Lineup shifts across MLB this week signal value plays for fantasy managers. Atlanta leaned hard into Marcell Ozuna at designated hitter, riding nine straight starts and a .981 OPS with five homers in that stretch, while Michael Harris II has surged in the second half to a .398/.413/.732 line with nine homers, moving up to the fifth spot against right-handers in most recent games. Sean Murphy’s playing time has cooled with the DH being less available, and others like Drake Baldwin have seen splits in starts.

Miami’s Troy Johnston has dominated versus righties, starting 11 of 14, with Marsee showing league-winning potential since arriving and a two-hole stint that energized offense. The Mets have shuffled top of the order, with Lindor back leadoff and Nimmo up the order, while Brett Baty and Mauricio work for at-bats. Philadelphia has Bohm back in the cleanup spot, with Castellanos sliding in and Harrison Bader mixing in more against righties as Kepler’s slump persists.

Across the league, DeJong has started nine of 12 and hit third or fourth for Washington, Ian Happ has faced a positional shuffle in Chicago, and Arenado’s playing time is impacted by injuries in St. Louis. These trends create new buying opportunities for under-the-radar bats while signaling potential risk for players with fragile roles.

The Cubs’ NL Central contention is slipping as Milwaukee opens an eight-game gap with under two months left. August offense has cratered, producing just 35 runs in 12 games (29th in MLB), and Kyle Tucker’s cold spell has become the focal point: after a scorching start in Chicago, he’s slumped to a .200/.635 with one homer over 17 games after the All-Star break. 0-for-11 in a Toronto series amplified the concerns and sparked benching chatter from Cubs fans.

The Dino-era of debate shifts to how Tucker’s clock will be managed as free agency nears, with reports a deal could top $400 million. Counsell now faces lineup decisions that could ripple through the Cubs’ counting stats: Tucker’s slide drags teammates, while Happ’s status and potential rest days could carve a path for other Cubs hitters to cash in on opportunities. Fantasy managers should watch Tucker’s days off, Happ’s playing time, and any mid-season lineup reshuffles as the Cubs balance on-field needs with long-term payroll conversations.

The dynamic around Tucker’s role and the Cubs’ offensive wild-card status adds a fresh layer of intrigue for fantasy rosters, especially as the Brewers’ cushion grows and division pressure tightens. A steady hand from Counsell, paired with smart depth usage, could unlock a shift in the Cubs’ upside down the stretch, even as Tucker works to reverse the slide and justify the megadeal chatter in the rumor mill.

Reds ended Milwaukee’s franchise-record 14-game win streak in extras, snapping a weekend of close games as Milwaukee’s lead in the NL Central remains fragile.

The Cubs seized a rare chance to gain ground, beating the Pirates 4-3 at Wrigley and pulling within eight games of the Brewers ahead of a pivotal five-game set in Chicago that begins with a doubleheader.

Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ spoke to Cubs’ DNA—defense, baserunning, and late-inning grit—even as the offense has slogged through August. Chicago used small-ball, an unearned run, and timely plays to claim the series win, with Swanson driving in the deciding run on a bases-loaded sac fly. Owen Caissie debuted as a pinch-hitter in the series’ final game, signaling deeper depth for the Cubs as they chase a breakthrough month.