Oakland’s offense exploded early at Minnesota, surging to a 6-0 lead by the second inning as José Ureña labored through five frames with six runs allowed. Lawrence Butler cleared the bases with a first-pitch double, setting the tone for the A’s with a decisive cushion that Minnesota could not overcome. The Twins finally dented the board in the fourth and added one more in the ninth, but the comeback fell short as Oakland bullpen, led by Osvaldo Bido’s three-inning save, slammed the door. This marked Oakland’s first sweep in Minnesota since 2014, a reminder that precise situational hitting and bullpen length can swing momentum on the road. Fantasy takeaway: Butler and Ureña’s performers clock in as short-term values, while Bido’s save odds bolster the A’s late-inning upside, and Trevor Larnach and James Outman supplied a few spark-plug hits for Minnesota in a tough loss.

Trevor Larnach anchored Minnesota’s modest resistance with a double that produced a run, and James Outman added an RBI in a late push, but the Twins could not string enough baserunners together to threaten the lead. Luke Keaschall chipped in with a run-scoring groundout, showing a touch of the lineup depth Minnesota will need to manufacture offense against quality left-handed starters and a structured A’s bullpen. For Oakland, the second inning defined the game: six runs, multiple hits, and calm pitching to preserve the lead. The result leaves Oakland sitting in a more favorable spot in a tight stretch run, while Minnesota must regroup after six losses in seven games.

Nine-game MLB slate on August 21 features ideal homer-hunting conditions in Coors Field and Tampa Bay. Casey Wilson targets four strong home-run props for today’s card: Lawrence Butler, Paul DeJong, Junior Caminero and Alec Burleson. Butler gets a favorable lefty split against Jose Urena in Minneapolis, DeJong faces Sean Manaea in Washington, Caminero draws Sonny Gray in Tampa, and Burleson takes Joe Boyle in St. Louis. The plan leans into a four-pack, capped with a round-robin approach to maximize upside without overexposing the bankroll.

Key bets include Butler OVER 0.5 HR (+500 DK), DeJong OVER 0.5 HR (+475 DK), Caminero OVER 0.5 HR (+320 FD), and Burleson OVER 0.5 HR (+450 FD). Weather and park factors support power, with Tampa’s porch and Minnesota’s ball-tracking aiding big hits. The card emphasizes measured risk with four solid shots to cash big on multiple deep-ball opportunities.

The Cut List goes into Week 21 with a clear tone: drop candidates who’ve lost value, hover watchers to consider replacements, and hold those on the hot seat for now. Marcus Semien paces toward a career-low batting average and may slip in the Rangers’ order as offense stalls; Jasson Dominguez has shown little sustained fantasy upside this year and is a candidate to drop in shallower formats. Max Fried remains a hold despite a rough stretch, while Steven Kwan still chips in counting stats even as his slash line falters. Spencer Strider sits on the hot seat, needing a couple strong turns to regain trust, while Wyatt Langford and Lawrence Butler are eyed by readers for potential demotions or opportunistic holds. Brandon Nimmo caps the week as a player whose value hinges on lineup placement and continued production between Soto/Alonso, with proceed-with-caution in shallow setups.

Beyond the headlines, the piece stresses not overreacting to a bad week but recognizing where a decline could linger. It outlines practical moves around 2B, outfield balance, and rotation plans, including a possible six-man rotation for Atlanta that could impact Strider. It also emphasizes dynasty vs. redraft nuance for Dominguez and Langford, and invites reader requests for next week’s Cut List. The overall message: smart, evidence-based cuts and timely pickups beat knee-jerk reactions as the season advances into late August and September.

For fantasy managers, Week 21 demands disciplined roster management—trust the data, watch injury flags, and keep a few durable producers like Nimmo in play, while being ready to pivot from underperforming holdovers. The Cut List serves as a weekly sanity check for rosters, reminding managers to optimize for counting stats and park effects, not just raw averages.

Stretch drive on the horizon and Sorare MLB lineups have to adapt. Upgrades ignite upside: Matthew Boyd jumps as a top pitching add with a career-best season, plus Brent Rooker and Taylor Ward provide heavy on-base and RBI potential as the Athletics and Angels trend toward late-season bursts. Holds lean into Malik-like caveats: Lawrence Butler, Jackson Holliday, and Nick Lodolo offer value with patience, while downgrades such as Ozzie Albies, Clay Holmes, and Nathaniel Lowe carry clear downside risk on short weeks. The narrative centers on park shifts, platoon splits, and the necessity to balance hot streaks with injury or matchup risk as September looms.