Shohei Ohtani displayed resilience in his latest outing against the Kansas City Royals, overcoming early challenges to deliver an impressive performance. Despite a rocky start, where he allowed a hit to Bobby Witt Jr. and a walk to Maikel Garcia, Ohtani quickly regained his composure. He fired off three straight fastballs, reaching a blistering 101.7 mph to secure an inning-ending double play against Vinnie Pasquantino.

In four innings, Ohtani allowed just one run on three hits while showcasing his elite velocity and an arsenal of off-speed pitches. Even though the Dodgers fell 9-5, Ohtani's resilience and velocity suggest he is finding his form following Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, the rest of the Dodgers struggled against Royals' pitcher Seth Lugo, leaving fans eager for Ohtani's continued development as he aims to return to full strength.

MLB is still awaiting its first no-hitter of the 2025 season as Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Martinez came tantalizingly close, throwing eight hitless innings against the San Diego Padres. Despite his commanding performance, which included six strikeouts, Martinez's bid was broken in the ninth by a double from Padres catcher Elias Díaz.

Martinez, who threw 112 pitches, faced fatigue in the final frame, allowing a walk prior to the double. The Reds ultimately won 8-1, buoyed by three home runs from Spencer Steer, who showcased his power by homering in consecutive innings. Martines' performance adds him to the list of pitchers falling just short of a no-hitter this week, indicating a competitive spirit throughout the league.

Fantasy managers often overlook certain players, and Ryan Pepiot of the Tampa Bay Rays is a prime example. Over the past five weeks, Pepiot has emerged as the fifth-best scoring pitcher with 119 fantasy points, outperforming established names like Zack Wheeler and Max Fried. Surprisingly, he's still available in over a third of ESPN leagues, representing a significant trading opportunity.

The Rays' new home, George M. Steinbrenner Field, has a higher home run factor than Tropicana Field, which may contribute to Pepiot's modest roster rate. However, his improved performance, characterized by a higher strike zone rate and increased velocity, suggests he’s an undervalued asset. As the season progresses, fantasy managers should be keen on Pepiot and consider him a top-25 starter moving forward.

Nick Kurtz continued his impressive form, hitting a two-run home run to help the Athletics secure a 5-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. With this performance, Kurtz has now homered in five of the last six games, showcasing his power at the plate. Jeffrey Springs contributed with 7⅓ solid innings on the mound, allowing just three hits.

The Athletics achieved their sixth win in eight games, with Lawrence Butler also shining with three hits and an RBI. The Guardians, on the other hand, faced their 10th loss in 14 games, struggling offensively as they managed only 14 runs during a nine-game road trip.

Angel Martinez did hit a solo homer for Cleveland, but the team's offensive inefficiencies were highlighted, especially as Tanner Bibee gave up five runs in his complete game, despite striking out a season-high 10 batters. The Athletics capitalized on Cleveland's mistakes, particularly in the second inning, where errors contributed to their scoring opportunities.

The New York Mets are in a tough place as they continue their six-game losing streak, now tied with the Philadelphia Phillies at the top of the NL East. Mark Vientos, who made a significant impact last postseason, is struggling this year with a .230 batting average and has been sidelined since June 2 due to a hamstring injury. Fortunately, he is expected to return for the Braves series, which could provide a much-needed boost for the struggling Mets.

Rookie pitcher Blade Tidwell is set for his second career start, stepping in as veteran arms Kodai Senga and Tylor Megill are on the injured list. The Mets face a tough challenge against the Phillies, with Zack Wheeler on the mound, who has been impressive this season with a 2.76 ERA. The Mets hope to break their streak and regain momentum in the series, especially with Vientos potentially back in the lineup.