Houston welcomes back Lance McCullers Jr. from a month-long blister to face Baltimore’s Cade Povich in a key series opener at Camden Yards. Houston is trying to snap a four-game skid, and McCullers’ return could stabilize a rotation that has carried extra workload. Baltimore counters with Povich, who limited Houston last week to a handful of runs, while the Astros hope Yordan Alvarez’s return adds serious punch to a slumping lineup.

The Detroit-style pregame chatter centers on how McCullers will look after the layoff, how Houston will deploy him, and whether Alvarez can immediately restore power to the middle of the order. For fantasy managers, this game offers a test of McCullers’ health, Povich’s command, and how Alvarez’s presence shifts the Astros’ run production and lineup balance in a tight divisional clash.

Houston visits Baltimore at Camden Yards for a marquee Friday night clash, with McCullers returning to the Astros’ rotation to face Cade Povich and the Orioles. Houston leaned on Carlos Correa’s hot-streak revival since his return, while Jason Alexander has quietly anchored the rotation after a long path through the minor leagues. Baltimore counters with a disciplined approach at home, and the latest NBC/Rotoworld projections highlight a market-friendly over/under around 9 runs as analytics-driven bets tilt toward the chalky edge in a tight, high-leverage matchup.

Correa is delivering right away for fantasy managers, batting .338 with two homers and 10 RBIs since rejoining Houston. McCullers’ return from a finger injury adds intrigue to the Astros’ ceiling, though his 2-4 record and 6.90 ERA temper optimism for an instant ace return. Povich, coming off a high-strikeout August 16 start in Houston, will try to keep Baltimore in striking range. Altuve’s recent skid (.0-for-12 in three games) creates a slight squeeze on Houston’s lineup, but the upside remains, especially with Correa heating up and a bullpen that’s shown flashes behind Alexander.

Fantasy managers now look to the AL for weekly FAAB gains, weighing upside against budget impact. This piece aggregates likely free agents and assigns clear bid ranges, aided by a sortable grids view that grades upside (A-E) and projects a range of values across 12-team and 15-team formats. Sleeper targets sit alongside safer bets, with emphasis on players returning from injuries and those stepping into expanded roles.

Key targets include Spencer Arrighetti and Cristian Javier from Houston, Shane Bieber prioritizing rehab, Cade Povich after his IL return, Jake Burger with Texas, and Luis Morales as a high-ceiling dart throw in Oakland. The guide assigns dollar figures for 12- and 15-team formats and notes the shifting landscape as rotations solidify and bullpens stabilize.

Grids compare players by upside, K-rate potential, and likely workload, helping managers allocate a portion of a $100 budget. Wyatt Langford’s high upside is acknowledged as an A-grade benchmark for future allocations. If a player isn’t covered, readers are invited to ask in comments or Discord for a targeted cut of the AL FA pool.

In short: identify breakout bets, estimate FAAB bids, and use the grid to gauge where each pick fits in your format. The weekly cadence centers on upside, cost, and real-world roles as rosters morph in August and September.

Giancarlo Stanton has heated back up in 2025, launching 10 homers in 39 games and delivering nine of those against right-hand pitchers. He faces Houston's Jason Alexander on Sunday in a pivotal AL matchup, with Stanton sitting on 439 career long balls and an impressive .898 OPS versus righties this season. SportsLine pegged Stanton at +350 to homer, aided by Alexander's 5.97 ERA and the Yankees' power-burst chemistry as they push toward a big day. The model also flags Shea Langeliers (+400) and Riley Greene (+500) as strong Sunday HR bets, with parlays offering lofty payouts at BetMGM.

Langeliers is riding a tear for Oakland, including a five-hit, three-homer stretch, while Greene has crushed the RH split all season and sits in a prime position to cash as Detroit takes on right-handed pitching. The piece notes Cade Povich's home-he Clashes—he has allowed a notable homer count—and highlights additional props and daily-blogs for Twins-Royals and Cardinals-Cubs picks. Overall, Sunday's slate centers on power upside from Stanton, Langeliers, and Greene, with smart parlay construction giving bettors a path to big returns.

The analysis stresses value in targeting righty-heavy matchups, road-ready hitters, and pitchers with known home struggles, while also signaling the depth of NFL and MLB promotional offers that accompany a busy weekend. The projection model has been historically strong on HR bets this season, and Sunday’s lineup aligns with those strengths as bettors weigh Stanton in a high-leverage moment and consider Langeliers and Greene as complementary upside plays while Cade Povich provides a contrasting fade/contest dynamic for Orioles backers.

Brent Rooker is the standout value Sunday, listed at +275 to homer against Cade Povich as the A’s slugger returns from an extended absence. Rooker excels against left-handed pitching (.319 average, 0.998 OPS) with five homers, making this a favorable midmarket prop in a divisional tilt against Baltimore. Kyle Schwarber brings serious power in a lefty-lefty matchup, sitting at +240 versus Patrick Corbin as he piles up homers against lefties (16 in 156 AB, 1.022 OPS). Bryan Reynolds taps a +600 homer prop as he faces Zack Littell, who has been homer-prone; Reynolds has heated up with a .304 clip and rising OPS over the last fortnight.

Sunday’s slate centers on three frontline bats with favorable matchups and clear splits advantages. The bets lean into pitcher weakness (Corbin’s HR rate, Littell’s homer propensity) and batter-hot zones (Rooker’s lefty split, Schwarber’s lefty power, Reynolds’ recent form). As with all MLB props, bankable upside exists, but variance remains high—these plays balance solid underlying data with price and matchup.