Nick Kurtz capped his rookie season with a walk-off homer in his final plate appearance, boosting his OPS above 1.000 and fueling AL ROY chatter as Oakland closed September on a strong note. The A’s bats showed life in a 13-11 finish for the month, a sign of growth that could translate into fantasy upside in 2026.

Offseason hinges on the pitching staff—Oakland will weigh trades and internal development to upgrade the rotation while the lineup continues to mature. The franchise also signals a dramatic reboot with Sacramento gold jerseys and a Las Vegas home ahead, inviting optimism from Athletics Nation despite the ongoing realignment.

San Diego's 2025 offense alternates between Dr. Jekyll bursts and Mr. Hyde droughts. They produce in batches when misplays open early, but strand runners when pressure is on, and RISP sits at .258 (12th in MLB). Power has slipped, crippling late-inning chances and one-run games. October success hinges on sustaining multi-hit innings, converting chances, and avoiding power droughts that sink close contests.

Fantasy and betting readers should watch hot hands, lineup balance, and bullpen usage as the Padres chase a playoff surge. The piece stresses role clarity, aggressive yet disciplined at-bats, and the idea that any in the lineup can spark a playoff moment. Depth, timely hitting, and clutch execution will decide their fate in October.

NL ROY race tightens around Baldwin and Horton. Horton’s 2.67 ERA in 118 innings masks advanced-metric gaps, leaving voters wary; Baldwin’s NL rookie case is stronger, especially at catcher. A Baldwin win would yield Atlanta a late first-round pick and about $3 million in bonus money, a major franchise boost. Braves’ 10-game win streak snapped 4-3 vs Nationals adds urgency.

Other notes: Luis Garcia’s elbow surgery sidelines Astros for 2026; Ramon Laureano fractures a finger, missing Padres’ early playoffs; Nationals hire Paul Toboni as head of baseball operations; Cubs hope Kyle Tucker returns for the postseason; Guardians’ David Fry out 6-8 weeks after facial injury from Tarik Skubal.