AL free-agent bids get real in this week’s FAAB-focused look, with two-start windows and keeper-grade upside driving the top targets. Expect big money on Bradish and Early as immediate impact bets, while Alexander, Urquidy, and Mahle offer upside in shallower formats or as roll-the-dice options when a two-start week aligns. Depth pieces like Rivero, Cole, Eaton, and Loperfido provide later-week dart throws, and a handful of power bets (Meadows, O’Neill, Meadows) could swing the week in the right matchups.

Grid-based pricing and a player-grade scale guide decisions, helping managers allocate a $100 FAAB budget efficiently. The slate features a mix of rotation depth, bullpen stability, and situational bats—useful for chasing wins, ERA/WHIP gains, and stolen-base upside down the stretch. Keep an eye on two-start schedules, IL-returns, and late-season callups that can reshape rosters in competitive leagues.

David Festa's 2025 season is over after a recurrence of shoulder pain; he’ll travel to Dallas for evaluation by Dr. Keith Meister as Minnesota pulls the plug on the rookie’s campaign.

Festa flashed late-2024 promise with a 3.81 ERA across 12 starts, but his 2025 line spiked to 5.40 ERA with 10 homers in 53⅓ innings. He rehab-started in Toledo, then was with St. Paul before the latest setback that ended any remaining pitching hope for the year.

Austin Martin will keep rotating between outfield and infield, with Edouard Julien and Luke Keaschall in the mix and Martin likely handling second base when needed. The Twins intend to ride their top arms—Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and Pablo López—without load management, keeping the pedal down as they chase a September surge.

Toronto exploded for offense in a wild 9-8 win over Minnesota, riding a late eighth-inning surge to erase a two-run deficit. Addison Barger lined a two-run double off the wall to cap the Blue Jays’ three-run frame, sealing the comeback. Byron Buxton supplied the power for the Twins with two leadoff homers in a multi-homer night, while Minnesota showcased speed with a season-high five steals and nine players collecting a hit.

Fantasy angles center on Barger's breakout moment for Toronto, Buxton’s multi-homer game as a regular-starter run-producing option, and a Jays lineup that leaned on depth and timely hitting down the stretch. The Twins head home with a tough loss after a road trip that featured crisp at-bats, aggressive baserunning, and a result that underscores the high variance of late-season baseball.