The Cubs’ offense remains a fluctuating theme as they drop another 4-1 decision to Atlanta. Elder kept Chicago blanked for the second time in a week, while Imanaga labored early but steadied into six innings. Nico Hoerner provided Chicago’s lone extra-base hit with a double, and Matt Shaw added a seventh-inning sac fly, but the Cubs’ bats didn’t sustain pressure. With 18 games left, the Cubs must bolt their lineup back to consistent scoring to chase the playoffs. Atlanta, leaning on a sharp first inning and a resilient bullpen, holds serve as the schedule tightens.

Imanaga’s adjustments after the first helped limit damage, but the Braves’ early onslaught set the tone. Hoerner stressed the need for a unified, high-intensity approach, while the Cubs look to rebound with offensive stability. The Braves’ aggression in the opening frame underscored the gap the Cubs must close, especially as the postseason picture nears.

Brandon Sproat’s big-league debut in Cincinnati was a study in promise and nerves: three earned on three hits over six-plus, with four walks and seven strikeouts, and a no-hit bid into the sixth that Reds bullpen could not cap. Hunter Greene matched the night with 12 punchouts across seven frames, flashing a 101.5 mph heater that kept the Mets swinging and missing. New York rallied late, but Cincinnati held on 3-2 to take the series and snag the NL Wild Card tiebreaker.

As the Mets stall on the road trip, Philadelphia sits seven games ahead in the NL East, while New York’s late-inning drama leaves fantasy managers weighing Greene’s upside against Sproat’s volatility in his first big-league foray. The night also highlighted Noelvi Marte, Elly De La Cruz, and Francisco Álvarez in pivotal moments, plus Soto’s ninth-inning homer and Diaz’s jam-escape, underscoring a tense chase for playoff positioning.

Phillies bullpen churn and Mets power surge collide in a flurry of late-August moves. Joe Ross was released, Jordan Romano landed on the IL, and Taijuan Walker looms as a rotation option for Philadelphia. Willson Contreras faces a six-game ban that could shake Cardinals catching depth, while Willson’s fellow veteran Lou Trivino has a hometown angle that adds warmth to the Philies storyline. Giants’ Randy Rodriguez hits the IL as Dylan Moore signs with Texas, and the Mets’ big guns—Harrison Bader, Starling Marte, Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo—kept shredding Citi Field pitching, especially against Jhoan Duran. Fantasy managers should track bullpen shifts, appeals, and lineup jolts over the next two weeks as rosters recalibrate around these moves.

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.

The Mets staged a dramatic 6-5 walk-off at Citi Field, narrowing the NL East gap behind the Phillies. Brandon Nimmo delivered the game-ending RBI single after a bases-loaded rally, marking the Mets’ fourth straight hit against Jhoan Duran in the ninth. New York clawed back from a 5-2 deficit after a five-run fifth, with Mark Vientos driving in runs and Nimmo lifting a spark-plug offense that could matter for fantasy rosters as the Mets chase the division.

The Phillies’ late-inning bullpen woes continued as Ryan Helsley blew another lead, extending his shaky stretch since the trade, while the Mets leaned on hot hitters like Nimmo and Vientos. Helsley’s rough form and Duran’s rough night create notable bullpen volatility to track for late-game volume and saves in fantasy lineups, especially with the Mets’ timely offense and the Phillies’ closer instability.