Boston’s Alex Cora was ejected in the seventh after disputing Hunter Brown’s balk call, sparked by Brown switching from the full windup to the stretch mid at-bat after Jarren Duran reached on a walk. Cora later said the umpires were right and framed the moment as a learning experience, not a confrontation. The scene underscored the subtle but consequential rules around declaring a windup, a nuance that can ripple through a game’s tempo and baserunning dynamics.

For fantasy managers, the key takeaway lies in how these delivery rules can shift pitcher efficiency and baserunning opportunities. Brown’s next start could test his comfort with the hybrid windup, potentially affecting his strikeout upside and the frequency of steals against him. Duran’s speed remains a real edge on the basepaths, and Boston’s handling of the incident may hint at bullpen and in-game decision-making patterns that could influence late-season matchups and bullpen usage.

Overall, the incident didn’t just spark a momentary flare; it highlighted how rule enforcement and manager-chatter can quietly shape daily fantasy values and betting angles as teams navigate the evolving boundaries of pitching deliveries.