Dodgers harnessed Coors Field’s hitter-friendly environment to seize a pivotal series-clinching win, riding a 4-1 lead after two frames into a 9-5 final that kept them a game clear of San Diego. Mookie Betts opened with a walk and Freddie Freeman followed with a center-field homer, Freeman’s 16th of the year. Los Angeles stacked more runs in the second, with Alex Call, Miguel Rojas and Betts fueling a bases-loaded situation that produced continued pressure. The onslaught extended through the afternoon as the Dodgers stacked hits in five straight innings and Clayton Kershaw weathered Rockies’ rallies to post win #8. Colorado’s early response came on a Hunter Goodman ground-out that plated a run off Dollander, but fell short as Freeland and company didn’t let up. The Rockies chipped in late with two runs, but the Dodgers answered with timely hits and patient at-bats, setting up a showdown with the Padres. Also noted: Roki Sasaki made progress in a promising update for Dodgers’ pitching depth, while Shohei Ohtani sat, remaining the best-scoring Dodger in August. Fantasy takeaway: LA’s top-bullet hitters continue to click, and a high-octane series against San Diego looms, making Betts, Freeman, and Conforto strong daily options while the Rockies’ power prospects show sporadic upside in Colorado’s lineup.

A tight NL batting-title race could reshape the 149-year streak of NL hitters finishing above .300. Four hitters sit at or above .300 and a fifth is right there, with Luis Arraez’s 2024 champ backdrop noted. Will Smith (.304) leads the charge for the Dodgers, followed by Trea Turner (.303) with Philadelphia, Freddie Freeman (.302) also with Los Angeles, Xavier Edwards (.302) of Miami, and Sal Frelick (.298) of Milwaukee. The piece flags the possibility of the streak ending this season if any of these closers drop below the mark in the final stretch.

For fantasy managers, the numbers matter because every game and every at-bat counts. Smith must climb out of an 8-for-46 August funk to stay north of .300, Turner has surged to .303 aided by a scorching August, Freeman is riding a hot August (.328 in 67 AB) and a career .300 hitter, Edwards remains in striking distance despite a late wobble, and Frelick has hit .340 in August and could push past the threshold with the Brewers. Arraez’s mention as a 2024 champ provides a benchmark for consistency in a volatile chase. RotoWire rounds up up-to-the-minute context to help set daily lineups and wagers as the season winds down.

Six-game MLB DFS slate moves briskly into the afternoon, nudging lineups to be built with urgency. Manaea and Lorenzen anchor the pitching pool, each carrying compelling reason to trust them despite ERA quirks, while the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman shines as a key bat in a thinner Coors field environment. A Padres stack around Verlander teases upside, pairing Tatis, O’Hearn and Cronenworth with a right-hander-friendly plan. Value wings come from Doyle and Urias, giving you salary relief without sacrificing upside.

Inเกม, the Padres loom large: a Verlander tilt opens the door for three Padres staples—Tatis, O’Hearn, Cronenworth—while the Rockies’ Brenton Doyle brings Coors-field upside with multi-category ceiling. On the mound, Manaea’s modest strike rate but favorable matchup against Nationals, plus Lorenzen’s home-road split, suggests a balanced approach. Rounding out value, Urias provides affordability with a plausible path to mixed-league points, and Urena’s volatility is worth a flyer in the right matchup.

Jamie's MLB DFS notebook for Thursday 8/21/25 spotlights a six-game DK slate and a three-game FD slate, with the Dodgers anchoring the night and an emphasis on elite arms alongside shrewd value plays. Ohtani’s absence nudges the lineup toward a power-heavy Dodgers pipeline and raises the floor for Freeman, Betts, and Hernandez. Immanaga and Gore headline the pitching options, while Cease and Priester offer differentiated paths on a short slate. India and Smith stand out among infielders and Seager, Pederson, and Teoscar headline the outfield mix, with Grichuk and KC stacks weaving through a few key playbooks. Dodgers stacks against Dollander dominate the strategy, Royals vs Corbin adds another high-upside angle, and Oakland vs Urena provides a rarer DK-only angle. Windy conditions and Coors Field volatility add another layer of nuance.

Value picks abound: India leads off Kansas City with run-scoring upside against Corbin, Kurtz and Pederson bring budget-friendly pop, and Will Smith’s multi-position eligibility creates lineup flexibility. Teoscar Hernandez and Freeman help round out a potent Dodgers lineup while Seager and Betts fill premium slots. In diversified builds, mixing Dodgers core with Royals and A’s targets can unlock salary relief without sacrificing upside. Injury news and lineup shifts remain critical as the day unfolds.

In short, the slate rewards balanced exposure: a top arm pairing in Imanaga/Gore with Cease/ Priester as a flexible pivot, big Dodgers stacks, and selective value adds across KC and OAK while staying mindful of weather and time constraints across DK and FD.

Dodgers pounded Colorado at Coors Field and fantasy managers should expect more runs in the rematch. The pregame chatter shifts away from Shohei Ohtani’s price tag to the LA bats, with Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez leading the charge and Betts quietly contributing behind them as LA looks to extend a recent run of success against Tanner Gordon and a Rockies bullpen that has struggled all year. The betting card leans into offense: Over 11.5 runs, Freeman over 2.5 total bases, Hernandez over 1.5 total bases, forming a +330 SGP that rides Coors Field’s hitter-friendly environment.

Ohtani’s start is acknowledged, but the price makes him less appealing for a big-money flyer; the focus instead is on the Dodgers’ stacked lineup and the matchup against Gordon, who owns a high ERA and a Rockies bullpen that’s been among the league’s worst at run prevention. The plan: load Dodgers’ bats, exploit the second-worst bullpen, and ride Freeman and Hernandez in a high-upside mini parlay while respecting Coors’ volatility. Look for LA to push the pace and chase Gordon early, keeping the total in play for fantasy darts and daily fantasy lineups.