Saturday’s eight- to nine-game DFS slate centers on a favorable hitting backdrop in Tampa Bay and Colorado, with a tight top-pitcher tier led by Yamamoto, Ryan and Verlander, each priced near the upper-mid range. Yamamoto draws Baltimore, Ryan faces Kansas City, and Verlander works against St. Louis at Busch Stadium, delivering a solid balance of strikeout upside and win potential. The evening also flags cheap dart-throws in Stephen Kolek and J.T. Ginn for salary relief, while Padres exposure remains a tricky Coors Field consideration due to team salaries.

Stacks stand out: Giants at Cardinals (Ramos, Adames, Devers) and Athletics at Angels (Langeliers, Wilson, Rooker) offer distinct paths to upside, with Laureano anchoring an unconventional Padres angle. Value bats include Daniel Schneemann and Michael Harris II, plus Ha-Seong Kim and Shohei Ohtani as high-ceiling integrations. The article emphasizes projection-driven builds and multiple lineup experiments, cautioning that the authors may play different strategies in practice.

Joe Ryan headlines the pitching slate with a favorable Royals matchup, backed by a trio of solid arms including Glasnow and Ian Seymour. Freeman leads top targets, while Story and Kremer offer lefty-friendly angles and upside. Jung-Hoo Lee, Blaze Alexander, and a trio of Oakland bats (Langeliers, Rooker, Wilson) provide salary relief. Padres’ stack (Tatis, Machado, Laureano) stands out, with the A's and D-backs also set to feature prominently on Friday's DFS board.

Jurickson Profar opens Week 23 with a scorching August, slashing .306/.436/.620 and piling up 9 homers, 26 RBI, and 6 steals. His patient approach and elite walk rate keep him a multi‑category contributor for fantasy managers chasing playoff wins in roto or points formats.

Elly De La Cruz has cooled in the second half, posting a .247/.303/.358 line with limited power despite elite speed. High strikeout and swing‑and‑miss rates explain the dip, so managers should consider sit/start caution in crunch time, especially in points leagues where OBP and power are king.

Joe Ryan remains a high‑upside option, though recent outings have raised eyebrows with three homers allowed in two starts. His overall profile stays strong, but the Padres loom next, offering a stern test. A strong rebound would reaffirm his playoff value, while continued power contact could complicate roto ratios in the final stretch.

A social media moment around Shohei Ohtani and De La Cruz hints at cross‑league buzz surrounding top talent. The Padres’ looming matchup also factors into weekly decisions, as managers weigh streaming and matchup‑based starts heading into the fantasy playoffs. Week 23 looks ready to stress test those rosters.

Buxton homered and doubled in five at-bats, his 29th homer setting a career high and tying the Target Field mark as the Twins toppled the Padres 7-2 to clinch the series. Joe Ryan spun seven scoreless innings, punching out eight and overpowering San Diego’s lineup. Minnesota’s MVP debate centers on Buxton vs. Ryan as the two stars pace the team’s 2025 WAR race, and the win extends the Twins’ mastery over the Padres at Target Field.

Buxton’s 111 mph line-drive double in the fifth ignited a three-run frame, while Ryan worked out of trouble repeatedly, leaving runners stranded on third on several occasions. The Padres struggled on the road, the Twins kept rolling, and the upcoming quartet with the White Sox offers another test for Minnesota’s playoff push.

Padres stumble on a rugged road trip, dropping 7-2 to Minnesota as Joe Ryan seizes control for seven innings. San Diego’s bats leave runners in scoring position all day and muster a two-run ninth; the day is overshadowed by a hamstring scare for Fernando Tatis Jr. Machado draws the lone Padres walk, while a late Bryce Johnson RBI offers a flicker of life. The Twins’ balance—Buxton, Sheets, O’Hearn, Laureano—widens the cushion and leaves San Diego with questions before hosting Baltimore.

The Padres head home for a Baltimore series eager to reboot, hoping the lineup can click more consistently and that Tatis Jr. is ready to return. Fantasy managers will watch the health of Tatis and the continued production from Machado and Cronenworth, along with the strength shown by the Twins’ lineup in this one.