 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and .220 BAA in six August starts, and his 12-start run since early July sits at 3.42/3.28/1.10. He hasn’t tinkered with his repertoire; his four-seamer and knuckle-curve remain, but the fastball is carrying better results.

The improvement looks like a blend of better execution and favorable luck. The latest stretch shows a favorable gap between expected and actual BAA and a drop in hard contact, suggesting batters aren’t squaring him up as often. If that carries, Gallen becomes a credible late-season asset with potential qualifying-offer leverage for Arizona.

Mental game and a more authoritative fastball could sustain this run, even if the sample is still modest. Fantasy managers should weigh the upside against the risk of regression, but Gallen’s current form makes him worth a cautious, risk-aware investment down the stretch.