Paul Blackburn landed with the New York Yankees, stepping into a bullpen role after being designated for assignment by the Mets. He traveled through Idaho to meet New York in Tampa, aiming to contribute length and veteran savvy for the stretch run. The move came with New York also designating Allan Winans for Triple-A, signaling a shuffle to shore up bullpen depth and keep options open as injuries and inconsistencies linger.

Meanwhile, the club rolled out rehab notes on Fernando Cruz and Ryan Yarbrough, both funneling toward returns that could bolster late-inning and multi-inning leverage. Boston looms as the series opponent, and Atlanta’s prior testing of Blackburn’s tracks record was cited as context for his new chapter. The moves underscore a Yankees bullpen in flux, prioritizing length, versatility, and health ahead of September call-ups.

Week 21 in fantasy baseball centers on savvy IL stashes with upside for the stretch drive. Ryan Yarbrough returns to a Yankees rotation eager for stability after an oblique ailment, offering speculative late-season value if rehab goes clean. Landen Roupp looks poised to rejoin the Giants with strong strikeout metrics and favorable home/road splits, potentially anchoring a depth start. Colton Cowser carries power upside and outfield flexibility, but concussion issues keep him risky until late August. Jacob Wilson remains a hot target for AVG/OBP and run production as he nears activation from forearm surgery. Hyeseong Kim, a versatile Dodger with speed and middle-infield eligibility, may reclaim regular at-bats once back. Across the board, managers should consider brief IL stashes to boost stacks when playoff rosters tighten.

These five players each bring a different path to value: Roupp’s strikeout ability and pitcher-friendly home park; Yarbrough’s proven 2025 form with caveats on injury recovery; Cowser’s past power in a strong Orioles lineup; Wilson’s top-line batting average and OBP splash; Kim’s speed and multi-position eligibility in a potent Dodgers lineup. Owners in redraft leagues with IL slots will want to monitor rehab updates and activation timelines, ready to pounce as Week 21 turns into Week 22 and the playoff push accelerates.

Two Yankees bullpen pieces, Ryan Yarbrough and Fernando Cruz, are closing in on returns from oblique injuries, with rehab sessions kicking off this week. Cruz threw 19 pitches in a live Double-A Somerset session, while Yarbrough advanced to two live-ups. Both are slated to begin rehab on Thursday, with Cruz possibly joining after a sequence of rehab starts and Yarbrough's usage depending on how he is built up and rotation needs. The move would add a much-needed boost to a relief corps that has felt the pinch from bullpen depth injuries.

Around the same time, Giancarlo Stanton logged field work in right, and Aaron Judge continued progress in his throwing program, though not yet expected to return for the Twins series. Oswaldo Cabrera, sidelined by a gruesome left ankle fracture and ligament damage since May, walked the clubhouse and provided a tempered outlook; his recovery remains murky. Cabrera slashed .243/.322/.308 with one homer and 11 RBI in 34 games this season, while Cruz sits at a 3.00 ERA across 32 games with a remarkable 41.2% strikeout rate. Yarbrough has struggled to a 3.90 ERA in 16 games, a reminder that his rehab timing will shape how the Yankees handle rotation and bullpen roles as Judge and Stanton push toward field readiness.

New York rallied from a stale start, but the night belonged to a televised brouhaha more than the box score. The Yankees fell behind early to Houston, and Aaron Boone was ejected in the third for arguing balls and strikes, the fifth ejection of his season. The incident spilled into the dugout and frame-by-frame, signaling a day when mood, not offense, dictated the flow. Fantasy managers should note the immediate bullpen flurry and the potential ripple effects on lineups and resting players in the wake of the: manager’s absence and the club’s skid.

Houston jumped ahead on Jose Altuve’s first-inning homer and padded the lead with Christian Walker’s RBI double, underscoring the Astros’ early-life depth and the danger of chasing late. The game also spotlighted Ryan McMahon, whose called strike set off the Boone confrontation, a reminder that every plate appearance carries psychological weight. In this environment, fantasy lean toward the hottest Astros in the next slate and monitor Yankees bullpen shifts that could unlock or lock down opportunities for the next matchup.

The New York Yankees managed to halt their losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers, thanks to a key solo home run from Paul Goldschmidt in the seventh inning. This win not only prevented a three-game sweep by the Rangers but also brought an end to a six-game winless road trip. Carlos Rodon had a solid outing, allowing only two earned runs over five innings, although he faced challenges, including a run-scoring single from Sam Haggerty. The Yankees rallied with two runs in the fourth inning, driven by Anthony Volpe's RBI and a wild throw during Jasson Dominguez's steal.

Reliever David Bednar secured the win with a gutsy five-out save, throwing 42 pitches and striking out Adolis Garcia to close the game. The Yankees' bullpen exhibited resilience, combining to allow only two hits and three walks in the final four innings. This win was a critical morale booster for the Yankees as they prepare to face the Houston Astros in their upcoming series.