Zach Neto helped Los Angeles Angels turn a rare triple play in a win over the Dodgers, underscoring the value of elite defense in fantasy-seeking sprint rosters. Shohei Ohtani continued to deliver both with his bat and milestone-chasing pace, logging a notable 1,000th career hit in a Dodgers setback to St. Louis. Cal Raleigh supplied Seattle with MLB-leading pop (45th HR) as the Mariners topped Tampa Bay, while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. shocked with the fastest-pitch homer tracked this season in Arizona’s loss to San Diego.

Meanwhile, New York’s Aaron Judge was activated from the IL, boosting the Yankees’ lineup, and Austin Riley landed on the Braves’ IL with a lower abdominal strain—a reminder of how injuries can flip surrounding rosters. The Padres’ blockbuster move to acquire Mason Miller and JP Sears from Oakland reconfigures their rotation and bullpen entering the stretch. The piece also notes the 2027 All-Star Game set for Wrigley Field, hinting at long-range fantasy calendars and scheduling taps for optimizing rosters.

Ohtani returned to Angel Stadium as a pitcher for the first time since his Tommy John rehab, but his comeback was tempered by a rising count that forced the Dodgers into a tougher fifth. He logged 4 1/3 innings, 5 earned on 80 pitches, with 50 strikes. A leadoff triple in the first helped set the tone as Los Angeles built a 3-0 lead before weathering Angels’ rally. The night featured a high-velocity dose against Mike Trout, including a run of 98-101 mph heaters and a full-count sweeper to freeze him, underscoring Ohtani’s still-elite but carefully managed return to pitching.

The Dodgers’ bullpen held until the eighth, but Logan O’Hoppe delivered the deciding blow for the Angels with a line-drive single to reclaim the lead, and Kenley Jansen closed for save number 470 as LAA_pulled off a 6-5 win. The result left the Dodgers a game behind San Diego in the NL West, with the Padres winning big earlier in the day. Interleague momentum swung firmly to the Angels, who extended their seven-game win streak against their rival from L.A., while the Padres nudged ahead in the standings and kept the pressure on Los Angeles.

Shohei Ohtani returned to the mound at Angel Stadium for the Dodgers in a dramatic Freeway Series chapter, delivering 4 1/3 innings of five-hit, four-run ball with seven strikeouts, including back-to-back Trout strikeouts in a high-profile duel. He also sparked the Dodgers with a leadoff triple and a run before taking the mound, illustrating the two-way spark that has defined his career. The night featured power from Will Smith and Mookie Betts, a homer by Taylor Ward off Ohtani, and Zach Neto’s two-run double that trimmed the Dodgers’ lead, keeping Anaheim in the mix. Ohtani’s velocity touched 101 mph at times, underscoring why fantasy managers remain fascinated by his ceiling, even as innings totals are managed after his 2023 elbow injury and 2024 Dodgers return. The crowd noise reflected the enduring drama of his split with the Angels, as both ex-teammates and rival fans watched his every at-bat and pitch. The series has already showcased Ohtani’s impact as both pitcher and hitter, with Dodgers hopeful that his two-way brilliance continues to shape every lineup decision and fantasy projection.

Ohtani’s return comes after a year in which he signed a decade-long, $700 million contract with the Dodgers and resumed mound work two months ago, gradually increasing his inning count while remaining the everyday DH and leadoff hitter. The events in Anaheim—Ohtani’s early run-scoring burst, Trout’s tough-night strikeouts, and Neto’s timely hit—highlight the ongoing narrative: a player who transcends positions and defies easy fantasy categorization. As the Dodgers chase wins, Ohtani’s dual threats will keep both real-world stakes and DFS intrigue high in each future start and at-bat.

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.

In a back-and-forth Los Angeles rivalry, a sixth-inning moment stole the show. With the game tied at six and runners aboard, Shohei Ohtani ripped a 2-2 fastball back up the middle, but Angels shortstop Zach Neto, in double-play depth, snagged the screamer and quickly started a relay that ended with a game-saving triple play. Neto brushed off the danger, catching the ball behind second, stepping on the bag to double up the pinch runner Miguel Rojas, then firing to first as Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing scrambled to return to the bag. The sequence, rare and spectacular, halted a Dodgers uprising and gave the Angels a defiant spark in a high-leverage moment.

The play capped a dramatic two-team showdown in the three-game set, underscoring the razor-thin margins of a game where a single swing can flip the momentum. Ohtani, long recognized for clutch hits with men in scoring position, saw a prime opportunity turned into an exclamation point for defense. It was a reminder that in baseball, even the best can be stymied by a perfectly executed, if improbable, sequence.