Four sneaky Week 20 waiver targets surface as potential weekend embeds: Zebby Matthews, Hurston Waldrep, Cade Cavalli and Ben Brown. Matthews brings AFL-like strikeout upside and improving command, with a trendline that hints at a productive second half if his heater and slider calm the surface numbers. Waldrep has flashed swing-and-mip upside with a new split-finger look and a three-pitch mix that keeps hitters guessing. Cavalli returned from a long layoff with velocity gains and a sharpened knuckle curve, signaling he could handle a larger workload. Brown has found a modest two-start rhythm thanks to a heavier knuckle-curve usage, making him a deeper-league streaming option. Fantasy managers should monitor workload, matchup windows, and how each pitcher performs against mid-rotation lineups as August progresses, while keeping rosters flexible enough to chase surges in a thin starter market.

Jurickson Profar delivered a jaw-dropping Catch of the Year candidate in Atlanta. Leap-and-glove over the left-field wall, robbing Agustín Ramírez off a ball off Hurston Waldrep, turned a Braves-Marlins tilt into instant highlight reel material. The moment underscored Profar’s veteran versatility across five positions, even as he returns from an 80-game suspension and a season that’s seen him post six homers, three steals, and a .231 average in 36 games. Atlanta entered the day 19 games under .500, making the play feel like a bright spark in a trying season.

Ramírez’s deep-left shot that sparked the sequence and Waldrep’s role on the mound set the stage for social-media thunder, with fans dubbing it the best catch of the year and marveling at Profar’s range. The moment fits into a larger narrative about Profar’s career arc—top-prospect turned durable veteran while Atlanta hunts its footing in the NL East. Fantasy players will watch how this defensive brilliance translates into a steadier lineup and continued multi-position eligibility as the stretch run airs in.

Overall, the highlight lands as a reminder that elite defense can swing momentum and lift a team’s profile even when the standings aren’t favorable. For Profar, a week-to-week answer to rostering questions may hinge on where his bat and defensive versatility align in the Braves’ evolving lineup.

Pete Alonso is on the doorstep of Mets history, entering a six-game homestand with 252 career homers to tie Darryl Strawberry for the franchise mark. The next chance to set the Mets’ all-time HR record comes in the Braves series at Citi Field, where Alonso has already slugged 12 of his 26 this season. He’s focused on wins first, but the moment is tangible, especially with a playoff race intensifying around the postseason push.

The Mets sit 5.5 games back in the NL East and in the final wild-card slot, riding a rough stretch after being swept in Milwaukee. Braves pitchers Spencer Strider, Carlos Carrasco (note: listed in article as Braves starter), and Bryce Elder are lined up for Queens, with Alonso owning a limited history against Strider and Elder. Lindor weighed in on the moment, underscoring a larger team objective: win now and let the rest take care of itself.

Fantasy managers should monitor Alonso’s power surge at Citi Field and how the Mets navigate this pivotal week. A breakout at home could spark a late-season surge and redefine the Mets’ fantasy upside as the calendar turns toward October.

Perry Barber’s exuberant reaction to Jen Pawol’s MLB debut is more than celebration of a single milestone. Pawol, after years clawing through the minor leagues, was called up to work the Miami Marlins–Atlanta Braves series, becoming MLB’s first on-field female umpire. Barber, a trailblazer who has mentored generations of officials since the 1970s, drove seven hours to witness Pawol behind first base, praising her polish and poise under pressure. The moment signals a broader shift toward expanding umpiring horizons and opening doors for more women in the game.

For fantasy minds, the development hints at a future with a deeper, more diverse pool of officiating talent, which could gradually normalize strike-zone consistency and pace. Pawol’s ascent after a long grind through the minors underscores the persistent barrier-breaking path, while Barber’s resolve shows how individual advocates can accelerate change. The Mets connection from Pawol’s earlier career adds a lineage of opportunity, suggesting the door is ajar for more trailblazers in 2025 and beyond.

Milwaukee rides a six-game cushion in the NL Central into a three-game set with Pittsburgh, aiming for a second double-digit win streak this season. The Brewers knocked off the Mets in walk-off fashion to stretch their run to nine straight wins and have gone 24-4 since a July stumble, with Jose Quintana taking the ball to keep the surge rolling in the series opener. Andrew Heaney counters for Pittsburgh, a matchup that will shape early-season fantasy lineups and betting angles alike.

Strikeout markets are deeming Quintana at 4.5 and Heaney at 3.5, with SportsLine projecting Heaney Over 3.5 Ks as a 4-star play and Quintana Under 4.5 as a 3-star lean. The preview also points to other juicy props on the board (Elvis Peguero Over 1.5, Logan Webb Over 5.5) and ties in a broader narrative on bullpen leverage and the latest momentum for Brewers hitters and Pirates arms.

In fantasy terms, Milwaukee’s offensive surge and Quintana’s track record against Pittsburgh matter most, while Pittsburgh’s rotation depth and the undercurrents of multi-start schedules could swing daily fantasy value and DFS bets. The night’s card underscores how a single series can tilt both standings and fantasy rosters as the playoff push accelerates.