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.

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 navigate a brutal 19-game stretch with no off days, as Dave Roberts shields Mookie Betts and slides Miguel Rojas into shortstop. Shohei Ohtani remains central, in Wednesday's lineup as both starter and DH, with a likely Thursday sit-down in the series finale. Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith also appear to be managed days off, keeping rest front and center for a club juggling star power with depth. Rehab updates offer hope: Kirby Yates and Tanner Scott each tossed clean frames in Triple-A, hinting at a weekend return in San Diego, while Kiké Hernández begins rehab from elbow inflammation and Paul Gervase was brought back from Oklahoma City as Alexis Díaz was optioned. The context includes Gervase’s Rays trade origin and Díaz’s Reds trade history, underscoring how the Dodgers lean on a broad talent base as the schedule tests stamina.

Wednesday brings eight MLB games on the main slate, with a buyer’s beware vibe on pitching and several high-upside stacks. Jacob Misiorowski is the closest thing to an ace but carries clear IL-recovery risk in a Cubs matchup. Hurston Waldrep has flashed a plus strikeout rate in three big-league starts, and Shohei Ohtani is creeping into fantasy-pivot discussions despite Coors Field exposure. Nick Martinez is a budget swing option with tasty K%/. K-BB in a favorable Angels matchup. On offense, Heliot Ramos is a midrange trap with big-lefty splits, while Oakland’s trio of Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, and Brent Rooker offers a cheap stack against Bailey Ober. Top stacks focus on Dodgers at Coors (Betts, Smith, Freeman) and Rays vs Schlittler (Simpson, Diaz, Caminero). Michael Harris remains a discount-correlated hitter, and a few one-offs like Austin Martin and Trevor Larnach add upside. The slate invites balanced exposure to high-floor studs and bold, contrarian stacks built around Dodgers and Rays.