The 2025 White Sox closed with a rough tally, but a bright youth wave took shape. Colson Montgomery’s 21 homers in 70 games and a 3.3 WAR signal a franchise cornerstone, while Kyle Teel’s June debut added 2.0 WAR and a promising catcher of the present. Rule 5 rookie Shane Smith and steady arms like Davis Martin and Jonathan Cannon supplied hope for 2026. Birmingham Barons’ back-to-back Southern League titles underline the depth, with Quero, Sosa, Baldwin, Elko, Vargas, and Meidroth looming. Michael A. Taylor retires; 2026 looks brighter.

Noah Schultz pushes through growing pains after a sharp jump from Double-A to Triple-A, contending with a knee issue as he refines a new changeup and cutter. White Sox brass stress patience and rehab, aiming to unlock his power and control for a potential 2025 impact as they rebuild. Schultz is focused on competing this offseason and returning to full strength for spring training, with fans hopeful he becomes a rotation cornerstone.

The organization cites the arm talent and frame of the 22-year-old as reasons for optimism, despite a rough 9.37 ERA in five Charlotte starts. With Chris Getz and Brian Bannister backing his development, Chicago looks to a healthier Schultz to help turn the corner in a rebuilding era, while the fanbase remains eager for a taste of the majors.

Meanwhile, fans and fantasy enthusiasts watch a growing roster around him, including veterans and young standouts poised to contribute as the Sox reshape their rotation and lineup for the next chapter.

New York erased a 2-1 deficit in the ninth, rallying on singles from Volpe and Wells, a pair of walks, and a wild pitch before José Caballero delivered a nine-pitch at-bat-ending single that scored Aaron Judge for a 3-2 walk-off win over Chicago. The rally kept the Yankees within a game of Toronto and secured their 60th postseason berth in franchise history, underscoring their late-season resilience and playoff consistency.

Judge’s two intentional walks highlighted the late drama, while Colson Montgomery’s earlier two-run homer for Chicago briefly flipped the game. Luis Gil matched six innings of one- and two-run work for New York, as the club improved to 89-68 and continued its chase of the AL East leader, with Max Fried lined up to start next for the Yankees.

Two-start Week 26 targets a last-minute fantasy surge through waiver-wire streamers and two-start aces. Verlander and Ian Seymour lead the list, with Verlander’s late-season form and two home starts for the Giants, and Seymour’s rookie upside facing BAL and TOR.

Riskier bets like Shane Smith and Cristian Javier carry high-variance upside, while Michael McGreevy and Ryan Weathers offer deeper streaming floors if they command the zone. A smart mix of proven arms and upside plays can push fantasy teams over the finish line.