Anthony Volpe’s underlying numbers hint at a rebound, but his plate discipline continues to sink him. With playoff races tightening, managers wonder if a hold is worth it or a swap is better.

Jack Flaherty has cratered lately: 26 frames, 24 strikeouts, an ERA north of 4, and rising hard contact with a troubling HR/FB rate. The breakdown leaves fantasy squads chasing safer options.

Palencia’s IL stint pushes Brad Keller into saves duty, while Tanner Scott and Kikuchi draw bench-spot risk. Xavier Edwards, Correa, and Tol get lumped in as caution flags. Keller stands out as the clearest immediate add as the week unfolds.

Brandon Spro’s Mets debut looks promising as a potential late-season add; he went six innings with seven strikeouts and a respectable ERA, signaling a viable streamer in favorable matchups as Cincinnati’s schedule loosens up. Zebby Matthews and Kyle Bradish are the two hot-start pitchers worth monitoring next week, with Matthews drawing Angels and Bradish facing Pittsburgh for a juicy Tuesday slate.

Kyle Teal, Francisco Alvarez, Otto Lopez, Ryan O’Hearn, Jordan Leasure, and Sean Armstrong provide a mix of catcher depth, power, and saves–all in the sprint to the fantasy playoffs. Teal’s two-catcher viability and Alvarez’s power-return with Mets’ lineup depth stand out, while Lopez and O’Hearn bring hot bat potential in stacked lineups. Armstrong and Leasure offer closing upside in tight races.

Benintendi's two-homer, four-for-five night powered a 12-3 win, lifting his season total to 17 homers and fueling a late-season fantasy surge for Chicago. Lenin Sosa sits atop the Sox HR leaderboard at 19, while Coulson Montgomery has shown a promising power-and-glove profile across 48 games. The win underscores a front-office shift toward internal development, a rising run differential, and a clear path for the rest of the season.

The discussion ties on-field progress to a broader rebuild: internal hires, Ryan Fuller’s influence, and a plan that emphasizes growing talent from within. With a +16 run differential and a potential edge in the 2026 draft pool, Chicago’s strategy is delivering tangible upside for fantasy managers eyeing breakout bets down the stretch.

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.