Red Sox bullpen collapse derails a potential Fenway sweep as Jordan Hicks surrenders four runs in the brutal second inning, spotlighting a shaky middle relief corps in a pivotal late-regular-season stretch. Boston’s manager remains publicly confident in Hicks, while stressing the need for consistent execution from a bullpen that also features Whitlock in a setup role. With 21 games left and a weekend series against Arizona looming, the rotation and bullpen must stabilize to sustain a postseason push.

Key names surface: Hicks’s high ERA and WHIP, Bernardino’s mid-innings stint, and Whitlock’s role as the trusted bridge. The Guardians capitalize on Boston’s missteps, and Boston’s decision to field a bullpen game underscores how every late-season outing matters for fantasy managers tracking bullpen usage, leverage spots, and potential save opportunities as the race tightens.

The All-Star break has come and gone, marking the time to sharpen fantasy baseball strategies as teams push towards the finish line. While recent weeks have been quiet regarding prospect call-ups, a plethora of talent exists in Triple-A, with several players poised to impact lineups as we enter the final stretch of the season. This week, the focus is on elite prospects ideal for redraft leagues in 2025.

Top prospects like Andrew Painter and Spencer Jones are making headlines with outstanding performances. Jones, in particular, is on fire, having hit 10 home runs in just 16 Triple-A games while showcasing a remarkable .426 batting average. Meanwhile, Brandon Sproat has transformed his game, boasting a 0.00 ERA over his last four starts. Each of these players offers significant fantasy potential, whether via immediate call-up or impactful performances in the future.