Spencer Strider’s August struggles loom large as his fastball shape lags behind the slider and curve. The Braves ace still misses bats, but three straight long outings with five-plus earned runs have fantasy managers pondering a bench or even a non-roster pause. There’s no rush to drop him, per cautionary notes; the upside can swing the balance with back-to-back good starts. Jurickson Profar has seized the moment for Atlanta, fueling a hot streak with multi-homer duels and elite plate discipline from the leadoff, fueling fantasy upside even as exit velocity fluctuates.

Michael Harris II followed with a four-for-four night and 15th homer, plus pace-setting runs and steals, riding a second-half sprint that’s reminded owners why he was a top prospect. Vlad Guerrero Jr. left with hamstring tightness, adding to the list of injuries in a crowded week, while Zack Wheeler’s blood-clot procedure looms as a major timeline question. The show also highlighted Trevor Rogers and Ranger Suarez turning in strong, deep outings, Yuri Perez’s control bumps and Gavin Williams’ rebound, with Bryce Miller slated for a return and Freddy Peralta continuing to pile up wins.

Two-start week conversations center on arms like Dustin May and others, while Freddy Freeman’s late-season resurgence continues to quiet the critics. JT Realmuto and Bryce Harper are among the seasoned bats delivering steady value, and the squad remains vigilant about hamstring and shoulder news that can tilt weekly lineups. The dynamic Braves offense, paired with a rotating cast of pitchers, keeps fantasy rosters nimble as the stretch drive unfolds.

Mets promote a top pitching prospect who could debut this weekend, signaling a new wave of callups shaping fantasy rosters as the stretch run nears. The narrative centers on a hard-throwing righty with a plus slider and improving control, hinting at immediate minor-league-to-MLB impact and potential wins if he gets a favorable matchup in Seattle. The bullpen picture in Houston grows murkier after Josh Hader’s shoulder strain, pushing a committee between Brian Abreu and Bennett Sousa with Sousa scoring a save in recent action. On the hitting side, Giancarlo Stanton's hot streak continues to dominate, while Francisco Alvarez starts tapping into his raw power with multi-homer games that could catalyze a strong finish for the Mets. Sal Frelick and Chandler Simpson pace a Brewers and Rays backcourt of speed and table-setting, respectively, while Ernie Clement (Toronto) provides multi-position eligibility as a steady in-season contributor. The episode also highlights Christian Javier as a sneaky stash option heading into Sunday starts, with Will Warren offering another streaming window for players short on pitching depth.

Stanton's power surge sits at the center of the bats, but Alvarez, Frelick, and Simpson each carry tangible upside in shallower leagues while Clement's positional flexibility adds value in daily formats. The Astros bullpen dynamic could swing saves count and leverage, a critical factor for fantasy pitchers late in the season. Across the board, the episode emphasizes upside adds on the waiver wire—particularly pitchers with clear paths to innings and hitters who can sustain hot streaks—and cautions about health and workload as teams navigate down the stretch.

Fantasy implications touch multiple angles: elite power bats that are slowly returning to health, multi-positional infielders and outfielders who can be slotted for value, and pitchers who can turn short outings into wins with strong run support. The curation of arm depth—Cortes, Javier, Warren—and bullpen orchestration in Houston underscore the volatility but also the upside of mid- to late-season adds. A balanced mix of proven contributors and high-upside rookies defines this week’s landscape for fantasy managers aiming to dodge FAAB landmines and maximize weekly upside.

The Mets stumble in a crushing home loss that threatens to stain a pivotal stretch of games. Peterson walked five, forcing the bullpen into a quick meltdown and leaving little room for offensive comeback. The bottom line: New York’s rotation struggles to go deep, and walks keep piling up, sapping any chance to tighten the game late. Seattle rolls into town this weekend, so the immediate mood shifts to how the staff can rebound and which hitters can manufacture value in a slump-in-progress offense. The Braves provided a brutal counterpunch, as Harris II launched a Grand Slam and Atlanta’s bullpen, once a strength, showed cracks of its own.

Fantasy angles sharpen quickly: Peterson’s shaky control raises red flags for streamers and daily lineups, while Michael Harris II remains a focal point of Braves lineups. Juan Soto had opportunities but failed to drive in runs in high-leverage spots, spotlighting the risk-reward calculus around Soto in late-game situations. The Mets announced a call-up looming for McClain, signaling a potential rotation reshuffle that could shift bullpen roles and shorten outings, increasing risk for fantasy managers holding Mets starters this slate.

Francisco Lindor’s slide down the stretch casts a shadow over the Mets’ postseason push. A hitless lull in five straight games and a second-half average around 0.169 push Lindor from the usual high-end production, prompting questions about health and mental edge. Yet leadership and track record keep him in the circle of trust; a few decisive games could flip the script when it matters most.

The Phillies’ legs look fresh as they ride a four-game win streak, expanding their lead in the wild-card race and tightening the gap with the Mets. Kyle Schwarber’s clutch power provided a jolt in a pivotal moment, reinforcing his role as a fantasy force who can put a team on his back when the calendar turns to late August and September.

With the Mets six games behind Philadelphia for the final wild-card spot, the season’s tempo shifts toward resistance and resilience. Chicago’s Brewers and Cincinnati Reds show up in the backdrop as potential spoilers, but the Mets’ veteran steadying presence under Carlos Mendoza keeps them in play, even as the trade deadline passes without major upheaval. The thread through it all is whether Lindor can rekindle his late-season magic and whether Philly’s momentum can sustain itself through a crowded stretch run.