MLB expansion dominates weekend chatter as Rob Manfred signals a near-term path forward and the biggest question becomes whether a larger league could force a shorter 162-game season. The debate centers on scheduling, workload, and how fantasy rosters would shift with realignment and more teams pushing a busier calendar.

Shohei Ohtani’s postseason future looms large, with talk about pitching out of the bullpen and how that could affect both playoff usage and fantasy value. Craig Kimbrel lands with the Astros, potentially stabilizing late-inning work, while Carson Williams’ promotion in Tampa signals a push toward youth. Braves’ Austin Riley is headed for season-ending surgery, opening opportunities for in-house replacements; Milwaukee climbs to 80 wins as a benchmark, and the Yankees add Paul Blackburn amid off-field chatter around Lucas Erceg. NL West headlines, left-handed pitching threads, and a few light notes from the Little League Classic round out a news cycle that ties expansion to a shifting competitive and fantasy landscape.