Dodgers’ grip on the NL West has wavered as bullpen health dominates the conversation. After once holding a nine-game cushion, L.A. has seen that advantage shrink, with late-inning gaps exposing risk in a pennant chase. Fantasy players should note the possibility of Bobby Miller being fast-tracked to close if the relief corps can’t stabilize, turning a long-term stash into immediate upside.

Brock Stewart’s placement on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation, plus Sasaki’s May shoulder impingement and 60-day IL stint, cloud the bullpen outlook. The mental hurdle Sasaki faces—Will I feel something when I pitch again?—adds another variable, making a healthy, productive bullpen feel distant but essential for playoff runs.

In fantasy terms, monitor bullpen usage closely. If Miller is called up for late-inning duties, his value spikes as an expedient closer option. Sasaki’s return could unlock a high ceiling, but the timeline remains murky. Until then, streaming candidates and cautious rostering of Dodgers relievers will be prudent as health and confidence battle for stability.

The Dodgers have dropped four straight after the All-Star break, and injuries keep piling up as Brock Stewart landed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation after just a few outings. The skid has sparked roster debates in LA, including a potential reevaluation of Michael Conforto after a string of disappointing at-bats and a performance slump that has pundits wondering if a DFA could be on the table around the one-year anniversary of his release.

Freddie Freeman keeps preaching inside-the-ballpark focus while the NL West lead feels fragile. In the crossfire, LA’s crosstown rivals enjoyed a rare offensive and defensive blemish-free run, highlighted by the Angels turning a historic triple play—the eighth in MLB history against LA—while Dodgers pitchers watched 24 triple plays occur against them since 1997. Ohtani’s presence looms large in this rivalry-marked stretch, testing Dodgers’ pitching staff and fantasy rosters alike.

All of this creates a pivotal point for fantasy managers: who steps up if Conforto’s role shrinks and who improves as Stewart’s replacement innings are absorbed by the bullpen? The Dodgers need to reset quickly to reclaim the division, while Angels backers eye continued strength from Ohtani and company as the freeway-series narrative fuels betting and roster decisions.

The Los Angeles Dodgers face a tense finish as the NL West tightens and a rough patch tests their resolve. Max Muncy laid out the mood bluntly: there’s no sympathy, only the need to snap out of it as the defending champs chase their next win. At the trade deadline, LA tried to shore up bullpen depth by snagging Brock Stewart from Minnesota, while sending James Outman to the Twins. Stewart landed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation, a setback the Dodgers hope is not long-term as they push toward the postseason.

The injury casts a shadow over a bullpen that’s meant to carry big innings in October, and test results will clarify the road back. The Padres are breathing down LA’s neck in a race that promises to go down to the wire, making every late-inning appearance and lineup move critical. In this moment, leadership, depth, and quick recovery become as important as the stars who carry the weight on every given night.

The Minnesota Twins are facing a tough start to the 2024 season with two key players, infielder Brooks Lee and pitcher Brock Stewart, beginning the year on the injured list. Lee, the eighth overall pick in the 2022 draft, has been sidelined due to a herniated disk in his back, following reports of lower back tightness during spring training. Last season, he posted a respectable .221 batting average, with three home runs and 27 RBIs in just 50 games. Meanwhile, Stewart is recovering from a left hamstring injury and is also coming back from season-ending shoulder surgery.

Adding to the Twins' woes, third baseman Royce Lewis will also miss opening day due to a hamstring strain. After winning the AL Central in 2023, the team struggled last season, finishing in fourth place. The absence of these significant players could impact their early performance in the season.