Week 21 of 2025 brings a compact set of starting-pitcher waiver options, tailored for shallow leagues but with deeper-leaning plays that could pay off in standard formats. Will Warren anchors the top tier, offering reliable volume and recent five-inning quality starts as the Yankees chase wins. Jose Quintana stabilizes the rotation with dependable innings and solid ratios on a strong Brewers squad. Jose Soriano combines strikeouts with groundball variety for a back-end slot in many leagues. Hurston Waldrep offers upside as a top Braves prospect getting a late-season shot, while Charlie Morton provides veteran savvy as Detroit managers lean on experience. In deeper formats, Cristian Javier returns to form with injury-recovery potential; Zebby Matthews brings swing-and-mmiss upside tempered by HR risk; Nolan McLean, Jason Alexander, and Ryan Bergert each offer speculative, weekend-ready options with varying ceilings. Kyle Bradish, Michael McGreevy, Sean Burke, Michael Lorenzen, and Joey Wentz close the list with a mix of floor, wins potential, and breakout vibes. Proactive rosters can maximize Week 21 by pairing safe floors with high-upside stashes, while tracking BvP and PvB data for favorable matchups.

Judge's return to right field and Stanton back at DH inject order into the Yankees’ lineup as they push toward the postseason. The expected alignment pairs their elite power with Judge’s plate discipline, keeping New York’s top-of-lineup threats in place and maximizing run production.

Judge progresses from a right flexor strain and could be back in RF by Tuesday, while Stanton notched a four-hit game and a 447-foot homer in a 9-1 win over Minnesota. Their combined 47-7 mark when they homer in the same game underscores the danger they pose. Rodón steadied seven innings in a solid bounce-back, and Volpe delivered a crucial three-run shot as the club reset its rotation and bullpen depth for a late-season run.

Will Warren provided length in the previous night’s win, and Stanton’s control of the strike zone has Boone bullish on the lineup’s upside. With Wells back behind the plate and Judge/Stanton orchestrating the middle of the order, the Yankees enter a pivotal stretch with one of the game’s most potent power tandems energizing their fantasy outlook.

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.

New York surged to a commanding 6-2 win over Minnesota in the series opener, four homers fueling the attack as Will Warren worked 6.2 innings with two runs allowed on three hits. His velocity climbed to 97.1 mph at times, lifting his season ERA to 4.34 and extending a stretch of at least five innings and two runs or fewer in four straight starts. The Bombers backed him with early and late thunder: Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton went deep, Ben Rice followed Stanton with a solo shot, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a late homer for the 10-hit night.

Across the diamond, Aaron Judge sat DH duty due to an elbow limitation, while Stanton thrived in right field and Rice became more prominent behind the plate as Wells pressed through his quieter stretch. The seventh inning added insurance as Ryan McMahon doubled and scored on Trent Grisham’s RBI single before Judge’s RBI single padded the lead. Luke Weaver pitched 1.1 scoreless in relief, and Bednar closed it out for the series-opening victory as the Yankees pivot toward Rodon to seal the series on Tuesday.

High-ceiling players are scarce on fantasy free-agent lists as the season winds down, so every add with even a chance to deliver elite returns in the next few weeks matters. Four MAJOR league talents stand out as must-adds already in the majors: Luke Keaschall, Edward Cabrera, Gavin Williams, Zebby Matthews. Keaschall brings a patient, middle-of-the-order approach and pace on the bases; Cabrera has sharpened his control and arsenal, lifting his fantasy ceiling; Williams has flashed big-move velocity plus a hidden sweeper that miss bats; Matthews is a sleeper with a lively slider and improving command, locked into a Twins rotation. Will Warren offers a reliable two-start week for those chasing volume. In deeper formats, Cade Cavalli and Hurston Waldrep are still on the radar for promotion and longer-term upside. Aug. 15 marks the 45-day rookies-eligible cutoff, so promotions like Basallo, Beavers, Painter and Wetherholt could reshape rosters in coming days.