Jacob Lopez kept the momentum rolling with another strong showing, gutting Tampa Bay for seven shutout innings while piling up nine strikeouts. The altered slider usage—lower velocity but sharper chase metrics—has him throwing a pitch that whiffs more often, making him a viable two-start option for next week for 61% rostering. The slider’s movement is a conscious shift, and while the home park limits homers, Lopez has flashed enough upside to be in the mix.

Roman Anthony’s breakout continues, as the 21-year-old the leadoff experiment and four walks in one game fuel a high on-base profile and potential for more power and speed as the season winds down. Mets-Brewers slugfests highlighted Pete Alonso’s surge and Francisco Alvarez’s recall, a reminder that big-name bats and top catching prospects can reshape fantasy rosters in a tight stretch run.

Spencer Strider’s struggles grew with the Mets hammering him for eight earned over four, prompting Warometer debates about benching or taxing starts and a broader look at his internal brace recovery. Ranger Suárez also faced velocity dips, a looming question mark for a pitcher who’s historically built on precision and command. Across the board, the mix of hot hitters (Judge, Yordan, Ramirez) and up-and-coming talents (Anthony, Vaughn) is driving a volatile but upside-filled fantasy landscape.

Warometer Wednesday underscored the ongoing calculus: stay aggressive on risers like Vaughn and Alvarez while charting paths around names showing strain or changing velocity. The next week promises a live-test of midseason rhythm and postseason readiness for fantasy rosters.

Spencer Strider's resurgence is evident as he showcased his elite skills with a stellar performance against the Mets, striking out eight and allowing just one run over six innings. His velocity was back to impressive levels, averaging 96 mph, and he recorded 18 whiffs, primarily from his slider. Meanwhile, Jack Kagleon made headlines with a breakout two-home-run game, hinting at his potential as a power hitter. However, the discussion turned to patience with rookies, as many take time to adjust to the majors. Jacob Lopez also emerged as a strikeout machine, fanning nine batters against the Astros, making him a player to watch. The episode highlighted the importance of scouting and timing in fantasy baseball, especially when dealing with emerging talents and their developmental paths.