Aaron Judge’s dramatic September surge keeps him in the AL MVP conversation even as Cal Raleigh’s historic 60‑homer season for a catcher shakes up the fantasy landscape. Raleigh’s power, deep-league upside and the evolving catcher market push sleepers like Taj Bradley and Tanner Bbeby into the spotlight for 2026. Francisco Alvarez’s late‑season action adds catcher depth, while Sasaki’s velocity spike fuels chatter about affordable postseason and next‑year upside. The playoff picture tightens, Castillo finishes strong, and JRod’s late‑season surge reinforces Seattle’s offensive backbone.

Much of the talk circles around how to translate elite late-season finishes into next‑year value. Raleigh’s 60 HR is an outlier at his position, so expectations should be tempered, but the bar for catchers has risen. Bradley’s late burst and Bbeby’s cutter adjustments keep deep-league futures interesting. Alvarez’s return in New York signals continued upside behind the plate. The conversation remains: chase upside late in drafts, balance with proven floor, and monitor how MVP narratives color 2026 projections.

In short, the fantasy horizon is wide open after strong finishes. Expect renewed interest in high‑variance arms, keep an eye on positional scarcity (catcher, pitching depth), and watch how several hot finishers shape early 2026 ADP debates.

Mets stun the Cubs 9-7 after a six-run swing from a 6-1 deficit, with Lindor delivering a tone-setting early homer and Alvarez propelling the late-innings charge as Diaz locks down a six-out save. Peterson’s shaky start is forgotten as Nimmo, Alvarez and a resurgent offense carry the day, keeping playoff hopes alive in a five-game sprint. Destiny is back in Mets’ hands, but the road remains perilous and must be navigated with bullpen ferocity and lineup consistency.