The Cincinnati Reds rallied in the ninth to thwart the Los Angeles Angels 6-4, keeping pace with the Mets in the NL wild-card chase. A late sequence featured TJ Friedl’s sacrifice fly and Gavin Lux’s go-ahead double off Kenley Jansen, then a Rugged finish as the Reds seized control with three runs in the final frame. Earlier, Hunter Greene dazzled in his first Angels start, punching out 12 over 6 1/3 innings while Elly De La Cruz flashed wheels on a pair of 270-foot baserunner scores that helped stretch a 4-1 cushion.

Greene’s return from a groin strain looked sharp, and he controlled the damage while racking strikeouts at a historic pace for the franchise. De La Cruz’s aggressive baserunning and timely hits helped Cincinnati build and maintain momentum, even as the Angels flirted with another late rally. The win pushed Cincinnati to 67-60, one game behind the Mets for the final wild-card spot with 35 games left, underscoring the Reds’ resilience and playoff implications down the stretch.

Week 20 of the 2025 MLB season brings a targeted waiver-wire boost across five standard fantasy categories. Three solid options per category provide a mix of power, speed, and average help for shallow rosters. Key names to grab: Lenyn Sosa, Noelvi Marte and Luis Rengifo bolster Runs; Colson Montgomery, Matt Shaw and Kyle Manzardo supply Home Runs; Spencer Steer, Drake Baldwin and Blaze Alexander drive RBI; Bryson Stott, Andres Giménez and Jakob Marsee add Stolen Bases; Isaac Collins, Ernie Clement and Miguel Andujar push Batting Average. Rostering notes highlight multi-position eligibility and recent August upticks, making these plays viable streamers with strong rest-of-season upside.

These adds come with context: many carry at 35-50% ownership and are stepping into lineups with daily playing time or versatile infield/OF roles. Use them to shore up depth in counting stats while balancing risk in shallow leagues. The list emphasizes players with hot months and clear paths to plate appearance, elevating the chance of contributing across Weeks 20 and beyond.

Hunter Greene returned in style, firing six scoreless innings with six strikeouts as the Reds blanked the Phillies 8-0. Cincinnati climbed to six games over .500 and moved closer to a NL Wild Card, riding a renewed ace while the offense exploded in the 6th and 7th with a string of hard liners and a Miguel Andújar grand slam that finally broke the game open.

The win capped a vital series win in the NL East scramble, even as Milwaukee rode a 12-game winning streak into town. Cincinnati now faces a Brewers squad riding hot in the standings, adding pressure in a crowded playoff race. Mets and Braves waited in rain delays as the NL East quartet jostled for position, while the Reds kept their postseason hopes alive with late-inning offense and dominant pitching from Greene.

In all, the Reds showcased a balanced attack: the pitching staff locked down the game, Marte flashed attacking speed on the bases, and Andújar supplied the knockout punch. The series result and Greene’s return signal a turning point for a Reds club chasing down its postseason dream.

The Reds exploded for 14 runs, stamping a decisive road win at Pittsburgh as Elly De La Cruz kicked things off with an RBI single and Miguel Andujar followed with a three‑run homer. Cincinnati never let up, with Noelvi Marte and Spencer Steer padding the cushion and Steer delivering a two‑run double before later adding a two‑run homer for insurance. Pittsburgh battled back briefly, tying the game on timely hits and a Kasper-like run, but the Reds pulled away late with a multi‑run eighth. The slugfest underscored Cincinnati’s breakout push and highlighted several players fantasy managers will want to chase down the stretch.

Key contributors for Cincinnati: De La Cruz, Andujar, Marte, and Steer supplied the offense in waves, while Yohan Ramírez yielded early damage before the bullpen steadied. For Pittsburgh, Jack Suwinski and Bryan Reynolds contributed, Isiah Kiner-Falefa lined a two‑run double and Spencer Horwitz added a run‑scoring single, but the late surge by Cincinnati overwhelmed the Pirates. The final 14‑8 tilt leaves Cincinnati at 62‑57 and Pittsburgh at 51‑68, with the Reds asserting themselves as legitimate playoff hopefuls in this intraleague showdown.

Fantasy takeaway: buy into Reds bats now—De La Cruz, Marte, Andujar, and Steer have multi‑hitter upside, while the depth of Cincinnati’s lineup supports weekly streaming. For Pittsburgh, streaming opportunities are slimmer but situational plays like Suwinski and Reynolds can still help in deeper formats, especially when they face righty‑heavy matches. Target the Reds’ ongoing power surge and monitor bullpen usage as Cincinnati looks to push this run production trend forward.