Mets push for a late-season push with a one-game edge in the NL wild-card race as Francisco Lindor heats up. A favorable matchup awaits David Peterson against Washington, while Jake Irvin struggles at home and has yielded plenty of homers this season. The betting breakdown favors the Mets in a tight opener, but the author leans Peterson to snag the win in a lefty-vs-lefty spotlight. Lindor’s current streak is the centerpiece for fantasy managers eyeing upside in a must-win window.

Prop bets spotlight Lindor again: HR odds at +390 sit in the pocket of a hitter who’s rocking a week-plus of production. With Lindor’s success against Irvin in limited history and Irvin’s August struggles, contrarian DFS and betting angles emerge, including Mets to win while avoiding a heavy moneyline wager. The series sets the stage for a pivotal stretch run as New York tries to hold off Cincinnati and stabilize the wild-card push.

Two big-market teams clash in interleague play as Cincinnati seeks a critical step toward the NL playoff picture. Cincinnati sits one game behind the Mets for the final NL wild-card spot, riding a six-of-ten surge as Hunter Greene returns from the IL to face Kyle Hendricks and the Angels in Anaheim. The game lines up with the Reds as road favorites on many sportsbooks, underscoring the urgency for Cincinnati to keep pace in a crowded pennant race.

Betting markets post Reds -1.5 at +112 and a -150 moneyline with an 8.5 total. Greene’s 2.47 ERA across 12 starts and a six-inning, zero-run return in his latest appearance back from the injured list bolster Cincinnati’s case, especially against an Angels squad that stacks strikeouts. Hendricks sits with a 4.88 ERA this year, a profile that’s lent itself to some risk for Angels backers. This one figures to hinge on Greene’s ability to miss bats and work deep, while Reds bats look for timely hits against a vulnerable Angels bullpen.

For fantasy and betting angles, Greene’s strikeout upside looms large in a matchup where Angels swing and miss at high rates, making the Over on his 7.5 strikeouts an intriguing lever. If Cincinnati can sustain offense early, Greene can ride momentum to a strong start, while Hendricks’ volatility could keep Angels in it only if they solve the Reds’ lineup in the middle innings. A Reds win could tilt the wild-card picture in the NL, keeping Mets’ hold on the final spot within reach for Cincinnati’s backers.

The Reds head west to face the Angels in Anaheim with Hunter Greene squaring off against Kyle Hendricks in a Tuesday showdown. Cincinnati sits at 65-60, Los Angeles at 60-64, and NBC’s latest projections peg the Reds as -143 on the moneyline, -1.5 on the spread, with an 8.0 total. Cincinnati opened the series with a 4-1 win, ending the Angels’ home winning streak, and now ride a nine-game West Coast swing that also includes a stop in Arizona before a date with the Dodgers. The matchup screams DFS upside and live-betting intrigue as travel, ballpark and bullpen depth come into play.

The model’s line and recent form set up an interesting dynamic: Greene owns a 2.47 ERA on the season and a 5-3 record, with a last start featuring 6 strikeouts and zero earned runs allowed. Hendricks sits at 4.88 with a varied last outing, suggesting a controlled, pitcher-friendly affair. Expect leverage to swing late and bullpen usage to matter, especially on a long trip. Fantasy managers should watch ballpark factors, weather and lineup filters that NBC uses to land bets and projections for this high-tension Derby-style tilt.

From a fantasy lens, this game offers a balanced mix of upside and risk. Greene’s strikeout potential against Angels hitters complements Hendricks’ control challenge against Cincinnati’s right-handed heavy lineup. The West Coast trip narrative, plus the Reds’ recent road success and Angels’ home tendencies, points to a tightly contested, multi-inning battle with late scoring possible. Day-to-night delays and travel fatigue could nudge the game toward a more bullpen-driven finish, creating late-innings DFS opportunities.

Week 21 fantasy baseball focuses on 2025 redraft value from a curated top-25 stash list. Prospect call-ups that debut this year preserve rookie eligibility for 2026, broadening short- and long-term value. Promoted last week: Dylan Beavers, Samuel Basallo, Drew Gilbert, Nolan McLean and Owen Caissie, with Eldridge and Sal Stewart standing out for immediate impact in power and solid hitting floors. The piece highlights Spencer Jones’s sky-high upside despite strikeout risk, JJ Wetherholt’s Triple-A dominance, and Robby Snelling’s near‑MLB-ready pitcher profile.

Analysis dives into Bryce Eldridge’s likely Giants cup of coffee, Sal Stewart’s advanced hit tool, and Wetherholt’s polished approach at the plate. It maps out why these names belong on rosters in 2025 redraft and how late-season call-ups could shape Week 21 lineups. Honorable mentions add depth across teams, while the feature ties in DFS and lineup tools to sharpen Week 21 decisions.