Cincinnati's playoff push hit a snag, dropping back-to-back to Oakland in a Sacramento setback and wasting a prime chance to close on the Mets.

Hunter Greene's shortest pro start opened the door for the A's to wrestle control, keeping the NL wild-card race tight as September winds down and the Reds search for a jolt to their bullpen and rotation plan.

Oakland erased an early 2-0 hole and stormed past Cincinnati 11-5 at Sutter Health Park, riding a late, power-filled barrage led by Nick Kurtz’s 493-foot grand slam—the season’s longest—and a 28th homer from Brent Rooker. The A’s flipped the script with Cortez’s 12-pitch at-bat homer to put them ahead, then pulled away in a two-out rally sequence that featured Langeliers’ hustle and a key double to cap the frame. A six-run bottom of the 7th through 8th sealed the series sweep and boosted Oakland’s offense for the stretch run.

The late surge highlighted Oakland’s depth: Kurtz, Rooker, Cortez, and Langeliers supplied the big hits, while the A’s bullpen steadied after early damage. For fantasy managers, the performance tightens Kurtz’s power upside, reinforces Rooker as a top power bat, and underscores the potential for the bottom of the order to contribute in a run-rich lineup. Cincinnati’s offense perked early with Stephenson’s three-run shot but could not keep pace once Oakland flipped the momentum.

New York’s Mets face a decisive late-season sprint as a seven-game skid threatens their playoff hopes, even with Soto delivering MVP-like numbers. The AL Wild Card picture tightens with Seattle closing in on Houston, while the NL race features Mets, Giants, Reds and D-backs all within striking distance. Byes go to the Blue Jays and Tigers in the AL and Brewers and Phillies in the NL, but a final regular-season series tiebreaker will determine some crucial spots.

The stretch run promises volatility: a couple of wins can vault teams into clinching scenarios, while losses can flip a wildcard order overnight. Fantasy managers must monitor lineup shifts, bullpen usage, and park factors as teams jockey for a postseason berth in the two weeks ahead.