Athletics vs Twins is a midweek showdown with Oakland as the road underdog and odds leaning toward Minnesota. The headline is Jacob Lopez, who has stitched together 24 scoreless innings across four starts, a feat that makes him a sneaky betting play against a Twins lineup that has slipped OPS-wise since the All-Star break. The Twins counter with Joe Ryan, who owns a strong 2.72 ERA this season, but Minnesota’s offense has cooled, ranking near the bottom in OPS and wRC+ over the same stretch.

The bet landscape features a top prop: Lopez under 2.5 earned runs allowed, banking on his recent efficiency and a depleted Twins order. Oakland’s offense has rallied since the break, ranking highly in OPS and wRC+. The recommended play is Athletics +122, with Lopez’s hot streak and the A’s post-break offense giving the underdog a credible path to a win in a park-friendly matchup at Target Field.

DraftKings welcome offer for new users: no code needed, first deposit of $5, first bet $5+ with -500 odds or better, and you receive $200 in bonus bets as $25 slips within 72 hours of the win settling. Bonus bets expire in seven days and convert to cash once settled. The Tuesday slate stacks MLB and WNBA, with marquee clashes like Phillies vs Mariners and Aces vs Dream, plus a Liberty vs Lynx pairing. The MLB spotlight features Tarik Skubal for Detroit against Houston’s Hunter Brown, while Philadelphia hosts Seattle in a playoff-tinged duel as Mets remain within shouting distance in the NL East. The WNBA appraises a Minnesota grind led by a sidelined Napheesa Collier as New York visits Minnesota, and Las Vegas eyes Atlanta in a tight, high-juice showdown. A promo extension invites players to funnel bonus bets into NFL preseason, PGA Tour and college football later in the week. Also highlighted is responsible gaming support and 24/7 help resources.

Detroit may be quietly shaping the most dynamic edge in baseball's second half: bullpen depth. Under A.J. Hinch, the Tigers are leaning into a bullpen-by-committee that can morph for each opponent, each series, and every postseason scenario. Deadline additions—Kyle Finnegan, Rafael Montero, Codi Heuer, and Paul Seawald—gave Hinch a deep pool to shuffle, preserving a fresh arm throughout a long run. The supporting cast—Will Vest, Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Alex Lange, Troy Melton, Brenan Hanifee, Tommy Kahnle, Chase Lee, Sawyer Gipson-Long, Bailey Horn and more—forms a flexible web that keeps the late innings in play even with injuries or fatigue looming.

In practical terms, Detroit can deploy a bullpen with multiple flavors: lefty and righty matchups, longer relief to bridge to late-inning relievers, and a revolving door of setup options that keeps a keen edge on leverage. Vest’s 2.55 ERA anchors a strong core, while Lange and Seawald bring back-end options that indirectly multiply holds and occasional saves for fantasy managers. With roughly a month left in the regular season, the Tigers’ depth could carry them through September and into October with a lineup that thrives on matchup-driven bullpen usage.

Bottom line: Detroit’s bullpen depth creates flexibility that few teams can replicate, turning relief innings into a strategic asset rather than a single closer’s nightly task. If Hinch gets the right configurations, this depth becomes a real fantasy differentiator in holds-heavy leagues and a potential source of collateral saves in tight races.

Ron Darling’s autumn took an unexpected turn as he steps into a Houston backdrop while not seeing an Astros ALCS for the first time since 2016. He’ll call Houston’s tilt vs Detroit for TBS, then return to Houston for a Sept. 2 home date against the Yankees, a schedule that underscores how central Houston has been to his career. The Astros’ arc remains defined by resilience: injuries have pocked the roster, yet the club’s depth and culture carry them toward another division crown.

Houston’s season has not been smooth: Alvarez hasn’t danced in the lineup since May 2, Hader hit the IL, and a midseason influx of Correa, Sánchez, and Urías reshapes the roster. Darling argues the core—plus a healthy Alvarez upon rehab—still fuels the club’s big‑moment pedigree. Carlos Correa’s return, Bregman’s Boston chapter, and the continued dial‑up of Houston’s pitching staff paint a team ready to weather adversity and chase playoff success, with Seattle looming as a formidable challenger.

In Darling’s view, the Astros’ ability to win with whatever is available defines them. The lineup evolves, but the winning culture endures, and the team’s championship DNA is a lure for fantasy managers eyeing late-season value from stepping-up role players and relievers who can close gaps in the bullpen as the postseason nears.

Houston visits Detroit on a night when the Astros have been blanked for 22 straight runs across two games, placing pressure on a lineup that has failed to wake up. Tarik Skubal takes the mound for Detroit after an 11-3 mark with a 2.42 ERA, while Houston counters with Hunter Brown at 10-5 with a 2.45 ERA. Comerica Park hosts a marquee pitching duel that could determine whether fantasy managers should chase Skubal’s upside or cautiously ride Brown’s steadiness against an offense in a funk. The broadcast slate includes Space City Home Network and TV coverage on TBS for out-of-market viewers; radio options are 790 AM and 93.3 FM. Off the field, Houston’s bats have been quiet, prompting questions about timing and approach. Jesús Sánchez offered a candid note about feeling off at the plate, a subtle reminder that even players in good form can stumble. In DFS terms, Skubal looks like a strong bet to deliver a quality start given the Tigers’ right-handed leaning lineup, while Brown provides a viable depth option if you’re chasing continued trust in Houston’s rotation.