Two big themes dominate the latest fantasy baseball today: two starting pitchers are being relegated to the drop pile as the season tightens, while a flock of power-rich Yankees and top-end NL stars keep fantasy managers marching toward playoff bids. Baz is dropped in many leagues after a brutal August stretch, with two starts looming and a shaky command profile. Meanwhile, Christopher Sanchez shines, pushing into a top-rest-of-season tier thanks to a changeup-heavy approach that keeps hitters off balance and deep outings. The crew also gushes over David Peterson’s rebound, Adley Rutschman’s continued value, and a rising Guardians name who could shake up rest-of-season rotations. The Yankees erupt for 13 runs and nine homers, Judge and Stanton both taping up their health narratives, while the lineup shuffle around Ben Rice and Caballero hints at late-season batting order shifts. Across the minors to the majors, Parker Messick is watched intently as the Guardians tee up a rotation shakeup, and Parker Messick’s potential grab becomes a talking point for 15-team and deeper rosters. Vlad Guerrero Jr. lands on the day-to-day radar with a hamstring issue, while Jacob deGrom’s workload and Judge’s health become tug-of-war storylines for playoff rosters. The show also threads in the NL Young contender chatter around Sanchez and the late-season steam of Wander Franco, Ward, and a handful of hot hitters who could swing category-heavy leagues in the final weeks.

September call-ups loom as fantasy rosters inch toward playoffs, offering a slate of potential difference-makers who can swing weekly outcomes. In the spotlight: Jordan Lawlar, Jacob Wilson and Jasson Domínguez, each positioned to contribute early with big minors pedigree and the right developmental timing. The window is tight; owners should pounce on hot starts, especially when streaming for short-term boosts in runs, RBIs and power.

Lawlar, 23rd overall prospect, has a 319/.319 line across 229 minor at-bats with 50 runs, 21 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homers and 46 RBIs plus 19 steals. Wilson ranks at .312 with 46 runs, 17 doubles, 10 homers and 78 RBIs across 369 at-bats, offering multi-position value. Domínguez, the high-profile call-up archetype, has shown the ability to swing a season—his early impact is a reminder to chase up-front bets rather than late waiver adds.

Other immediate-need names show upside too: Chase Burns could carve a relief-to-spot-start path for Cincinnati, Kyle Bradish might return with a sharp boost for Baltimore, and Mick Abel offers fantasy-friendly peripherals if Philadelphia leans on him down the stretch. The strategy: stash the high-upside rookies, stream when matchups align, and ride the breakout weeks without overpaying for expected stumbles.

Promotions & breakout runs drive late-season fantasy intrigue as Baltimore stacks its top prospects. Samuel Basio and Dylan Beavers were promoted, with Basio poised to add catcher eligibility amid a defensively adaptable, power-heavy profile. Beavers brings a rare blend of power and speed, elevating the Orioles’ potential impact down the stretch. Caminero’s early-season power chatter remains a touchstone as the show weighs bold 35-HR forecasts and the realistic path to staying in the lineup.

On the pitching side, Nolan McClean and Hurston Waldrip headline the waiver-wire lift after impressive weekend showings; McClean’s velocity and plus breakers pair with control concerns, while Waldrip’s splitter-led mix offers upside in deeper leagues. The conversation widens to weekend standouts like Francisco Alvarez and Ben Rice behind the plate, and the risk-reward calculus around Wheeler’s IL stint looms large for Philadelphia.

Health updates dominate the breaking news: Wheeler’s blood clot complicates a top-tier season, while Francisco Alvarez leaves with a thumb concern and Yordan Alvarez begins a rehab assignment. The panel nudges Andrew Painter’s future opportunity as a potential fantasy pivot, and they debate catcher-depth implications, especially given the current depth at the position.

As the season winds down, the episode emphasizes careful rostering for catcher-eligible players (Basio, Rice, Alvarez) and aggressive pickup of dynamic prospect debuts (Beavers, Caminero). The feel is pragmatic: chase the breakout while accounting for playing time, eligibility rules, and innings risk in a sprint to peak fantasy weeks.

New York Mets edge the Yankees in a tight roadmap to the postseason as the season threads toward its final act. The Mets’ path hinges on a comeback from a faltering stretch, bolstered by high-impact veterans and a pitching staff that's showing signs of cohesion even as the bullpen bears heavier late-inning burdens. The Yankees remain a formidable playoff-contender thanks to a deep rotation and a rest-of-season schedule that gives them chances to plate wins, but their bullpen and depth in late innings are under scrutiny as the calendar narrows.

Lindor, Alonso, and Soto surface as the trio most capable of seizing control when the Mets need a lift; Judge anchors the Yankees’ offense with juice atop a strong lineup. The discussion centers on which market is likeliest to sprint late and which players across these rosters stand out in fantasy playoffs. The conversation highlights the Fab Four of Mets starters as a potential game-changer if they straighten out early-season missteps, and it weighs schedule strength, bullpen fatigue, and division parity as the run to October tightens.

For fantasy managers, the pulse is practical: target Mets hitters who can carry blocks of games, monitor Yankees streaming options on favorable turns, and watch for bullpen usage patterns that could tilt save chances or win probability. The verdict lands narrowly: the Mets may clinch a hair ahead, but it’s a razor-thin race that rewards timely pickups and shrewd, matchup-driven pitching moves.