Five bargain hitters are surging for Week 22 waiver pickups: Hayes, McNeil, Teel, Baty, and Nootbaar. Hayes’ move to Cincinnati has boosted his bat with lower ground-ball rates and higher hard contact, flagging him for everyday duty as the Reds chase a postseason spot. McNeil has heated up in the Mets’ productive middle, delivering consistent multi-hit games and RBI. Teel is showing upside behind the White Sox plate, while Baty is finally turning his Mets offense into a reliable contributor. Nootbaar continues to provide top-of-order production for St. Louis. In many leagues these names float on waivers, offering short-term boosts with longer-term upside as August closes out.

Mets offense surges to a walk-off win over Philadelphia keyed by Nimmo. Since Aug. 12, New York has hammered 98 runs, fueling fantasy upside as the lineup heats up behind Marte, Alonso and Baty. Diaz locks it down with a five-out save while Manaea labors but provides punchouts; Helsley allows a late homer to Bader before Diaz finishes. The nine straight home wins vs PHI keep playoff chatter lively and highlight late-inning strength and bullpen volatility for fantasy benches and rosters.

Shane Bieber returned from Tommy John with velocity and swing-and-miss bite, flashing mid-Cy Young form in a 9-K outing and a 92.7 mph heater. Toronto plans a six-man rotation, which limits immediate fantasy upside even as Bieber looks like a true staff ace again with workload management likely heading into playoffs. The piece also surveys late-season adds: Basallo, Carson Williams, Brett Baty, and desireable depth pieces Teel and Jeremiah Jackson rise in shallow leagues, while Bradish and Messick are velocity/command-in-progress holds.

Mets visit Citi Field needing a sweep to stay alive in the NL East race, facing Cristopher Sánchez opposite Kodai Senga in a marquee pitching duel. Philadelphia holds a commanding lead, with NBC Sports projecting value on the over and Mets run line (+1.5). Fantasy players should watch Sánchez’s late-season form and Senga’s home/road splits for strikeout upside and bullpen leverage.

Mark Vientos has sparked NYM with a seven-game hitting streak, while Brett Baty has scuffled recently. Sánchez’s 2.47 ERA and Senga’s solid home work shape the balance, making this a tense, late-inning affair where bullpen theatrics and timely hitting decide fantasy outcomes.

Expect a tight, low-margin battle with enough scoring to warrant selective exposure. The model’s projections align with a cautious stance on the spread and a lean toward the game going over. Weather and lineup shifts could tilt the balance toward late runs or extra frames, keeping daily bettors on alert.

Zach Thompson's MLB prop slate (8/23/2025) highlights four value home-run bets: J.T. Realmuto, Mike Yastrzemski, Brett Baty, and Julio Rodríguez. Each targets higher ceiling plays rather than the shortest odds, blending hot streaks, favorable matchups, and park/weather factors to maximize upside on a round-robin card. Odds cited come from DraftKings to stress price-shopping value across the board.

Realmuto brings a home-friendly power profile with a string of recent homers; Yaz has heated up after the Royals’ deadline move; Baty’s lefty pop and Atlanta matchup grab late-NL East leverage; Rodríguez has heated peak numbers and a favorable lefty matchup to close the night. Weather and park dynamics underpin all four plays, offering meaningful fantasy- and betting-forward value.