Benintendi’s fourth‑inning homer gave Chicago a brief lead, but Kansas City’s bats woke up in the fifth as the Royals bloomed for eight runs behind a steady-onslaught of good at‑bats and productive contact.

Salvador Perez started the rally with a solo shot, then Isbel and Witt Jr. added hits as the inning snowballed. Yastrzemski followed with a three‑run blast later in the game, sealing a lopsided win. Civale was tagged for five runs in 4 2/3, while Korey Lee handled catching duties and even pitched two innings after entering as a catcher—an eye‑opening two‑way moment for the Sox.

Texas Rangers stumble through a frenzied road swing, dropping to 2-5 on the trip and slipping three-and-a-half games back of the wildcard chase. Semien hobbled out in a walking boot after fouling a ball off his left foot; Carter nursed a stiff right wrist after being hit by a pitch. MRI and X-ray results loom large as Bochy’s club tries to salvage something from a season that may be slipping away. On the mound, Corbin’s durability again fades as the Royals pounce, using timely hits and Pasquantino’s homer to seal a 6-4 win. Road numbers tell a stark story: Rangers are 26-40 away from Globe Life Field, with pitching splits that bite when the ball flies differently on the road. Offensively they’re improved on the road, yet the overall pattern reinforces a need to fix production away from home if they’re to keep playoff dreams alive. Royals’ offense thrives on power and clutch hits, delivering a painful reminder that a resilient, well-rounded roster can flip the balance on a mid-September road trip. Bochy stressed the need to keep fighting, but the window to contend on the road is narrowing, and the season’s arc may hinge on how the Rangers respond heading into the final stretch.

Twins' deadline teardown sent shockwaves through fantasy rosters as Minnesota flushed a large slice of its roster to slash payroll by tens of millions. Ownership signaled retention but leaned into two limited partnerships, reviving questions about a Pohlad-led sale and long-term cost control. With a 2025 active payroll around 39.8 million (27th in MLB), the club has signaled a rebuild-forward path rather than a quick sprint.

The move cleared about 70 million in Correa-salary relief and targeted bullpen and veteran pieces, yet some moves defied obvious math, like trading Louis Varland. If Minnesota shops Joe Ryan and Pablo López this winter, the Twins could squeeze the lowest payroll in baseball, reshaping value across the rotation and bullpen and forcing fantasy managers to rethink Twins assets and risk tolerance for 2025.