Lineup shifts across MLB this week signal value plays for fantasy managers. Atlanta leaned hard into Marcell Ozuna at designated hitter, riding nine straight starts and a .981 OPS with five homers in that stretch, while Michael Harris II has surged in the second half to a .398/.413/.732 line with nine homers, moving up to the fifth spot against right-handers in most recent games. Sean Murphy’s playing time has cooled with the DH being less available, and others like Drake Baldwin have seen splits in starts.

Miami’s Troy Johnston has dominated versus righties, starting 11 of 14, with Marsee showing league-winning potential since arriving and a two-hole stint that energized offense. The Mets have shuffled top of the order, with Lindor back leadoff and Nimmo up the order, while Brett Baty and Mauricio work for at-bats. Philadelphia has Bohm back in the cleanup spot, with Castellanos sliding in and Harrison Bader mixing in more against righties as Kepler’s slump persists.

Across the league, DeJong has started nine of 12 and hit third or fourth for Washington, Ian Happ has faced a positional shuffle in Chicago, and Arenado’s playing time is impacted by injuries in St. Louis. These trends create new buying opportunities for under-the-radar bats while signaling potential risk for players with fragile roles.

The Mets’ postseason pulse is faltering after a 4-3 defeat to Atlanta at Citi Field, extending a nine-of-10 skid that has trimmed a once-comfortable NL lead to a slim half-game edge for the final wild-card spot.

Solid outings like Kodai Senga’s 5.2 innings of two-run work are overshadowed by late bullpen collapses and defensive miscues, fueling a slide that has teammates and fans nervously watching as the schedule tightens. The upshot: Mets’ offense is scuffling to about three runs per game during the skid, and Mendoza’s decision-making is under the spotlight as they prep for a three-game set with Seattle, a team riding momentum and eyeing another hot stretch.

Across town, the Braves rode a multi-hit night from Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies (Albies with the go-ahead RBI double) to erase an early deficit and remind bettors and fantasy players that this division race remains open. The looming question for fantasy managers is how long the Mets can weather this storm and whether Mendoza can steady the ship before the calendar flips to autumn baseball.

Atlanta’s season has taken a surprising turn for the worse, dipping to 51–68 and 17 games under .500 with less than two months left. The offense has been inconsistent, averaging 4.2 runs per game, and Austin Riley’s 10-day IL stint with a strained lower abdominal muscle compounds the trouble. Brian Snitker hinted Ronald Acuña Jr. could be activated in the next couple days, a potential shot in the arm for a lineup needing a spark. Riley’s absence looms large as Atlanta aims to salvage value for fantasy managers and set the table for 2026.

Riley, in 102 games, posted a .260/.737 line with 16 homers and 54 RBIs, a piece of a long-term plan that included his 10-year, $212 million extension signed in 2022. Ozuna and Albies have underperformed all year, further pressuring the Braves’ lineup. Acuña’s pending return offers hope of a mid-season lift, especially with Ozuna and Albies in need of positive regression. The piece frames Riley as a core piece for 2026 and notes that finishing strong could be a meaningful signal for the franchise’s next window.

Even as the Braves confront a disappointing season, the Mets loom as the next test, with Cincinnati Reds also on the schedule in a few recent headlines. The overall takeaway for fantasy managers is clear: monitor Acuña’s activation timeline, watch Riley’s recovery progress, and consider leveraging the Braves’ late-season volatility as a potential source of upside as the lineup recalibrates for 2026.

Atlanta Braves have been playing their best baseball in years, yet postseason hopes look dim this season. Manager Brian Snitker, in the final year of his contract, faces questions about his future as the club contends with injuries and payroll moves that could reshape their roster.

Injuries loom large: Joe Jiménez is shelved with knee soreness and won’t return this year, while Reynaldo López and Spencer Schwellenbach are unlikely to pitch again in 2025. At the same time, Ozuna and Iglesias haven’t lived up to expectations, leaving open the possibility of a late-season payroll play as Atlanta sits below the luxury-tax threshold and could save roughly $5 million by moving them if claimed.

Ronald Acuña Jr. returns to the Atlanta lineup, sticking in the third slot as the Braves welcome a Guardians visit. Sean Murphy comes back as well, batting seventh, while Drake Baldwin sits and Marcell Ozuna anchors the DH duties. Cleveland counters with a varied, leadoff-heavy mix: Steven Kwan leads off, Jose Ramirez sits in the prime third spot, and Kyle Manzardo, Daniel Schneemann, CJ Kayfus, Gabriel Arias, and Carlos Santana fill the middle of the order with notable xwOBA signals. The Guardians’ volatility mirrors a league-wide pattern of shifting lineups, while Atlanta’s dynamic through Acuña and company remains the central fantasy driver.

For fantasy managers, Acuña’s health and lineup position keep him near the top of the asset list, with power-speed upside in a top-tier slot. Ozuna’s DH assignment could cap his plate appearances but preserves upside in run production. Murphy’s return to catching duties reenters his fantasy calculus, especially in two-catcher builds or daily formats that prize lineup stabilization. Against a Guardians squad that has rotated through 109 lineups in 120 games, the Braves’ star power edges this matchup, while Cleveland’s leadoff edge with Kwan and Ramirez creates a dual-threat dynamic in DFS and daily fantasy markets.