Orioles lore meets current durability trends. Cal Ripken’s historic run is juxtaposed with eight players across MLB who have appeared in every game for their teams in 2025, led by Matt Olson’s ongoing streak. The piece ties Ripken’s era to today’s grind—the odds of a 1,000-game milestone for Olson feel plausible as the season wears on.

Across the sport, a new Relief Pitcher of the Year will debut in 2026; Aroldis Chapman is cited as a prime name if the honor existed this year. Baltimore’s spotlight tonight also nods to near-no-hitters, late-inning comebacks, and a trivia punch about Palmeiro and Surhoff. It all paints a landscape where durability, bullpen depth, and timely power swing fantasy leverage.

Braves rally in Chicago to avoid a sweep as Ha-Seong Kim belts a 391-foot go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh, bringing in Albies and Harris II. Albies adds a solo shot in the eighth, and Eli White drives in a run to push the lead to 4-1. Bryce Elder works seven strong, one earned on four hits with six strikeouts, and Raisel Iglesias closes the door in the final frame. Momentum shifts home for a Seattle series, with Chris Sale set to start and a chance to carry this lift into a productive run for fantasy rosters.

Atlanta's 2025 season ended with a thud, as injuries and underperformance left the club out of the playoff hunt and staring at a long winter reevaluation. The Braves sit in 4th in the NL East at 62-76 with little time left to salvage 2025, and focus shifts to how 2026 can return them to title contention.

Michael Harris II has become the focal point of the rebuilding debate. Despite a shaky 2025, his 24-year-old profile and team-friendly contract keep him in Atlanta, and a late-season surge suggests real upside. The discussion pivots to how other veterans fare: Ozzie Albies, Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder all carry questions, with Elder the most likely candidate to be moved if a shakeup is needed. Ronald Acuña Jr. remains the cornerstone, but the path back to glory requires disciplined, targeted movement rather than wholesale overhauls.

Overall, the Braves’ road back starts with patience on Harris, cautious optimism around Albies and Strider, and a pragmatic eye on Elder as a trade asset—while keeping Acuña at the center of the lineup. The 2026 blueprint emphasizes sustainable development over panic trades.

Drake Baldwin's late two-run homer lifted Atlanta to a 3-1 win over Philadelphia, capping a tense night in which Hurston Waldrep battled through 5.2 innings with 9 strikeouts and a splitter that kept the Phillies guessing. Philly’s bullpen unraveled in the eighth as Baldwin loaded the bases before delivering the decisive blast. The Braves head to Chicago for a Labor Day series with the Cubs, while Baldwin and Waldrep emerge as intriguing late-season fantasy plays.