Shohei Ohtani advances a tightrope act in August as he blends a heavy two way workload with a keen eye on health. The Dodgers lean into his value as the engine of the lineup while tamping down innings as an onfield pitcher, a balancing act that comes amid a late season bullpen squeeze and a narrowing division lead. He pushes opportunities on the basepaths again, even as he inches toward pitching a fuller role, underscoring the dynamic pressure of maximizing two way production in real time.

Ohtani remains a top fantasy asset with his elite blend of power, speed and reliable two way production. Through 23 plus innings on the mound he sits with a 3.47 ERA and a near pain free return, while at the plate he thrives with a high on base clip and 43 homers, paired with 17 steals. His velocity and slider show standout indicators, including a 98.3 mph fastball and a 56.5 whiff rate on his slider, suggesting continued upside as he adapts to extended pitching appearances.

The Dodgers plan is methodical: protect Ohtani by avoiding excessive extra innings, rely on a shallow bullpen to cover extra frames, and structure daily prep around the pitcher hitter dichotomy. A one sheet scouting approach guides each start, and the mental shift on start days is real, with hitters and pitchers sharing load, aiming for sustainable, long term value rather than short term cliff diving. It is a delicate calculus but one the club believes is worth it given his unique impact.

In this context, fantasy rosters benefit when aligning Ohtani with a schedule that emphasizes his favorable start days and monitors inning caps. Even as his offensive output remains blazing, his pitching duties cap the upside on some lineups; savvy managers should balance rostering him with complementary bats and a bullpen friendly bullpen friendly schedule to maximize weekly fantasy returns.

Week 20 of the 2025 MLB season brings a targeted waiver-wire boost across five standard fantasy categories. Three solid options per category provide a mix of power, speed, and average help for shallow rosters. Key names to grab: Lenyn Sosa, Noelvi Marte and Luis Rengifo bolster Runs; Colson Montgomery, Matt Shaw and Kyle Manzardo supply Home Runs; Spencer Steer, Drake Baldwin and Blaze Alexander drive RBI; Bryson Stott, Andres Giménez and Jakob Marsee add Stolen Bases; Isaac Collins, Ernie Clement and Miguel Andujar push Batting Average. Rostering notes highlight multi-position eligibility and recent August upticks, making these plays viable streamers with strong rest-of-season upside.

These adds come with context: many carry at 35-50% ownership and are stepping into lineups with daily playing time or versatile infield/OF roles. Use them to shore up depth in counting stats while balancing risk in shallow leagues. The list emphasizes players with hot months and clear paths to plate appearance, elevating the chance of contributing across Weeks 20 and beyond.

Shohei Ohtani delivered a one-of-a-kind performance in Anaheim: a liner that triggered a triple play, then a go-ahead homer in the same game as part of a 7-6 Dodgers loss in extras. Ohtani’s 43rd homer keeps him among MLB’s leaders while the Dodgers and Padres jockey for NL West supremacy. The sequence featured Zach Neto snagging Ohtani’s sharp grounder and turning a 6-4-3-ish triple-play spark, with Angels rallying late as Jo Adell plated the decisive run off a Taylor Ward ghost-runner.

Dodgers- Padres remains a central storyline as LA looks to rebound with a key series against San Diego. Ohtani’s high-end production amid the chaotic finish underscored his ongoing value, not only in fantasy lineups but in the broader dynamic of a division race that may hinge on late-season contributions from both clubs. The Angels, buoyed by Neto, Adell, Ward and Rengifo, showed they can turn a moment into momentum, while LA’s next two starts figure to be pivotal for the pennant chase.

The Los Angeles Angels have made a statement by shutting out the New York Yankees in back-to-back games at Yankee Stadium, demonstrating the importance of strong pitching in baseball. Jose Soriano secured a 1-0 victory on Monday with seven scoreless innings, followed by Kyle Hendricks's six innings of shutout baseball on Tuesday, leading to a 4-0 win. Hendricks struck out nine while allowing just four hits and one walk, showcasing a dominant performance.

Despite being out-hit on Monday, the Angels managed to control the game, with key contributions from players like Luis Rengifo, who opened the scoring with an RBI single, and Taylor Ward, who followed with a two-run single. This performance places the Angels just two games under .500 and in the hunt for a Wild Card spot, while the Yankees rue their missed opportunities against a fierce opponent.

The Los Angeles Angels were overpowered by the Miami Marlins, suffering a 3-0 shutout at Angel Stadium. Despite an impressive eight-game winning streak prior to this loss, the Angels couldn't get their bats going, managing only three hits and striking out 15 times against Marlins pitcher Edward Cabrera, who dazzled with his fastball and breaking ball. Angels manager Ron Washington expressed disappointment in the lineup's consistency, particularly after a series of solid performances.

In a day off for both catcher Logan O'Hoppe and shortstop Zach Neto, the Angels struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, failing to bring runners home when it mattered. Meanwhile, starter Kyle Hendricks delivered a quality start, allowing three runs over six innings, but his efforts were overshadowed by the team's offensive woes. Taylor Ward's hitless performance snapped his 10-game stretch of extra-base hits, exemplifying the team's struggle on this day.