Kerry Carpenter's pinch-hitter game-tying blast off Cade Smith keeps Detroit alive, but Will Vest falters in the 10th as Cleveland pulls away 7-5. Casey Mize pitched well again, and Spencer Torkelson added a late two-run homer to trim the deficit, yet Detroit couldn’t complete the comeback. The Tigers sit 5½ games up in the AL Central with 11 to play, and the Guardians push to close the gap in a pivotal series opener.

Fantasy takeaway: Carpenter’s late-season hot stretch vs a lefty specialist is noteworthy, and Mize’s swing-and-miss profile continues to trend upward, making him a plausible streaming option. Vest’s bullpen volatility remains a concern for late-inning setups, tempering any immediate trust. Detroit’s lineup still feasts when matching up, but execution in high-leverage spots looms large ahead of a tight race.

The game highlighted Cleveland’s balance—Kwan’s RBI double and timely hits from Ramirez, Arias and Naylor—and Detroit’s depth, with Torkelson delivering a glimmer of power down the stretch. Rest of series implications center on bullpen usage, platoon matchups, and which offense can sustain pressure against the other’s bullpen arms.

Miami edged Detroit 6-4 in 11 innings after a tense extras duel that ended with a walk-off blast for the Marlins. Detroit built a 3-2 edge on an early Carpenter homer and a fifth-inning rally, only to watch Miami answer with Johnston’s sixth-inning solo shot and a dramatic late rally. Meadows and Carpenter supplied the offense for Detroit, while Will Vest and Rafael Montero fell victim to a chaotic finale. The Tigers head to Miami for the series finale hoping to turn the page.

Daniel Palencia's breakout season is derailed by a right shoulder strain, forcing the Cubs into a closer-by-committee next week. Keller and Kittredge are the early names to monitor for saves in Chicago.

Will Vest in Detroit should inherit the bulk of ninth-inning chances with Finnegan sidelined, though the Tigers bullpen may rotate save opportunities depending on matchups and usage.

Muñoz leads a cadre of high-end closers with 34 saves and elite ratios, while Díaz, Suárez, Iglesias and Jansen remain pivotal across the league. Chapman’s late-season surge for Boston stands out amid a chaotic closer landscape, with Pagán and Megill among the other notable late-inning arms vying for holds or saves.

Daniel Palencia's right-shoulder strain lands him on the IL, forcing Chicago to rework the ninth. Keller and Kittredge are in the mix as the Cubs scramble for late-game chances. Will Vest should soak up most Detroit saves with Finnegan sidelined, though the Tigers’ bullpen remains volatile.

Aroldis Chapman, Andrés Muñoz, Jhoan Duran, Edwin Díaz and Robert Suárez anchored top-tier closers this week, delivering key saves amid injuries and heavy workloads across the league. The flurry of bullpen shuffles underscores why fantasy closers must constantly monitor usage and matchup-driven opportunities.