Ha-Seong Kim’s arrival has given Atlanta a credible shortstop with Gold Glove-caliber defense and a usable bat, stabilizing a position that dragged the middle of the lineup. In a small sample, he’s hit around .313 with a .766 OPS, delivering a rare dose of power at short. Atlanta is weighing an early extension, leveraging a $16 million option for 2026 and the potential to dodge costly free-agent shortfalls if health cooperates.

Acquired off waivers from the Rays, Kim’s presence has shifted the Braves’ expectations, easing the bite of past shortstop struggles after Dansby Swanson’s departure and Orlando Arcia’s limited impact. If he sustains health, this move could prove a shrewd, franchise-defining bet with tangible fantasy upside across time, averages, and defensive value.

For fantasy managers, Kim’s blend of playing time, defense, and improving bat makes him a sneaky core piece in 2025-26, provided health holds. The extension chatter adds intrigue: a long-term deal could lock in value while keeping cost-controlled upside in a Braves lineup that values both defense and production.

Atlanta Braves sweep Nationals in a four‑game set, preserving a solid position in the draft lottery landscape while eyeing a rest-of-season run. A potential NL Rookie of the Year windfall from Drake Baldwin could dwarf any lottery wavering, and Hurston Waldrep’s bounce-back start reinforces his mid-rotation upside as Brandon Gaudin’s broadcast presence cements the Braves’ top‑tier TV experience.

On the MLB front, Quintana lands on the 15‑day IL for Milwaukee, Willson Contreras is shut down for the season in St. Louis, and Cole Wilcox earns a Rays bullpen opportunity, signaling late‑season value shifts across the league that fantasy managers will want to monitor alongside Braves’ development headlines.

Wednesday’s four homer bets center on high-upside power to capitalize on favorable matchups, park quirks, and current form. O’Neill faces a lefty-friendly situation in Chicago, Olson rides a hot streak into a lefty-friendly matchup, Kurtz loves right-handed pitching at Fenway, and Witt Jr. hits in a wind-sensitive KC night against a HR-prone Seattle starter. The picks balance platoon splits, ballpark factors, and recent form to identify premium long-ball value.

Ongoing injury notes and bullpen usage are acknowledged, but the core edge comes from pitcher tendencies and ballpark tendencies. Shoppers should chase the best price across sportsbooks to maximize ROI on these 0.5 HR props, with a clear emphasis on lefty-lefty or righty-righty matchups and the middle innings where power tends to show up.

Stay sharp as weather, lineups, and starter changes can swing these props; the best bets come from disciplined pricing, not just raw power.