Philadelphia faces a rotation hole after Wheeler's blood-clot procedure and Thoracic Outlet surgery. With Nola asked to reclaim ace-form and Painter still mired in the minors, waivers present a path to add another arm and Boston's Walker Buehler was released, making him a prime target. If Buehler can reclaim even partial form, he could stabilize a stressed staff and buy time for Painter to develop. The decision hinges on medicals, velocity rebound and whether the cost is worth the risk in a pennant race.

Philly’s calculus also considers alternatives like Joe Ross and Jordan Romano, two reclamation bets mentioned as depth pieces. In fantasy terms, a healthy Buehler offers upside with playoff pedigree, but rust and innings limits complicate expectations. The outcome could redefine how the Phillies structure their rotation down the stretch and into the postseason.

Philadelphia overhauls its bullpen after a seventh-inning meltdown that left Jordan Romano sidelined with inflammation in his right middle finger. Joe Ross was released, Daniel Robert was called up, and Lou Trivino joined on a minor-league deal to bolster late-inning depth.

Romano’s velocity has fluctuated this year, with finger numbness cited as a possible factor. Trivino’s arrival adds veteran flexibility as the Phillies reshape leverage roles, while Cristopher Sánchez and Taijuan Walker set up for key spots behind a lineup led by Harper and Realmuto as the club eye a late-season push.

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.

Texas’ late-game bullpen woes have overshadowed a solid Jacob deGrom start and left the Rangers mired in a rough stretch as they slide under .500. Three straight late-inning meltowns by high-leverage arms, including Coulombe and Maton, have undone a 3-0 lead after deGrom’s five scoreless innings, with Higashioka delivering a three-run blast for Toronto. Bochy’s juggling of the bullpen — and his plan to reintroduce deGrom and softer entry points for Garcia — underscores a broader season-long struggle: Texas’ bottom-five offense must find a spark in the final 40 games. The Jays rallied with a Kirk two-run shot and Barger's RBI single, turning a potential Texas win into a heartbreaking loss as the series opened at Rogers Centre. Houston remains atop the West, while the Rangers chase the difficult path to a postseason spot, needing sharper bullpen performance and more timely offense in a seven-game stretch that could define their roster leverage down the stretch.

Beyond the bullpen chaos, the Rangers leaned on deGrom’s best start in weeks, but the damage came from running out of late-inning answers. The club’s offseason bullpen depth had carried them for much of the season, but injuries and timing have pinched the back end. Milner’s usage and Garcia’s return plan loom large as Bochy navigates a crowded bullpen with Chris Martin sidelined by a calf setback. The Jays’ late rally underscored how quickly momentum can swing in a 6-5 loss, forcing Texas to recalibrate its closing and setup roles as they push toward a daunting remaining schedule.