The Reds aim to salvage the series in Cincinnati as Nick Lodolo faces Braxton Ashcraft in a key afternoon tilt. Cincinnati’s lineup features Elly De La Cruz, Gavin Lux, Will Benson and Miguel Andujar, while Pittsburgh counters with Jared Triolo, Nick Gonzales, Noelvi Marte and Bryan Reynolds. A win could tilt NL playoff odds depending on Mets and Diamondbacks outcomes later in the day.

Fantasy angle: Lodolo’s matchup is a prime streaming spot if he’s sharp with location and command, and Reds bats will be watched closely to see if they finally break out. Pirates’ power threats and veteran anchors could push this one into a high-leverage, keeper-league-friendly affair.

Final week chaos erupts as the Diamondbacks chase October with six games left, facing Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers in a brutal run. Ketel Marte anchors Arizona’s late push, while a slew of NL contenders—Mets, Reds, Phillies—keep the pressure on. Across the league, ownership shifts, rotation tinkering, and injury updates shape the betting cards for a manic finish.

Externally, the Rays’ sale to Patrick Zalupski ushers in ballpark chatter as payroll trends and pitching pivots surface. In Houston, open doors for a reliever-to-starter trend emerge, with Weaver and a Pirates trio eyeing late-season spots. Cincinnati’s lineup pivots around Hays’s status and Noelvi Marte’s potential trigger in the final six games.

Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft delivered eight scoreless innings of one-hit relief as the Pirates blanked Oakland 2-0 at PNC Park. Nick Yorke homered for Oakland in the second, but Pittsburgh answered with a Reynolds solo shot in the third and another Pirates solo blast to seal the win. The duo’s combined control and late power provided a clean, steady path to the shutout, offering a solid fantasy signal for Pirates pitchers and a rare quiet night for Oakland at the plate.

Monday’s schedule stacks a Monday Night Football doubleheader with a nine-game MLB slate. The sportsbook model leans Tampa Bay to win outright at +128 in the MNF matchup, while MLB bets center on Washington’s +144 against Atlanta and an Over 8 in Pittsburgh vs Chicago. Player props highlight Junior Caminero (Over 1.5 total bases) and Aaron Judge (Over 0.5 RBI). These bets shape early-week fantasy angles and daily fantasy leverage.

Washington’s momentum vs. a faltering Braves squad, plus the Pirates-Cubs run expectation, creates value opportunities. The night’s prop slate adds a cherry on top for DFS lineups and paras, with Caminero and Judge providing likely multi-positional upside.