The New York Yankees erupted for nine homers against the Tampa Bay Rays at Steinbrenner Field, tying a franchise record. Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton launched a first-inning trio, with Bellinger and Stanton adding another shot later. José Caballero, fresh off a Rays-to-Yankees swap at the trade deadline, went deep twice—his first two as a Yankee. Jazz Chisholm Jr. also homered in the high-scoring showcase. The win keeps New York rolling toward the top wild-card spot, while the Rays slide in the standings.

Historically, only four teams have produced nine homers in a game, and the Yankees became the first club to post two nine-homer games in a season. Judge’s 40th of the year sits beside a four-season 40-HR club list, underscoring the Yankee power core. Boone, who managed one of the prior nine-HR games, hinted Judge might rest his throwing going forward, adding a layer of fantasy-management nuance as the season winds down. Caballero’s power outburst adds another dynamic piece to New York’s lineup, while the Rays’ playoff chances fade a bit more as they chase late-season momentum.

The Yankees unleashed a massive power binge, slugging eight homers through six innings in a single game against the Rays. It marked the fourth time in franchise history they’ve posted 8+ homers in a regular-season game, and it was the second time this season they’ve reached that mark. New York rode a wave of mega-miles-per-hour swings from its big guns and mixed in a surprising bench pop, underscoring a hot stretch as the playoff push looms. Fantasy players should note that Judge, Stanton and Bellinger supplied the backbone of the onslaught, with Rice, Chisholm and Caballero joining the party for a day that felt like old Bronx Bombers magic in an unfamiliar Tampa setting.

The Rays, who had to relocate to Steinbrenner Field after Tropicana Field flooded, couldn’t slow the surge, as the ball seemingly carried more than usual. The result is a reminder that even in a sample-size game, NYY’s offense can surge in a hurry and create monster fantasy days. For managers, this is a cue to monitor NYY’s lineup closely in upcoming series and to consider stacking the hot bats while they ride this power wave, especially Judge, Stanton and Bellinger, who led the charge in a game that mattered late in the season.

Speed fueled the Yankees’ 8-4 win at Busch Stadium, with José Caballero igniting a decisive ninth-inning rally that turned a 4-4 deadlock into a four-run burst. A leadoff grounder, a rushed throw, and a passed ball set Caballero up for a go-ahead score, then teammates delivered unearned insurance as the Yankees swept the Cardinals. The late surge trimmed ground in the AL East and wild-card races, and New York now looks ahead to a two-game series with Tampa Bay at Steinbrenner Field, with Rodón slated to start.

Fantasy takeaway centers on Caballero’s speed and multi-position viability, plus Goldschmidt’s hot-as-ever two-way impact for St. Louis, Domínguez’s growing RBI presence for New York, and Bellinger’s continued power-and-average contribution. While Cardinals miscues plagued them, the afternoon also highlighted depth pieces like Iván Herrera and Lars Nootbaar and the evolving Yankees’ lineup that leans on speed, defense, and timely hitting to generate run-scoring opportunities.

Twins head to the Bronx for Game 2 against the Yankees, leaning on a bullpen-first approach after a 6-2 loss in the series opener. Minnesota hands the ball to a TBD starter while Carlos Rodón starts for New York, a matchup that leans Bronx-ward given Rodón’s home-form and the Yankees’ power display in Game 1 with Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton, Ben Rice, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. driving the offense and Will Warren delivering 6.2 innings of two-run ball for the Twins.

Odds place the Yankees as the favorite at -220 on the moneyline with a -1.5 spread and a 9.0 total. NBC Sports’ model backs the Bronx squad on the moneyline, with a lean toward the Yankees /> at -1.5 and no strong bet on the total. Trends note Rodón’s strong home record and a lingering dip in Judge’s production since returning from the DL, while Goldschmidt’s recent slump and the surrounding Yankee lineup context shape the betting and lineup decisions for this showdown.

Volpe’s surge to superstardom has collided with a summer funk, and Nettles’ blunt take on how Martin would handle the Yankees’ woes underscores a broader clubhouse tension as Boone navigates a flawed, loyally held roster. New York sits 5.5 games back in the AL East and only a hair ahead of Cleveland for the final Wild Card, tightening questions about Boone’s future and the team’s direction.

Austin Wells and Devin Williams surface in the fallout, with Wells’s rookie development and Williams’s lost closer role highlighting bullpen and defensive gaps. Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s baserunning missteps and Wells’s catch-work viral moments stress the margin between potential and performance. For fantasy players, Volpe remains a high ceiling, Wells a growing workload bet, and Williams a speculative rebound candidate amid bullpen churn.