y pulling everything downward. The latest setback came in a Friday-night tilt against the Rays, even as Justin Verlander fired a vintage 7-inning gem with eight punchouts. The offense couldn’t string enough hits together, and the bullpen surrendered a late lead, stalling any chance at a comeback and intensifying questions about SF’s lineup and closer reliability.

In Tampa Bay, the script flipped just enough to secure the win. Willy Adames started the visitors’ rally with a sharp single and a daring steal, while Yandy Díaz pushed the offense with timely hits. The Rays’ bullpen held firm late, amplifying the fantasy signal: Verlander remains a high-end starter in the right matchups, while Giants bats look unattractive options in forthcoming menus. The clash underscored how a pitching duel can still hinge on late-inning execution and how hot Rays players can swing the momentum in tight games.

Fantasy takeaway: treat Verlander as a go-to option in favorable matchups, especially against teams with SF’s recent skid. Rays assets like Adames and Díaz emerge as appealing daily plays when their opponent’s bullpen is vulnerable. Giants stacks carry elevated risk until the offense finds a rhythm, while Rays hitters may offer smart dfs leverage as the club tilts toward a potential turning point.

14:T526,

Verlander’s 3,500th strikeout solidifies his status as a hall-of-fame fantasy asset when healthy. He churned five innings with six punchouts in an 8-0 Washington win at Oracle Park, a milestone marked by quiet fanfare as the Nationals piled on early and San Francisco’s bats remained blanked.

San Francisco dropped to 59-59 as Nationals hitters collected 17 hits and kept the pressure on the Giants’ mound from start to finish. Verlander’s milestone performance overshadows a rough day for the home club, and the game provides a clear reminder of the caution needed around aging aces in fantasy timelines.

Off the mound, Verlander expressed a genuine desire to keep competing, noting

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