Giancarlo Stanton returns to the New York Yankees’ lineup after three games of general soreness, set to start in right field in one of the two games against the Rays while Aaron Judge remains out of the outfield. Judge’s timetable is unclear as he tests his right elbow with long toss, and Boone suggested he may not regain full throwing strength this season. The Yankees sit three games ahead of the AL wild-card cutoff, relying on production at the plate while managing health constraints. Stanton sits at .299 with 12 homers and 34 RBIs, OPS .953, while Judge has ripped .333 with 39 HR and 91 RBIs since Aug. 5 as a DH. Stanton’s risk—an outsized history of injuries—adds a layer of tension to any outfield deployment. The Cardinals were swept by New York, underscoring the club’s momentum, but Judge’s fielding absence hinders flexibility as the club navigates a critical stretch.

For fantasy players, Stanton’s return provides a power boost but comes with positional risk, especially in RF given his elbow history. Judge’s elbow uncertainty makes the outfield a flux point for the Yankees, potentially elevating Stanton’s upside in the short term and reshaping who benefits from New York’s lineup protections. The Rays series becomes a test of health, depth, and strategic use of the lineup as the team tries to hold its wild-card position while balancing rest for veterans.

Aaron Judge is back in the Yankees’ batting order, but an elbow flexor strain keeps him from his usual outfield throws this week against the Rays. Manager Aaron Boone says Judge will primarily DH for now and is focused on protecting the elbow, not regaining his full throwing velocity this season.

Judge has appeared 11 times since Aug. 5, slashing .229 with a double, 2 homers and 6 RBIs. Giancarlo Stanton has gotten some right-field work to fill the holes, but mobility concerns persist. New York must ride the rest of the lineup to keep the offense humming while safeguarding Judge’s health.

Fantasy players should still treat Judge as a big power source, but the risk of reduced speed and limited defensive value weighs on his overall ceiling. The Rays series becomes a benchmark for how far the Yankees can push their lineup—Stanton and the supporting cast must carry RBI and runs while Judge heals.

Dodgers took two games from the Padres in a weekend slate at Dodger Stadium, flipping the NL West dynamic as San Diego’s bats cooled and Los Angeles showed signs of a sharpened pitching staff. The weekend also spotlighted a busy MLB landscape: Yankees, Braves, and Royals posted sweeps, while the Guardians stumbled against Atlanta. Giancarlo Stanton’s potential injury could shift New York’s lineup and fantasy projections, and Rob Manfred teased realignment and expansion timelines that may reshape schedules and player usage in coming seasons. Off the field, the Little League Classic offered memorable moments as MLB competitors connected with young fans, underscoring the sport’s pipeline.

Beyond the headlines, the episode frames the rest of the season as a test for rotations, bullpens, and lineup depth. Dodgers and Padres now head to San Diego for another pivotal series, while the churn around star players—Wheeler’s IL stint, Robles’ bat-throw incident—adds texture to fantasy decision-making. The weekend’s sweep culture—Yankees, Braves, Royals—remains a reminder that timing and depth often decide October fates, not just frontline stars.

Giancarlo Stanton resurfaced as a spark for the Yankees, pinch-hitting in the ninth and drawing a walk as New York mounted an 8-4 rally to beat the Cardinals. Stanton’s appearance—his first since midweek—came while he nurses lower-body soreness, with Anthony Volpe pinch-running and scoring in the late surge. Meanwhile, Aaron Judge remains the Yankees’ designated hitter as he rehab throws ahead of a possible outfield return. Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt came back into the Cardinals’ lineup, with Goldschmidt delivering a multi-hit day after knee inflammation and a spirited standing ovation marking a six-season Cardinal reunion. Rehabbing arms from both clubs surfaced in the bullpen notes: Loáisiga’s rehab start and Cruz’s brief return-to-action. The mix of health updates and late-game offense shaped a tight narrative as the season moves toward critical late-summer windows.

MLB prop bets for August 16, 2025 spotlight four power-hitting targets: Alex Bregman, Andrew Vaughn, Giancarlo Stanton, and Hunter Goodman. The slate favors big-hitting environments (Coors Field, Sutter Health Park) and value-driven bets, emphasizing batted-ball metrics, splits, park factors, and odds shopping. The piece leans into a round-robin approach with smaller units to extract upside from clean matchups and favorable arenas.

Alex Bregman at Fenway Park is projected to go yard against Cal Quantrill (+310) thanks to a righty-heavy profile and strong season numbers. Vaughn carries a +380 line versus Zack Littell, buoyed by a recent Brewers hot stretch and right-handed splits. Giancarlo Stanton targets Sonny Gray with a +330 line, leveraging elite recent power against right-handed pitching. Hunter Goodman hits Ryne Nelson at +320, tapping Coors Field’s power and Goodman's road-hitting prowess.

Value here comes from the environment and the matchup edges: right-handed power in power parks, weather favorable to homers, and the odds that offer meaningful ROI on 0.5-HR bets. The strategy favors selective, value-driven plays in a weekend schedule loaded with high-leverage power opportunities.

Shop for the best price across sportsbooks, and consider a small-round robin to mitigate variance while chasing the upside from these four HR props. The article emphasizes patience with line moves and the importance of environment-driven edge today.