Boston’s bullpen woes continue to sting the club as a 6-3 loss to Baltimore leaves the Red Sox tied for second in the AL East. The bullpen blew a 3-1 lead on Sunday and surrendered four in three on Monday, and Jordan Hicks remains a lightning rod after a costly ninth-inning collapse. Dustin May delivered six innings of two-run ball in the later start, giving Boston a glimmer of stability. The big news is the Rafael Devers trade to San Francisco for Hicks, Kyle Harrison, James Tibbs III, and Jose Bello, with the Giants picking up the remaining eight years of Devers’ contract. The package shifts cost/benefit calculations for both teams and reshapes the fantasy landscape around Devers’ bat, Hicks’ role, and the Sox’ bullpen volatility. Online chatter is loud about the trade’s value and Boston’s budgeting on Hicks, but the on-field ripple is real: bullpen reliability remains the fulcrum of the team’s standings and fantasy upside.

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox renew their classic rivalry at Yankee Stadium in a four-game set with clear playoff implications. New York holds a 1½-game edge for the AL’s top wild-card spot, while Boston sits just behind for the second wild card, both chasing Toronto in the AL East. The Yankees arrive on a five-game surge that included a historic nine-homer night against Tampa Bay, underscoring their power. Boston has stumbled, dropping three straight and 3-7 over their last 10. The series opens with Giolito vs Gil, then Bello vs Fried, Crochet vs Warren, and May vs Rodón, with Judge’s status a frequent subplot.

Aaron Judge’s elbow issue has restricted him to DH duties, but the skipper hinted a return to the outfield could be possible, which would shift the Yankees’ defensive and lineup balance. That development, paired with Dustin May’s uptick for Boston and Bello’s strong start after arriving in Boston, could swing the weekend. Meanwhile, Boston’s success in head-to-head matchups this season—five of six against New York—has them believing they can flip the script again. The four-game slate also tees up a late-September rematch and further tests for relievers and offense, making every game consequential as the playoff picture tightens.

Baltimore arrives as a massive underdog in Fenway, with playoff odds barely above zero, while Boston sits solidly in the AL East playoff mix and the top wild-card spot. Monday’s game pairs Trevor Rogers against Dustin May in a key AL East matchup with real fantasy fallout. Rogers has been a revelation in 2025 for Baltimore (1.43 ERA across 11 outings) and May is back in a Boston uniform, riding momentum from six shutout innings in his last turn against Houston.

Betting lines tilt Boston, but the prop market leans toward a tight, low-hit night for Rogers. Under 5.5 hits allowed is the popular call, given Rogers’ 0.81 WHIP and .232 expected average allowed this year. May, while still not flawless, flashed form in his latest Houston start that could carry to Fenway. The Oriole right-hander may steal a surprise win or keep this tight, making Orioles +102 a tempting value play on DraftKings as BOS eyes a narrow win in a tight AL showdown.

Dylan Cease shifted gears in the second half, branching beyond his usual four-seam/sinker duo. The curve is growing as a weapon against lefties, while the sinker is carving up-right strides, reducing third-time-through penalties. The result: a deeper arsenal that can tamp down hard contact and sustain strikeouts. Cristian Javier’s season debut in Houston showcased elite velocity spikes (93.5 mph) and a broadened mix, including a sweeper and a new sinker, signaling a true spike in upside if command follows. Cade Cavalli’s two-start sample in Washington underscored top-tier fastball velocity (97.6 mph) and a multi-pitch approach (sinker, curve, cutter, changeup) designed to attack both sides of the plate, though command remains the lingering hurdle. Dustin May’s Boston transition reveals a deliberate reshaping: less sinker, more four-seamer and cutter with a steadier two-pitch pairing, paired with a more flexible two-strike strategy. Ryan Bergert’s Royals run features a rise in fastball height and new sweeper usage, plus a clearer plan to pair the two primary breakers with a potential changeup. The piece also glances at Spencer Arrighetti’s season arc, Aaron Judge’s top-tier fantasy status after a strong update, and Zack Wheeler’s shoulder questions shaping the closer and rotation chatter. In fantasy terms, the week’s trend is clear: deeper, diversified arsenals can turn solid talent into sustained upside, but consistency and command will ultimately decide who to buy and who to fade.

Boston travels to Houston for Game 2 of the set, sending Dustin May to the mound against Spencer Arrighetti. After a wild 7-6 Astros win in Game 1, this one shapes up as a bullpen-heavy, late-inning duel with both offenses capable of explosive outputs. McCormick’s first homer of the year and Urias’s first since the trade highlight Houston’s latest charge, while Bregman cracked a homer in his return to Space City. The money lines tilt toward Houston, but the spread and total offer intriguing fantasy angles as May and Arrighetti look to rebound from rough recent showings.

Rotoworld NBC projects lean toward a cautious tote in the betting market: Astros on the moneyline, but the spread nudging toward Boston at +1.5 and an over/under near 8. The modeling notes each starter’s short previous starts (roughly 3.2 innings) suggesting bullpen leverage could swing the outcome. In fantasy terms, Boston’s offense has spark potential around May’s leash, while Houston’s lineup can explode late if Arrighetti falters early.

Fans should monitor McCormick and Urias for continued multi-slot power, and May’s ability to push deeper into the game could swing the win probability for Boston. Arrighetti’s 7.43 ERA is a concern, but Miami’s recent exposure showed he can stabilize when he locates his fastball. The dynamic is set for a strategic clash with late-inning leverage and fantasy upside in IJ/DFS lineups.

The series momentum favors Houston’s solid home form, but a Boston win would require May to locate his fastball and the Red Sox to plate runs early. Expect a tight, high-leverage affair with potential for a big bottom of the lineup surge from both clubs as the bullpen depth comes into play late.