Playoff time sharpens rosters, and 10 names mind the cut line. Otani’s pitching struggles push a split decision: in shallow leagues, drop the pitcher Otani while keeping the bat, whereas deeper formats may still stash him for potential late-season depth. Kyle Tucker’s hairline hand fracture is healing, but the clock is ticking toward the playoffs, making a cautious stance prudent. O’Neal Cruz’s concussion IL and Austin Riley’s season-ending core surgery explode the waiver-wire calculus in many formats, while Zach Wheeler’s shoulder thrombosis casts a shadow over Phillies pitching plans. Byron Buxton’s health remains a minefield, and Shane Baz’s slide raises red flags as Berios’ volatility keeps owners wary on Toronto. The insiders track, waiver picks, and rotation shuffles shape the stretch run.

Two big themes dominate the latest fantasy baseball today: two starting pitchers are being relegated to the drop pile as the season tightens, while a flock of power-rich Yankees and top-end NL stars keep fantasy managers marching toward playoff bids. Baz is dropped in many leagues after a brutal August stretch, with two starts looming and a shaky command profile. Meanwhile, Christopher Sanchez shines, pushing into a top-rest-of-season tier thanks to a changeup-heavy approach that keeps hitters off balance and deep outings. The crew also gushes over David Peterson’s rebound, Adley Rutschman’s continued value, and a rising Guardians name who could shake up rest-of-season rotations. The Yankees erupt for 13 runs and nine homers, Judge and Stanton both taping up their health narratives, while the lineup shuffle around Ben Rice and Caballero hints at late-season batting order shifts. Across the minors to the majors, Parker Messick is watched intently as the Guardians tee up a rotation shakeup, and Parker Messick’s potential grab becomes a talking point for 15-team and deeper rosters. Vlad Guerrero Jr. lands on the day-to-day radar with a hamstring issue, while Jacob deGrom’s workload and Judge’s health become tug-of-war storylines for playoff rosters. The show also threads in the NL Young contender chatter around Sanchez and the late-season steam of Wander Franco, Ward, and a handful of hot hitters who could swing category-heavy leagues in the final weeks.

Dodgers 11, Rockies 4: an offensive outburst with 18 hits across the lineup, led by Alex Call’s four-hit night including the longest Dodger homer this season. Mookie Betts and Will Smith chipped in multi-hit nights, Freeman contributed, and Teoscar Hernández added a spark that underscored the team’s depth. The win offers a confidence boost after recent slumps and sets up a meaningful weekend series with the Padres.

Defensive questions hovered around Teoscar in right, as the panel debated where he fits best with healthy bodies returning. They floated a front-office-friendly alignment: Edmond in center, Mookie in right, Teoscar in left, with Freeland and Kennedy providing versatile depth. Emmet Sheehan delivered six sturdy innings, easing bullpen strain in a stretch with heavy workload, signaling the rotation’s improving form heading into October.

Rosters and outfield fit remain ongoing talking points as September call-ups approach. The show mused about center-field candidates and the value of speed and defense in the postseason mix, while acknowledging the Dodgers’ need to balance cost, depth, and upside with Holistic roster moves. A personal note closed the segment, as the hosts teased an upcoming Hood to Coast relay—a reminder that the team’s world is larger than the box score.