Jacob Lopez kept the momentum rolling with another strong showing, gutting Tampa Bay for seven shutout innings while piling up nine strikeouts. The altered slider usage—lower velocity but sharper chase metrics—has him throwing a pitch that whiffs more often, making him a viable two-start option for next week for 61% rostering. The slider’s movement is a conscious shift, and while the home park limits homers, Lopez has flashed enough upside to be in the mix.

Roman Anthony’s breakout continues, as the 21-year-old the leadoff experiment and four walks in one game fuel a high on-base profile and potential for more power and speed as the season winds down. Mets-Brewers slugfests highlighted Pete Alonso’s surge and Francisco Alvarez’s recall, a reminder that big-name bats and top catching prospects can reshape fantasy rosters in a tight stretch run.

Spencer Strider’s struggles grew with the Mets hammering him for eight earned over four, prompting Warometer debates about benching or taxing starts and a broader look at his internal brace recovery. Ranger Suárez also faced velocity dips, a looming question mark for a pitcher who’s historically built on precision and command. Across the board, the mix of hot hitters (Judge, Yordan, Ramirez) and up-and-coming talents (Anthony, Vaughn) is driving a volatile but upside-filled fantasy landscape.

Warometer Wednesday underscored the ongoing calculus: stay aggressive on risers like Vaughn and Alvarez while charting paths around names showing strain or changing velocity. The next week promises a live-test of midseason rhythm and postseason readiness for fantasy rosters.

Pete Alonso cemented Mets lore by passing Daryl Strawberry for the franchise lead in home runs, blasting number 253 on Tuesday. The polar bear’s consistency — 253 homers in seven seasons, missed time included — reframes Mets history and casts Alonso as the core of the lineup for years. Fantasy managers should view him as a steady, elite 1B option, with durability that keeps him near the top of the position all year.

The episode pivots from Alonso to a broader franchise narrative: the 300-300 club chatter around Jose Ramirez and others, Wander Franco’s breakout trajectory, and Shohei Ohtani’s brand and on-field dual threat. It also spotlights the Pirates/Tigers prospect pulse and the Dodgers-Padres duel in the NL West, all with eye-opening context for dynasty and keeper formats.

The New York Mets continue to struggle offensively, with their recent slump underscoring deeper issues that date back to mid-June. Despite having a strong pitching staff, their lack of run production has been a persistent problem. The team expected improvements in scoring due to the addition of Juan Soto, but they are actually performing worse than last year in several key offensive metrics. Catcher production remains a significant concern, while first base has seen some improvement, notably with Pete Alonzo's clutch hitting this season.

The analysis reveals that while the Mets have improved in the outfield, positions such as catcher and third base have seen notable declines. Francisco Lindor's performance has dipped significantly compared to his MVP-like season last year, and the struggles extend to the center field position, where they rank near the bottom in several categories. The podcast suggests potential lineup changes, including moving Soto to leadoff, which might alleviate some pressure and spark more production from the team’s bats.